The NBA has constantly looked for European players in recent years. Names like Jusuf Nurkic, Nikola Jokic, Kristaps Porzingis and Dirk Nowitzki are recognizable for most NBA fans, but it seems that expansion is not going to end anytime soon.
Here are three players currently featuring at the 2017 EuroBasket that could easily play in the NBA as soon as next season.
Luka Doncic – Slovenia
Prospect fans certainly know the name of Luka Doncic. The Slovenian point guard is considered one of the best young players in the world and has confirmed it once again representing Slovenia in the 2017 EuroBasket.
Doncic contributed with 11 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists during Slovenia’s impressive 92-72 win over Spain during the tournament’s semifinals. That’s right. He was two assists away from recording a triple-double against the best team in Europe as an 18-year-old. That sole sentence should give anyone who doesn’t know him a good idea of who he is. But most importantly, how good he can be.
For what is worth, Doncic averages 15.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game in the tournament. He leads the team in rebounding while sitting second in both points and assists.
Considering he’s already an established star in Real Madrid, Doncic doesn’t have a lot to prove in Europe or the Euroleague. Many experts believe he can be the top pick in the Draft as soon as he decides to move stateside. And that could happen as soon as 2018. There is no doubt fans all over the world are eager to see how much of an impact can make in the best league in the world.
Tornike Shengelia – Georgia
Tornike Shengelia might never be a starter in the NBA. But there’s no question the 25-year-old small forward can have a role in the league. And quite soon, if we take his play in the EuroBasket this year as a benchmark.
The Baskonia star, who stands at 6’9″ and weighs 240 pounds, ranks in the Top 10 in the tournament in both points (18.8) and rebounds (7.8) per game and leads the Georgian squad in PPG. He has been one of the most intriguing scorers in the tournament, and even though Georgia did not have a deep run in the tournament, he emerged as one player to watch.
Zaza Pachulia was the team’s most recognizable player on the roster. But Shengelia turned heads with his play, and if he can keep this up, there is no question he could find himself in the NBA sooner than later, even if it’s a small role coming off the bench.
Alexey Shved – Russia
Shved currently plays for Khimki in the Russian League, but there is no question he deserves another shot in the NBA. He has spent time with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Houston Rockets, and the New York Knicks.
Based on what he has shown in the tournament, Shved is a completely different player now. He remains a prolific scorer, but the shooting guard also looks far more mature and composed. He is making better decisions on both ends of the court as well. The numbers back that up, as he leads the EuroBasket this season with 24 points per game. He is also in the Top 5 in assists, dishing out 6.4 per contest.
Sure, age might be a problem since he is 28 already. But Milos Teodosic is 30, and recently signed a two-year deal with Los Angeles Clippers this offseason. Based on talent alone, there is no question Shved deserved at least one more chance to prove his worth in the NBA.