By Eurohoops Team / info@eurohoops.net
While many may disagree with the rule, the fact is that naturalized players, one per each team, is a must, especially for countries with a small talent pool and in some cases, those are the players that make the difference.
J.R.Holden still is a hero in Russia after making the winning shot in the Eurobasket final in 2007, Pooh Jeter was the reason behind a spectacular 2013 run for Ukraine and the same happened with Bo McCalebb and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in 2011.
And this will happen again this year, as some of the most exciting players in the tournament are playing for their adopted countries.
BOBBY DIXON – TURKEY
Robert Lee “Bobby” Dixon met with Turkish basketball in the summer of 2012. The American guard who signed Pınar Karsiyaka attracted attention with his performance for the Izmir team after winning the Turkish league title in 2015. He signed for Fenerbahce and he became a Turkish citizen with the name “Ali Mohammed”. It was a move more than welcomed by the national team. He is expected to play a crucial role in the tournament, as the younger generation of Turkish players is not totally ready to carry the team yet.
TYRESE RICE – MONTENEGRO
The US guard, who spent last season in Barcelona, has also a Montenegrin passport. He has proven what he is worth in the EuroLeague, winning the title with Maccabi Tel Aviv and playing also for Khimki, and Barca. He got his second citizenship back in 2013 and in this tournament, he is expected to be a key contributor for a team that also includes Orlando Magic big man Nikola Vucevic.
AJ SLAUGHTER – POLAND
The 30-year-old American guard played mainly in the French league in Europe, but he was also a member of EuroLeague powerhouse Panathinaikos. In the first major tournament without Marcin Gortat, his shooting ability will be valuable. Slaughter, who had taken the Polish citizenship in the summer of 2015, also played in EuroBasket 2015. He averaged 28 minutes in six games, 9.5 points, and 5.0 assists. He finished last season in Strasbourg.
ANTHONY RANDOLPH – SLOVENIA
He is the most interesting new addition to any team after a very impressive season with Real Madrid. With his high level of athletic abilities, he will have the chance to do damage alongside Goran Dragic and his Madrid teammate Luka Doncic. Randolph, who played for the Golden State Warriors, the New York Knicks, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets in the NBA, started his European adventure with Lokomotiv Kuban and moved to Real Madrid at the beginning of last season. In the EuroLeague, he averaged 10.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 34 games and that will translate well to the Eurobasket.
RICH HOWELL – ISRAEL
Having played in the Israeli League since 2015, Howell finally took the Israeli passport during last season and he will make his debut with the national team this summer. The addition of Howell is welcomed by Israel, which has a limited talent pool and also hosts one of the four first round groups of the tournament. Howell, who played 39 games last season for Hapoel Tel Aviv, averaged 12.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists.
MIKE DIXON – GEORGIA
The American guard of Georgia played for Nymburk, in the Czech Republic, and AEK, in Greece, before signing this summer with Strasbourg in France. He was a key contributor in the qualification games for Georgia, a champion in the Czech League in 2016 and with AEK he played in a total of 50 games with an average of 12.6 points, 2.8 assists and 2.5 rebounds. Georgia emerged during the preparation period as a possible dark horse for the tournament and he is a key part of the team’s success.