By Dimitris Minaretzis and Stefan Djordjevic/ info@eurohoops.net
Of course, it’s not easy for an NBAer to abandon his career in the USA. A big name could not play in the EuroLeague if he had good offers in the NBA.
This year, however, players with considerable careers and plenty of experience in the best league in the world have come to the EuroLeague, many of them, in fact, for the first time in their basketball lives.
Eurohoops picked out ten of them in no particular order. Those were the ones who created more buzz, plus one coach, Ettore Messina, who has made also a big return.
Jimmer Fredette (Panathinaikos)
The NBA definitely didn’t work for him. He was an amazing scorer in college, he worked wonders in China, but in the NBA he couldn’t settle anywhere. Panathinaikos took the opportunity and closed one of their biggest signings in terms of foreign players.
– Last season, Fredette played in six games with the Suns, averaging 3.7 points.
– His career average in the NBA is 6.0 points in 241 games in six seasons.
Wesley Johnson (Panathinaikos)
Panathinaikos didn’t stop at Fredette. They managed to lure Wesley Johnson too, who, at 32 years of age, decided to play in the EuroLeague for the first time, just like his new teammate.
He was selected with the 4th pick in the 2010 NBA draft, which means he becomes the player with the second-highest pick to play in the Greek league after 1982’s 3rd overall pick Dominique Wilkins (Panathinaikos 1995 – 1996). The Greens added to their squad an athletic player, with a presence on both sides of the court.
– Last season, Johnson played 38 games with the Pelicans and the Wizards, averaging 3.4 points.
– His career average in the NBA is 7.0 points in 609 games (334 as a starter) in nine seasons.