With the NBA preseason making its debut, the Euroleague regular season enters its final week before teams advance to the “round of 16,” the next stage of the Euroleague competition.
This year’s regular season has been one of the most exciting since the league took on its current format in 2001-2002, due to the influx of talent during the NBA lockout. With each team only having one game remaining in the regular season, now is a good time to take a look at the All-Euroleague teams from the league’s first round.
While most readers may be used to the typical NBA “MVP” rankings which rely heavily on statistical input, statistics have far less value in evaluating players’ performances in the Euroleague. Typically, the best teams in Europe have deep player rotations in 40 minute games, and the games have a more defense-oriented, playoff type of atmosphere, resulting in lower statistics for players who clearly bring more value to the table. Therefore, rather than rationalize picks by the numbers, it seems more accurate to observe what a player has brought to table — and how he has helped his team win.
All “NBA-Out” Team
G – Jordan Farmar – Maccabi Tel-Aviv – New Jersey Nets
After taking a few weeks to adjust to playing in Israel, Farmar emerged as the leader of Maccabi Tel-Aviv during his time with the club. His ability to get into the paint and either kick out to shooters or finish around the rim was the driving force behind Maccabi’s offense in the early portion of the season, and the team has struggled in running their offense since his departure. As a two-way guard who can take command of the offense and lock down opposing guards, Farmar has locked up a spot with Maccabi if he should choose to take advantage of his Israeli passport and head abroad in the future.
G- Rudy Fernandez – Real Madrid – Denver Nuggets
Getting a chance to play the style of game he has openly admitted to missing the past few years, Rudy thrived as an athletic wing man. Plugged into a deep Real Madrid squad, Rudy’s combination of speed, hops and shooting ability made him one of the most explosive scoring threats in the Euroleague. While he still had a tendency to disappear at times, his ability to contribute on hustle plays, and defensively, allowed him to make an impact even while he was struggling. Fans of Madrid have been keeping their fingers crossed that Rudy can negotiate a buyout with Denver and help the team make a run at a Euroleague title.
F – Nicolas Batum – SLUC Nancy – Portland Trailblazers
Batum has emerged as a jack-of-all-trades player over the last few years. During his time with Nancy, Batum proved he is ready for a breakout season this year in the NBA. With Brandon Roy and Fernandez no longer in Portland, Batum may be one of the early contenders for the Most Improved Player award this season.
F – Andrei Kirilenko – CSKA Moscow
Fantasy owners would be pleased to know that AK47 can still put up his old-school stat lines in the Euroleague, averaging over two steels and three blocks. As a player whose game clearly is more suited to Europe than the NBA, AK has been hands down the best player of the Euroleague so far this season. In the NBA, where teams play very isolation-heavy offenses, a player like Kirilenko who plays well through the flow of the game, suffers a bit. Since Europe has far less one-on-one play, guys like Kirilenko gain a significant amount of value. With the option to leave his contract for the NBA, AK is likely done once he can find a team. However, it wouldn’t be shocking if CSKA opts to increase his contract to convince him to stay.
C – Nikola Pekovic – Partizan Belgrade – Minnesota Timberwolves
Pekovic has quietly developed into one of the best back-to-the-basket big men in the world. Pekovic possesses excellent mobility for his size, and has an excellent array of moves in the post. His ability to not only draw a double team, but to pass out of the double team has proven to be very effective, as many of his teammates, notably Cavs 2011 second-round pick Milan Macvan, have had career years playing off him. While he didn’t make a big impact as a rookie in Minnesota last year, look for Pekovic to emerge as a reliable big man in Rick Adelman’s Euro friendly system. If given the opportunity, Pekovic could be a solid starter in the NBA, and a strong building block for the Wolves going forward.
Honorable Mention
Danilo Gallinari – Emporio Armani Milano – Denver Nuggets
Thabo Sefolosha – Feberbahce Ulker – Oklahoma City Thunder
Euroleague First Team
G – Bo McCalebb – Montepaschi Siena
McCalebb has proven to be among the best leaders of any player in Europe. Arguably the most explosive scorer in Europe, McCalebb can get points in a hurry, and also create for his teammates. As he proved during this summer’s Eurobasket with Macedonia, any team with Bo in their lineup is a threat to take down any opponent.
G – Jaycee Carroll – Real Madrid
Carroll is hands down the best shooter in Europe. Several players overseas have questioned privately whether his jump shot deserves to be mentioned in the same conversation as Ray Allen. While his lack of size and athleticism scares off NBA teams, and he lacks the quarterbacking skills to play the point in the NBA, he simply is too good a shooter to not to be given a shot in the league. He wouldn’t be an absolute star like he is in Spain, but he likely would be very effective in an Eddie House type of role.
G – Juan Carlos Navarro – Regal Barcelona
Since his one year stint with the Grizzlies, Navarro has remained one of the top five players in the Euroleague for quite some time now. La Bomba has a knack for having big scoring nights without using up too many offensive possessions for his team. His ability to score like a star, while fitting into a team’s offense, makes him an MVP caliber player consistently in Europe. His floater off the dribble is a move every young guard should take note of.
F – Erazem Lorbek – Regal Barcelona
Considered a throw-in during the George Hill trade during the summer, Lorbek has been one of the most efficient players in the Euroleague. With an assortment of moves in the post, and a smooth jumpshot, Lorbeck is able to put up big numbers on few touches with his exceptional shot selection. If San Antonio can convince him to leave one of the biggest teams in Europe, he could make the Spurs forget that they practically gave away Luis Scola several years ago.
C – Sofoklis Schortsanitis – Maccabi Tel-Aviv
While many overseas consider Sofo to be the Greek version of Shaq, Sofo more resembles Eddy Curry during his short-lived prime. As a massive presence in the paint, Sofo collects a lot of points in the paint and draws a lot of fouls on opposing big men. His dominance in putting points on the board, however, is not also coupled with all-star level of defense, rebounding or hustle that Shaq was known for back in the day. While it may not be fair to compare his abilities on the defensive end to the likes of Eddy Curry, he definitely lacks the mobility and dominance to be considered a “Shaq” type player. While Sofo is far more suited to Europe, with the right system, he could be an effective player in spurts in the NBA, although his body may struggle with the longer season.
Second Team
G – Milos Teodosic – CSKA Moscow
Teodosic has proven to be one of the best clutch playmakers in the Euroleague. With the size of a shooting guard, Teodosic is able to use his length to prevent teams from getting into their offense against CSKA. As an excellent pick and roll player, Teodosic should be one of the top European guards for the next decade. An absolute star for the best team in Europe, Teodosic will one day have to make the decision whether he wants to give the NBA a shot, despite the fact that he likely would be a role player in the league.
G – Vassilis Spanoulis – Olympiacos
This high-scoring guard, who has torched Team USA in the past, is one of the craftiest scorers in Europe. NBA fans may remember him from his short time in Jeff Van Gundy’s doghouse in Houston, where he never got a chance due to Van Gundy’s disdain towards most European players. Throughout the years, Spanoulis has proven he could be a team’s leading scorer, whether he starts or is used as a sixth man. The fact that he is routinely an MVP candidate despite sometimes coming off the bench should say a lot about his attitude and what he could bring to a team.
F – Nikola Mirotic – Real Madrid
Easily the steal of the 2011 draft by the Bulls. After Torching Maccabi and Partizan in the past two weeks, Mirotec has displayed incredible skills on the perimeter for a 6”10 player. His shot may not be as pure as Peja Stojokavic’s, but his combination of size, court awareness and hot shooting should make him an impact player immediately after his buyout situation is solved a few years down the line. While he won’t be able to play for the Bulls for a few years, he is much further along than most of the lottery picks from this past draft.
F – Joel Freeland – Unicaja Malaga
A first-round pick by the Blazers in 2006, Freeland has developed into one of the best 4s in the Euroleague. Freeland has a nose for the ball and is one of the best rebounders and scorers in the paint in Europe. Rebounding is a skill that clearly transitions from any league to the NBA, and this British prospect should easily be able to thrive next to LeMarcus Aldridge should the Blazers decide he fits into their roster.
C – Nenad Krstic – CSKA Moscow
Krstic may not be a 35 minute juggernaut, but for 20 to 25 minutes a game, he is a player you could run your offense through. He doesn’t have outstanding athleticism, but he has some of the most refined post moves of any player in the game today. He may seem like a nice guy by his demeanor, but Krstic is a fierce competitor, and is a big man any team would want to have on the floor during crunch time in Euroleague play.
Honorable Mention
Malik Hairston – Emporio Armani Milano
Donatas Montejunas – Asseco Prokom
Lior Eliyahu – Maccabi Tel-Aviv
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SONNY WEEMS! are you kidding me
Don’t disagree with too much in the 1st and 2nd teams other than I think you have Navarro there on reputation – by his own high standards he hasn’t been incredible in the first 9 weeks, just pretty good.
The main ommission for me is Mirza Teletovic, who has had an incredible Regular Season on a Caja Laboral team with some serious holes, they would have been dead and buried had he not refined his game to play more inside, while still bombing away from deep. You have to find him a place at least on the second team.
And as much as I’d like to be biased towards the British guy, and agree on his NBA potential, I think Milan Macvan deserves the nod over Freeland. Macvan has been more consistent.
The thing with Navarro, is part of his game is based off his reputation. The fact that he draws so much attention and uses it for the betterment of his team is definitely something to be considered besides for the numbers.
Both Macvan and Teletovic were definitely considered. I’ve seen Macvan has some pretty sweet games, but it looked to me like he reaped the benefits of playing with Pekovic, so in my mind Freeland is still the guy.
Yeah, I can see where you’re coming from on Navarro, and I agree on the limitations of looking purely at stats. I don’t doubt his status as the pre-eminent player in Europe, I just think Barca have been leaning on Lorbek above all. Guess we’ll see just how much Barca will miss him, with the injury.
Fair point about Freeland too, he has an uphill battle with the Unicaja backcourt struggling to feed him the ball. Just shows there are a lot of strong performers this year.
Enjoyed the article, btw. Good call on Carroll as a 1st teamer, his shooting is no longer just a small sample size, 62% from three, taking 5 per game? Absurd!
Mirza has been the man so far. Why is he not in the NBA?
Teodosic is clutch. He needs to give the NBA a shot, because he does have size at the point position, and is a heady passer. Moodiness could be a problem though, but one of my fav Euro players for sure.
And you are spot on about Jaycee Carroll. The man can shoot in any league
like your post, and i do think most of the line ups are very much in place, except one – Nenad Krstic should be in the 1st five instead of Sofo. Not taking any of the credit Big Sofo deserves (and he did play a big role in Maccabi’s qualifying from 2nd place), Krstic was extremely good and dominant, in Euroleague class. He’s 3rd overall rank, after AK47 and Batum, but the more interesting fact is that he upgraded his game level to a superstar level right after AK47 was injured. he was the Euroleague November MVP and took a lot on him after they lost Kirilenko.
he was so dominant and confident for CSKA, which is the best team so far, so if you ask me, he deserves a place in the 1st five.
Thanks for reading Zur. I know Nenad has been great so far this season, but I think that Sofo’s size in the paint brings something that Krstic or any other center couldn’t bring. Krstic definitely has better stats, but as I mentioned in the article, I find that over relying on stats is irresponsible in Euroleague play.