Top 10 European Prospects for the 2013 NBA Draft

February 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

While basketball continues to grow around the globe, there has been an increasing amount of European talent making an impact on NBA teams. The talent pool is quickly spreading, and teams that are able to recognize the talents of the Alexey Shveds of the world are given a distinct advantage.

While the 2012 draft had a relatively weak European crop, 2013 should prove to be a much stronger group. While it lacks a sure-fire stud in the mold of Dirk Nowitzki or Pau Gasol, there are several intriguing prospects who are both NBA ready and possess a  great deal of upside.

Filed under AJ Mitnick, Columns

Top 50 American Players in Euroleague

February 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The Euroleague is unquestionably the highest level of basketball outside the NBA.

While NBA teams are always looking for the next European draft steal, there are many top-level Americans playing overseas who could potentially make an impact in the NBA in the near future — while there are others who have come to realize that their best chance for playing time, and their best option for making big money, will only come overseas.

Whether it’s from the vastly different style of play, or the exposure to a new culture, American players can grow to understand the game at a very high level with European experience.

Some players who can make the NBA can’t cut it at the highest levels of Europe, and some players who are excellent in the Euroleague, and who are more valuable than some NBA players to a European club, have no chance to make the NBA.

It is an odd dynamic, but that is the basketball world we live in.

Below is our list of the top 50 American players currently playing in Euroleague competition. (We will update it constantly throughout the next several months).

Filed under AJ Mitnick, Columns

All Eurobasket Qualifying Team

February 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

With the 2013 Eurobasket qualifiers coming to an end, the table is set for the highest level international competition in European basketball next summer.

European stars Marcin Gortat, Mirza Teletovic and Marcin Gortat led their teams to successful campaigns, where they now will have the opportunity to challenge the likes of Spain, France, Russia, Greece and Lithuania in next summer’s tournament.

The teams that successfully qualified included Montenegro, Israel, Serbia, Germany, Sweden, Croatia, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Latvia, Poland, Finland, Belgium , Italy, Turkey and the Czech Republic . Those who missed the boat: Estonia, Iceland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, Austria, Hungary, Cypress, Holland, Romania, Switzerland, Albania, Belarus, Portugal.

Here is a look at the top performers, the rising stars, and the disappointments of the qualifying round. You will please excuse the six-member first team. More than five were deserving.

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European Championship Qualifying Update

February 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

From fibaeurope.com

Every player in the NBA is on vacation now, right?

Wrong.

Danilo Gallinari, Marcin Gortat, Omri Casspi and Jonas Jerebko are among the NBA players still playing international ball for their home countries in the qualification tournament for Eurobasket ’13.

There are over 25 guys in qualification who are current NBA players, former NBA draft picks, or future NBA prospects.

Next summer’s tournament will be held in Slovenia and will serve as the qualifier for the newly rechristened 2014 World Cup (the tournament that was formerly called the World Championship). This summer’s tournament has been highlighted by the surprising struggles of Turkey (which won the silver medal at the 2010 Worlds), the strong play of former Yugoslav republics Montenegro and Croatia (both of which are undefeated heading into Sunday’s games), and the resurgence of Italy, which has been in a six-year slump since playing at the 2006 Worlds in Japan.

Cedric Simmons (Bulgaria) and Nenad Krstic (Serbia) are among the NBA-caliber players without NBA contracts who are playing in the qualification round as we enter basketball’s “dead month.”

Here is the SheridanHoops ranking of the Top 25 players making noise through the first several games of qualifying. Click here for a primer on how qualification works, and click here for the link to FIBAEurope.com, which has full game reports, stats and box scores.

Filed under AJ Mitnick, Columns

Coming to America — The NBA’s International Rookies

February 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Basketball is an increasingly global game, and more worldwide flavor is on the way for the 2012-2013 NBA season.

One or more foreigners will soon be playing at an arena near you, and these international men of mystery shall remain enigmas no longer.

With a wide range of youngsters and seasoned veterans heading to the NBA for their rookie seasons, this year’s international rookie crop should provide some interesting additions to the league.

They come in all sizes and shapes, some are young and some are old … and all have the talent to make them worthy of competing in the best league on earth.

Here is a look at the 11 foreigners currently slated to make their debuts this year.

Filed under AJ Mitnick, Columns

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