The Magnificent Seven NBAers with a EuroLeague title

02/Apr/18 19:45 April 2, 2018

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02/Apr/18 19:45

Eurohoops.net

The sight of top players of the Old Continent moving to the NBA to try their luck against the best is becoming more and more common. Eurohoops presents you with the European champions that are currently playing in the magical world of the NBA.”.

By Stelios Toromanides/ info@eurohoops.net

There are three European players, two from the American continent, an African and an Australian in the best league in the world who have a EuroLeague trophy on their list of achievements.
 
In fact, one of them has an NBA championship ring as well. These are excellent players with a lot of talent and most of them have been able to stand out with their performance in the best league on the planet.
 
A common feature of all seven is that they left Europe either as soon as they became EuroLeague champions, or one season later. The city of Utah could be characterized as a “hangout” for former trophy winners in the top club competition on the Old Continent, since three of them are playing in the colors of the Jazz.
 
Before we start counting down our list – on the basis of the successes and the career of each player – we should highlight that the only coach who has won the EuroLeague as head coach (with Virtus Bologna and CSKA) and is on the staff of an NBA team is Ettore Messina, who, for the last few years, has been Gregg Popovich’s close associate in the San Antonio Spurs.

7. Salah Mejri

Position: Center
Country: Tunisia
Current team in the NBA: Dallas Mavericks
Seasons in the EuroLeague: 2 (2013-2015)
EuroLeague trophies: 1 (2015)
Team with which he won the EuroLeague: Real Madrid
 
The first Tunisian basketball player in the history of the EuroLeague as well as the NBA. The 2,18m-tall giant played for two seasons in the top club competition in Europe in the colors of Real Madrid before leaving for the “magical world.” Even though he wasn’t a starter in the Whites’ excellent team, he was on the court for almost 10 minutes per game and contributed 3.7 points and 2.8 rebounds. He played in the final in both seasons, winning the trophy the second time against Olympiacos.
 
Then he moved to the USA for the Dallas Mavericks, where he has a similar role to the one he had in Real in terms of his playing time. Whenever he is given opportunities he shows the different aspects of his talent, which, after all, is what is keeping him in the best league in the world for the third consecutive season.
 
Some plays from Mejri’s career so far:

6. Joe Ingles

Position: Small forward
Country: Australia
Current team in the NBA: Utah Jazz
Seasons in the EuroLeague: 4 (2010-2014)
EuroLeague trophies: 1 (2014)
Team with which he won the EuroLeague: Maccabi Tel Aviv
 
What he couldn’t do in three seasons with Barcelona (2010-2013) he did with Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 2013-2014 season, when he won the EuroLeague trophy, only to move to the NBA immediately after.
 
He’s one of the few basketball players who play better in the “magical world” than they did in the EuroLeague, as his stats show. The excellent shooter is having his best season in the top league in the world as a starter for the Utah Jazz. In 31.5 minutes per game, he counts 11.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists, and looks like he’s a perfect fit for his team’s aspirations.
 
Some plays from Ingles’s career so far:

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