By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The ballot box is closed, the counting of votes is complete, the results are out and the Best Five in the EuroLeague are ready to take their place on the Eurohoops court. Twenty-four editors from the Greek, English, Turkish, Spanish, and Russian editions selected the best of the year and compiled the roster with the best of the best.
Previously, Eurohoops presented its own second All-EuroLeague team, and you can check out who made it to the second-best lineup HERE. As for the First Team, here we go.
MIKE JAMES
Monaco | Guard | August 18, 1990 | USA
16.2 pts | 3.9 reb | 4.6 ast| 1 stl | 0 blk | 2.3 tov | 31:03 min | 16.8 PIR | 36 G
The Best Five starts with Monaco’s Mike James, who is credited with a big part in the team’s historic first-ever Final Four qualification. He played in 36 of 39 games and was a starter in all of them. After the regular season and playoffs, he found himself sixth in the EuroLeague in points, 11th in assists, and ninth in PIR.
The editors of Eurohoops awarded him with 13 first-team votes and eight second-team votes.
KEVIN PUNTER
Partizan | Guard | June 25, 1993 | USA
16.1 pts | 2.1 reb | 2.5 ast | 1 stl | 0.1 blk | 1.3 tov | 27:54 min | 15 PIR | 37 G
It would be unfair for Kevin Punter’s year in the EuroLeague to be characterized by the episode with Sergio Llull in Game 2 of the playoffs. Partizan would not have gotten there without him. He left the court as the 14th leading scorer with an impressive 44.3% from behind the 6.75m line and 16th in PIR.
Ten Eurohoops editors gave him their first-team vote and as many second-team.
SASHA VEZENKOV
Olympiacos | Forward | August 6, 1995 | Bulgaria
17.2 pts | 6.8 reb | 1.8 ast| 0.9 stl | 0.2 blk | 1 tov | 28:48 min | 21.2 PIR | 38 G
Like Olympiacos, Sasha Vezenkov outdid himself compared to last year. And like Olympiacos, it ranks first in many of the main statistical categories. Except for dribbles. He was just awarded as the Top Scorer in the Euroleague, while he is also the leader in PIR. Add to that second in rebounds.
The undisputed favorite for the MVP award could not have anything less than 24/24 first votes from Eurohoops editors.
NIKOLA MIROTIC
Barcelona | Forward | August 6, 1995 | Montenegro
15.9 pts | 4.6 reb | 1.2 ast | 0.9 stl | 0.4 blk | 1.4 tov | 24:51 min | 17.1 PIR | 27 G
It is difficult for a player to stand out in a team full of big names, but Nikola Mirotic does it very well. Maybe because it is the biggest in Barcelona and one of the biggest in the Euroleague. The reigning MVP is ninth in points with 40.7% on 3-pointers (26th) and seventh in PIR, on the EuroLeague statistical charts.
He collected votes from 22 of the 24 Eurohoops editors, 12 first-team ones, and ten for the second team.
WALTER TAVARES
Real Madrid | Center | March 22, 1992 | Cape Verde
10.9 pts | 6.6 reb | 1.5 ast | 0.9 stl | 2.2 blk | 2.1 tov | 24:31 min | 17.3 PIR | 38 G
Walter Tavares remains one of the most impactful players on both ends of the floor. Proof lays in him being named Defender of the Year for the third time since 2019 and in what he did after Real Madrid got 0-2 in the playoff series with Partizan. He is third in the Euroleague in rebounds, first in blocks, and sixth in PIR.
He also got a vote from all 24 editors of Eurohoops, 18 first-team, and six second-team votes.
PLAYER | TOTAL | FIRST-TEAM VOTES (x2) | SECOND-TEAM VOTES (x1)
Sasha Vezenkov (Olympiacos) | 48 (24+0)
Edy Tavares (Real Madrid) | 42 (18+6)
Mike James (Monaco) | 34 (13+8)
Nikola Mirotic (Barcelona) | 34 (12+10)
Kevin Punter (Partizan) | 30 (10+10)