By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Well, it’s that time of the year again.
Eurohoops presents the Top 100 EuroLeague Players ahead of the 2018-2019 season. A list of players compiled with some specific criteria with the purpose of tracing and ranking those hoopers that are expected to define the upcoming EuroLeague season.
While there are some objective and factual elements that were taken into consideration when choosing the 100 players and then ranking them, the final result is, inevitably, subjective.
As always, there was a calculated risk with rookies, especially those who are completely unfamiliar with European basketball. Hence why some players who will now take their first steps in EuroLeague have been omitted from the list or where placed in lower positions in comparison with rookies with considerable experience at a competitive level of European basketball. Experience in this level and type of game matters since we’ve seen no few quality players, even established NBAers, immensely struggle in their new surroundings simply because of their unfamiliarity with everything that European basketball encompasses.
What should be noted is that a player of a team that is a title or Final Four contender automatically got a relative priority over another with possibly similar or equal, maybe even superior individual strengths. This is why you will find that there is an increased number of players from well-known powerhouses, apart from the fact that these teams usually sign top talent.
It goes without saying that injuries also played a part in picking and ranking the players.
Like every year, the Eurohoops Top 100 Players ranking is based on the following criteria (in this order):
1) The individual quality of each player in combination with the role and playing time we anticipate he will get with his team.
2) The strength of the club he plays for. The players of the teams that are usually playoff staples and are considered among the title contenders always have the edge because they combine individual quality with their club’s high aspirations.
3) What each player has achieved in his career in the EuroLeague, combined with the prospect he carries for the 2018-19 season.
The countdown continues with the spots from 60-51. Here are the, 70 – 61, 80 – 71, 90 – 81, plus the 100 to 91 picks.
60. Matt Lojeski
Year of Birth: 1985
Position: Guard/Forward
Height: 1.98 m.
2017-2018 stats: 5.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, in 18:39 minutes per game with Panathinaikos in EuroLeague.
2017-2018 was subpar for Matt Lojeski, especially considering the quality of basketball he showed in the previous EuroLeague seasons He struggled to adapt in the system of Panathinaikos (something that he admitted himself early in the season) and while he was quite accurate in his long-range shooting (43.5 percent on 66 3-point attempts) he rarely took the initiative on offense.
This can change in 2018-2019 though since Lojeski showed some promising signs by becoming a factor in the Finals vs. Olympiacos where he averaged 9.2 points per game. His ability to drain 3-pointers (especially as a weak-side shooter) will be massively important for his team but will he get bigger role compared to the previous season, given the fact that Panathinaikos is packed in the “2” and “3”?
Lojeski can play in both positions to bring an overall depth that stretches beyond “just shooting” to his team’s offense. It remains to be seen how will he be used in the upcoming campaign.
59. Rudy Fernandez (Real Madrid)
Year of Birth: 1985
Position: Guard/Forward
Height: 1.96
2017-2018 stats: 7.4 points, 2.6 assists, 2.5 rebounds in 19:21 minutes per game with Real Madrid in EuroLeague.
With the dash that once characterized him now gone, Rudy Fernandez had to implement some changes in 2017-2018 in order to help Real Madrid in the team’s run towards winning the EuroLeague title.
Rudy improved his shot selection and decision making. His game became more composed, not as much random and ultimately his contribution was more effective for Real than 2016-2017. Although his shooting was hit-and-miss, he had some pure “Rudy moments” that included some of his vintage action from beyond the arc (check out the 16-point performance with 5/6 3-pointers in the road win over Khimki Moscow).
You can argue that he’s been deteriorating, sure. But his versatile contribution and his experience will always be useful to Pablo Laso, hence the reason why Real Madrid he renewed his contract this summer until 2020.
58. Jordan Mickey (Khimki Moscow)
Year of Birth: 1994
Position: Center
Height: 2.04 m.
2017-2018 stats: 4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.4 blocks in 12.3 minutes per game with the Miami Heat in the NBA.
There can never be enough defensive weapons in Khimki Moscow and Jordan Mickey is another one. The American forward/center checks all the criteria of a big guy that the team was looking in his search for Tomas Robinson’s replacement and is getting ready to debut in EuroLeague.
Don’t be surprised if Mickey instantly becomes among the contenders to win “Best Defender of the Year”. He’s expected to be devoted into applying pressure to his opponents, disarming opposing guards off the switch and use his athleticism to deliver mean blocks as a help defender while refusing entrance to everyone that approaches his territory.
As is always the case, with the big guys that Bartzokas chooses, Mickey will attempt his fair share of mid or even long-range shots but it’s mainly the dynamic pick n’ roll that will be his most effective device on offense.
57. Ante Tomic (Barcelona)
Year of Birth: 1980
Position: Center
Height: 2.18
2017-2018 stats: 8.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 0.8 assists in 15:31 minutes per game with Barcelona in EuroLeague.
The new season arrives along with great responsibilities for Ante Tomic. While pressure weighs on all Barcelona players, it reigns supreme for the new captain. The one who was chosen to succeed legendary Juan Carlos Navarro.
Tomic wasn’t chosen only for his seniority of course but also for his quality as a player. Although the latter looks a bit waning over the past years, the Croatian big is indeed one of the most skilled big guys in the continent and one of the last representatives of the old, traditional model of a 7-footer who around the paint. Times have changed since we’re living in the age of “compact centers” and that’s something that the Croatian big is just forced to adapt to.
Once upon a time, Tomic was even the primary initiator for his teammates as a playmaker from the low post but the simultaneous presence of Kevin Pangos and Thomas Heurtel among other facilitators implies that these days are gone for good. Still, he’s expected to undertake a fair amount of offensive duties and remain the team’s beacon at the post.
56. Johnny O’ Bryant (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
Year of Birth: 1993
Position: Forward/Center
Height: 2.05 m.
Season stats: 4.6 points, 3.8 rebounds in 36 games with the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA.
Out of all upcoming EuroLeague rookies we have watched so far in the preseason, the one who has made perhaps the biggest impression in terms of ample production is Maccabi Tel Aviv‘s Johnny O;’ Bryant.
O’ Bryant has scored and rebounded big-time in prep games and that’s have been more than promising for Maccabi that acquired him and Tarik Black in summer to form a powerful frontline do. The American big dropped 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds vs. Khimki Moscow and had 15 points plus 10 boards against Fenerbahce, showcasing his rich variety of attacking moves that range from hitting the 3-pointer to vigorously posting his opponent and just forcing his way to the basket.
A key thing that O’ Bryant provides for Maccabi isn’t only the depth they had added in their lineup of bigs but also the versatility since he can easily play in both frontline positions and be paired with either Tarik Black and Alex Tyus as a “4”.
55. Tyler Ennis (Fenerbahce)
Year of Birth: 1994
Position: Guard
Height: 1.91 m.
Season stats: 4.1 points, 1.9 assists, 1.8 rebounds in 12.6 minutes with the L.A. Lakers in the NBA.
If competing in EuroLeague can be tough for any newcomer, especially those who are strangers to European basketball, imagine how demanding it might be when playing for a title contender like Fenerbahce and under a coach like Zeljko Obradovic.
Maybe Tyler Ennis’ brother (former Crvena Zvezda and currently Zaragoza guard Dylan Ennis) has already given him a tip or two on the challenges of EuroLeague basketball for players who have never participated in this championship. Still, Fenerbahce provides a special kind of challenge for the former Laker.
Adapting into the role (especially with Kostas Sloukas and Bobby Dixon coming from the bench at the point) he’ll have with the Turkish team will be half the success for Ennis. So far in preseason, we’ve seen him playing as a main ball handler and facilitator but also alongside other playmakers, where he moves freely off the ball to keep opposing players busy. He’ll definitely be one of the most intriguing rookies to watch in the upcoming EuroLeague.
54. Felipe Reyes (Real Madrid)
Year of Birth: 1980
Position: Center
Height: 2.03
2017-2018 stats: 8.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 0.8 assists in 15:31 minutes per game with Real Madrid in EuroLeague
You’ve guessed right. Felipe Reyes is by far the oldest play in Eurohoops’ EuroLeague Top 100 Players ranking. He’ll be 39 years old by the end of the 2018-2019 regular season but don’t let that distract you from the fact that he absolutely deserves a spot in our list.
Reyes basically comes off his best season since his All-EuroLeague First Team run in 2014-215 and don’t let simple numbers tell you otherwise. Like all of his teammates, the Spanish veteran managed to produce substantially for the “Blancos” without spending a vast amount of time on the floor. He often “schooled” much younger, much more athletic opponents at the low post thanks to his experience the superb ability to grab rebounds against even taller, more athletic bigs and score without overusing attempts.
He also saved his top performance for a truly big match. With Real down 0-1 to Panathinaikos in the playoffs, Reyes delivered an 18-point, 25-PIR game in a road win that tied the series 1-1 and basically opened the door to the Final Four (and then the title) for his team.
Who’s to say that he won’t once again become a decisive factor in games that are close to “do-or-die” for his beloved Real Madrid.
53. Charles Jenkins (Khimki Moscow)
Year of Birth: 1988
Position: Guard
Height: 1.98 m.
Season stats: 5 points, 3.8 assists, 2.4 rebounds with Khimki Moscow in EuroLeague.
Charles Jenkins serves a similar role with Stefan Markovic (he’s right below) in the game of Khimki Moscow in regards to the guard who plays alongisde Alexey Shved but his own strengths lie mainly on the defensive end.
Throughout his years in EuroLeague, Jenkins developed a fame for the way he torments opposing players thanks to his masterful on-ball defense. He’s also an expert of snatching the ball (had 2 steals per game in 2016-2017) from his opponents’ hands and thanks to his size (he’s like a feared bouncer) he sometimes looks like he can shut down anyone who comes on his way.
On the offensive end, Jenkins serves as basically a spot shooter with quite the success (45.1 percent on 82 attempts in 2017-2018) but defense is what himself admits as his “pride”.
52. Stefan Markovic (Khimki Moscow)
Year of Birth: 1988
Position: Guard
Height: 1.98 m.
Season stats: 5 points, 3.8 assists, 2.4 rebounds in 23:42 minutes per game with Khimki Moscow in EuroLeague.
In Ben Hur, Charlton Heston picks Antares, the slowest of the Arabian horses, to run in the inside during the iconic chariot race because he’s steadiest. He chooses Antares in this role to keep the fastest and more feisty Aldebaran controlled, preserve the right pace and prevent all hell from breaking loose.
If Alexey Shved is Aldebaran, then Stefan Markovic is basically the Antares of Khimki Moscow. The guard who acts as a counter-balance to Shved’s “chaos reigns” modus operandi to provide an equilibrium to Khimki’s backcourt on the offensive end with his smart, calculated game. And that’s quite important for the Russian team.
Markovic should be one of the coaches’ favorite guards because of how well cerebrally he reads the game to provide either as a scorer with drives or post-up moves, or a passer thanks to his creativity. He won’t be the guy you can rely on to nail 3s (he never shot more than 28% in EuroLeague) but you can never guess when he hits a game-winner. Even a crazy one.
51. Daniel Hackett (CSKA Moscow)
Year of Birth: 1987
Position: Guard
Height: 1.93
2017-2018 stats: 9.6 points, 3.4 assists, 2.7 rebounds in 23:58 minutes per game with Brose Bamberg in EuroLeague.
Following a season-ending injury that stole him the opportunity to compete in his first EuroLeague Final Four, with Olympiacos in 2017, Daniel Hackett capitalized on a more than solid previous season with Brose Bamberg by returning to a EuroLeague powerhouse: This time, CSKA Moscow.
The acquisition of Hackett made so much sense for CSKA since he’s exactly the type of player that the team severely lacked. Nando De Colo and Sergio Rodriguez are offensive juggernauts of course, but not exactly DPOY candidates. Hackett arrives not only to fill that void in the rotation of the “Army Men”, since he can guard any player from “1” to “4” and is strong enough to even hold his ground against certain centers at the post, but to also give valuable playmaking assistance from the bench or even as starter in some projected lineups.
Hackett won’t slash and hack his way to reach the basket but he can recognize a gap when he sees it and can post his opponent to finish with a lay-up or by dropping a dime when he attracts the help defense.