By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
With the NBA season starting and European players being among the top stars of the League, it’s easy to assume that all European players are stars in the NBA. While this holds true, since being an NBA player and not being born and raised in the US makes you different, however, all players are not the same.
And while the top is easy to decide since we are talking about All-Stars, it’s not easy to measure the rest of them and it would be even trickier if we took into account their presence with their national teams in the recent FIBA World Cup.
That’s why we didn’t. After all, the NBA is not really taking into account what happens outside its borders, and the results are obvious with the continuous failure of Team USA to capture gold on the World Cup stage. Still, the NBA is a different animal and that’s how it should be treated.
Before the Top 10, here are three honorable mentions that simply didn’t make the cut. Croatian sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic has a season to remember with Detroit (21.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.6 ASP) but the Pistons were almost tanking, so those numbers don’t mean much, only that Bojan must be traded to a contender. Also, considering their presence in the FIBA World Cup, German Dennis Schroder and Serb Bogdan Bogdanovic could have been part of the list, but they are both coming from a so-and-so NBA season. Last but not least, Alperen Sengun is knocking on the door of the Top 10, but he is simply not there yet.
1. Nikola Jokic
24,5 PPG 11.9 RPG 9.8 APG
Champions, Finals MVP, a basketball genius, and the patron saint of horse races. It’s the only natural choice for the no1 of this list as the Denver Nuggets are aiming for back-to-back rings.
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo
31.1 PPG 11.8 RPG 5.9 APG
Giannis is the only other player on this list that has the accolades to rival the Serb.
However, the Greek Freak and Milwaukee had a disappointing end of their season, which can end up being the right motivation for this year’s run to the title, especially after the addition of Damian Lillard.
3. Luka Doncic
32,4 PPG 8.6 RPG 8 APG
The youngest of the modern European “Holy Trinity” of the NBA is just behind Jokic and Giannis, simply because he hasn’t achieved yet the level of success of the two top players on this list.
Still, it seems just a matter of time for him to make it there and jump to the top.
4. Domantas Sabonis
19.1 PPG 12.3 RPG 7.3 APG
The Lithuanian big man has established himself as a European force, a perennial All-Star with three participations already under his belt, and a championship contender with the Kings.
On an individual level, he is not on par with the Top 3, but basketball is a team sport and he is an ideal teammate.
5. Lauri Markkanen
25.5 PPG 8.6 RPG 1.9 APG
Moving to Utah proved to be the right choice for the Finnisher and also for the Jazz.
He flourished in his new environment, proving that for real he is similar to Dirk Nowitzki, and that makes him a candidate to improve his status this season even more.
6. Victor Wembanyama
Rookie
A rookie in the Top 10? Victor Wembanyama is not just a “rookie”.
He has all the tools and the right environment in San Antonio to become one of the All-Time greats, if not the greatest of all. Yes, he is that good and it’s strange that after the US mainstream media and fans failed to understand this early in Doncic’s case, they still have doubts about Wemby.
7. Nikola Vucevic
17.6 PPG 11 RPG 3.2 APG
The Montenegrin big man of the Bulls remains a force in the paint and one of the most underrated players in the league.
Can he do more not only about his solid numbers but for Chicago to have success in the post-season? That’s the big question and the even bigger personal challenge for him.
8. Franz Wagner
18.6 PPG 4.1 RPG 3.5 APG
While he was second-in-command in the German national team and out for most of the tournament due to injury, he is clearly the future of his teams.
Yes, it’s plural because Orlando is also included and Wagner is just starting to show what he is capable of.
9. Kristaps Porzingis
23.2 PPG 8.4 RPG 2.7 APG
After injury woes and the failed experiment of pairing up with Doncic, Porzingis is back for good and after a great season with the Wizards, he moved to the Celtics.
Can he be the missing piece for Boston? It remains to be seen and to remind everyone why he started the “unicorn” trend.
10. Rudy Gobert
13.4 PPG 11.6 RPG 1.4 BPG
It was a hard and debated choice. After all, not so long ago Gobert was among the Top 3 European players on this list.
Having said that, his move to Minnesota so far has not helped his status, neither the Timberwolves on the level it was expected, but he remains a three-time All-Star and a three-time defender of the year.