By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
The times are changing and after many, many years the holy trinity of Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol and Tony Parker is not included on the top of the European players for the 2016-17 season. Of course, those three names are already legends, knocking the door of the Hall of Fame. Still a new generation of stars has taken the reign for good.
Here are the Top10 European players of the NBA according not only to their numbers but also according to the success they have achieved with their teams. The last player who missed the cut was Houston’s Swiss Clint Capela and also the duo of Spaniard Serge Ibaka and Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas from Toronto deserve a honorable mention.
Scroll down to see the list!
10. Ricky Rubio – Minessota Timberwolves – 11.1 PPG 4.1 RPG 9.1 ASP
Yes, he has not yet fixed his outside shot. However he improved even that, he is among the Top5 of the league passers and he flirted with a double double in points and assists.
While his future remains a question mark and it’s not sure that he will remain in Minessota, he demonstrated that he remains one of the premier floor generals of the league and one of the most gifted passers of his generation.
9. Marcin Gortat – Washington Wizards – 10.8 PPG 10.4 RPG 0.7 BPG
The “Polish hammer” doesn’t get much love, but he is among the key players for the Washington Wizards who emerged as a contender in the East.
Plus Gortat is averaging a double double for the first time since the 2011-12 season in Phoenix. Yes, he is a role player but not many can play their part in such an effective way, being always where they should be and doing what they should be doing.
8. Dario Saric – Philadelphia 76ers – 12.8 PPG 6.3 RPG 2.2 ASP
He is one of the main contenders for the rookie of the year award, he proved that he was worth the wait for the Sixers and for the two months that he was healthy and Joel Embiid wasn’t, he was the best player of his team.
Of course considering the experience he had in Europe, the fact that he was ready to produce is not a surprise, even if the NBA is a diffrent animal. He can be and he is expected to be better, so that’s not a bad start at all for his NBA journey.
7. Kristaps Porzingis – New York Knicks – 18.1 PPG 7.2 RPG 2 BPG
The Latvian “unicorn” had one more impressive season, but the Knicks‘ mess didn’t help him achieve what he really could and he is not ready yet to sort things out for the rest of the team by himself. He has an amazing upside and time is on his side.
The next year may be crucial for him, his progress and the progress of the Knicks. However it seems that he is the most probably franchise player of the roster, specially if you get Carmelo Anthony out of the equation.
6. Dennis Schroder – Atlanta Hawks – 17.9 PPG 6.3 ASP 3.1 RPG
It was not an easy decision for Atlanta to make the young German their starting point guard. The bottom line is that the move has paid off. The 23 years old player is having his best season yet and his numbers are quite impressive.
What seems to be the issue with Schroder is his decision making abilities. He is still learning how to be a real floor general and that’s what is keeping him behind the player who is currently the best European point guard in the NBA.
5. Goran Dragic – Miami Heat – 20.3 PPG 5.8 ASP 3.8 RPG
Dragic is having the best numbers of his career, a little bit better than those of his best season in Phoenix. Still this was not enough for the Heat in order to get to the playoffs. That doesn’t change the fact that the Slovenian is the best European point guard currently playing in the NBA and that’s not a small feat.
Being 30 years old, the question if this is the best he can do remains, but even if that’s the case, then what he has achieved is quite impressive.
4. Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets – 16.7 PPG 9.8 RPG 4.9 ASP
This was his break out season as the Serb is currently the best passing center of the NBA and his performance was what made the Nuggets decide to cut loose Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic. While Nurkic found the right spot for him at Portland, Jokic’s progress is amazing.
With the season over for him, he will have the time to work on his game and also on his body as he can only get better. After all he is just 22 years old.