Βy Giorgos Orfanakis / info@eurohoops.net
Right now, the Chinese league and the NBA are the two largest competitors of the EuroLeague, with several of its biggest stars choosing to play outside of Europe.
There are many reasons for this and, among other things, they have to do with the heavy game schedule, annual earnings and of course the “glamor” that goes with playing in the best league in the world. Every kid dreams of playing in the NBA one day and for several European and American athletes, that time has come.
Eurohoops singled out the cases of 10 players who packed their backs and headed to foreign lands just a few months ago. Where are they today and how well are they doing?
PS. We miss you Aaron Jackson…
Keith Langford
Team: Shenzhen Leopards
Stats: 16.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Keith Langford’s decision to leave Unics Kazan and the EuroLeague to join the Chinese league caused a great surprise. The American guard was coming off the most productive season of his career with a total of 609 points (21.8 on average) in 28 games and he certainly could have found a high-paying contract with one of the top clubs in the competition.
Besides, Langford had made history when he became the only player who has scored more than 600 points in a single season. This record got him the Alphonso Ford award for the second time (2014, 2017) and he confirmed that he’s one of the most charismatic scorers of all time.
And yet! The Shenzhen Leopards convinced Langford to sign a one-year contract and play in the Chinese league for the first time. There, the 34-year-old has played in 16 games so far, tallying an average of 16 points, 2 assists and 3 rebounds, with his team being in 5th place in the standings with 12 wins and 5 losses. Let’s hope we’ll see him come back one day…
Ekpe Udoh
Team: Utah Jazz
Stats: 2.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Ekpe Udoh graced the courts of the EuroLeague with his presence for two seasons in the colors of Fenerbahce, before returning where he belongs, the NBA! Under the instructions of Zeljko Obradovic, the 30-year-old center evolved into one of the complete American players who have competed on European soil, his performance in defense, as well as offense, being amazing.
It’s telling that in his second and last season, Udoh averaged 12.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1 steal and 2.2 blocks, making him the ultimate MVP of the historic Final Four that saw Fenerbahce emerge as the winners.
Armed with a great skillset, everything he learned in Europe and the maturity of his game, he returned to the NBA and the Jazz. There, he has played in 27 games so far with an average of 2.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.5 blocks, contributing to Utah’s effort to make the Western Conference finals.
We would be lying if we said he’s not missed from the courts of the EuroLeague…
Bogdan Bogdanovic
Team: Sacramento Kings
Stats: 10 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists
In the 2016/17 season, Fenerbahce managed to become the first Turkish team to win the EuroLeague and the fact that they had two current NBA players on their roster is anything but a coincidence. After the dominant Ekpe Udoh comes the turn of the amazing Bogdan Bogdanovic!
The Serbian guard captivated the entire European basketball world for years, he was patient, and when the right time came he signed his first contract with an NBA team. In fact, the Sacramento Kings seem like the perfect environment right now, as the absence of pressure and the youthful roster gives Bogdanovic many appearances and a lot of playing time.
The 25-year-old has been doing an excellent job and, so far, he has played in 26 games, 11 of those as a starter, tallying an average of 10 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists. The way he moves on the court and the ease with which he executes show that, as he adapts, he will constantly improve.
A genuine basketball talent that we will enjoy in the NBA for many years to come…
Μike James
Team: Free agent
Stats: 10.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists
Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Stats: 8.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists
If we had to choose a player who is missed more than any other in this season’s EuroLeague, that would be Milos Teodosic. His basketball IQ, the way he sees the court and his ability to make something spectacular out of… nothing through a simple pass, was what made him stand out.
However, even at the age of 30, he chose to have a different experience in the NBA. He got close to the Bulls but in the end he signed a contract with the Clippers, where he has played in just 6 games due to an injury to his left foot.
The LA team has been plagued with injuries more than any other and, as a result, most players are thrown off rhythm. Even so, Teodosic has an average of 8.8 points, 4 rebounds and 3.8 assists, but the sample is not sufficient to draw any clear conclusions yet.
Besides, the Serbian guard has nothing to prove and it’s a given that, if he remains healthy, he will give the Clippers fans moments like the ones we enjoyed for several years in the EuroLeague.
Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Stats: 2.2 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Cedi Osman is living every young basketball player’s dream as, already from the age of 22, he’s part of what many would consider the best team in the world and trains next to LeBron James every day.
What’s impressive is that the Turkish forward has managed to get playing time right away and at this point in the season he’s on the court for more than 8 minutes, registering an average of 2.3 points and 1.7 rebounds. In the game against the Jazz, in fact, which was a derby until just before the end, Osman played for the entire fourth quarter and helped greatly in offense and defense.
What’s next? Who knows! Common sense says that, as the season progresses and the crucial period gets nearer and nearer, Osman’s playing time will be limited. But as long as the Turk shows this image and this competitive gutsiness, Tyronn Lue can only count on him as a regular part of the rotation.
Daniel Theis
Team: Boston Celtics
Stats: 4.2 points, 4 rebounds
The Celtics continue on their magical course in the Easten Conference and Daniel Theis can boast that he has… lent a hand in this huge success so far.
Within a summer, the German center saw his stocks go through the roof since, from a EuroLeague team of medium capacity like Bamberg, he found himself in Boston as a title contender. In fact, he has taken full advantage of the opportunities that have come as a result of the shortage along the frontline and, as a result, he’s averaging 4.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 12.4 minutes of playing time in a total of 31 appearances!
The evolution of the 25-year-old player in recent years is impressive and, to an extent, is due to the… teacher, Andrea Trinchieri. Now, things have taken their course and it seems like Theis’s future belongs to the “magical world” of the NBA.
Giannis Bourousis
Team: Zhejiang Lions
Stats: 19.3 points, 10.3 rebounds
Sonny Weems
Team: Zhejiang Golden Bulls
Stats: 31.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists
Where have you been Sonny Weems? The American had a starring role in the EuroLeague for a number of years as an extremely athletic and charismatic scorer, but a few months ago he too made the decision to try his luck in China.
There, Weems does what few know how to do: score! In 27 appearances, he has been highly productive with 29.6 points (35% in three-point field goals) on average, while at the same time providing important help with rebounds (8.2) and assists (5.9) and, as a result, he has an impressive PIR of 28.3.
All this in the colors of the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, who are placed just above the middle of the standings in a league that is hosting several names this season that are familiar to European fans.
Darius Miller
Team: New Orleans Pelicans
Stats: 7.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists