By George Efkarpides & Dionysis Aravantinos / info@eurohoops.net
In recent times, more and more European players join the NBA and this year, a record-breaking 74 European players will be playing in the NBA.
The NBA has been attracted to international players, who seem to have unique talents, and are ready to conquer the basketball world.
Last season, many European players had dazzling campaigns with their respective teams. Others are considered to be ‘rising stars’ and players like Giannis Antetokounmpo have already established themselves as top-10 players in the league.
An exciting season is just around the corner and eurohoops.net has ranked the top 30 Europeans for the upcoming year.
The criteria for this year’s rankings are: The quality of the player, his role on the team and what is expected from him this upcoming season. Moreover, the playing time we anticipate he will get by his coach in combination with what he has been able to achieve in his NBA career so far.
- Jonas Valanciunas (Toronto Raptors / Lithuania)
Year of Birth: 1992
Height: 213cm (7-0)
Position: C
JV has continued to post impressive numbers despite seeing his minutes decrease. With “small ball” becoming a trend in the NBA JV’s inability to stretch the floor has cost him playing time but he continued to impress regardless. Last season, Valanciunas nearly averaged a double-double with 12 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in 25.5 minutes. The Lithuanian stud participated in this years Eurobasket and was an unstoppable force especially in the group stage.
Lithuania managed to make it to the knockout round but couldn’t advance further. Still, Valanciunas averaged 14.5 points and 12.0 rebounds per contest.
Coach Dwayne Casey has praised Valanciunas, multiple times, saying that “This is the best I’ve seen Jonas play” and he should have a great year.
- Nikola Vucevic (Orlando Magic / Montenegro)
Year of Birth: 1990
Height: 213cm (7-0)
Position: C
Besides being in a crowded front-court, Vucevic had a nice season for the Orlando Magic and will remain one of the team’s top options on the offensive end. The 26-year old is bound to have a bounce-back year after seeing his points per game average drop to 14.6 from 18.2 in the previous season.
Vucevic, led his national team to the knockout stages of the Eurobasket while averaging 14.5 points and 8 boards per contest. If Orlando decides to rebuild and trade him, there is no doubt that he will be welcome on any team.
- Dennis Schröder (Atlanta Hawks / Germany)
Year of Birth: 1993
Height: 185cm (6-1)
Position: G
Schröder is coming off his best NBA season in which he averaged 17.9 points and 6.3 assists for the Atlanta Hawks. Now, Mike Budenholzer’s team is clearly in rebuilding mode and Dennis will be the no1 option on offense. Atlanta is willing to build their team around Shröder and it’s up to him to live up to the expectations.
Leading a team won’t be a problem as that is exactly what he did for his national team in this year’s Eurobasket. The 24-year old averaged 23.7 points and 5.6 assists and was a one-man show at times leading Germany to the knockout rounds where they eliminated France, one of the favorites to win the contest.
He is clearly the Hawks franchise player at the moment.
- Pau Gasol (San Antonio Spurs / Spain)
Year of Birth: 1980
Height: 213cm (7-0)
Position: F/C
Future Hall of Famer, Pau Gasol, will enter his 17th season in the NBA and will spend the next 3 playing for the San Antonio Spurs after signing a three-year $48M extension. A two-time champion, Gasol played 64 games for the Spurs last season and while he only averaged 25.4 minutes per game he still managed to put up some impressive numbers averaging 12.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
Don Pau, appeared in this years Eurobasket and became the all-time leader in Eurobasket history adding another endorsement to his illustrious career.
Coach Popovich might continue to monitor his minutes but Gasol will still manage to have an impact just like he has throughout his entire career.
- Goran Dragic (Miami Heat / Slovenia)
Year of Birth: 1986
Height: 191cm (6-3)
Position: G
When the Miami Heat decided not to re-sign Dwayne Wade, one of the reasons was that they envisioned Dragic as the team’s playmaker. “The Dragon” answered the call and is coming off one of the best seasons in his career.
The 31-year-old averaged 20.3 points, 3.8 boards and 5.8 assists while shooting an efficient 47.5%. His team finished the season with a record of 30-11 while starting the season 11-30 and should have made the playoffs.
Dragic carried over the momentum to the Eurobasket and led his national team their first title while averaging an astonishing 22.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists. At times, he carried his team single-handedly. In specific, he dropped 35 points in the final after his “sidekick”, Luka Doncic got injured.
The Slovenian sensation won the NBA most improved player in 2014 but hasn’t been named an all-star yet something that is bound to change this season.
- Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets / Serbia)
Year of Birth: 1995
Height: 208cm (6-10)
Position: C
Jokic is coming off an odd season in Denver. At first, coach Mike Malone wanted to play Nurkic and him together which didn’t work. After Nurkic was traded to the Blazers “The Joker” was unleashed. The Serbian stud averaged 16.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists and had 6 triple-doubles in the process.
Jokic, may have skipped the Eurobasket to work on his game although his only real weakness is foul trouble.
One of the most complete big men in the game, a true point guard from the center position, Jokic is expected to raise the bar even higher after this season. The addition of Paul Milsap may take some weight off his shoulders as far as scoring but make no mistake. Nikola Jokic is Denver’s best player and the entire franchise is well aware.
- Kristaps Porzingis (New York Knicks / Latvia)
Year of Birth: 1995
Height: 221cm (7-3)
Position: F/C
The departure of Carmelo Anthony has clearly opened the door to Kristaps Porzingis to become the no1 option in New York. Last year he appeared in 66 games and averaged 18.1 points and 7.2 rebounds but the impressive stats are the 2.0 blocks and 1.7 threes per contest.
The “unicorn” is coming off an amazing Eurobasket campaign in which he led Latvia to the knock-out stages while averaging 23.6 points and 5.9 rebounds but his team was also a “victim” of Slovenia.Now in his third NBA season, the twenty-two-year-old will look to take another step in improving his game by becoming more efficient and staying away from foul trouble.
If he can enjoy an injury-free season, there is no reason for him not to make the all-star team.
- Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies / Spain)
Year of Birth: 1985
Height: 216cm (7-3)
Position: F/C
Just like good wine, Marc Gasol seems to get better as he ages. Last season, he added the 3-point shot to his arsenal averaging 1.4 3’s per game while shooting an efficient 39%. The three-time all-star will try to lead the Grizzlies to their 8th straight post-season berth and if that does not seem likely, a potential trade to a championship contender must not be ruled out.
Gasol, 33 did participate in the Eurobasket but was not able to help Spain overcome Slovenia who beat them and went on to win the title. He remains one of the most diverse and skilled big men in the league and is a threat both inside the paint and from beyond the arc.
- Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz / France)
Year of Birth: 1992
Height: 216cm (7-3)
Position: C
The “Stifle tower” is coming off a breakout season in which he led the league in blocks, averaging 2.6 swats per contest. Gobert cashed in his superb performances by signing a lucrative 4-year $102 million extension.
Arguably, he is now the face of the franchise, especially after the departure of Gordon Hayward and will look to expand his game offensively. Gobert shot a poor 65% from the free-throw line and can see his efficiency rating rise if he can improve upon those numbers.
He decided not to participate in the Eurobasket in order to improve his game and if he can he do that, it will be scary for any opponent.