BasketNews Players Survey: overrated/underrated stars and (un)likeable coaches / News - Basketnews.com

Keenan Evans is widely regarded as the most underrated star, and most players would like to play under Pablo Laso's guidance.

Credit: Srdjan Stevanovic & Panagiotis Moschandreou/GettyImages, EuroLeague Credit Srdjan Stevanovic & Panagiotis Moschandreou/GettyImages, EuroLeague

For the very first time,BasketNewsproudly presents the EuroLeague Players Survey.

Arnas Butkevičius

Team:Zalgiris KaunasPosition:SFAge:31Height:196 cmWeight:95 kgBirth place:Klaipėda, LithuaniaProfileNewsStatistics

23 EuroLeague players shared their candid thoughts anonymously on various aspects of the league, including the best EuroLeague players, predictions for the 2023-24 season, potential changes to improve the EuroLeague product, and even aspects they are not particularly fond of.

Please keep in mind that because we received responses from only a relatively small number of players, this survey doesn't try to represent the views of all EuroLeague players.

Instead, it provides a space for players to share their thoughts, express their desires, and spark entertaining and quality basketball discussions among EuroLeague fans.

In the 2nd part of the BasketNews Players Survey, players expressed their appreciation for the best coaches and acknowledged the most underrated players.

They also shared their thoughts on destinations they don't look forward to during the EuroLeague regular season and highlighted players or coaches they consider overrated or would prefer not to play for.

We invite you to read Part II, which delves into the offseason, the best EuroLeague players, and the introduction of new rules and changes to improve the EuroLeague product.

Part I: BasketNews Players Survey: EuroLeague GOAT, new rule, and best offseason signing

In the last Players Survey edition, we will explore predictions for the 2023-24 EuroLeague season.

We also encourage you to take a look at the BasketNews GM Survey.

Part I: best EuroLeague signing and next NBA player Part II: EuroLeague winners and best NBA newcomer Part III: Dubai plans and biggest EuroLeague's threat

Most underrated star

The competition in the poll was tight, as numerous EuroLeague players received mentions. However, Zalgiris Kaunas point guard Keenan Evans stood out with the most votes in the survey.

Keenan Evans

MIN:25.15PTS:13.75 (55.36%)REB:3.25As:3ST:1BL:0.25TO:1.5GM:4ProfileEuroLeague2023/2024

Evans established himself in the 2022-23 season as one of the league's top scorers, with an average of 15.9 points and 3.7 assists, before an Achilles injury sidelined him in January.

This year, he's slowly returning to his usual pace, averaging 13.8 points and 3.0 assists per game. His recent clutch shots in Bologna are evidence that he's making a strong comeback.

AS Monaco's guard Jordan Loyd ranks second. The significance of his contribution became more evident than ever at the beginning of the 2023-24 season, especially when Monaco faced setbacks in their first two games.

Loyd's name likely came to the forefront of everyone's minds after the BasketNews player rankings. 36 media members from all over Europe placed him at the 30th spot.

Jordan Loyd himself didn't hesitate to express dissatisfaction with being underrated in the rankings.

The survey also saw players like Moustapha Fall, Gabriel Deck, and Aleksa Avramovic receiving multiple votes.

Additionally, Jan Vesely, Mario Hezonja, Fabien Causeur, Thomas Walkup, Gabriele Procida, Danilo Andjusic, Johannes Thiemann, Nick Weiler-Babb, and Lorenzo Brown were among the names mentioned in the rankings.

Player Vote cast 1. Keenan Evans 18.2% 2. Jordan Loyd 13.6%

Most overrated player

It's a highly subjective matter, and the reasons for including specific names can vary. Some decisions might be influenced by the contracts players have signed, while others could be driven by dissatisfaction with the level of spotlight certain players have received. Personal preferences can also play a role.

In this case, one of the most significant offseason signings, Kostas Sloukas, secured the top spot in the most overrated rankings with the most votes.

Few players tied for second place.

Ignas Brazdeikis earned a spot on the list after transitioning from Zalgiris to Olympiacos early in the season, where he was expected to be one of the go-to players for the Final Four team.

Mathias Lessort of Panathinaikos and Yam Madar, who gained attention with his unexpected move from Partizan to Fenerbahce, also received multiple mentions in the poll.

Mike James, Scottie Wilbekin, Wade Baldwin, Brandon Davies, Dzanan Musa, and Oscar Da Silva received mentions in the survey.

Player Vote cast 1. Kostas Sloukas 20.0% 2-4. Ignas Brazdeikis 13.3% 2-4. Mathias Lessort 13.3% 2-4. Yam Madar 13.3%

Coach you'd most like to play for

The ability to manage a group of champions, a star-stacked roster under high pressure, and nurture young talents got notable recognition in the survey.

After his tenure at Real Madrid, Pablo Laso emerged as the coach players would most like to play for, securing nearly half the votes at 39.1%.

The legendary Zeljko Obradovic, known for his strict yet honest approach and passionate dedication to player development, claimed the second spot with 30.5% of the votes.

Dimitris Itoudis rounded out the top three with 13% of the votes.

Joan Penarroya of Baskonia also received multiple votes in the survey.

Other coaches mentioned included Georgios Bartzokas, Ergin Ataman, and Sasha Obradovic.

Coach Vote cast 1. Pablo Laso 39.1% 2. Zeljko Obradovic 30.5% 3. Dimitris Itoudis 13.0%

Coach you'd least like to play for

Ergin Ataman and Dusko Ivanovic found themselves at the top of the rankings in a poll about which coach players would least like to play for.

Both coaches garnered an equal share of the votes, with each receiving 41.7%.

Both coaches made headlines due to their practice sessions, some of which included 4-hour video sessions.

Ivanovic is well-known for his demanding coaching style, which includes exhausting training sessions, while Ataman is famous for his public call-outs when displeased with certain players or his communication approach with the team.

Notably, Dusko Ivanovic's tenure with Crvena Zvezda came to an end after just four EuroLeague rounds.

Ataman is known for his public criticism of players and his distinct communication approach with the team.

Ataman also received votes in the opposite survey, where coaches players would most like to play for were being considered.

Coach Vote cast 1-2. Dusko Ivanovic 41.7% 1-2. Ergin Ataman 41.7%

Toughest away gym

It's no surprise that a road trip can be particularly challenging when the journey involves a visit to Serbia.

A majority of players, precisely three-fourths of them, cited Belgrade as the toughest away destination during the EuroLeague season.

56.5% of the players pointed to Stark Arena, where Partizan Belgrade enjoys the support of up to 20,000 crazy fans.

In a close second, 26.1% of respondents deemed Crvena Zvezda the toughest away team to face.

Given that the survey was conducted both before and after the season opener, most players recalled their experiences playing at the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall the previous year. It's important to note that Crvena Zvezda now shares Stark Arena with Partizan.

Menora Mivtachim, the home of Maccabi Tel Aviv, also received several mentions in the survey.

The players also noted Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, and Baskonia as challenging away destinations.

Gym Vote cast 1. Stark (Partizan) 56.5% 2. Aleksandar Nikolic (Crvena Zvezda) 26.1% 3. Menora Mivtachim (Maccabi) 13.0%

Biggest fighter/hustler

Everyone admires players who approach each possession as if it were their last, willingly dive for every loose ball, and tirelessly battle for every square centimeter on the court.

In nearly every EuroLeague team, you can find at least one such teammate. As expected, this question garnered a wide range of responses, but Zalgiris Kaunas forward Arnas Butkevicius emerged as the clear favorite with 18.2% of the votes.

Butkevicius, who made his EuroLeague debut at the relatively late age of 30 last season, quickly established himself as one of the league's premier defensive players.

Following closely behind, Mathias Lessort, Thomas Walkup, and John Brown each received 13.6% of the votes, highlighting their unwavering commitment to the game.

Numerous other players, such as Kevarrius Hayes, Josh Nebo, Mateusz Ponitka, Facundo Campazzo, Branko Lazic, Kyle Hines, Bryant Dunston, Giannoulis Larentzakis, and Tornike Shengelia, were also mentioned for their dedication and relentless efforts on the court.

Player Vote cast 1. Arnas Butkevicius 18.2% 2-4. Mathias Lessort 13.6% 2-4. Thomas Walkup 13.6% 2-4. John Brown 13.6%

Dirtiest player

At times, the willingness to hustle on the basketball court knows no bounds, even if it means crossing the line occasionally.

In a poll aimed at identifying the dirtiest players in the EuroLeague, plenty of players received mentions. However, Nikola Kalinic and Facundo Campazzo shared the top spot, both securing 16.7% of the votes.

Other notable mentions included Rudy Fernandez, Dzanan Musa, Charles Kahudi, Jan Vesely, Branko Lazic, Guerschon Yabusele, and Donta Hall.

Player Vote cast 1-2. Nikola Kalinic 16.7% 1-2. Facundo Campazzo 16.7%

Best away city to visit

While visiting Belgrade may mean facing one of the toughest away games on the EuroLeague calendar, there are destinations that players eagerly anticipate.

These sought-after destinations typically offer sunshine, positive vibes, pleasant surroundings, and an active lifestyle. Barcelona has emerged as the top choice, capturing 43.5% of the votes.

Following closely behind is another Spanish city, Madrid, with 21.8% of the votes. It's no surprise that teams based in these locations often attract players for slightly less money, thanks to the appeal of these cities.

Istanbul and Monaco are next on the list, each securing 13% of the votes.

Additionally, Athens, Valencia, and Tel Aviv received mentions. These cities offer a combination of great basketball and an enjoyable off-court experience.

City Vote cast 1. Barcelona 43.5% 2. Madrid 21.8% 3-4. Istanbul 13.0% 3-4. Monaco 13.0%

Worst away city to visit

While there are plenty of sunny EuroLeague destinations that players anticipate during a long season, there are some places where players often find themselves limited to a hotel-arena-hotel routine.

According to the players' survey, Vitoria-Gasteiz, the home of Baskonia, received the dubious distinction of being the least favored away city to visit, with a significant 47.1% of the players selecting it.

Kaunas came in second place, with 29.4% of the votes.

Villeurbanne/Lyon, Bologna, and Tel Aviv were also mentioned as cities players don't particularly look forward to visiting during the EuroLeague season.

City Vote cast 1. Vitoria 47.1% 2. Kaunas 29.4%

Best referee

An unwritten rule goes: 'If nobody is talking about the referees, it means the officiating was good.'

In basketball, referees often become the center of attention when people are unhappy with the officiating. However, there are also exceptional officials who consistently perform flawlessly, even in highly demanding circumstances.

According to the players' survey, Anne Panther (28.6%) and Gytis Vilius (21.4%) stood out as individuals who have earned a respected and trustworthy reputation among basketball players.

Other referees, including Robert Lottermoser, Mehdi Difallah, Sasa Pukl, Olegs Latisevs, Boris Ryzhik, Uros Nikolic, and Ilja Belosevic, were also mentioned for their commendable work in officiating.

Referee Vote cast 1. Anne Panther 28.6% 2. Gytis Vilius 21.4%

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