By Dionysis Aravantinos / info@eurohoops.net
The most competitive league in European basketball, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, features some incredible athletes from all over the world, experienced players, young prospects and phenomenal coaches. Every team in the EuroLeague needs a leader to step up in tough situations, use his mentality on and off the court to help his teammates succeed and finally lead his team to victories. The first round of the competition has been completed, with many players shining throughout.
Eurohoops brings you the 16 go-to guys in the competition, one from each team, and analyses their role as leaders in the team as well as the way they became the go-to guys. Scroll down for the answers.
Anadolu Efes Istanbul – Errick McCollum
- Stats: 15.0 points, 2.2 rebounds
- Team Record: 4-12
- Age: 29
- Position: G
Errick McCollum averaged 18.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in the 7Days EuroCup in 2015-2016 with Galatasaray Odeabank Istanbul. Last season he played overseas in China with the Beikong Fly Dragons, came back to play for Galatasaray and in the off-season, signed with Anadolu Efes Istanbul to play in Europe’s best competition.
So far in the season in the EuroLeague with Efes, McCollum is averaging 15.0 points (6th in the competition), 2.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, while he is also shooting 43.4% from the field. He has been a bright spot in a mediocre Efes team, which has the worst record in the competition (4-12), tied with Valencia Basket and AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan. Against Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv, he had a night to remember as he finished with 31 points and 8/11 (!) three-pointers, as he was also named EuroLeague Day 7’s MVP.
Valencia Basket – Erick Green
- Stats: 15.9 points, 2.2 assists
- Team Record: 5-11
- Age: 26
- Position: G
Last season, the 26-year-old Erick Green reached the EuroLeague final with Olympiacos Piraeus and averaged 9.7 points per game. This season he has played fifteen games in the EuroLeague and is putting up 16.6 points (4th in the competition) with 49.1% from inside the arc, 2.2 assists, and 2.2 rebounds. Valencia has been struggling so far and, with a 5-11 record, sit in the 14th place in the standings.
His movement with the ball, his ability to make tough shots under pressure and also finish at the rim through contact with either hand, make him a special scorer. His playmaking skills and breaking down a defense through his passing are things he will have to work on as he moves forward. Green, however, has been the leader of this squad offensively, scoring 20+ points six times this season.
AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan – Jordan Theodore
- Stats: 12.3 points, 4.3 assists
- Team Record: 4-11
- Age: 27
- Position: G
Despite being only 1.83m tall, Jordan Theodore can get inside the paint and finish at the rim pretty well with tough shots and lay-ups. This is Theodore’s first season in Milan and the EuroLeague is already a fascinating challenge for him. Last year with Banvit he was the 2017 Champions League MVP, while he was named a Turkish league all-star and also won the Turkish Cup.
This season in the EuroLeague, the 27-year-old guard is putting up 12.3 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.3 rebounds. His vision and scoring abilities are there but he has a weakness defensively as his size doesn’t allow him to go up against bigger, stronger and tougher guys. Moreover, in the first fifteen games, he has played in, he has been struggling with his shot as he is shooting a low 29.2% from beyond the arc and a decent 43.4% from inside the line.
In addition, he has gotten on record stating that he wants to be the best point-guard in the competition, but he has been involved in some interesting and tough situations as he has been ejected against Panathinaikos in the away game against Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens, while he also exchanged some words with Brian Roberts of Olympiacos on Instagram. He has emerged as Milano‘s leader, however, as he has had some impressive games.
Finally, coach Pianigiani shared his opinion on Theodore, stating he has confidence in his guard and that he will become a lot better day by day.
FC Barcelona Lassa – Thomas Heurtel
- Stats: 9.7 points, 6.7 assists
- Team Record: 6-10
- Age: 28
- Position: G
Last season was a disaster for FC Barcelona Lassa. This season, with the addition of many experienced and talented players, the Spanish team wants to return to the EuroLeague playoffs and reach as high as they possibly can, though they haven’t started off well. The team is 13th in the standings with a 6-10 record. The 28-year-old guard, however, is having a good season. He is averaging 9.7 points, 6.7 assists (2nd in the competition), 2.9 rebounds and 0.9 steals per game. Despite having good numbers across the board, he is shooting a low 25.6% from beyond the arc, but a great 52.7% from inside the field.
His two best games this season have come against Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade and Unicaja Malaga, respectively. In Belgrade, he finished with a double-double: 14 points and 10 assists, while against Malaga he posted 19 points and 9 assists.
Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade – James Feldeine
- Stats: 13.5 points, 3.1 assists
- Team Record: 6-9
- Age: 29
- Position: G
In early August, Zvezda added the former Panathinaikos player, James Feldeine to their roster. Halfway through the season, Feldeine is emerging as the go-to guy on Zvezda’s team and also evolving as a leader next to Pero Antic and Tyler Rochestie. The 29-year-old guard is averaging 13.5 points, 3.1 assists 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game while shooting a solid 46.5% from inside the three-point line. Zvezda have had their ups and downs this season and currently sit 11th in the standings.
Individually, Feldeine has had some impressive games where he has filled the box-score. Against Efes, he set a new career-high with 29 points, while against Valencia (26 pts) and his former team, Panathinaikos (21 pts), he also scored 20+ points. As he has proven on the court, he is a great shooter who can catch fire and hit tough shots down the stretch.
Brose Bamberg – Dorell Wright
- Stats: 11.1 points, 5.7 rebounds
- Team Record: 6-9
- Age: 32
- Position: F
Earlier in October, Dorell Wright signed with Brose Bamberg and, so far, he has not disappointed. In the twelve games he has played in the EuroLeague, he has emerged as Bamberg’s best player. The 32-year-old veteran is scoring 11.1 points per game while also grabbing 5.7 rebounds a night. In a tough win against Olympiacos, he finished with 20 points and seven rebounds, while against Barcelona and a great comeback win he led his team with 16 points and seven rebounds
Wright has become the go-to guy for coach Trinchieri’s team and according to the master himself, the 32-year old forward knows how to play the game of basketball. Bamberg is currently 12th in the standings, just two wins away from the 8th spot that will give them the ticket to move on to the playoffs.