By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A total of 32 teams spread across Europe shaped the field of the 2022-23 Basketball Champions League Regular Season. Eight advanced to the Round of 16 with the remaining berths to be determined in the Play-Ins.
Persisting trademarks of FIBA’s club continental competition stretch from youngsters with the opportunity to shine in a competitive environment and the same for clubs coming out of minor domestic leagues. But that is not all in the BCL with tight affairs and exciting games keeping fans at the edge of their seats, packed venues, and stunning overachievers. All in a day’s work.
Eurohoops presents players and teams impressing the most as the cream of the crop. Among our picks are the First and Second Teams, the best coach, and the MVP of the Regular Season.
Best Young Player: Sadik Emir Kabaca
Stats: 11.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.5 spg
Plenty of promising upstarts to choose from, but Sadik Emir Kabaca delivering big stats and helping Galatasaray Nef top Group C edged out the remaining candidates.
Kabaca, 22, introduced himself to the Champions League playing for Teksut Bandirma back in the 2019-20 season. Following a FIBA Europe Cup spell with Besiktas Icrypex in 2020-21, he moved to the Lions and resurfaced in the BCL last season.
From three double-digit scoring showings in 2021-22 to four over six 2022-23 games, a huge improvement behind gradually expanding his shooting range. Besides building confidence in offensive duties, he has been brilliant in defense as well sharing a team-high of 1.5 steals per contest with Dee Bost.
The Istanbul outfit seeking an extended run will be back in late January competing in Group K alongside Unicaja and a couple of teams surviving the Play-Ins.
Most Improved Player: Akil Mitchell
2021-22 Stats: 9.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.0 spg, 1.3 bpg
2022-23 Stats: 16.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.3 spg, 0.8 bpg
Becoming the first player producing over 25 points, ten rebounds, and three steals in a single game of the 2022-23 season, Akil Mitchell reserved his best performance for AEK’s most crucial game. His effort on Gameday 6 pushed the Queen to the win against Pinar Karsiyaka and the second seed in Group B.
Fittingly, the team located in Izmir was his first BCL team last season, the sample to compare leading to our Most Improved Player award.
Before departing Karsiyaka in November, he averaged 9.0 points per contest over three appearances. Back in the Champions League, he nearly doubled up to 16.0 points per contest over six appearances with AEK. Surely, a different role in a different team but also a significant upgrade across the board for the American-Panamanian power forward.
Up next for Mitchell is the best-of-three Play-In series opposite another Turkish side, Tofas Bursa.
Best Defender: Michale Kyser
Stats: 9.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.3 bpg, 0.8 apg, 0.3 spg
From Aris, VEF Riga, and Hapoel U-NET Holon, Michale Kyser joined Surne Bilbao for yet another Champions League experience.
Very much expecting spectacular dunks and blocks, the Louisiana Tech has become a regular in highlight reels and a household name in the competition.
Defensive efforts translated into a league-high 14 blocks in the Regular Season. The only player producing five-block showings twice in the 32-team stage, against ERA Nymburk in the opener and deeper in the six-game schedule against Igokea m:tel.
Bilbao winning Group D was subsequently placed in Group L alongside ACB rival and reigning BCL champion Lenovo Tenerife.