By Giorgos Orfanakis/ info@eurohoops.net
The sample from this season is now large enough: 15 rounds, 120 clashes and thousands of minutes of basketball, with the big protagonists often outdoing themselves.
Eurohoops follows up on a tradition that began last season and presents the Top 3 players in every position for the first half of the season. The criteria that shaped the final selection are the following:
- Performance: A player’s performance and presence on the court in at least 10 games! His contribution in the different statistical categories and the degree to which he met the demands in terms of what was expected of him.
- Role: How important is this player in the overall picture of the whole? How crucial is his role for the team, and to what extent can it remain at the same level without him?
- Team’s course: It’s not enough for a player to have played well. He has to have guided his team on a decent course, according to the expectations that existed before the start of the season.
- Quality: There are some players who belong to the so-called “top shelf,” with their value and quality seriously taken into account.
- Subjective view: As is always the case in such matters, the subjective element has the final say. Besides, what could be better than conversations and arguments about basketball?
The presentation is concluded with the Top 3 centers who have taken on a key role in their teams and have been impressing with their performances so far…
1. Jan Vesely
Team: Fenerbahce
Stats: 14.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 18.1 PIR
Age: 27
Ekpe Udoh’s departure from Fenerbahce’s roster took Jan Vesely to the ‘5’ position and, at the same time, his game surged! This season, the Czech is the Turkish team’s barometer and it’s no coincidence that Zeljko Obradovic has been using him for more than 30 minutes per game.
The 27-year-old center’s stats are scary for any opponent since, with 14.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and a PIR of 18.1, he’s a contender for the EuroLeague’s MVP prize.
But what is it that makes this athlete so special? Jan Vesely is flawless in the pick and roll, very athletic, agile and has a long body. All of these things help him to be highly effective in offense (62.8% FG) and especially useful in defense, where he can mark any opponent regardless of their position. His 70% from the free throw line also deserves a special mention, since for a number of years that was his weakness.
Finally, it’s worth noting that, aside from a top big man in the EuroLeague, Vesely is also one of the most Fun-to-Watch players with a constant presence in the Top 10.