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After two years in the NBA, Sarunas Jasikevicius is returning to Europe.
EUR-APPEAL!
Top
10 NBA players in Europe...
More
and more European and international players are joining the NBA. Yet
now the opposite is also happening: NBA players are increasingly
leaving North America for Europe. Bigger money and a change of scenery
has lured some notable name players across the pond lately. Who's
leaving? A closer look...
1
Sarunas
Jasikevicius, PG 2006-07 NBA teams: Pacers and Warriors 2006-07 stats: 6.1 ppg, 2.7 apg, 0.4 spg New team: Panathinaikos (Greece) The skinny: Now 31, Jasikevicius has spent most of his pro career
as a star in Europe. Most NBA observers thought he would be a success in
the NBA too, but a lack of defensive intensity really hurt him in his two
NBA seasons. He probably could have excelled on a team that played more
help defense, but it looks like he may be headed back to Europe for good.
It's too bad, since he was very good in the limited minutes he saw in the
NBA.
2
Vasilis
Spanoulis, PG 2006-07 NBA team: Rockets 2006-07 stats: 2.7 ppg, 0.9 apg, 0.2 spg New team: Panathinaikos (Greece) The skinny: After his year of trying out NBA life, Spanoulis is
headed back to Panathinaikos. He didn't get to play much at all for the
Rockets in his one season, and he wasn't happy about it. That got him
traded to the Spurs this summer, and they released him to return to
Greece. Spanoulis is best known for leading Greece to their upset of Team
USA in last year's world championships in Japan, but his huge performance
there didn't translate into big opportunities in Houston. With
Panathinaikos he should return to a much bigger role, but ironically he
may have to compete for top point guard duties with another former NBA
player, Jasikevicius.
3
Ersan
Ilyasova, F 2006-07 NBA team: Bucks 2006-07 stats: 6.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.7 apg New team: FC Barcelona (Spain) The skinny: Still only 20 years old, Ilyasova was the 36th overall
pick of the 2005 Draft. He really only got one season to show what he can
do in the NBA, and in limited action he was very impressive. Ilyasova
still has the goods to oneday be a star in the NBA and has a game and
frame similar to that of a young Andrei
Kirilenko. He just may not be back to the Association for awhile,
especially if he gets a taste of regular minutes in Spain.
4
Allan
Ray, G 2006-07 NBA team: Celtics 2006-07 stats: 6.1 ppg, 0.9 apg, 0.4 spg New team: Virtus Roma (Italy) The skinny: Ray was a college star at Villanova, but wasn't as
successful in the NBA draft (where he was passed over). He enjoyed a few
nice games for the Celts as a rookie last year, but didn't really fit into
their huge rebuilding plan. He is talented enough to really excel in
Europe, and if he does then Ray may round out his game and eventually
return to the NBA (as Toronto's Anthony
Parker did). Ray can certainly put the biscuit in the basket.
5
DerMarr
Johnson, G/F 2006-07 NBA team: Nuggets 2006-07 stats: 3.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.4 apg New team: Benetton Treviso (Italy) The skinny: Now 27, Johnson should be in his prime as a
ball-player. Instead he mostly lost playing time over three seasons in
Denver, where he once was a starter. Johnson still has major talent
(evidenced by his being picked No.6 overall in the 2000 Draft) but a
broken neck in a car accident almost ended his career. He has the goods to
be a star in Europe, where he will certainly get more playing time.
6
Rafael
Araujo, C 2006-07 NBA team: Jazz 2006-07 stats: 2.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.0 bpg New team: Spartak St. Petersburg (Russia) The skinny: As the No.8 overall pick of the 2004 NBA Draft, Araujo
ultimately ended up being one of the biggest busts in draft history. To be
fair to him, the Raptors never should have taken him so early and few
expected them to. 'Hoffa' didn't do much in his three NBA seasons, but he
remains a fairly mobile center who can score and rebound a little. Maybe
he will regain some confidence with the increased playing time he'll get
in Russia.
7
Dee
Brown, PG 2006-07 NBA team: Jazz 2006-07 stats: 1.9 ppg, 1.6 apg, 0.4 spg New team: Galatasaray (Turkey) The skinny: Brown had a few nice moments for the Jazz last season
as a fill-in point guard, and was good enough in that rookie campaign to
stick with the team. On another NBA squad he might have contended for more
minutes, but Brown wasn't looking like a lock to make this year's Jazz so
he took a more secure deal in Turkey. Galatasaray is not a major force in
European ball, but Brown will at least get a chance to play a big role for
them (as he did at Illinois in college).
8
Lawrence
Roberts, F/C 2006-07 NBA team: Grizzlies 2006-07 stats: 5.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 0.2 bpg New team: Olympiacos (Greece) The skinny: In two NBA seasons Roberts showed toughness and
low-post power. But he also spent time in the D-League and on the injured
list. He is a very strong post presence who should benefit from seeing
more action in Greece. That said, big-men sometimes have a tougher time
adjusting to the European game than guards, so there might be some
adjustment pains.
9
Daniel
Ewing, G 2006-07 NBA team: Clippers 2006-07 stats: 2.9 ppg, 1.4 apg, 0.5 spg New team: Kimki Moscow (Russia) The skinny: Like some of the other guards on this list, Ewing is a
somewhat undersized but very skilled player. That makes him a better bet
to succeed abroad than he did in the NBA, although he was a fairly regular
contributor for the Clips during two seasons in L.A. Kimki isn't a major
power in international basketball but they are improving, and maybe Ewing
can help add to their profile and standing.
10
James
Singleton, F 2006-07 NBA team: Clippers 2006-07 stats: 1.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.3 bpg New team: Tau Ceramica (Spain) The skinny: Singleton managed to establish himself as a valuable
role player for the Clips during his two seasons with them, but he saw his
playing time diminish last season. A gritty and smart player, Singleton
might have done a little better in the NBA if he had landed with a team
that used him more. His return to European ball won't be a culture shock
for Singleton, as he spent two seasons playing in Italy before landing in
Clipperland. It wouldn't be surprising to see him return to the NBA
somewhere down the road. He's only 26 years old.
Also leaving the NBA for teams across the ocean:
Pops Mensa-Bonsu (from the Mavericks, to Italy), C; Will
Blalock, PG (from the Pistons, to Israel); Will
Conroy, G (from the Clippers, to Italy); Shammond
Williams, PG (from the Lakers, to Spain); Jared
Reiner, C (from the Bucks, to Spain); Bracey
Wright, SG (from the Timberwolves, to Greece); Luke
Schenscher, C (from the Trail Blazers, to Germany); Pape
Sow, PF/C (from the Raptors, to Italy); Uros
Slokar, PF/C (from the Raptors, to Russia).
