European Basketball Primer: Eurocup Preview
The 7Days Eurocup competition will be a radically different tournament than it has been in the past. Due to a new format and pressures from the rival FIBA Champions League competition, the Eurocup has reduced from a 36-team competition in 2015-16 to just 20 teams for this year. After a tumultuous summer, the competition is set and finally ready to begin.
Related Story: Confused? Check out our European Hoops Primer!
The 20 teams that will compete for the Eurocup title, and a spot in the 2017-18 Euroleague competition, will compete first in a group-play style regular season, with each team playing the other four twice. The top four teams in each group will advance to a second round robin, where the top two teams will move on to the eight-team playoff.
There are plenty of favorites to pick from, in what should be a deep, intriguing field despite the smaller quantity of teams. Former Euroleague teams like Unicaja Malaga and Cedevita will be the early favorites, but there are also plenty of up-and-coming teams, like Buducnost and Zenit St. Petersburg, that may steal some of the big teams’ thunder. You’ll also get a chance to see several draft prospects and draft-and-stash players, headlined by 2018 prospect Dzanan Musa and 2017 projected 2nd-rounder Blaz Mesicek.
It’s not the top flight of European ball, but the Eurocup should be a very interesting competition nevertheless. So, without further ado, here’s a breakdown of each of the regular season groups, and where the top international prospects, draft-and-stash prospects, and former NBA hopefuls will be playing. Hopefully a rooting interest emerges as you read through.
Group A
1. Cedevita Zagreb
Location: Zagreb, Croatia
2015-16 Finish: Top 16 in Euroleague, 3rd in Adriatic League
Notable Prospects (Class and Draft Express ranking in parentheses): F Dzanan Musa (’99 top prospect), F Marko Arapovic (’97 No. 7 overall prospect)
Other Notable Names (Most recent NBA team/Olympic Team affiliation): G Scotty Hopson (Cavs), G David Stockton (Kings), F Duje Dukan (Kings), G Ra’Shad James (Bucks Summer League Team), F Luka Babic (Croatia), C Miro Bilan (Croatia), G Filip Cruslin (Croatia),
Cedevita is a favorite to potentially win the entire competition, and they should take pole position in Group A. The team is well-balanced, featuring shooters Babic and Cruslin, athletic scorers in James and Hopson, and a bruising post presence in Bilan. Musa’s a potential top-10 pick in 2018, and should get some good playing time this year. Don’t forget about Arapovic, either — he was a starter last year at 19-years-old, and he’s one of the best passing bigs in the 2017 class. This team is loaded with plenty of quality talent and top prospects, and is a must-watch squad.
2. Herbalife Gran Canaria
Location: Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (Spain)
2015-16 Finish: Eurocup Semifinals, 5th in ACB
Notable Prospects: Andzejs Pasecniks (’95 No. 5 overall prospect)
Other Notable Names: G Bo McCalebb (Pelicans), G Kyle Kuric (Suns SL Team), C Darko Planinic (Croatia)
Bo McCalebb is one of Europe’s most potent scorers, and was a huge get for Gran Canaria. This team will rely on him to attack off the dribble, opening things up for Kuric on the outside and for former Alabama center Richard Hendrix III on the interior. The platoon of Planinic and Pasecniks inside will also offer them some size they’ve lacked recently. If you want the emotional story of the tournament, root for Kuric, who had a brain tumor removed last fall and made a triumphant return to basketball just a few months later.
3. Nizhny Novgorod
Location: Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
2015-16 Finish: Eurocup Quarterfinals, 7th in VTB United League
Other Notable Names: DeAndre Kane (2016 Hawks SL Team)
It’s probably a two-team race for 1st in Group A, as Cedevita and Gran Canaria are a step above a Nizhny Novgorod team that’s going to be breaking in a lot of new pieces. Chief among those are former Iowa State guard DeAndre Kane and former Florida point guard Kenny Boynton, who should give Novgorod an athletic backcourt for their uptempo offense.
4. Lietkabelis Panevezys
Location: Panevezys, Lithuania
2015-16 Finish: 7th in LKL
Lietkabelis is not really an interesting team for NBA fans. They’re an older squad, breaking in a bunch of new names. Australian Ben Madgen is a fun watch, but he’s about the only name worth mentioning.
5. MZT Skopje Aerodrom
Location: Skopje, Macedonia
2015-16 Finish: 10th in Adriatic League
Notable Prospects: G Xavier Thames (59th pick in 2014)
Other Notable Names: C Josh Scott (Nuggets SL Team)
The Storks are relying on Thames, a former San Diego State guard, and Scott, a center from Colorado, to inject some athleticism into a young roster that lacks depth. They’re probably the team left on the outside in this group, but they should be a fun watch, as Scott’s rim protection should give them a surprisingly good defense. Djordje Drenovac is the wild card, as the young Serbian swingman might be a breakout candidate, and plays similarly to current Minnesota Timberwolf Nemanja Bjelica.
Group B
1. Khimki Moscow
Location: Moscow, Russia
2015-16 Finish: Euroleague Top 16, 4th in VTB United League
Notable Prospects: C Marko Todorovic (Rockets stash prospect)
Other Notable Names: F Sergei Monia (Kings), G Alexey Shved (Knicks), F Perry Jones III (Thunder)
Khimki made some quality moves to craft a solid lineup around the Shved/Todorovic pick-and-roll that was excellent in Euroleague play last year. Monia and Jones are both former NBA players with solid defensive ability, and Nobel Boungou-Colo gives the team further wing depth. Shved makes the offense go, while the rest of the roster fills out what should be a quality defensive squad. This team should have no issues advancing to the playoffs.
2. Dominion Bilbao Basket
Location: Bilbao, Spain
2015-16 Finish: Eurocup Last 32, 10th in ACB
Other Notable Names: C Michael Eric (Wizards SL Team)
Eric is a journeyman who impressed in Summer League with Washington, but couldn’t do enough to land a permanent spot. He’s the main player to watch on a gritty Bilbao team that is well-balanced and imposing in size.
3. Lietuvos Rytas
Location: Vilnius, Lithuania
2015-16 Finish: Eurocup regular season, 2nd in LKL
Notable Prospects: C Arturas Gudaitis (Kings stash prospect)
Other Notable Names: F Drew Gordon (76ers)
Rytas will try to rebound from a disappointing 15-16 in Eurocup. Gudaitis now has another year of seasoning under his belt, and he’s joined by former 76er Drew Gordon and former Villanova guard Corey Fisher this year to try to give Rytas an injection of scoring. Former Dinamo Sassari guard David Logan will also help, but Gudaitis should be the star of the show for NBA fans interested in the Lithuanian squad.
4. Montakit Fuenlabrada
Location: Madrid, Spain
2015-16 Finish: 8th in ACB
Notable Prospects: F Rolands Smits (’95 No. 15 overall prospect), G Ludde Hakanson (’96 No. 11 overall prospect)
Other Notable Names: F David Wear (Kings)
Fuenlabrada is young, but worth watching because they have three potential NBA prospects on their roster. Hakanson is the best, as the Swedish guard is a solid passer with good defensive ability, and plays like a Scandinavian Kyle Lowry offensively. Smits doesn’t have the skill set to be an NBA guy yet, but he’s got excellent size and athleticism. And 22-year-old Moussa Diagne is a versatile, intense big man who will impact the game on both ends. David Wear holds it all together as a glue guy. Fuenlabrada probably won’t advance past the Top 16, but this will be an interesting squad.
5. ALBA Berlin
Location: Berlin, Germany
2015-16 Finish: Eurocup Playoffs 1st Round, 6th in Bundesliga
Other Notable Names: G Peyton Siva (Pistons)
ALBA is a bigger name at the Eurocup level, and also was in Euroleague two years ago. But they have had a very bizarre summer, watching star Malcolm Miller get hurt, followed by former Arizona forward Brandon Ashley’s contract dispute that’s still ongoing. If Ashley’s around, this team is probably the 3rd best in the group, because he fits well with sharpshooter Niels Giffey and point guard Peyton Siva. But without him and Miller, I don’t know that this team will have it together in time to advance.
Group C
1. Unicaja Malaga
Location: Malaga, Spain
2015-16 Finish: Euroleague Top 16, 6th in ACB
Notable Prospects: F Daniel Diez (Blazers stash prospect), C Viny Okouo (’97 No. 5 overall prospect)
Other Notable Names: G Nemanja Nedovic (Warriors)
Nedovic is one of the most athletic guards in Europe, and he’s a joy to watch when he gets hot. Diez is a solid role-playing swingman, while Alberto Diaz is one of the better perimeter defenders in the competition. Okouo will probably not play much, but he’s massive at 7-2, 240, and he’s surely on NBA radars based on that alone. Malaga will be another potential favorite to win the tournament.
2. Bayern Munich
Location: Munich, Germany
2015-16 Finish: Euroleague regular season, Eurocup Quarterfinals, 4th in Bundesliga
Notable Prospects: G Karim Jallow (’97 No. 19 overall prospect)
Other Notable Names: C Ondrej Balvin (Nuggets SL Team)
Bayern’s squad is going to be solid, if unspectacular. Led by Reggie Redding and Alex Renfroe, Bayner is a team full of shooters and gritty defenders. Balvin is the big draw for NBA fans, as he has an NBA body and can protect the rim well.
3. Zenit St. Petersburg
Location: St. Petersburg, Russia
2015-16 Finish: Eurocup Playoffs 1st Round, 3rd in VTB League
Notable Prospects: F Aaron White (Wizards stash prospect)
Other Notable Names: G Sergey Karasev (Nets), G Stefan Markovic (Serbia)
Zenit had a very successful season last year, and then retained the same core, went and added Karasev, Markovic and White, and gets Kyle Landry back from injury. It’ll be interesting to see if Karasev finds the same success Shved did in his return to Russia. If he does, this team is a dark horse.
4. UCAM Murcia
Location: Murcia, Spain
2015-16 Finish: 7th in ACB
Other Notable Names: C Vitor Faverani (Celtics), F Martynas Pocius (Lithuania), G Facundo Campazzo (Argentina), C Marcos Delia (Argentina), G Vitor Benite (Brazil)
Murcia is a newcomer to the European continental competition ranks, and they’re trying to make the most of their first season, having added Delia, Pocius and Faverani to a young, solid team. Delia and Campazzo are part of the next generation for Argentina, and they should both give this team a fighting chance. They’re in a tough group, but Murcia could surprise.
5. Buducnost
Location: Podgorica, Montenegro
2015-16 Finish: Eurocup regular season, 1st in Adriatic League
Notable Prospects: F Aleksa Ilic (’96 No. 12 overall prospect), G Petar Popovic (’96 No. 26 overall prospect)
Other Notable Names: G Marcus Williams (Nets)
Buducnost got a rough draw, and probably won’t advance. But, they’ve got several nice young prospects to watch, led by Popovic, a decent scorer, and the interior presence of Ilic.
Group D
1. Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar
Location: Krasnodar, Russia
2015-16 Finish: Euroleague Final Four, 5th in VTB United League
Other Notable Names: Mardy Collins (Knicks), Kevin Jones (Cavaliers), Kenny Gabriel (Cavs SL Team), Ryan Broekhoff (Australia)
Kuban’s Euroleague run to the Final Four was magical, and they were rewarded by watching star Malcolm Delaney bolt for the NBA and Anthony Randolph get signed by Real Madrid. They still should have a well balanced team this year, though. Broekhoff is the holdover, and he’s a very good three-point threat. Taylor Rochestie gives them a quality point guard, and the high-flying Kenny Gabriel will help them push the pace.
2. Valencia
Location: Valencia, Spain
2015-16 Finish: Eurocup Last 32, 3rd in ACB
Notable Prospects: C Bojan Dubljevic (Timberwolves stash prospect)
Other Notable Names: G Antoine Diot (France)
Always a tough battle, Valencia brings a ton of size at you. Bojan Dubljevic, John Bryant, and Luke Sikma is a three-headed monster at center, and Diot and Will Thomas provide wing support. If you like quality post play and suffocating interior defense, Valencia is the team for you.
3. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem
Location: Jerusalem, Israel
2015-16 Finish: Eurocup Last 32, 1st in Israeli Premier League
Other Notable Names: C Amar’e Stoudemire (Heat), G Tarence Kinsey (Cavaliers), G Jerome Dyson (Pelicans), F Shawn Jones (Magic SL Team)
AMAR’E. That’s the big name for Eurocup this year, and Hapoel Jerusalem is going to be getting a lot of press because of it. They’ll be pretty good overall, with Kinsey and Dyson to provide scoring from the backcourt, and former Baylor Bear Curtis Jerrells to run the offense. They’ll need Amar’e to stay healthy to have sustained success, but he should be a monster.
4. Ratiopharm Ulm
Location: Neu-Ulm, Germany
2015-16 Finish: Eurocup Last 32, 7th in Bundesliga
Other Notable Names: C Tim Olbrecht (Rockets), G Chris Babb (Celtics)
Ulm will rely on Olbrecht to be their go-to player in a group full of talented big men. This team’s very athletic, with former Michigan State forward Raymar Morgan and former West Virginia wing Da’Sean Butler helping out. The problem for Ulm is there just might be too many other quality teams in this group.
5. Union Olimpija Ljubljana
Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia
2015-16 Finish: Eurocup Last 32, 7th in Adriatic League
Notable Prospects: G Blaz Mesicek (32nd overall prospect in 2017)
The best 2017 draft prospect in the competition resides at Union Olimpija. Mesicek is probably a late-1st round talent, an off-the-dribble artist who’s a solid finisher. He’ll get plenty of chances to prove himself in this group, especially defensively, where he’ll be tasked with guarding guys like Collins and Babb on a weekly basis.