The Euroleague's 50 best players: 50-41

The Euroleague’s 50 best players: 50-41

BELGRADE, SERBIA - MAY 20: Rudy Fernandez, #5 of Real Madrid and Pablo Laso, Head Coach celebrates after the 2018 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague F4 Championship Game between Real Madrid v Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul at Stark Arena on May 20, 2018 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Rodolfo Molina/EB via Getty Images) /

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MESTRE, ITALY – MAY 25: Shavon Shields (L) of Dolomiti Energia competes with Hrvoje Peric (R) of Umana during the LBA Legabasket of Serie A match play off semifinal game 1 between Reyer Umana Venezia and Aquila Dolomiti Energia Trento at Palasport Taliercio on May 25, 2018 in Mestre, Italy. (Photo by Arturo Presotto – Iguana Press/Getty Images) /

43. Shavon Shields, SF, Baskonia

Nationality/College: American (Nebraska)

2017-18 stats: 13.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals per game (Trento)

Career synopsis: Shields is in his third pro season and has spent a year each with Fraport Skyliners in Germany and Trento in Italy. He’s caught the eye of NBA scouts as well, playing in 2017 Summer League with Orlando and this past summer with the Pelicans. This will be his first Euroleague season as he transitions to Spain.

Representative Highlight Play:

What’s his skill set?: An athletic slasher wing that can create in advantage situations and is a mesmerizing fast break finisher. His real value comes on defense though, where he might plug-and-play as one of Euroleague’s more versatile defenders on the wing thanks to his athleticism and nose for the ball.

What makes him special?: Shields, who is 23, has earned a cult following over the past two seasons stemming from his play at Nebraska. He seems like the perfect fit for the Royce O’Neale path, as an athletic wing who didn’t have the skills to make the NBA out of college, but worked his butt off to fight his way back. The real proof of concept for him will come this year, though, as he joins what seems like a very entertaining Baskonia team and will be tasked with locking down the other team’s best perimeter player on a weekly basis. How he fairs there will likely determine what his free agency situation looks like in 2019 — NBA, or Euroleague.

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