Rating the ten greatest gamers in EuroBasket 2022’s knockout stage, from Giannis Antetokounmpo to Franz Wagner

September 9, 2022
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Rating the ten greatest gamers in EuroBasket 2022’s knockout stage, from Giannis Antetokounmpo to Franz Wagner

EuroBasket 2022 began with 24 groups. Now, 16 stay.

The primary week noticed every crew play 5 video games. The highest 4 groups in every group have now superior to the knockout stage, placing them 4 wins away from being topped champions of Europe.

Will Luka Doncic lead Slovenia to a different gold medal? Can anybody decelerate Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic, who powered their nations to good information in group play? Will France, which options essentially the most NBA gamers within the event, go on a run?

One factor is for sure: EuroBasket 2022 is not missing star energy. Doncic, Antetokounmpo and Jokic are among the many greatest gamers on the earth, and there are a selection of different NBA gamers making noise.

With that in thoughts, this is a rating of the ten greatest gamers remaining in EuroBasket 2022.

MORE: Antetokounmpo’s dominance is transcending to EuroBasket 2022

Rating the ten greatest gamers in EuroBasket 2022’s knockout stage

10. Evan Fournier, France

Fournier is a unique participant when he represents his nation. A stable position participant within the NBA, he led France in scoring with 18.7 factors per recreation within the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, powering Les Bleus to a silver medal.

He is struggled a bit to date at EuroBasket 2022, capturing 38.2 p.c from the sector. France has a tricky highway to the ultimate — it may need to get by way of each Serbia and Slovenia — so it will need Fournier to seek out his rhythm to have an opportunity.

9. Bojan Bogdanovic, Croatia

Scoring comes simple to Bogdanovic, a silky easy shooter who’s able to creating pictures for himself off the dribble. He is averaged 18.3 factors per recreation over the past 4 NBA seasons. He is averaging nearly the identical (18.4) in EuroBasket 2022 regardless of a tricky recreation towards Estonia that noticed him end with 4 factors.

Bogdanovic’s future in Utah is unsure, however whichever crew he finally ends up on will get an expert scorer.

8. Lauri Markkanen, Finland

Solely two gamers scored extra complete factors than Markkanen in group play of EuroBasket 2022, and certainly one of them was some man named Luka Doncic. The 7-footer had a pair of 30-point video games, in addition to a 22-point efficiency in solely 18 minutes towards the Netherlands. Markkanen’s sturdy play is an effective signal for the Jazz, who acquired him within the blockbuster deal that noticed Donovan Mitchell be part of the Cavaliers.

MORE: Did Cavaliers or Jazz win Donovan Mitchell commerce?

7. Franz Wagner, Germany

The No. 8 decide within the 2021 NBA Draft, Wagner proved to be a particular participant in his rookie season with the Magic. Amongst first-year gamers, he averaged the fourth-most factors (15.2), Tenth-most rebounds (4.5) and eighth-most assists (2.9) whereas enjoying stellar protection.

Wagner has adopted that up with a stable exhibiting at EuroBasket 2022, punctuated by a monstrous efficiency in Germany’s double additional time win over Lithuania that noticed him rating 32 factors.

Wagner is barely a few weeks faraway from turning 21. His potential bodes properly for the way forward for each Germany and Orlando.

6. Jonas Valanciunas, Lithuania

Valanciunas has quietly change into one of many higher facilities within the NBA. He has his limitations, however he is a big-time scorer within the paint, a rugged rebounder, an honest passer and an evolving shooter. He is coming off of a season through which he averaged a career-best 2.1 3-point makes an attempt per recreation and related on them at a 36.1 p.c clip.

That bodes properly for his match with Zion Williamson.

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5. Domantas Sabonis, Lithuania

Few gamers have modified as a lot since getting into the NBA as Sabonis, who has gone from being an inefficient stretch 4 to a strolling double-double. He is been good for 19.2 factors, 12.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists per recreation over the past three seasons, incomes him a pair of All-Star picks.

Sabonis and Valanciunas type a imply frontline for Lithuania, and he and De’Aaron Fox might be trying to one-two punch their solution to ending the longest playoff drought in NBA historical past this season.

4. Rudy Gobert, France

Many wish to level out what Gobert cannot do, however he is one of the dominant defenders in NBA historical past with three Defensive Participant of the Yr awards to his title. Nothing comes simple towards him across the basket, and he vacuums up rebounds on each ends of the courtroom together with his lengthy arms. 

And positive, Gobert won’t be somebody who can area the ground or create within the publish, however his screening, rolling and slicing is extremely useful.

Gobert will even catch a physique infrequently.

3. Luka Doncic, Slovenia

Doncic bought EuroBasket 2022 off to a comparatively sluggish begin by his superhuman requirements, however he positive did bounce again in an enormous method. After scoring 36 factors towards Germany, he led Slovenia over France in a nail-biter with 47 factors. 

Seems like rather a lot, proper? It is the second-most ever in a EuroBasket recreation, trailing solely Belgium’s Eddy Terrace, who went for 63 factors again in 1957.

There is not a lot that may be finished when Doncic’s step again is rolling.

Doncic already has three All-Star and three All-NBA First Staff picks by way of 4 seasons, and he is coming off of a season through which he led the Mavericks to the Western Convention Finals.

It is scary how good Doncic already is and the way good he can nonetheless change into.

2. Nikola Jokic, Serbia

The NBA’s back-to-back MVP.

Jokic is getting into his age-27 season and he is already wanting like one of many best facilities of all time. His imaginative and prescient is unmatched, and he is developed into one of many league’s greatest scorers. Not solely can he bully defenders within the publish, however he can stretch the ground like a guard.

To no shock, Jokic has been his dominant self in EuroBasket. He averaged 19.6 factors, 9.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.8 steals in group play in … 24.3 minutes per recreation. Oh, and he related on an absurd 74.5 p.c of his 2-point discipline objectives.

With how simply he picks aside defenses, Jokic appears like a cheat code typically.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece

There is not a participant on the earth proper now who impacts each ends of the courtroom on the stage Antetokounmpo does.

Offensively, Antetokounmpo is an unstoppable drive, able to euro-stepping round and dunking on anybody. Defensively, he can guard each place and use his lengthy limbs to make performs each different participant on the earth might solely dream of.

I imply, simply take a look at this:

Unreal. Antetokounmpo is certainly one of one. Let’s simply hope his ankle is okay.

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