On top of rightfully winning each of the last two MVP awards, Jokić has a comfortable edge over Giannis statistically since the start of the 2020-21 campaign. Having Nikola Jokić over Giannis Antetokounmpo may feel controversial for some, but it shouldn't be. The pressure that Gobert puts on the rim with his rolls and offensive rebounding drags defenses inside, which creates a little extra space for his teammates outside. As perhaps the game's most dangerous rim-runner, he has averaged 15.2 points while shooting 68.5 percent from the field over the last four seasons. Gobert's game-changing defense isn't all he brings to the table, though. He's an underrated perimeter defender on the off chance that he gets switched onto a guard or wing, too. Not only is he the game's best rim protector, his mere presence deters plenty of drivers from every testing the paint. That impact is largely the product of Gobert's overwhelming defensive presence. Since the start of that campaign, Gobert trails only Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Klay Thompson and Kawhi Leonard in total raw plus-minus (regular season and postseason). Rudy Gobert became the full-time starting 5 for the Utah Jazz ahead of the 2015-16 season. Moritz Wagner (Germany): Now a four-year NBA veteran, Wagner takes the majority of his shots within 10 feet of the rim or from three, and he's had an above-average true shooting percentage in each of the last three seasons because of it. A standout tournament could help him get out of free agency.Īlperen Şengün (Turkey): Şengün is a playmaking big man who put up rebounding and assist numbers reminiscent of Bill Walton and Alvan Adams during his rookie campaign.įranz Wagner (Germany): A standout for the Orlando Magic who finished fourth among rookies in 2021-22 points per game. This should be our first opportunity to see if the injury slowed him down.ĭennis Schröder (Germany): Schröder has averaged more than 20 points in 31 appearances for the national team. Juancho Hernangómez (Spain): A three-and-D forward who's always been a little better in theory than practice, Hernangomez has made over 20 appearances with the national team and has a gold medal from 2019 World Cup.ĭario Šarić (Croatia): Šarić missed all of the 2021-22 season while recovering from a torn ACL, but he has point center potential that could make Croatia dangerous. Willy Hernangómez (Spain): One of the bruisers at this event, Hernangomez has career averages of 17.8 points and 14.2 rebounds per 75 possessions in the NBA. Since the start of the 2019-20 season, he's hit 41.1 percent of his threes while playing in European leagues.Įvan Fournier (France): Another three-point specialist who's been in the NBA since 2012-13 and has hit 38.1 percent of his career three-point attempts there. Simone Fontecchio (Italy): This tournament could be Americans' introduction to the sharpshooter headed to the Utah Jazz. ![]() Nemanja Bjelica (Serbia): An injury may keep Bjelica out of the tournament, but his ability to space the floor could be an excellent complement to Nikola Jokic's playmaking. JILL DELSAUX / BELGA/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Imagesĭeni Avdija (Israel): The Washington Wizards' 21-year-old potential three-and-D wing will be crucial for his country's chances of getting to the medal round. Here are the 10 best NBA players set to compete for continental dominance in EuroBasket 2022 beginning Thursday. Seeing them in this context should only add to our appreciation of them. Now they'll all have a chance to battle against each other with national pride on the line.įor American fans, the NBA players participating in the event are the ones we're best acquainted with. Others, including Gobert, aren't far behind. Luka, Giannis and Jokic have ascended to the top of the NBA. ![]() Since then, Europeans have won three Defensive Player of the Year awards (all for Rudy Gobert), four MVPs (two apiece for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic) and one Finals MVP (Giannis). Over a dozen nations have secured its gold medal, with Luka Doncic and Slovenia winning the most recent tournament in 2017. ![]() ![]() Dozens of NBA players are about to clash in one of the most underrated basketball tournaments in the world.ĮuroBasket, or the European Basketball Championship, has been around since the 1930s.
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