In the footsteps of success: Who are the latest Euro prospects to take the NBA on?
The 2021 all-star weekend is set to be a one-of-a-kind spectacle, an anomaly for the basketball calendar. Unique for any number of reasons: playing amid a pandemic, lack of showbiz superstars courtside, and the absence of the usual rowdy, high-school gym style fracas that comes with the event. However, there is one monumental quirk in regards to this year’s iteration. The announcement of this year’s all-star starters no doubt brought palatable excitement to those who love everything European Basketball. Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, three of the ten, hailed from and developed their craft in Europe. For my continental peers and I alike, it feels that Europe is getting its long-overdue recognition as a hotspot for elite talent and passion.
Luckily we are past the times of European greats, only embarking on their American adventure years into their career, and in turn, ending up underappreciated in the pantheon of Basketball. It appears that the current generation of multi-faceted Euro Stars in America is dispelling the long thought stereotypes of what it means to be a European basketball player. With most of the current generation either in or yet to enter their prime, it appears that there has never been a time as exciting as now. This all-time high in popularity must be seized upon and used as a springboard to guarantee that this is not a one of a kind scenario. With this in mind, I’ll walk you through the profiles of four players who are set to fly the flag in the 2021 NBA draft. For their sake, do not expect them to hit the early heights Luka Doncic has; each player’s development and assimilation are unique. To say Doncic is an anomaly is an understatement. I also understand that the domestic competitions that each plies their trade-in differ in quality; however, this should be considered when discussing the prospects. This is not showing of the four best prospects, instead, four that I like; however, each of these individuals can claim that they should be found perched at the summit of European talent.
Alperen Sengun
The prototypical European prospect blueprint. A skinny, talented big man who towers over his peers, this may be rining any number of bells. Porzingis? Dirk? Smits? Markannen? Sengun, in many ways, is similar to the aforementioned quartet, however, is many ways breaks the mould of what is thought and expected from European big-men. Standing at the same height and hailing from the same country as Ersan Ilyasova, Alperen Sengun is the premier European talent this year; however, his game does not mirror his countrymen. Sengun is just 18, so his already impressive frame will develop as he grows and beefs up under NBA trainers’ influence. Unlike many in his position from the past and in the present, Sengun does not have a stick-like figure; he is able to throw it around in the paint with the premier big-men of the TBSL. This body control and ability to size up on older opponents was shown off during his dominant 24-point and 12 rebound performance against Sweden in February’s EuroBasketball qualifiers. Whether his physical dominance will be translated to the big-league must be considered. It is one thing setting the pace in Europe; however, with the best athletes found in the NBA, Sengun may find himself overmatched; but he does have age on his size. The Besiktas prospect has a polished post-game, something seemingly trending towards extinction in the NBA. His touch is excellent, and he is able to use his size and savviness to create openings. He utilises his arsenal of scoring moves to manufacture points during a drought. A centre’s modern expectation is to stretch the floor; Sengun lacks a polished shot and struggles to extend it past the three-point arc. This is not uncommon for prospects; many have come into the league lacking a reliable jumper and have developed into reliable shooters; however, many have failed to bridge the gap. Only Sengun will be able to decide which camp he ends up in. Like almost all European prospects, regardless of position, Sengun is comfortable with the ball in his hands and when asked to dispatch the ball. He has a crafty passing range reminiscent of many previous European big-men; however, it is not yet polished to a similar extent Sengun’s place in the modern game may be questioned; he is more reminiscent of big-men of a past time, unlike the rim and run or stretch big-men of the modern-day. That, mixed with his relatively slow feet and less than explosive vertical, makes him a potential liability on the defensive end. Sengun can mask these imperfections when part of a zone; his timing and defensive acumen make up for his slow feet when it comes to rotations in a defensive zone. Sengun’s stock has risen significantly over the past year; consistent performances in the TBSL and for the Turkish NT has seen his name rise to one of the perch of European talent. If this development continues once he crosses the Atlantic, Sengun should be in good stead. Suppose he cannot address the flaws in his game, he could develop into a net positive for an NBA team; however, if he fails to, patience will be run low. He may not be afforded the patience that a prospect of better clout may be afforded.
Mock Draft Projections
Bleacher Report: 24th
Tankathon: 15th
NBADraftRoom: 17th
Usman Garuba
A development hotspot akin to any University in the USA, Real Madrid are expected to have yet another export set foot on NBA courts next season. Despite coming from the Los Blancos’ prestigious tutelage, Garuba profiles far more like an American than a European prospect. Garuba’s frame is impressive; his wingspan far exceeds his height, which will be vital for multi-positional defending in the NBA. He is built well, despite being undersized; it appears that his strength and athleticism should compensate for the slight lack of height, but the NBA is increasingly undersized compared to eras of the past. This has proved true in Spain, where Garuba has shown off impressive defensive skills and shot-blocking ability; however, this is made slightly easier when playing alongside the towering Edy Tavares. Garuba currently playing alongside NBA-level talent and in the premier domestic division in Europe, the Liga ACB, and stints in the EuroLeague. His strength and athleticism should see him transfer his defensive potential to the NBA, though expect early teething issues, as it takes him time to adjust to the pace of the NBA. On the offensive side, his game is limited and not as polished as the typical European prospect. Regardless of his developing game, he has shown in spurts his ability to become a consistent contributor. He is effective in the pick and roll and often defers to his strength to bully defenders into scoring options. Often his points are off the back of him crashing the offensive boards, which he does at an impressive rate due to his athleticism and frame. His shot is underdeveloped but, with the help of NBA trainers, could become something serviceable. Garuba has the least bust potential of any European prospect; in my opinion, his game is easily transferable to the NBA, and even if his development is limited, he could find himself on a roster purely due to his energy and defensive contribution.
Mock Draft Projections
Bleacher Report: 16th
Tankathon: 17th
NBADraftRoom: 19th
Roko Prkacin
A smooth combo-forward from the Balkans, a site familiar to both European and American fans alike. In his Father’s footsteps, a former EuroLeague center and former Cibona forward Dario Saric, Prkacin appears to be a prospect ready to take on the NBA. His all-round offensive game should put him in a good position to develop and contribute in the NBA from the start. Prkacin is a skilled forward who profiles as far more of a three whilst in possession of the ball. Impressive vision, a good handle, and various scoring moves make him a danger on offence. This has reflected in the stats where averages over 16 points p36. He has quick feet, which bodes well when he drives to the basket, combined with good finishing, which means that he is an effective scorer in the paint. This also means that Prkacin often visits the free-throw line, where he sinks them at a decent rate. This also reflects his mid-range game, which is not polished but promising. However, when it comes to extending past the 3-point arc, the Croat struggles; this an area of concern for his assimilation into the NBA. He also struggles with his back to the net, especially when guarded by older and larger defenders. With this in mind, he is more likely to be used as three as than a four, both positions he has played whilst at Cibona. If he wants to become an effective scorer at the NBA level, he must improve his outside shot or paint presence, preferably his outside shot, as this increasingly valuable in the modern NBA. Like most Europeans, Prkacin can pass the ball; he is not a spectacular passer, however he is a serviceable distributor and could add dimensions to a teams offence. Defensively, Prkacin could become something in the NBA. He has quick feet, a good vertical, and decent athleticism. He is active in the passing lanes and has shot-blocking potential; however, if he wants to hang in the NBA, it is expected that he must put on some size. Prkacin will not be the sole representative of the Adriatic Leauge, with the skilled former-Gonzaga center Filip Petrusev also expected to donn a teams hat on draft night.
Mock Draft Projections
Bleacher Report: 26th
Tankathon: 41st
NBADraftRoom: Undrafted
Juhann Begarin
Prospective teammates of Sheck Wes perhaps isn’t something that will appear on the NBA scouts radar, but it remains a unique feat. Begarin follows a line of French point-guards to infiltrate the draft, with Kylian Hayes and Theo Maledon to fly the flag in last years draft. Begarin is not as highly seen as his countrymen; however, he still will be in the hat for an NBA contract this summer. Begarin is a dynamic and aggressive point guard, standing at 196cm with a freakishly long wingspan of 213 cm. Begarin’s athletic prowess alone could see him guarantee a summer league spot and potentially a place on a 15-man roster. His frame and athleticism make Begarin a difficult proposition to be guarded by. He puts up steals and blocks at a reasonable rate. On the flipside, Begarin can attack the channels and finishes well close to the room. He generates highlight plays and would be an asset for any social media team in the NBA. If not finishing the ball, the gravity he generates allows for him to find open opportunities for his teammates, who he can find with his decent passing range. Begarin does still have a lot on his plate to develop. His shooting ability is underdeveloped, especially as a guard in a league which increasingly demands proficiency behind the arc. This also translates to his mid-range game, which is slightly better but not at the desired level. Like many his age, he gets too excited and often turns sluggish, which leads to turnovers; however, with experience and mentorship, this could be fixed. Begarin has the necessary physical skills to become a high-level contributor in the NBA; whether his skills will match is up to Begarin and the prospective team that drafts him. It’s most likely that the Frenchman will see time in both the G-League and NBA if he declares for the upcoming draft, as well as plenty of time with skill trainers. Begarin may not see his name picked in the draft; if this does ,happen it will be interesting to see if he extends his time stateside or returns to Europe to develop
Mock Draft Projections
Bleacher Report: Undrafted
Tankathon: 34th
NBADraftRoom: Undrafted
