Βy George 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 begins with the point guard position, where one meets some of the biggest names in the competition! Let’s take a look at what those names are…
1. Luka Doncic
Team: Real Madrid
Stats: 18.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 25.9 PIR
Age: 18
2017 was a magical year for Luka Doncic! The boy wonder of European basketball led the national team of Slovenia to their historic win of the EuroBasket and, a few months later, he proved he’s ready to lead a team that aims to win the EuroLeague.
Real Madrid’ leader does everything on the court and every single week he forces you to sit in front of your TV to enjoy him. Besides, it’s no coincidence that right now he’s the big favorite for the No.1 selection in this year’s draft, with more and more scouts from the other side of the Atlantic writing articles and features about him.
His stats confirm the fact that we’re dealing with a more than a complete player. Highly productive with 18.6 points per game, valuable in creation (4.8 assists) and rebounding (5.7), mature and more ready to step up than any other athlete his age.
For as long as he plays on European courts, basketball fans will have no option than to enjoy every minute of it…
Doncic’s career high at the Peace and Friendship Stadium (33 points)
2. Nick Calathes
Team: Panathinaikos
Stats: 13.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 17.3PIR
Age: 28
Nick Calathes impacts his team’s game like few other players in the EuroLeague do! With him on the court, Panathinaikos become a different team. They play at a higher level and are ready to take advantage of every opportunity they are given to run on the counter.
Xavi Pascual sees in the face of the expat guard the great leader of the Greens who improves their movement of the ball, takes full advantage of his teammates, provides more options in offense (pick and rolls, drives, split outs, etc.), plays amazing defense and fills up his stats like few others. Besides, who can forget that, in the game against Efes, Calathes almost got a triple-double with 29 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds, winning fairly the MVP award for November?
One look at his stats will confirm all of the above. Miraculous Nick’s average of 13.6 points makes him Panathinaikos’s top scorer this season and his 7.9 assists place him at the top of the relevant list in the entire EuroLeague!
Those that once doubted his skills will have surely regretted doing so by now…
Calathes Vs Efes with 29 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds
3. Norris Cole
Team: Maccabi Tel Aviv
Stats: 14 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 13.3 PIR
Age: 29
In his basketball career, Norris Cole has experienced a moment that others dream of their entire lives, twice! He reached the top of the world with LeBron James’s Miami Heat, and now he wants to do the same in the EuroLeague with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
His performance in this first half of the season rightly places him in the top three point guards, since the time it took him to adjust was minimal and, as a result, he started scoring 20 points from early on. Besides, when a player has quality he always finds a way to stand out!
The American guard has fit in excellently well with Neven Spahija’s plans and, as a result, he counts an average of 14 points and 4.1 assists, executing with 40% from outside the three-point line. His ability in the one-on-one is rare, while particular attention has to be given to the way he drives and executes in front of rival big men despite the fact he’s just 1.88m tall.
When the management was reaching an agreement with Norris Cole in the summer, they knew they were bringing on a top-shelf player and his presence so far has absolutely justified their choice.
Norris Cole’s 19 points against Fenerbahce