By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Can there be a definite Top 100 or even Top 50 list of EuroLeague players? We decided once more to answer this question; as usual, it wasn’t easy at all.
We used a multitude of different factors to determine the final ranking after what was a rather long debate among the main editors of the English, Turkish, Greek and Spanish editions. Of course, our subjective but not biased – we hope – personal opinions also played a part.
As usual, being part of the top teams, or having a legacy of success with them helps your chances of being selected. And of course, making it to the Final Four or winning the title is obviously a huge plus.
So our main criteria remain the following:
1) The individual quality of each player in combination with the prospect he carries for the 2024-2025 season, plus the role and playing time we anticipate he will get with his team.
2) The strength and the potential of the club the player belongs to and what he has already achieved in the league.
3) Stats but not PIR though. We also strongly took into consideration a team’s success and whether each player registered their numbers as a member of a winning or losing side.
It wasn’t easy but somehow we made it work and here’s the result. And after the spots between 50 and 31, it’s time to go higher.
30. Vincent Poirier (Anadolu Efes)
2023-24 numbers: 9.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 blocks in 18:21 minutes with Real Madrid
How did his team do: EuroLeague Finalists
Vincent Poirier capitalized on his top season at Real Madrid by signing a lucrative contract with Anadolu Efes. If he keeps improving his numbers and if Efes does make the much-anticipated return to the playoffs at least, then he’ll be a prime candidate for an All-EuroLeague Team nod.
29. Bonzie Colson (Fenerbahce Beko)
2023-24 numbers: 12.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.2 steals in 28:27 minutes with Maccabi Tel Aviv
How did his team do: 7th in the regular season, eliminated 2-3 in the playoffs by Panathinaikos Athens
From No. 48 on last year’s Top 50 list to 29 this season. And Bonzie Colson could’ve been higher honestly, if there wasn’t an abundance of other quality players to rank. He was a key member of Maccabi‘s power quarter (together with Lorenzo Brown, Wade Baldwin and Josh Nebo) that helped the team make the playoffs and come one win away from advancing to the Final Four.
28. Jan Vesely (Barcelona)
2023-24 numbers: 12.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.0 steals in 21:52 minutes with Barcelona
How did his team do: 4th in the regular season, eliminated 2-3 in the playoffs by Olympiacos Piraeus
Barcelona fans witnessed a much superior edition of Jan Vesely last season compared to his debut year with the team. He had a couple of MVP-caliber stretches but, ultimately, his team fell short in the playoffs and he had his worst performance this season in the decisive Game 5.
27. Jerian Grant (Panathinaikos Athens)
2023-24 numbers: 8.6 points, 3.5 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals in 27:35 minutes with Panathinaikos Athens
How did his team do: EuroLeague champions
It feels weird to describe Jerian Grant as the “steal of the 2023 summer” while he entered that offseason as the EuroCup MVP. Yet that’s exactly what Grant, arriving at Panathinaikos to be a tertiary backcourt option and emerging as an absolutely essential player of the team. A superb lockdown defender who provided scoring and passes when needed, Grant also left his mark in the Final Four with a notable output of 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
26. Alec Peters (Olympiacos Piraeus)
2023-24 numbers: 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists in 25:26 minutes with Olympiaacos
How did his team do: 3rd in the Final Four
Alec Peters greatly increased his numbers from his debut season at Olympiacos (4.6 points, 2.5 rebounds in 13:13), making the most out of the increased playing time and bigger role he had on the team to finish as their leading scorer. He also led the league in 3-point accuracy while making 1.9 per game.
25. Josh Nebo (Olimpia Milano)
2023-24 numbers: 11.2 points, 7.1 rebounds with Maccabi Tel Aviv
How did his team do: 7th in the regular season, eliminated 2-3 by Panathinaikos in the playoffs
One of the standout centers of the 2023-24 EuroLeague season, Josh Nebo was often a force to be reckoned with thanks to his strong pick n’ roll game and superb action above the rim.
24. Cedi Osman (Panathinaikos Athens)
2023-24 numbers: 6.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists in 17:40 with the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA
How did his team do: 14th in the Western Conference
Cedi Osman is back in the EuroLeague for the first time after 2017 and following a seven-year stint in the NBA. The Turkish swingman is reunited with his national team coach Ergin Ataman at Panathinaikos to further enhance the team’s already successful system with his energetic two-way game.
23. Dinos Mitoglou (Panathinaikos Athens)
2023-24 numbers: 11.3 points, 6.2 rebounds in 28:09 minutes with Panathinaikos
How did his team do: EuroLeague champions
There was a moment near the end of January when Dinos Mitoglou was the leading scorer and rebounder of Panathinaikos. No small feat, as a member of a star-studded team. His impact on certains wins of the Greens was so powerful that he even made a kind of legitimate MVP case for himself before his numbers began to decline a bit.
22. Nicolas Laprovittola (Barcelona)
2023-24 numbers: 12.3 points, 4.8 assists, 2.0 rebounds in 22:43 minutes with Barcelona
How did his team do: 4th in the regular season, eliminated 2-3 by Olympiacos in the playoffs
An invaluable members of Barcelona’s offense, Nicolas Laprovittola was the player to more consistently provide both points and assists while reaching 50-40 levels while shooting the ball.
21. Nick Calathes (AS Monaco)
2023-24 numbers: 7.1 points, 4.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals in 23:42
How did his team do: 4th in the regular season, eliminated 2-3 by Olympiacos in the playoffs
Nick Calathes turned the “Point God mode” on several times for Fenerbahce last season and when it was required for him, he also came up clutch. His experience, leadership and peerless playmaking are the reasons why Monaco acquired him during the offseason.
20. Nikola Mirotic (Olimpia Milano)
2023-24 numbers: 16.9 points, 5.7 rebounds in 26:31 minutes
How did his team do: 12th in the regular season
“Where will Nikola Mirotic go?” was probably the biggest transfer saga of the 2023 summer in the EuroLeague. It was a troubled season for both the former MVP who missed several games due to injury and Milano that, once again, fell behind in the playoff race. Mirotic was productive as few players can be and perhaps in the new season his performances will help the team get a winning record.
19. Jordan Nwora (Anadolu Efes)
2023-24 numbers: 7.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists in 13.7 minutes with the Indiana Pacers and the Toronto Raptors
How did his team do: The Raptors finished 12th in the Eastern Conference
Here’s a name that may seem as a surprise to some. A European basketball newcomer with Efes, Jordan Nwora seems to have adjusted really well to his new team and has the potential to emerge as a star in his debut season in the competition.
18. Kevin Punter (Barcelona)
2023-24 numbers: 15.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists in 29:07 minutes with Partizan Belgrade
How did his team do: 11th in the regular season
It didn’t happen last year but became a reality for this season: Kevin Punter is a Barcelona player. After establishing himself as one of the most elite scorers in the EuroLeague, the American guard will be looking to become the the missing link that can connect the Blaugrana to success.
17. Chima Moneke (Baskonia)
2023-24 numbers: 13.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals in 24:44 with Baskonia
How did his team do: Eighth in the regular season, eliminated 0-3 by Real Madrid in the playoffs
Arguably the Most Improved Player of the 2023-24 season. Chima Moneke arrived at Baskonia after a short, unremarkable stint with AS Monaco and raised the level of his game to All-EuroLeague standards. His high-powered contribution on both ends of the floor is one of a kind and a key element that Baskonia really missed in the playoffs vs. Real when he was sidelined with injury.
16. Evan Fournier (Olympiacos Piraeus)
2023-24 numbers: 6.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists in 18.1 minutes with the New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons
How did his team do: The Pistons finished 15th in the Eastern Conference
Olympiacos put the cherry on top of a busy offseason by bringing Evan Fournier back to Europe and add a superstar scorer on board. The French player’s resume speaks for itself; just a couple of years ago he was averaging almost 20 points in the NBA. It may take time for him to adapt to his new surroundings and the demands of the EuroLeague game but he has the capacity to add an entire new dimension to Olympiacos’ offensive game.
15. Mario Hezonja (Real Madrid)
2023-24 numbers: 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.0 steals in 23:18 with Real Madrid
How did his team do: EuroLeague finalists
This was Mario Hezonja’s top and most consistent season in the EuroLeague so far: He co-led Real Madrid in scoring average (tied with Dzanan Musa) and was the fourth-best rebounder of the team. He chose to remain with the club and all the pieces are laid in place for him to present an even superior version of himself once he comes back to action.
14. Markus Howard (Baskonia)
2023-24 numbers: 19.5 points, 1.6 assists in 23:02 minutes with Baskonia
How did his team do: Eighth in the regular season, eliminated 0-3 by Real Madrid in the playoffs
Not only did Markus Howard finish his second season in the EuroLeague as the winner of the 2024 Alphonso Ford EuroLeague Top Scorer Trophy, but also flirted with the 50-40-90 club. Indeed, he had 48.4 percent on 2-pointers and 40.0 percent on threes as the top bucket-getter in the competition.
13. Lorenzo Brown (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
2023-24 numbers: 13.2 points, 6.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 1.0 steals in 29:18 with Maccabi
How did his team do: 7th in the regular season, eliminated 2-3 by Panathinaikos in the playoffs
Lorenzo Brown was named to the All-EuroLeague Second Team last season but he could’ve easily made the First if Maccabi didn’t fall to Panathinaikos in the playoffs. He was a true star in the quarterfinal series against the team he joined in summer. It’s a system in which he can thrive in with both his scoring, creativity and proven charisma as a leader.
12. Dzanan Musa (Real Madrid)
2023-24 numbers: 13.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists in 21:01 minutes with Real
How did his team do: EuroLeague finalists
For a second straight year, Dzanan Musa finished as Real Madrid’s leading scorer in total numbers and did so in a super efficient fashion. One of the smoothest offensive players outside the NBA right now, the Bosnian swingman showcased time and again how he can effortlesly make buckets and step up in key moments.
11. Tornike Shengelia (Virtus Bologna)
2023-24 numbers: 14.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.0 assists in 27:25 with Virtus
How did his team do: 10th in the regular season, eliminated by Baskonia in the second round of the Play-In tournament
Toko Shengelia had a steady presence on the 2023-24 EuroLeague MVP Ladder and quite justifiably so. Virtus Bologna was on a roll during the first leg of the regular season with the Georgian forward delivering a streak of consistently strong all-around displays. The team collapsed though and didn’t manage to make the playoffs, which is why Shengelia barely didn’t make the cut for the Top 10.