By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
The first VTB United League All-Star Game is finally happening this season. On February 11, the stars of one of the most competitive championships in Europe will gather in the city of Sochi to participate in a much anticipated event.
In light of this special occasion we decided to handpick the favorites, or the strongest candidates if you will, to participate in the All-Star gathering. We chose 12 non-Russian players that compile a pretty strong “World Stars” squad and 12 Russian players who create a kind of a… “national team” within the VTB.
Our criteria are rather simple and have to do with factors such as:
1) Each player’s individual performances. Not only the numbers they produce but also what they bring to the game of their teams and you can’t find in any statistics sheet.
2) The teams’ records in the league so far and their place in the standings. With one or two rare exceptions (that are completely justified as you will read) each player in our lists has contributed to a winning record of some significance. It goes without saying that the higher the team’s position in the standings, the more players it deserves in the All-Star game.
3) The players’ capability for… showtime! Because let’s be honest, that’s what the All-Star game is about. We want a strong fight on the court but also more highlights than we can handle.
DON’T FORGET! You can choose which players you want to see in the All-Star game by voting in the official VTB United League Facebook page. You have until January 9, 12 p.m. (CET +3) to cast your votes!
WORLD STARS
Milos Teodosic (CSKA Moscow)
Season Stats:
13.3 points, 6.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 16.1 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
Is that a serious question (yes, we’re asking ourselves) ? Not really, just a rhetorical one. The most spectacular and quite possibly the best player in Europe doesn’t need a reasoning on why he belongs in All-Star game. He’s simply a moving highlight able to provide exhilarating material of the highest order for the cameras. And you can bet on your life, that he will that abundantly in Sochi.
Nando De Colo (CSKA Moscow)
Season Stats:
21 points, 6.7 assists, 2 rebounds, 24 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
Like Teodosic, there’s no need to explain why the French combo guard belongs among the elite stars of VTB League. Even though he missed some games recently due to an injury, his participation in the All-Star game is a MUST for one of the top scorers in the league and the main weapon of a team with a 9 – 1 record, the best in the standings.
Kyle Hines (CSKA Moscow)
Season Stats:
7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 9.2 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
How can you have an All-Star game without the “muscle” of the team that is leading in the standings? Right, you can’t! Hines isn’t only the backbone of CSKA Moscow’s defense but also a guy who can bring some powerful dunks at the stage and fill the court with energy and passion. Exhibition game? Nah… this dude will take it seriously!
Janis Timma (Zenit St. Petersburg)
Season Stats:
13.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 14.4 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
His versatility is the glue that connects the pieces of Zenit St. Petersburg, one of the top teams in the standings. He shoots the ball, throws dimes at his teammates, he is a guy who could fit in any team, including… All-Star squads. Plus, he’s quite fun to watch and that’s a key factor folks.
Keith Langford (Unics Kazan)
Season Stats:
18.9 points, 3.2 assists, 3 rebounds, 19 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
No-brainer for one of the most gifted scorers not only in VTB League, where he stands at the fourth place of the related list, but also in Europe. Unics Kazan co-owns the top of the standings tied with CSKA Moscow, mainly thanks to Langford‘s jaw-dropping, bucket making skills.
Rob Lowery (Astana)
Season Stats:
13.7 points, 4.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 13.5 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
Astana is perhaps the pleasant surprise of the season in VTB League and most positive aspects its game arrive from the hands of Rob Lowery. He handles most offensive duties beautifully and carries some stunning performances in his pockets. Since his team is overachieving, it’s only fitting that he deserves the All-Star jersey
Artsiom Parakhouski (Unics Kazan)
Season Stats:
11.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 14.5 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
Well we need a big guy in our team right? A classic 7-footer with those sweet moves at the low post, who can make the best out his opponents’ passes and throw some angry blocks in the mix. Given Unics’ position in the league so far, he more than deserves a place in our squad.
Quino Colom (Unics Kazan)
Season Stats:
14.1 points, 7.4 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 16.9 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
Not only is he the top passer in VTB League but also with which the offensive engine of Unics runs its game. Honestly, we can easily picture him during the All-Star game, “feeding” his teammates for one slam dunk after the other. Non-stop.
Nick Minnerath (Avtodor Saratov)
Season Stats:
21.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 19.3 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
If the simple reason that he is the league’s top scorer isn’t enough let’s talk about the excitement he brings in the game. Minnerath can transform every match he participates into a slam dunk contest with him as the protagonist. He’ll hammer the ball in like there’s no tomorrow which is what we should expect from him in Sochi.
Kevin Jones (Lokomotiv Kuban)
Season Stats:
11 points, 6 rebounds, 12.3 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
He has been playing great basketball recently and, more importantly, his improved performances have been bringing success to his team. One of the components that defines an “All-Star” Also, we need an extra forward/center in our team.
Mardy Collins (Lokomotiv Kuban)
Season Stats:
14.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 17.4 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
He’s the one-man orchestra of his team that is priding on the second best record (8-2) in the league and that’s saying something. Collins is the complete package and perhaps the best all-arounder in the VTB world. Can’t miss the All-Star gathering.
Frank Elegar (Enisey)
Season Stats:
14.6 points, 9 rebounds, 19.9 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
The best rebounder of the league and the top performer of Enisey is also an extreme high-flyer. A guy who can simply go through a game by delivering one dunk after the other… sometimes effortlessly. We’ll need people like him in Sochi.
RUSSIAN STARS
Alexey Shved (Khimki Moscow)
Season Stats:
19.4 points, 3.7 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 15.1 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
Apart from the fact that he is the top Russian player in VTB League? He’s leading Khimki Moscow in scoring, assists and PIR, which doesn’t come as a surprise really. Not only one of the most elite players of the championship but also a highly popular one, since he is already one of the top choices in the All-Star voting, along with Keith Langford.
Nikita Kurbanov (CSKA Moscow)
Season Stats:
9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 12.9 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
The best rebounder of CSKA is a quite consistent player and always there to provide helping hands anywhere he is needed. He’s definitely a factor that has helped the defending champs begin the season with 8 – 1 record and, basically, we are simply talking about one of best Russians in the league.
Andrey Vorontsevich (CSKA Moscow)
Season Stats:
5.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 6.4 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
He already has a start status in VTB League, especially among Russian players. Numbers don’t tell all the truth on how important he is for CSKA Moscow on both ends of court. Vorontsevich can also be spectacular without much sweat and there’s no doubt he can provide some show in the All-Star game.
Evgeny Voronov (Unics Kazan)
Season Stats:
6.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 7 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
One of the most dedicated players Unics is also one of the top domestic ballers. There’s more than meets the eye to Voronov since at first glance, he’s just a player for all the “dirty jobs”, but when given space he provides substance as well as plenty of highlights.
Sergey Karasev (Zenit St. Petersburg)
Season Stats:
13 points, 2.2 assists, 2 rebounds, 10.7 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
He’s back and ready to take the league by storm. Just like he did before his injury, when had some stunning performances which still don’t begin to describe the full spectrum of his quality. Karasev is also quite popular among VTB fans who already know why he belongs among the other All-Stars in Sochi.
Dmitry Khvostov (Lokomotiv Kuban)
Season Stats:
6.3 points, 4 assists 7.6 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
His affinity for the “unpredictable” is definitely All-Star material and his play-making one of the pieces that compile the 8 – 2 Lokomotiv Kuban puzzle in the season so far. He can bring forth some sweet, spectacular passing in the mix during the gathering in Sochi.
Ivan Strebkov (Nizhny Novgorod)
Season Stats:
15 points, 4.9 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 14.3 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
Niznhy may be struggling a bit so far, but the star of Strebkov definitely shines quite bright. He’s having nothing less than a breakthrough season, registering some of the most impressive numbers by a Russian player in VTB. Definitely, and without a single doubt an All-Star.
Sergei Monya (Khimki Moscow)
Season Stats:
9.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists 12.3 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
You can’t have an All-Star gathering without the iconic captain of Khimki Moscow. Monya’s leadership and character has been of great help to his team for one more season, with his characteristically “cold-blooded” shooting being a highlights on its own.
Artem Klimenko (Unics Kazan)
Season Stats:
6.9 points, 4.1 rebounds 8.6 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
He’s one of the most imposing Russian big guys in VTB and absolutely on the rise! No wonder that Unics Kazan, the top team in the standings together with CSKA, decided to acquire him and trust him from coming from the bench for valuable assistance. Certainly deserves the All-Star jersey.
Andrey Zubkov (Lokomotiv Kuban)
Season Stats:
11.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 13.7 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
The Russian forward has been taking charge this season with high-motor action that has elevated his game to a completely different level. His contribution to Lokomotiv Kuban’s 8 – 2 record is large and goes beyond what numbers show.
Vladislav Trushkin (Enisey)
Season Stats:
8.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 10.6 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
A powerful forward who has greatly helped Enisey have a balanced record in the standing so far with 5 victories and 5 defeats. But it’s not only his performances that make him “All-Star worthy”, He is a favorite among fans of Enisey, and not only and that’s saying something for how much his game is appreciated.
Sergei Chernov (Parma)
Season Stats:
10.4 points, 4.2 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 10.6 PIR per game
What makes him an All-Star?
He is among the Russian VTB players who are standing out with their performances on an individual level. Parma may be winless in the league so far, but not for lack of Chernov’s trying his best and delivering some really solid numbers. You have to give him credit and recognition for his efforts which earn him a place in Sochi.