By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
“A basket makes one man happy while an assist makes two men happy.”
While the origin of the above quote seems to be a mystery (for obvious reasons, we like to think that Toni Kukoc was the first to say it), its point is quite clear. Ball movement that creates baskets as the product of teamwork and assists is highly praised by coaches, and not only them. It is the core of every well-structured offense. It can make underdogs defeat favorites. If done right, it can break the foundations of even the toughest defenses. And in these situations, passing centers in particular can affect the game in ways that are still being discovered in the ever-evolving world basketball. Their opponents must not only keep them from scoring, but also fear the moment when these centers decide to pass the ball. In the role of assist-maker, they are extra dangerous, highly effective and often game-changing.
Eurohoops.net loves passing centers…a lot! So we decided to present our choices for the Top 5, plus one, passing centers in Turkish Airlines Euroleague history, five big men who are distinguished by their rich passing skills and their notorious ability to provide assists.