By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Well, it’s that time of the year again.
Eurohoops presents the Top 100 EuroLeague Players ahead of the 2018-2019 season. A list of players compiled with some specific criteria with the purpose of tracing and ranking those hoopers that are expected to define the upcoming EuroLeague season.
While there are some objective and factual elements that were taken into consideration when choosing the 100 players and then ranking them, the final result is, inevitably, subjective.
As always, there was a calculated risk with rookies, especially those who are completely unfamiliar with European basketball. Hence why some players who will now take their first steps in EuroLeague have been omitted from the list or where placed in lower positions in comparison with EL rookies that already have a considerable experience at a competitive level of European basketball. Experience in this level and type of game matters since we’ve seen no few quality players, even established NBAers, immensely struggle in their new surroundings simply because of their unfamiliarity with everything that European basketball encompasses.
What should be noted is that a player of a team that is a title or Final Four contender automatically got a relative priority over another with possibly similar or equal, maybe even superior individual strengths. This is why you will find that there is an increased number of players from well-known powerhouses. Of course, there’s also the fact that these teams usually sign a lot of top talent.
It goes without saying that injuries also played a part in picking and ranking the players.
Like every year, the Eurohoops Top 100 Players ranking is based on the following criteria (in this order):
1) The individual quality of each player in combination with the role and playing time we anticipate he will get with his team.
2) The strength of the club he plays for. The players of the teams that are usually playoff staples and are considered among the title contenders always have the edge because they combine individual quality with their club’s high aspirations.
3) What each player has achieved in his career in the EuroLeague, combined with the prospect he carries for the 2018-19 season.
The countdown continues with the spots from 20-11. Here are the 30-21, 40-31, 50-41, 60 – 51, 70 – 61, 80 – 71, 90 – 81, plus the 100 to 91 picks.
20. Thomas Heurtel (Barcelona)
Year of birth: 1989
Position: Guard
Height: 1.89 m.
2017-2018 stats: 11.3 points, 6.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds in 23:38 minutes per game with Barcelona in EuroLeague.
There has never been any question regarding Thomas Heurtel’s dime-dropping skills. The French guard is one of the most prolific passers of the modern EuroLeague era since, at 29 years of age, he stands at the fourth spot at all-time assist leaders, and can easily be at the top in two seasons by now. His ability to unlock the opposing defense and find the open man is uncanny and a lot of his passes are pure highlight material. He has consistently been well above the “10 points/5 assists avg.” combination in EuroLeague, getting buckets as easily as he sends out assists.
What’s left then?
For his team to see some form of EuroLeague success. In this case, for Barcelona to return to the Final Four.
Heurtel displayed leadership with Barcelona in the previous season by propelling the team to the Copa Del Rey title and winning MVP. A result also of the “Pesic effect” that Heurtel has admitted it helped him not only in refining his playmaking but also put more effort in defense (which has always been his Achilles’ heel and an element that opposing teams have exploited). EuroLeague, however, is a different, more demanding scenario and Heurtel, together with newcomer Kevin Pangos have lots of job as the team’s masterminds in order to guide the Blaugrana back to the playoffs, for a start.
Heurtel is going to share the floor with the Canadian All-EuroLeague guard a lot and that’s one backcourt pair we can’t wait to see in 2018-2019.
19. Shane Larkin (Anadolu Efes)
Year of birth: 1992
Position: Guard
Height: 1.82 m.
2017-2018 stats: 4.3 points, 1.8 assists, 1.7 rebounds in 14.4 minutes per game with the Boston Celtics in the NBA.
Shane Larkin’s season with Baskonia should be used as a blueprint for adjusting to EuroLeague basketball. The American guard had a phenomenal assimilation to a type of game previously completely unknown to him, finishing 2016-2017 with 13.1 points, 5.7 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game and making himself a coveted player in offseason. He earned an NBA return and, one year later, he’s back in EuroLeague with Anadolu Efes.
Honestly, this is one of the top moves that the Efes front office has done in recent years. Larkin has proven himself a highly competent floor-manager of a team of Final Four aspirations, and a super swift guard who can score and dish out assists with equally potent results. He could easily play in the starting 5 of a powerhouse and a title contender and while Efes is not there yet, his role is to get them back to at least EuroLeague’s Top 8.
Among those who will help him in achieving this is his Baskonia partner in crime Rodrigue Beaubois. Their successful cooperation shall be a major factor in Efes’ road towards a playoff return.
18. Facu Campazzo (Real Madrid)
Year of birth: 1991
Position: Guard
Height: 1.80 m.
2017-2018 stats: 7.9 points, 4.5 assists, 2.4 rebounds in 23:06 minutes per game with Real Madrid in EuroLeague.
Getting loaned to UCAM Murcia for two years worked wonders for Facu Campazzo who returned to Real Madrid not only EuroLeague-ready but absolutely able to contribute high-level playmaking. Pablo Laso quickly entrusted Campazzo with the job of the main point guard and the latter had the breakthrough season everyone in Real was expecting of him.
The talent and flair were there of course. Campazzo is a one-man show in everything he does on offense particularly in his passes that are as flamboyant as they are surgical and often carry a splash of genius. The Argentinian guard plays like that sometimes because he simply loves to and sometimes because he’s forced to, particularly when he penetrates towards the basket and needs an acrobatic in order to finish in front of a bigger opponent. Which is usually the case since he’s the shortest guy out there.
While there’s still the beauty of the “untamed” in Campazzo’s game and can sometimes get carried away, he has learned to operate within the well-coached offensive systems of Real while his scrappy defense can be excruciating to his opponents, even elite EuroLeague guards. The “Blancos” will make a major push for winning the back-to-back EuroLeague title and have an ideal point guard to help them in their pursuit.
17. Chris Singleton (Barcelona)
Year of birth: 1989
Position: Forward/Center
Height: 2.06 m.
2017-2018 stats: 10.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists in 30:13 minutes per game with Panathinaikos EuroLeague.
Defending against Chris Singleton’s long-range shot has been of the most persistent riddles that coaches had to face these last couple of seasons. Especially when he played as a center, Singleton was a walking mismatch for opposing bigs due to his tendency to shoot one 3-pointer after the other with exceptional results (46 percent). Indeed, Singleton attempted 128 3-pointers in 2017-2018, more than any other “4” or “5” in the competition.
With Barcelona, Singleton will continue shooting a fair number of 3s to stretch the floor and allow the star duo of Thomas Heurtel and Kevin Pangos all the room they need for playmaking and scoring action. The two of them will also supply Singleton with more bucket opportunities, either after the pick n’ pop or by kicking the ball out to him beyond the arc.
Singleton is much more than “shooting 3-pointers” though. He can defend multiple positions, deliver some powerful bits of help and has the necessary awareness to steal balls to then attack in transition. So far Svetislav Pesic has used Singleton in all sorts of lineups and paired him with both Ante Tomic and Kevin Seraphin, so we’re expecting some pure “power forward” action by the American player in the upcoming EuroLeague season.
16. Cory Higgins (CSKA Moscow)
Year of birth: 1989
Position: Guard
Height: 1.96 m.
2017-2018 stats: 14.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists in 24:39 minutes per game with CSKA Moscow in EuroLeague.
Cory Higgins isn’t generally treated as a EuroLeague “big shot” but the quality of basketball he produced last season, the number of responsibilities he undertook and the impact he had in CSKA Moscow making another Final Four tournament were definitely of “star status” worth.
With CSKA’s main contributor Nando De Colo injured in Game 1 of the playoff series vs. Khimki Moscow, Higgins found himself spending more time on the floor and having to rise to the occasion as one of the team’s protagonists. Not only did the American guard deliver with some exceptional performances (18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.5 steals in 32:46 minutes per game) but he was the one to literally “check” CSKA’s Final Four ticket by draining the game-winner in Game 4.
These quarterfinals against a team that was much more dangerous and competitive than the 3-1 implies, were a showcase of Higgins’ overall strengths: The powerful scoring punch he can bring to any offense in multiple manners, his potent transition game, and his very active defensive behavior. He had put them on the table before but never with that magnitude and in a tricky playoff series.
Higgins won’t ever be the star of CSKA like Rodriguez or De Colo but is nothing less than an integral part of the “Army Men” and a player certified of being able to emerge as a protagonist if such a need arrives.
15. Mike James (Olimpia Milano)
Year of birth: 1990
Position: Guard
Height: 1.85
2017-2018 stats: 16.2 points, 4.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds in 25:31 minutes per game with Panathinaikos in EuroLeague.
You won’t see the word “explosive” being used more for any EuroLeague player than it is used to describe Mike James.
James’ first step comes out of a cheat book. He uses it to wreak all sorts havoc since once he accelerates and builds a momentum there’s only so much the opposing defense can do to stop him, either when he decides to take the ball all the way to the hoop or when he pulls one of his signature jump stops.
Part of what makes James so lethal is a “no regrets” approach to the game. He attacks the basket because he can’t live if he doesn’t do it. This instinctive attitude doesn’t always pay off and can lead to flawed decision-making but ultimately, this kind of unadulterated electrifying action is what has established the American guard as one of the most dangerous offensive players in Europe.
With Olimpia Milano, James will want to utilize his weapons to lead the team back to the EuroLeague playoffs. He’ll have some excellent backcourt company in the face of Nemanja Nedovic and if these two build a chemistry, things can truly happen for the “Red Shoes”.
14. Scottie Wilbekin (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
Year of birth: 1993
Position: Guard
Height: 1.88 m.
2017-2018 stats: 19.7 points, 4.8 assists, 2.4 rebounds in 31:52 minutes per game with Darussafaka Istanbul in EuroCup
“Where will Scottie Wilbekin play next season?” was perhaps the most curious transfer thriller this offseason. Fenerbahce was interested, Anadolu Efes had a deal with him and ultimately it was Maccabi Tel Aviv that landed him, to complete one of the top signings of the summer.
And how can it be otherwise? Wilbekin’s complete and utter dominance of the 2018 EuroCup was one for the ages. It will be extremely difficult for any future EuroCup player to top what Wilbekin accomplished by combing one of the most insane scoring runs we’ve seen in a continental level with the title for his team.
Wilbekin torched his way into winning season MVP and Finals MVP while leading Darussafaka Istanbul to the trophy. He displayed an offensive arsenal that ranged from 3-point cataclysms to slashing action towards the basket and at the same time he took care of playmaking and put on the court some intense defense when needed. A true masterwork of a season.
Maccabi Tel Aviv spent a great deal to acquire him since they also had to pay a 1.3 million euros buyout to Darussafaka, per Sport 5. Wilbekin is expected to assume leadership of the Israeli team with the sole purpose of pushing them back to the playoff zone and grant them possible Final Four contention.
13. Giorgos Printezis (Olympiacos)
Year of birth: 1985
Position: Forward
Height: 2.05 m.
2017-2018 stats: 12 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists in 25:35 minutes per game with Olympiacos in EuroLeague.
Basketball highlights are usually paired with rap or hip-hop but in the case of Giorgos Printezis, maybe some ballet music would be more fitting.
When he receives the ball at the low post, Printezis is transformed into European basketball’s “Mikhail Baryshnikov” and the area around the paint becomes his own personal dance floor where he’ll put his top-notch footwork into action to finish with one of his trademark floaters or hook shots. Printezis is a virtuoso of scoring from the low post and this will remain his main field of action next season, apart from his usual 3-pointers from spot position.
There are two main topics that evolve around Printezis ahead of the upcoming campaign. The first is keeping himself fresh and ready, from a physical aspect, around April. A healthy, not overworked Printezis is a huge difference-maker for Olympiacos and in recent years the Greek forward has shown signs of fatigue upon the arrival of the playoffs. This, plus injury problems (like in the previous season) haven’t allowed him to play at 100% strength come Spring.
The second? Adaptation to David Blatt’s motion offense that will require him to be quicker in his decisions and not stall so much after the ball goes to him. If Printezis tweaks his game a bit into that direction he will also help himself not face so much pressure from opponents and potentially becoming more efficient.