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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MOSCOW, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 22: Tornike Shengelia in action during the 2017/2018 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 23 game between CSKA Moscow and Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz at Megasport Arena on February 22, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Mikhail Serbin/EB via Getty Images) /

5. Tornike Shengelia, PF, Baskonia

Nationality/College: Georgian

2017-18 stats: 14.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals per game (Baskonia)

Career synopsis: Toko was selected 54th by the Brooklyn Nets in 2012 out of Spirou in Belgium, and jumped directly to the NBA, playing sparingly over two seasons with the Nets and Bulls. He signed with Baskonia in 2014, and has been there since, helping Baskonia make a Final Four in 2016. He peaked this past year, making All-Euroleague First team, and signed long-term with Baskonia this summer on a massive $6.5 million deal.

Representative Highlight Play:

What’s his skill set?: Toko’s best skill is his ability to get to the line, as he averaged 4.6 free throw attempts per game last year, and finishes through contact at a high level. He’s one of the game’s more complete players — he doesn’t really have other elite skills, but it’s hard to pick out a weakness either outside of off-the-dribble shooting. He’s a solid passer, good rebounder, and flexible, sound defender, able to handle time at the 5 or defending wings at the 2, depending on the lineup.

What makes him special?: A third of the way through last year, Baskonia was dead in the water, sitting at 4-6 and having just had to replace coach Pablo Prigioni. Then, Shengelia happened. A six-game win streak late in the year capped by a 15-point, 15-rebound explosion against Khimki Moscow earned Baskonia the No. 7 seed. If Luka Doncic didn’t happen last year, there would have been reasonable narrative to give Shengelia the MVP. Now, Baskonia has re-vamped their roster around his talents, and he is finally healthy after years of dealing with nagging injuries. Last year, Shengelia made the argument that he deserves the next Best Power Forward title in Euroleague after Georgios Printezis’s reign. This year, he gets to forcibly take it from him.