By Panos Katsiroumbas/ info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos have acquired Chris Singleton, a player they needed badly since last year, as all the elements he brings were missing from the Greek team. Definitely a very important addition, since the American can contribute in many different areas of the game.
Biography
Singleton is yet another excellent product of college basketball as he played for four years for the Florida State Seminoles. In fact, in his last year he earned the Defensive Player of the Year honors in the conference his college belonged to (ACC), and led his team all the way to the Sweet Sixteen in the final tournament of that year.
After the end of his college career he entered the 2011 draft, where he was selected by the Washington Wizards. He played there for three years though without finding the role or the playing time he wanted. After a stint in the NBA Development League, he decided to head to Europe and Lokomotiv Kuban from Krasnodar. Together with Anthony Randolph they made up a formidable duo in the frontline of Bartzokas’s team and led Lokomotiv to the Final Four, where they were defeated by the subsequent champions, CSKA Moscow.
What he can offer
Singleton is a multidimensional player who primarily plays in position 5 but in some line-ups it’s not impossible to see him getting some playing time in position 4 as well. He’s very fast for his height but without in any way lagging behind in the department of strength.
In offense he can threaten in a variety of ways, since a wide range characterizes his offensive game. He’s very good in the pick-and-roll game both as a screener but also in the way he cuts inside the key. Furthermore, with the same ease he can pop out and attempt some shots from the perimeter. He’s quite good with the ball on the floor, but also facing his opponent, as he doesn’t hesitate to shoot over the hands of his opponents, while he can just as easily put the ball on the floor and go all the way to the basket, leaving behind his markers with his speed.
It’s telling that last season he was 32% in three-point shooting in the Euroleague, without of course abusing his attempts, which shows that the offensive range with which he can create a threat is huge. He can also take plays in the post and finish them successfully, something that he didn’t do very often in Lokomotiv because of his team’s playing style.
Defensive wall
In defense he’s a real watchdog in every aspect. He’s very fast in the part of offensive transition without lagging behind in the corresponding part in offense. He can defend excellently in the pick-and-roll game, while he’s also an amazing defender in switching defenses too, something that the team was badly missing last year. He places his body well in the post, while he defends the ball very well too. Last year he was one of the top stealers among big men in the Euroleague, with almost 1.2 steals per game. In the post he defends just as well and tries to be aggressive so his opponent has a hard time getting the ball and doesn’t approach the basket easily. He plays defenses from the front as well, denying the shot without being easily exposed, despite the risk that this particular defensive approach entails.
It’s definitely a very important move by Panathinaikos, with a player who fits the playing style of Argiris Pedoulakis, and the only thing for certain is that he can contribute a lot. The team is a good match for him and he’s a good match for the team, so we can expect another great year for him as well as for Panathinaikos.