As we ease ourselves into the long NBA season, we have to remember there’s a whole other world of basketball being played overseas, some of which actually matters to the Sixers. This past draft alone the Sixers stashed three players (to add to just one they had overseas after bringing over Dario and Furkan Korkmaz over the last two years). As Euroleague, EuroCup, and the respective smaller leagues are rolling into their season, I thought we could take a super small sample size look at the Euros (which includes an Australian, Serbian, Latvian, and native of Martinique).
Jonah Bolden
Rd. 2 Pick 36 in 2017 - Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv (Euroleague/Israeli Premier League)
Perhaps the most exciting of the stashes - since he actually showed flashes of being a pro in Summer League - Bolden is suiting up in Israel for Dragan Bender’s former squad alongside Norris Cole and forever Sixer Pierre Jackson. Bolden has started all three Euroleague games for the team so far, where he averaged 3.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and a steal. Maccabi Tel Aviv was just handed their first Euroleague loss at the undefeated hands of Olympiacos, helped by 4 points from Hollis Thompson (averaging 9 per game in Euroleague play).
In two Israeli League games, Bolden has fared much better, putting up 9 points. 9.5 rebounds and a block. He plays second (or third) fiddle to Pappy Jack and Cole however. Here’s Bolden is in some Euroleague preseason action, because he looks kinda good here:
Mathias Lessort
Rd. 2 Pick 50 in 2017 - Crvena Zvezda (Euroleague/Adriatic League)
Lessort starts at center over the truly terrifying Pero Antic on Zvezda (1-2 in Euroleague, 3-2 in ABA ball). In Euro games he’s putting up 10.3 points and pulling down 7.3 boards (top 5 in the league). In the famously hard Adriatic League (former home of Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Jusuf Nurkic, Nikola Jokic, and the league Dario Saric was drafted out of), Lessort is scoring 10.4 points and grabbing 4.4 rebounds. He’s dunking on everyone and everything. He went 8/8 in his ABA debut:
Anzejs Pasecniks
Rd. 1 Pick 25 in 2017 - Herbalife Gran Canaria (EuroCup/Liga ACB)
Herbalife Gran Canaria - a team who I will only ever refer to by their full name - started the EuroCup season 1-2, including losses to Luke Harangody’s ratiopharm Ulm and Tofas Bursa. In EuroCup play, Pasecniks is averaging 11.7 points (65% from the floor), 5.3 rebounds, and 0.3 blocks. His rebound average is only 3.7 per game behind both Boris Diaw and Furkan Aldemir. In Liga ACB, Herbalife Gran Canaria is 4-1, with Pasecniks contributing 6.6 points and 4.2 rebounds.
Here he is dropping 19 on Tofas Bursa in a loss:
Vasilije Micic
Rd. 2 Pick 52 in 2014 - Žalgiris (Euroleague/Lithuanian Basketball League)
Longtime rights-held player and actual member of team “He’s Never Coming Over” Vasilije Micic is essentially a crafty veteran at this point, though he’s actually younger than - you guessed it - Malcolm Brogdon. He’s putting up 9/5.3/1.7 in Euroleague, but you don’t really care.
Other notables:
Arturas Gudaitis: One half of the Kings’ reward in Hinkie’s fleece job is playing for - no joke - AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milano. He’s averaging 14.3 points per game on 73.3% from the floor (and 75% from the line while attempting nearly twice as many free throws as field goals). He adds on 4.3 boards an 1.7 blocks a game. He recently got stuffed at the rim.
.@NikMelli from @FBBasketbol with the perfect timing ✋#7DAYSMagicMoment pic.twitter.com/ulgM0QLaaC
— EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) October 19, 2017
Luka Mitrovic: The other player the Kings received is playing for Brose Bamberg. He’s scoring 5 points a game.
Chasson Randle: The former Sixer and Knick is playing about 5 minutes per game alongside Luka Doncic with Real Madrid.
Chu Chu Maduabum: Everyone’s good friend (whose rights are currently held by the Cavaliers) moved from Kagoshima Rebnise to Cyberdyne Ibaraki Robots in the Japanese B.League this year. He’s starting at power forward for the 4-5 team while averaging 7.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks in 20.3 minutes a night.