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, 70-61 and 60-51 as well.
So let’s continue to countdown.
#50 Nikos Zisis 1983 1m.95 G Bamberg
The Greek guard is entering his 15th season in the top league! Bamberg’s “brain” and leader, who last year gave us the best performance of a German team in the Euroleague ever. A great decision-maker, an excellent creator, a skillful scorer, and one of the best at shooting after a dribble from mid-range. Committed in defense, he is a complete quality package for both backcourt positions.
#49 Aaron Jackson 1986 1m.93 G CSKA Moscow
One of the key players on the roster of the European champions. A very fast guard who can read the game and create rifts often. Very good at drives, he has improved his three-point shooting considerably but without being consistently reliable from long-range. Dedicated to pressing on the ball, he has now found his role in the “bear”, and the most important element aside from his speed is that in many games he effectively functions as a game changer for CSKA.
#48 Daniel Hackett 1987 1m.99 G Olympiacos
A guard with a big body who does not lack in speed. Very strong and effective in every defensive situation, a good creator with many skills on the offensive end as well. On a good day he can threaten in every way, his strongest point being his drive. It’s just that he is still inconsistent and a lot of the times he is either playing great or poorly, something that he has to balance out. Olympiacos are definitely expecting more from him in his second season.
#47 Jayson Granger 1989 1m.89 G Anadolu Efes
One of the fastest guards in the league. With a strong frame, an explosive first step and pretty good creation. When he’s focused he can function efficiently in defense as well, while he’s a good rebounder for his position. He needs to improve his shooting from the perimeter and his decision-making, while he is clearly better on the open court compared to the 5-on-5. Perasovic’s style of basketball can help him have a more productive season than his first one in Turkey and the team.
#46 Matt Lojeski 1985 1m.98 G/F Olympiacos
One of the best shooters in the league. He consistently executes in over 40% from the 6m.75 line, he can also score through drives, and he’s very effective in any transition situation. In Olympiacos he has also improved his defense to some extent. He missed a large part of last season due to health problems and this cost the Greek team and their progress in the Euroleague. He’s one of the best small forwards in the competition.
#45 Devin Smith 1983 1m.96 G/F Maccabi Tel Aviv
One of the most complete players in the league in his position. There’s nothing he can’t do on the court. He plays defense, gets rebounds, helps out in creating, while he can score close to as well as far from the basket, mostly facing it. On a good day, he’s lethal from the three-point line as well. Last year he wasn’t able to prevent Maccabi’s unforeseen early disqualification and the question is whether this year he will manage to combine high performance levels with a more successful course, in his 6th season in Israel.
#44 Chris Singleton 1989 2m.03 F/C Panathinaikos
One of last year’s revelations. In Europe he changed… position compared to his three-year term in the NBA with the Wizards and was routinely used as a mobile big man. He functioned very effectively in this role, because offensively he threatened from long-range as well, opening up spaces, while in defense, after switches on the screens, he could successfully keep up with the rival guards. He’s expected to have the same role in Panathinaikos as well and he’s one of those cases of player that is worth following, in just his 2nd season in Europe for Panathinaikos.
#43 Justin Dentmon 1985 1m.83 G Galatasaray
A scorer in every sense of the word and he proved it in his only season so far in the league with Zalgiris. Charismatic offensively, a threat from any range, he’s unpredictable and relies on the speed of his feet but also of his execution. He also has a good perception of the game and a good passing ability. In defense his size doesn’t help him to be effective. This season is a big bet for him in Galatasaray, where he’s called upon to prove whether he can make the difference at the highest level and respond effectively in a club where there is pressure on all the players.
#42 Pero Antic 1982 2m.10 F/C Fenerbahce
One of the league’s experienced big men. A very intelligent player, with good decision-making, good positioning in defense and offense, who can respond in both positions in the key. Obradovic is expecting defenses from Antic mainly in the post and a lot of rebounds. In offense, his greatest asset is his reliable long-range shot, while traditionally he passes very well for a big guy. A complementary role in a team with two very athletic centers, but a player who usually performs well in big games.
#41 Pau Ribas 1987 1m.94 G Barcelona
A quality guard mostly in regards to his attributes in offense, he can make the difference while being “frugal” with his attempts and with his high percentages. An excellent shooter and a pretty good creator. Barcelona are expecting a lot more from him in his second season, both in terms of contribution as well as… numbers. He’ll be judged according to the team’s overall earnings and the consistency that he is going to present in the battles that decide objectives and titles.