By Giorgos Orfanakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Players available for EuroLeague clubs make an endless list. Some of them moved their talents to the Chinese CBA during the 2018-19 season. Eurohoops picked out ten talented players from the Chinese League that can easily fit in the roster of any EuroLeague side.
Lately, CBA has become a big wound for the European market, with a lot of players opting for the hefty contracts and the shorter season. However, many players are expected to make their EuroLeague comeback this summer. Europe’s premier competition is once again ready to entice many players who want to compete in a league that clearly has more quality and to experience real competition.
Eurohoops presents some interesting cases of players who shined on Chinese courts in the 2018-2019 season and who will be targeted by European clubs.
Malcolm Delaney
2018-19 Stats: 19.4 points, 5.6 assists, 6.1 rebounds, 41.6% in three-point field goals
He’s one of the most talked about names among basketball fans. His views, his honest answers on Twitter and his criticism regarding everything that is happening around us, make Malcolm Delaney a favorite topic of discussion.
The American guard is an amazing player with experience in the EuroLeague, China and the NBA. Last season he played in the colors of the Guangdong Southern Tigers in 37 games, averaging 19.4 points, 5.6 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 41.6% in three-point field goals.
He has proven he can act as a leader and hold his own at the highest level. For the past few months he has been taking his time, preparing his next move. The European team that will manage to persuade him will have automatically upped their level in the backcourt.
Aaron Jackson
2018-19 Stats: 25 points, 7.6 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 40.4% in three-point field goals
Aaron Jackson’s name is going to be heard a lot in the European market this summer. Besides, there aren’t too many players who have won the EuroLeague title, have the experience of 166 games in Europe’s premier competition and are free agents.
The American guard wants to return to Europe and, armed with specific competitive features, he’s expected to find a good contract. He’s a fast and athletic point guard, with great ability in scoring and creating, energy in offense and defense but also the willingness to adapt to the role he will be assigned.
Justin Hamilton
2018-19 Stats: 23.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 38% in three-point field goals
Justin Hamilton is one of those big men who are rare in European basketball. With a height of 2.13m, he can provide great solutions close to the basket but at the same time he can move away from it and execute from the perimeter with great success.
It’s telling that in Valencia in 2015 he completed the season with 40% in three-point field goals, in the Brooklyn Nets a year later he executed with 31%, and since then he has been doing splendidly in China, averaging 23.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 38% in three-point field goals.
Ioannis Bourousis
2018-19 Stats: 16.5 points, 3.7 assists, 8 rebounds
There’s no need for any special recommendations when it comes to Ioannis Bourousis. Basketball fans know the Greek center very well as he had a great career in the EuroLeague before making the decision to try something completely different with the Zhejiang Lions. These two years have gone very well for Bourousis, who, this season, appeared in 45 games and averaged 16.5 points, 3.7 assists and 8 rebounds in almost 28 minutes of playing time.
At 35 years of age Bourousis is still a very good option for any European club. Besides, the way he plays isn’t heavily affected by his age, while his experience and presence in the locker room can help the whole function of a team.
Joseph Young
2018-19 Stats: 36.1 points, 5.2 assists, 5.1 rebounds
One of the biggest names on this list, a player with talent to spare and a bright future. Joseph Young was selected with the 43rd pick in the 2015 NBA draft and in the three years that followed he appeared in 127 games with the Indiana Pacers, averaging 3.4 points and 1 assist.
In the summer of 2018 he decided to move to China for the Nanjing Monkey Kings, where he had a full season with 43 games and an average of 36.1 points. Young is a genuine scorer who graduated from Oregon with an average of 20.7 points and was one of the best players in the NCAA in 2014. A possible move to Europe would mean that a team would have to reach deep in their pockets but at the same time they would be adding to their roster an amazing 26-year-old player.
Darius Adams
2018-19 Stats: 36.6 points, 8.4 assists, 7.5 rebounds
Another American with experience in the EuroLeague and a flair for scoring. A few weeks ago Darius Adams completed a magical season with unbelievable averages (36.6 points, 8.4 assists, 7.5 rebounds) and now he can negotiate a new big contract.
Who can forget his last presence on European courts? It was in the colors of Baskonia, where, together with Mike James, they created an excellent duo in the guard positions and led his team all the way to the Final Four of the EuroLeague.
Adams is 30 years old and is in the best shape of his career. He has shown in the past what he is able to offer and if he decides to return to Europe, it’s certain that he will receive many offers.
Sonny Weems
2018-19 Stats: 23.3 points, 6.3 assists, 5.9 rebounds
NBA, EuroLeague, then back to the NBA, then again the EuroLeague and now in China. Sonny Weems’ journey includes several stations, the last one being the Guangdong Southern Tigers, where he averaged 23.3 points, 6.3 assists and 5.9 rebounds in 43 games.
The American has proved in the past that he can function as a protagonist in Zalgiris Kaunas, CSKA, Maccabi and Efes. He was always a player of rare competitive features, with a very good shooting ability and virtues in offense that are necessary to every roster.
Paradoxically, Weems has never won a EuroLeague trophy, even though he had several opportunities with CSKA. However, he can do it in the future if he chooses to join one of the 18 teams of the competition.
Marcus Denmon
2018-19 Stats: 33.6 points, 6.2 assists, 7.1 rebounds
Marcus Denmon has skills he’s displayed and led many to believe in his potential. He showed that he’s an excellent scorer while playing for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls. Even in a league like China’s, where high scores are considered the standard, the average of 33.6 points is a great credit for Denmon.
The American provided great help in assists with 6.2 per contest and rebounds with 7.1 per game, confirming that he has the entire package to hold his own at the EuroLeague level.
Brandon Bass
2018-19 Stats: 22.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Basketball fans remember Brandon Bass mostly from the Boston Celtics, perhaps the Los Angeles Lakers too, but in the last two seasons the player has left the NBA to try his luck in the CBA. It’s a given that the American power forward/center has all that it takes to dominate in the Chinese league, something that his quite high averages confirm. With 22.8 points and 9.7 rebounds, he’s one of the best big men in the league.
At 34 years of age, Bass full of NBA experience proved he can make the difference in China. It remains to be seen whether there is going to be any interest from Europe. He can certainly hold his own in the EuroLeague and be a reference point in the paint.
Shabazz Muhammad
2018-19 Stats: 29.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists
Shabazz Muhammad’s move to China caused a sensation. After all, we’re talking about a player who has an experience of 278 games in the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Milwaukee Bucks and pretty decent averages that, among other figures, include 9 points and 2.8 rebounds.
So, his amazing presence on the courts of the CBA is not at all surprising. The American guard/forward is coming off a full season with 41 appearances but also double double averages (29.8 points, 11.2 rebounds).
It should be considered a given that Shabazz will look for a way back to the NBA, where he deserves to be playing based on his talent. However, no one can rule out the possibility that a EuroLeague club with a big budget will try to acquire him.