BasketNews EuroLeague players ranking: 20-11 places / News - Basketnews.com

Mathias Lessort, Willy Hernangomez, and Dzanan Musa took the highest spots on the 20-11th places list in the BasketNews EuroLeague players ranking.

Credit: P.Moschandreou - Getty Images, V. Stolis, ZUMAPRESS.com/Scanpix | BasketNews illustration Credit P.Moschandreou - Getty Images, V. Stolis, ZUMAPRESS.com/Scanpix | BasketNews illustration

For the second year in a row,BasketNewspresents its EuroLeague players ranking, in which 38 head coaches, scouts, general managers, and media members from Europe ranked the best players in the competition.

The survey participants were given a list of around 100 EuroLeague players, and after combining all the results, we present you the BasketNews Top 30 EuroLeague players ranking.

The respondents were given the following ranking scale:

9-10: EuroLeague MVP contender 7-8: All-EuroLeague 1st Team-caliber player 5-6: All-EuroLeague 2nd Team-caliber player 3-4:He would be a starter on a Top 4-caliber team 1-2: The best of the rest

We continue our EuroLeague players ranking by presenting 20-11 places, while the remaining Top 10 will be published in the upcoming days.

You can find the previous editions here:

30-21 places

19-20. Guerschon Yabusele – 218 points

Place in the previous EuroLeague players ranking:8th

We have the first EuroLeague champions member on the list. Yabusele has been a crucial part of Real Madrid for the last two seasons, forming one of the strongest frontcourts alongside Edy Tavares.

The Frenchman was picking up his best form just before the EuroLeague playoffs started, but the suspension in the Partizan playoffs series meant that the season for the 27-year-old was over.

Nevertheless, Yabusele was the 4th-most efficient player in Real, averaging 9.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 11.3 PIR per game in 29 appearances.

19-20. Thomas Walkup – 218 points

Place in the previous EuroLeague players ranking: 31st

Thomas Walkup could never brag about his offensive numbers, and after his 5th season in the EuroLeague, he's yet to average double-digit numbers. Despite that, the offense is not the reason why Walkup is so appreciated in Europe.

One of the best perimeter defenders in Europe built his reputation in Piraeus by being an integral part of the smooth basketball Olympiacos played last season.

After his debut season for Olympiacos in 2021-22, Walkup's assists more than doubled (from 2.7 to 5.6 APG) in the 2022-23 campaign, and he was probably the 3rd most important guy on the team after Sasha Vezenkov and Kostas Sloukas.

On top of that, Walkup was one of the leading contenders for the Best Defensive Player of the Year award – a feat only Dimitris Diamantidis managed to do among guards.

The fact Olympiacos gave Walkup a new 4-year contract is all you need to know how good and important he is for the Greek powerhouse.

18. Gabriel Deck – 220 points

Place in the previous EuroLeague players ranking: 24th

Another Real Madrid star who didn't find his luck in the NBA. Despite that, Deck immediately showed that the same good player we got used to is still there.

Deck carried Real Madrid in the playoffs series against Partizan, averaging 15.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 19.3 PIR per game before suffering a season-ending injury.

Real also didn't wait for long. Even though Deck had a valid contract until the end of the 2023-24 season, the Spanish powerhouse handed a new deal that will run through the summer of 2028.

17. Juancho Hernangomez – 223 points

Place in the previous EuroLeague players ranking: N/A

Juancho hadn't played club basketball since February when the Toronto Raptors waived him, but despite that, our respondents believe the 28-year-old is still a real deal.

And it's not difficult to understand why. Juancho is a perfectly suited forward for European basketball and was among Spain's leaders in the last two FIBA Basketball World Cups.

Now, he embraces the new challenge in Panathinaikos and will be one of the most exciting players to watch in the EuroLeague.

16. Darius Thompson – 240 points

Place in the previous EuroLeague players ranking: N/A

If EuroLeague were to introduce the Rookie of the Year award, there's almost no doubt Thompson would have taken it home last season.

After gradually making leaps from the Basketball Champions League to the EuroCup and finally the EuroLeague, Thompson looked like a seasoned veteran in his debut season.

He led the EuroLeague in assists (6.7 APG), averaging 12.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 17.1 PIR per game on top of that.

He finished the 2022-23 EuroLeague campaign with 10 double-digit performances in a row, including five double-doubles in that stretch.

Overall, Thompson had 9 performances when he dished 10 or more assists in one game.

"I just wanted to go out there and compete. I wanted to show everyone that I'm capable of playing, and hopefully, I'm doing well," Thompson told BasketNews in April.

And Thompson, for sure, did. Now, he'll face a new era in Anadolu Efes, where he'll try to replace Vasilije Micic. There are big shoes to fill, but the last year showed that Thompson has the capability to do it.

15. Shavon Shields – 243 points

Place in the previous EuroLeague players ranking: 11th

Everyone knows how good, impactful, and what kind of game-changer Shields could be, but severe injuries in recent years stopped the 29-year-old from giving joy to basketball fans on a consistent basis.

Shields already proved his worth in the Italian Super Cup semifinal, dropping 26 points against Virtus.

So, we can only hope that Shields left his injury problems in the past, and he will be able to dominate. If not for the injuries, there's almost no doubt the Danish forward would be on the Top 10 list in our EuroLeague Players ranking.

14. Kostas Sloukas – 244 points

Place in the previous EuroLeague players ranking: 9th

Kostas Sloukas sent the biggest shockwaves in the summer by moving to Panathinaikos from Olympiacos, but no one questioned how good of a move it was for PAO.

By now, everyone knows what you get with Sloukas – a player thriving in clutch moments who enjoys the spotlight. His ability to sink crucial shots has silenced many opposing teams, and his determination to win every game can quiet any new critics.

Sloukas also boasts an outstanding record, having participated in 9 of the last 11 EuroLeague Final Fours – a feat Panathinaikos will definitely try to achieve this year.

13. Dzanan Musa – 251 points

Place in the previous EuroLeague players ranking: 16th

After an unsuccessful stint with Anadolu Efes, Musa returned to the EuroLeague with a bang. Following an amazing season in Spain with CB Breogan, Musa transferred his best game to the EuroLeague champions like it was nothing.

The 24-year-old Bosnian was Real Madrid's top scorer, averaging 14.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 15.9 PIR per game in 41 appearances.

Musa delivered 20 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 24 PIR performance in a crucial Game 5 against Partizan, paving the way for Real Madrid to the Final Four, which the Spanish powerhouse eventually won.

He was also named to the All-EuroLeague First Team for his performances throughout the year.

12. Willy Hernangomez – 256 points

Place in the previous EuroLeague players ranking: N/A

We have the second Hernangomez brother, and we can expect that Willy will instantly become the EuroLeague star.

Even though Willy had a limited role in the New Orleans Pelicans in recent seasons, his production was top-notch.

Last season, Willy averaged 12 minutes, 6.9 points, and 4.7 rebounds per game in 38 appearances for the Pelicans.

A year before, the 29-year-old produced 9.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in 50 appearances.

He was also undisputed Spain's leader in this year's FIBA World Cup and claimed the EuroBasket 2022 MVP award last summer.

Barca got a real deal here, while European basketball fans will get to witness another highest-quality player.

11. Mathias Lessort – 262 points

Place in the previous EuroLeague players ranking: N/A

We wrap our second part of the BasketNews EuroLeague Players ranking with Mathias Lessort.

After an incredible season with Partizan, Lessort made his move to Panathinaikos and will try to replicate his last campaign's form in Athens.

Lessort was the most efficient player in Partizan, averaging 12.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 19.2 PIR per game.

Good enough to be named into the All-EuroLeague First Team.

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