By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
You can also read our Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Top10 of the year, however, while 2017 was a memorable year for the top league in Europe, basketball is a world sport and many more things happened around the globe.
Here are ten of them which will stand the test of time.
1. Luka Doncic winning Eurobasket gold and leading Real Madrid
Every once in a while, maybe every 30 or 50 years, a unique player appears that creates a legend from the moment he steps on the court.
Luka Doncic had already won the Spanish League with Real Madrid, however, during 2017 his status changed. He was the wingman of Goran Dragic, leading Slovenia in the Eurobasket gold. He emerged as the leader of Real Madrid after Sergio Llull’s injury. And he is so young that he wasn’t yet eligible for the NBA draft. He can only be compared to Arvydas Sabonis and Drazen Petrovic talent-wise at this age and he is destined for greatness. No matter what happens next, 2017 will always be a milestone year for him.
2. The Golden State Warriors conquering the NBA title
Not only the addition of Kevin Durant proved to be a hit, but in 2017 a new dynasty is born which changes the trend in world basketball. The old school big man is all but extinct and everyone should be able to knock down threes like the Warriors do and won their second title in three years.
The fact that the Warriors are doing it, seems so effortless and beautiful that every kid with a basketball wants to play like they do. The sport is changing, the Warriors are the vanguard and even LeBron James may end up changing teams again in order to face them with the best possible chances to beat them. The year 2017 belonged to them and included the Georgian trophy tour of Zaza Pachulia.
3. Giannis’ rise to MVP candidate status
It seems unreal that just four years ago, Giannis Antetokounmpo was playing in the Greek second division and many expected him to be a bust in the NBA.
At the end of 2017, he is the pride of the Greek basketball nation, the best hope to relive past glories the Bucks have since the days of Kareem and not only an All-Star but a candidate even for the MVP title. Of course, he is not the favorite. However, with the way he improves day by day the sky is the limit. The unique combination of his athletism with the European approach of the game makes him one of a kind.
4. Fenerbahce becoming the first Turkish team to win the EuroLeague
The fate of Turkish teams trying to win the elusive EuroLeague title was almost a running joke in the old continent. Until the Zeljko Obradovic era started in Istanbul and Fenerbahce became the first team to finally make it.
The 2017 Istanbul Final Four was a dream come true for the hosts of the event. They went all the way and created a legacy that can only be bigger in the future. With Obradovic having won 9 EuroLeague titles, many forget that he is still just 57 years old, Fenerbahce is also a “young” powerhouse and the future remains their to take over.
The ongoing debate between FIBA and EuroLeague
The division of European basketball is not something new. It dates back in 2000 when EuroLeague was initially created.
What changed the landscape in 2017 is that for the first time the two sides collided practically with the schedule of EuroLeague overlapping the schedule of the national teams’ qualification games (or vice versa if you prefer). All the big clubs in Europe and all the national federations were affected by this situation and multiple issues were created almost in every country of the old continent. The point is that the two major pillars of European basketball remain on a path that leads to nowhere.
Nick Galis enters the Hall of Fame
Nick Galis entering the Hall of Fame in 2017 was a special moment not only for Greece but also for European basketball. No other European player of the 80s and the 90s who didn’t play in the NBA had this honor and it’s highly doubtful that there’s another candidate capable to receive it.
Galis’ legacy is well known and he is the father of modern Greek basketball. While he was not a product of European basketball, but an immigrant and a star at Seton Hall, Galis heralded a new era in European basketball. The American know-how and practice together with the European talent created the mix which is familiar to everyone today.
Top veteran talent leaving for the NBA
For many years the NBA has picked European talent in the draft. Young players were leaving the old continent before their pick and however was left behind, he was destined to spend his career in Europe. Not anymore…
With Milos Teodosic being the poster child for this and the level of competition rising, it makes much more sense for NBA teams to sign battle-tested players who have proven themselves in Europe. That includes also US players who might be given a second chance like EuroLeague champ Ekpe Udoh, or even those who were not drafted like Mike James and Khem Birch. In 2017 the NBA teams have the money to get everything they want.