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, 60-51 50-41 40-31 and 30-21 as well.
So let’s continue to countdown.
#20 James Anderson 1989 1m.98 G/F Darussafaka
He was impressive in his rookie season with Zalgiris and after another year in the NBA, he returned to Europe and the league. A high quality American with an all-around game who can contribute a lot. A scorer who can threaten in many ways and from any range. He has a very good perception of the game, knows how to create situations for his teammates and is also a very good rebounder. He has the physical attributes and the speed needed to be consistent and effective in defense as well. It’s just a matter of his role, his attitude, and… David Blatt as to how much he’ll be trying to impact the game through this area too!
#19 Bobby Dixon 1983 1m.78 G Fenerbahce
The living proof that it’s never too… late! He played in a Euroleague contender for the first time at 32 years of age – in the past he played also one season in the top european competition with ASVEL – and he was one of the most important players in Fenerbahce’s journey to the final. A good scorer, lethal from the three-point line if he gets into a rhythm, competent in creation and with impressive energy reserves. The most important things in his case is that he gives 100% for the team, works for the chemistry and the team’s goals in tactics, and he’s also prepared to sacrifice himself at any moment in defense too! By hunting down his personal opponents and a lot of pressure on the ball. He earned Obradovic’s trust and established himself at the top level through sheer hard work.
#18 Sonny Weems 1986 1m.98 F Maccabi Tel Aviv
He’s getting ready for his 5th season in the Euroleague, this time in Maccabi’s colors! One of the most gifted players offensively who have played in the league in recent years. A master of the one-on-one game, a very good shooter, able to set up and finish his own plays. He sees the entire court and can also create consistently for his teammates as well, if the coach insists on asking him to do so. Very effective in every transition situation, less good at defensive duties. His quality is great and indisputable on an individual level and what he hasn’t been able to do yet is to prove that he can make the difference in the games that decide the title.
#17 Andrea Bargnani 1985 2m.13 C Baskonia
He returns to the league after 10 years of a significant career in the NBA! His worth and his quality do not need to be analyzed, the whole world knows that in scoring, he’s definitely one of the most charismatic big men that has come out of European basketball in the last 20 years. He can score from any distance, has a great long-range shot, and numerous moves in the post. His career seems to be declining and it will be very interesting to see how he will appear in Baskonia, what season he’s going to have, and to what extent he’s going to help the team as part of the new squad. His quality in offense is rare by European standards. But it’s not enough for him to make the difference if Bargnani doesn’t appear hungry, highly motivated, and determined to prove that he still has a lot to offer.
#16 Gustavo Ayon 1985 2m.08 C Real Madrid
The “Whites”’ main center and one of the best big men in the league, especially in offense. He has a very good touch with the basket from close- and mid-range, has very effective pivot moves, and is able to score from the paint in high percentages with both hands. He can do other jobs successfully as well, like getting rebounds, stealing balls, and taking advantage of his teammates’ moves when defenses double up on him. This is going to be his third season in Madrid and we’re expecting the Mexican center’s performance levels to range at the same high standards.
#15 Luigi Datome 1987 2m.03 F Fenerbahce
A very important player for Obradovic’s team in the offensive part. Charismatic in execution with very high percentages in three-point and two-point shooting. He can perform equally well in the ‘3’ position as he can in the ‘4’, and as a power forward it’s even easier for him to open up the court and prove to be a catalyst so the right decisions can be made in offense and for there to be extra space for his teammates to act in. He can score through moves in the post as well, while he’s pure gold in free throws as well. Last year he also tried hard in the department of defense. We are expecting a similar season – if not better – from the Italian, who seems like he’s now getting close to the peak of his abilities and the best years of his career.