By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
Some of them have been critically-acclaimed NBA stars, some bring NCAA experience, while others made a name for themselves here in Europe. Altogether they make up the Top 10 US players in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague this season, at least through the first two-thirds of the regular season.
It’s a well-known fact that outside the US borders, these kinds of players are a commodity. And while it’s not easy to find the right guy for the right situation, many of them have been established as stars in the league, are paid accordingly and are beloved by a foreign fan base. Mind you that very few US players have been the real anchors of championship-winning teams, so making a name for yourself in the EuroLeague is not as easy as you might think.
Here are the players that stand out so far this season
Mike James – AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan
Games played: 20
Team Record: 9-11
PIR: 423 (Total) / 21.15 (Average)
Points: 404 (Total) / 20.2 (Average)
Milan’s impressive course through the current season has a lot to do with James’s arrival to the team. His leadership has Milan in the fight for a spot in the playoffs, while at the same time he is setting his sights on the Alphonso Ford EuroLeague Top Scorer Trophy. The 28-year-old guard gives Milan almost everything it could ask for. He scores, raises the tempo, is a consistent performer and brings needed energy for the team. He is still beloved by the fans of his former team, Panathinaikos OPAP Athens, and that speaks volume about his status in Europe.
Will Clyburn – CSKA Moscow
Games played: 19
Team Record: 15-5
PIR: 370 (Total) / 19.5 (Average)
Points: 280 (Total) / 14.7 (Average)
Just by looking at his stats, one can easily assume this is Clyburn’s best season of is two with CSKA. Apart from scoring in double digits in 18 out of 20 games so far, he showcases monstrous rebounding skills as well. There’s no question about consistency here. He has been one of the team’s most solid players all season and has saved the day multiple times in narrow victories. CSKA’s route is greatly synonymous with the forward’s spark this season and he is emerging as the key to the Army Team’s high ambitions.
Derrick Williams – FC Bayern Munich
Games played: 19
Team Record: 10-10
PIR: 291 (Total) / 15.3 (Average)
Points: 265 (Total) / 13.9 (Average)
If we had to name the best signing of the season, it would be that of Williams in Bayern. The German champion hit the jackpot with his selection, as the former NBAer fit perfectly into its mentality, bringing in scoring and cold blood on a team that was in dire need of a leader. The 27-year-old forward should also be credited as he knows when to put the team first. It’s no wonder that you won’t see him attempting back-to-back bricks in close games, instead, he will pass the ball around to his teammates. After all, a player’s impact can be shown by his team’s success and the 10-10 record of Bayern is admirable compared to the expectations of the team.
Anthony Randolph – Real Madrid
Games played: 20
Team Record: 16-4
PIR: 303 (Total) / 15.2 (Average)
Points: 259 (Total) / 12.9 (Average)
Randolph seems to have put a tough season from an individual point behind him and returned with brand new energy to put forth tremendous basketball. Not only is he an experienced EuroLeague player and a champ, but he can also lift the team in tough games. At 29, he is definitely at the peak of his career and that shows in the team’s record, too. A starter in all 20 games, Randolph keeps coming back looking as good as ever for every game.
Brandon Davies – Zalgiris Kaunas
Games played: 20
Team Record: 8-12
PIR: 339 (Total) / 16.95 (Average)
Points: 239 (Total) / 14.7 (Average)
Davies fits perfectly to the wave of undersized centers in the competition, with total dominance in his territory. He is efficient and he is improved compared to last season when his team pulled the ultimate upset and qualified for the Final Four. Simply put, Coach Sarunas Jasikevicius can count on him when the ball is heavy. The 2018 Final Four contestants’ season might have taken a bad turn in the previous few weeks, though they are not to be excluded from 2019 playoffs scenarios already. Alas, Davies could have ranked higher on our list with a better team record.
Cory Higgins – CSKA Moscow
Games played: 18
Team Record: 15-5
PIR: 242 (Total) / 13.4 (Average)
Points: 264 (Total) / 14.7 (Average)
Speaking of offensive weapons, Higgins is one of those players who detect weak spots in the opposing defense and make sure to take advantage instantly. He provides CSKA with scoring in clutch moments whether coming from the bench or not. He has scored in double-digits in all but two games, which has him ranked high on the top scorers’ list this season. Together with Clyburn, he undeniably makes a perfect duo to take down any opponent. However, while Clyburn is without a question a starter, Higgins still has to play second fiddle behind Nando De Colo.
Bryant Dunston – Anadolu Efes Istanbul
Games played: 20
Team Record: 13-7
PIR: 241 (Total) / 12.2 (Average)
Points: 165 (Total) / 8.3 (Average)
Efes has been a surprise so far this season, holding on with quality in the standings and being a lock for a playoff position. Dunston‘s contribution to the team is once again notable, with his ups and downs. With a rim protector of his abilities, any team can have a hard time passing through the paint. It’s not a secret that Dunston’s calling card is his defensive abilities and Efes can count on him in that area in every game.
Johnny O’Bryant – Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv
Games played: 20
Team Record: 9-11
PIR: 207 (Total) / 10.3 (Average)
Points: 219 (Total) / 10.9 (Average)
Just when you thought Maccabi was far from the playoffs, they are back under Coach Giannis Sfairopoulos’s guidance. And so did O’Bryant, who’s been a leader for the Israeli champion for multiple games. We don’t often get to see a EuroLeague rookie with a PIR of 44, so one could say that O’Bryant really left an impression in Maccabi’s thrilling victory over Milan. From that game forward, he established himself as a scorer to be trusted by Coach Sfairopoulos.
Zach LeDay – Olympiacos Piraeus
Games played: 20
Team Record: 12-8
PIR: 238 (Total) / 11.9 (Average)
Points: 207 (Total) / 10.4 (Average)
This Olympiacos rookie comes with a college resume as an avid scorer (with a short tenure for one season in Israel afterward) and has managed to shine in plenty of EuroLeague games thus far. Coach David Blatt knows he can trust the 24-year-old big man with his game plans and, in return, LeDay has exceeded expectations. The Reds have had their ups and downs so far in the season, and so has had LeDay, though on any given day he can attack the rim mercilessly. He can clearly excel as a power forward at the top European level and what he needs to find is defensive consistency. On the offensive end, very few players have his ability to finish.
Jordan Mickey – Khimki Moscow Region
Games played: 20
Team Record: 7-13
PIR: 294 (Total) / 14.7 (Average)
Points: 272 (Total) / 13.6 (Average)
Mickey will forever be remembered for his unintentional football-like basket using his head, but also for an incredible rookie season in the EuroLeague in which he has scored in double digits in all but four games. Considering his pedigree, that was pretty much expected from him and he delivered. Even though Khimki is not in its ideal form these past few months with the lack of Alexey Shved, Mickey has managed to bring in much-needed scoring and rebounding (with 5 boards on average) for the team. And if all else fails, he can use his head to tip the ball!
· Honorable mentions:
Earl Clark & Norris Cole – Buducnost Voli Podgorica
Games played: 20 / 6
Team record: 6-14
PIR: Clark – 199 (Total) / 9.9 (Average) / Cole – 105 (Total) / 17.5 (Average)
Points: Clark – 248 (Total) / 12.4 (Average) / Cole – 120 (Total) / 20 (Average)
If Buducnost’s record was a bit more charming, these two could have easily made our Top 10. Both have left their impact on the Montenegrin side, providing its fans with memorable victories over EuroLeague giants such as CSKA, Real Madrid and Barcelona.