By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
The season gets under way in a few days and the time has come for the top 100 Euroleague Rankings. A difficult concept, subjective, one that – by nature – creates differing opinions and disagreements!
Eurohoops begins the presentation from the bottom up and the main thing that has to be made clear is that our Rankings are not made based on those that are published about NBA players in the USA. It’s true that the individual element is very important, but we equally evaluate the team’s dynamics and potential.
Criteria
1. PLAYER’S VALUE: The overall competitive evaluation of players. The characteristics of their game, their worth, their leadership skills, their quality as a unit independent of the team they play for.
2. PLAYER’S ROLE: The importance of a player for their team as we evaluate and predict it for the new season.
3. TEAM’S WORTH: The team the player we choose plays for, its apparent value in the league in the long term and the potential it has. How far the player’s team that is chosen for the new Euroleague season can go.
4. INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL: The individual potential of the player, exclusively. The extent to which they can grow and improve, how high they can go based on their value, talent and age.
5. THE NUMBERS: The statistics we speculate the player can tally on average, when their team’s run in the Euroleague is completed. This is definitely an important criterion but the last priority for our choices, since it depends directly on the quality of the team they play for and their role in the team.
These are the 5 criteria that we factor in in order to reach an overall assessment of every player individually and from that point to draw the Top 100 Ranks. If you consider that around 240 players are registered on the rosters of the Euroleague, you will comprehend how hard and tortuous it was to make these selections!
So many players of value that we respect infinitely for whom there was not enough space and, really, from a total of 150 players, the list of the 100 was drawn up with great difficulty. Especially in the bottom 20 slots, there could be any name from the 50 that were necessarily not included and we ask for your understanding for this in advance.
If you missed it, here’s our 100 to 91 rankings the 90 to 81, 80 to 71 and 70-61 as well.
So let’s continue to countdown.
#60 Jonas Maciulis 1985 1m.98 F Real Madrid
One of the toughest and most complete forwards in the league! In Real – and with Rudy Fernandez on the roster – his role is nothing like what he was used to in Zalgiris, Milano, and Panathinaikos, and as a result his stats have dropped too. Even coming off the bench for some quality minutes, he is important and able to make the difference at the top level. Stubborn in defense and rebounding, he has proven many times that he has the whole package in offense as well. In Real he has a limited role and limited possessions and this had a negative impact last year on his percentages in three-point shooting.
#59 Cory Higgins 1989 1m.96 G CSKA Moscow
He deserves to be on this list 100% after everything he did in his first season in the league with CSKA. He took full advantage of every opportunity he got and his role was rightly upgraded. Energy, defense, great efficiency in offense, the ball used sparingly and without needing too many shots. He was asked to support the creations of Teodosic and De Colo and take advantage of open spaces. He responded greatly with 54% in three-point shooting! An important link in the chain of the European champions.
#58 Darius Miller 1990 2m.03 F Bamberg
He only lacks experience and confidence to become one of the best players in the league in the positions he plays! He has the full package. He’s a good athlete, he knows the basics of basketball well, he can create even better from what he showed in his first season and in offense he’s able to score in every way. Up close and long-range, facing the basket or with his back to it. The sense he gave us last year is that, not even he himself has realized how good he can be for European basketball!
#57 Sinan Guler 1983 1m.92 G Galatasaray
He’s among the category of players who contribute a lot more than what their… numbers shows. Always determined in defense, an energy-producing machine. Consistent contribution in creation and very dangerous in drives, relying on his explosive first step. A multi-tool player dedicated to his team, something that always plays a catalytic role in the crucial objective of chemistry.
#56 Joey Dorsey 1983 2m.03 C Barcelona
One of the players with the greatest defensive range in the league, all these past few years. Amazing after switching defenses and in every kind of pick-and-roll situation, he can thwart rival attacks on his own and create problems for them. In offense he depends on others and needs the guards’ creations in order to back them with strong finishes and high percentages in two-point shooting. His free-throw percentage remains a considerable weakness as it is steadily below 50%.
#55 Ricky Hickman 1985 1m.89 G Armani Milano
He came back last year from his injury, with Zeljko Obradovic giving him opportunities but not a fixed role or playing minutes in the finalists Fenerbahce. This is why his stats were low. His quality is a given. An explosive player, very efficient with his drives, when he feels good and is confident he can do everything well on the court and for a long time in the game. With a leading role in Milano and good chemistry – a permanent problem for Armani – he might prove to be a great signing and we might see him once again performing at Maccabi’s high standards.
#54 Cedi Osman 1995 2m.04 F Efes Anadolu
The most important young Turkish player, based on his talent and the potential that he has. He can do many things on the court, he has a long body, and in offense he threatens from the perimeter but also through drives. For now, he’s more effective on the open court than in the 5-on-5. Another one of his assets is his perception of the game and the passing, since until the age of 20 he played in the guard position. If he stays fit, he can have a breakout season and the plan is to move to the NBA and the champions, the Cavaliers, next summer.
#53 Patric Young 1992 2m.09 C Olympiacos
Last season he only managed to play in 5 games before getting injured. Definitely the most ferocious big man in the league, with tremendous physical strength and impressive explosiveness. He’s going to need time to find rhythm and stop thinking about the injury. If he manages to stay fit physically but also mentally he’s going to contribute considerably and with a great range in defense, lots of blocks and consistent scoring in offense, alongside such good creators. He has to improve his technique and acquire his own game in the low post in order to take better advantage of his rich physical attributes.