The Euroleague’s 50 best players: 10-1

BELGRADE, SERBIA - MAY 18: Nando de Colo, #1 of CSKA Moscow during the 2018 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague F4 Semifnal B game between Semifinal A CSKA Moscow v Real Madrid at Stark Arena on May 18, 2018 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Luca Sgamellotti/EB via Getty Images) /

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BELGRADE, SERBIA – MAY 20: Sergio Rodriguez, #13 of CSKA Moscowduring 2018 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague F4 Third Place Game between CSKA Moscow v Zalgiris Kaunas at Stark Arena on May 20, 2018 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Marko Metlas/EB via Getty Images) /

7. Sergio Rodriguez, PG, CSKA Moscow

Nationality/College: Spanish

2017-18 stats: 12.1 points, 2.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.9 steals per game (CSKA Moscow)

Career synopsis: Rodriguez entered consciousness with Movistar Estudiantes in 2005-2006, where he was the “other” young ACB phenom rising up shortly before Ricky Rubio. He was selected 27th in the 2006 NBA Draft by Phoenix, who traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers. His first NBA tenure lasted four seasons, where he was mostly a backup guard for Portland, Sacramento, and New York. He made his way back to the NBA in 2016-17, starting 30 games for the Philadelphia 76ers. In the interim, he was routinely a top Euroleague player, winning MVP in 2014 and a title with Real Madrid in 2015. Last season he returned to Euroleague for a thrd stint with CSKA Moscow, and was named to the All-Euroleague Second Team.

Representative Highlight Play:

What’s his skill set?: Rodriguez is the best passer in Euroleague from a technical standpoint. He has brilliant vision and craft, and he is a wizard in the open court. He is also a strong off-ball shooter, hitting 42.6 percent from 3 last year, making him an ideal threat to take primary ball-handling duty for CSKA’s whirling offense.

What makes him special?: For years, Rodriguez and Milos Teodosic battled for the title of Euroleague’s most brilliant passer, so it was fitting that Chacho would replace Milos as he went to the NBA. Year one turned out pretty special, as Rodriguez was able to become less ball-dominant, instead using the spacing provided by the league’s best offense to find opportunities as a shooter and slasher. Rodriguez is getting up there in years, and he needs to be hidden defensively, but few players are more fun to watch lead a fast break in the world.