The 50 most interesting players in European hoops: Nos. 40-31

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37. Marius Grigonis, SF, ALBA Berlin

Grigonis, like Mateusz Ponitka (No. 42 on this list), has flown under the NBA radar, but has accomplished a lot in his young career in Europe. He won the Basketball Champions League Final Four MVP last season, helping Tenerife take down Banvit by taking over primary scoring duties from Aaron Doornekamp and asserting himself with a flurry of catch-and-shoot 3s. Grigonis is definitely a capable marksman, despite a weird release that sees him turn his hand 45 degrees from the basket, and he’s shown the ability to get separation out of the pick-and-roll and defend at a fairly high level.

The 23-year old Lithuanian will now head to ALBA Berlin, where he gets the chance to continue the breakout that was the BCL Final Four. If he can assert himself as a strong scorer at the Eurocup level, a Euroleague contract is probably coming next. Grigonis is another piece of the future of European basketball that might step in as the next wave of lifers, and this year’s test in Germany should help us identify how close that is to happening.

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