Five years years ago, the NBA released its NBA75 list honoring its greatest players in the league’s 75th anniversary. When that happened, we created our own list, which we have updated annually with one new inclusion each time.
After reaching the 25th anniversary of the post-FIBA era, the Euroleague compiled its own Top 25 players ever, so we followed the same approach with basketball’s premier competition outside the NBA. Today, we’re making some updates to our all-time ranking.
The HoopsHype list features 21 of the 25 names from the official selection. Notable absences in our ranking include Luka Doncic and Manu Ginobili, both eventual NBA stars with brief and dominant Euroleague stints. It’s precisely because these superstars left European competition early that they are not included since we prioritized longevity and sustained excellence in the Euroleague here.
Without further ado, here’s our ranking of the 25 greatest Euroleague players of the modern era.
1. Vassilis Spanoulis (Greece)
Euroleague stats: 12.4 ppg, 4.5 apg, 1.8 rpg, 0.8 spg in 15 seasons
Euroleague accolades: Three Euroleague titles, one Euroleague Final Four MVP, one Euroleague MVP, eight All-Euroleague Team selections
In any GOAT debate, it’s difficult to set aside the emotional component – the feelings a player evokes from the court. For Vassilis Spanoulis, this is simply impossible. In such a passionate affair as European basketball can be for its fans, the Greek superstar served as the ultimate heartbreaker for opponents and a catalyst for joy among supporters. The NBA, Houston in particular, never got close to enjoying the Spanoulis experience in his lone year stateside, and European basketball got better because of his unwillingness to change his style of play.
A meh athlete even by European basketball standards, Spanoulis never looked like the most impressive player in the first minute of a game. He wasn’t very expressive either, especially for a Greek player. Yet in the final five minutes, he was a sight to see. His nickname, ‘Kill Bill’, was forged in close games, where he became more lethal as the stakes rose. Since the creation of the modern Euroleague in 2000, Spanoulis is the only player to win three Final Four MVPs… an impressive feat in a competition that decides its finalists and winner in the unpredictability of single 40-minute games.
It might strike you as odd to declare a player who averaged 12.4 points per game and won just one regular season MVP award the greatest in a competition’s history. Yet with Spanoulis, this was an easy decision. No one has created more unforgettable moments, devastated more opponents, or electrified more packed arenas than Spanoulis did across his 15-year Euroleague career.
2. Mike James (United States)
Euroleague stats: 16.3 ppg, 4.9 apg, 3.2 rpg, 1.0 spg in 12 seasons
Euroleague accolades: One Euroleague MVP, five All-Euroleague Team selections
No one has traveled the long road from unrecruited JUCO player to Euroleague greatness quite like Mike James. A 6-foot-nothing guard out of Portland, and a product of the humble programs at Eastern Arizona and Lamar, James stands as the most improbable player in this ranking. And yet, he’s deservedly rounding out the Euroleague GOAT podium alongside two Greek legends as both the top active player and the highest-ranked non-European on the list.
Even within his European career, James didn’t take any shortcuts to the top, even playing in the Israeli second division and the Italian third tier. But when he finally reached the Euroleague in 2014, his impact was immediate. Just 10 years later, James became the all-time leading scorer in the competition’s history, and that’s despite interrupting his European career for NBA stints with the Suns, Pelicans, and Nets, where he averaged 8.9 points per game and forged a friendship with Kevin Durant, who has since visited him a few times to watch him play.
3. Dimitris Diamantidis (Greece)
Euroleague stats: 9.0 ppg, 4.5 apg, 3.5 rpg, 1.6 spg in 12 seasons
Euroleague accolades: Three Euroleague titles, two Euroleague Final Four MVPs, one Euroleague MVP, four All-Euroleague 1st Team selections, six Best Defender awards
The brilliant career of Dimitris Diamantidis parallels that of Vassilis Spanoulis. Longtime teammates on the Greek National Team and for five years at Panathinaikos, their legendary rivalry ignited when Spanoulis joined PAO’s nemesis, Olympiacos. Matchups between them, whether in Euroleague or Greek competitions, became a big basketball show across Europe for years.
For Diamantidis, his excellence ran mostly in the opposite direction of Spanoulis. He stands as the most feared defender in Euroleague history, his mind wired to disrupt opponents’ offensive plans thanks to his exceptional wingspan and outstanding positioning. Unselfish almost to a fault and uninterested in his box score numbers, he became the ultimate winner through constant activity and on-court smarts.
Like Spanoulis, Diamantidis was at this in the hottest moments of the game. Though primarily a facilitator, he never hesitated to take clutch shots when necessary. His defensive mastery remains his greatest legacy in the game, though, winning the Euroleague DPOY award six times, a record that may prove the hardest ever to break in the competition.
4. Nando De Colo (France)
Euroleague stats: 14.5 ppg, 3.7 apg, 2.6 rpg, 1.1 spg in 14 seasons
Euroleague accolades: Two Euroleague titles, one Euroleague Final Four MVP, one Euroleague MVP, six All-Euroleague Team selections
Before Mike James, the Euroleague’s all-time leading scorer was another guard with NBA experience. Nando De Colo never became a star in North America. In Europe, though, the French guard operated on a different level.
Smooth and reliable on the offensive end, and one of the best at pickpocketing opponents thanks to his active hands on the other side of the court, De Colo returned from the NBA to become one of Europe’s top players of the past decade. In 2015–16, he had one of the most dominant seasons in modern history, capturing the MVP, Final Four MVP, and scoring title while winning his first Euroleague championship with CSKA Moscow.
That magical season wasn’t a one-off. For seven consecutive years, De Colo was a member of the Euroleague’s 50-40-90 club – a feat no one else has come close to matching.
5. Juan Carlos Navarro (Spain)
Euroleague stats: 12.2 ppg, 2.4 apg, 1.6 rpg, 0.7 spg in 17 seasons
Euroleague accolades: Two Euroleague titles, one Euroleague Final Four MVP, one Euroleague MVP, seven All-Euroleague Team selections
In a parallel universe, Juan Carlos Navarro might have earned millions in the NBA as a designated shooter, similar to European players like Marco Belinelli or Evan Fournier. But instead of becoming a one-trick pony in the NBA, the Spanish guard returned from a more than decent year in Memphis to his hometown club, FC Barcelona, to establish himself as one of the best Euroleague scorers ever.
Soft-spoken off the court, Navarro was loud on it with a deep bag of tricks when facing the basket. His signature teardrop floater became so renowned it shared his nickname: ‘La Bomba’. Yet he could do much more than that. Seven years after his retirement, he’s still the second all-time three-point shooter in the Euroleague.
Navarro’s masterpiece came in 2010, when he won his second Euroleague title as the Final Four MVP to beat Olympiacos, forming a special backcourt with Ricky Rubio, but his career was excellent almost until the very end. Now serving as Barça’s general manager, Navarro shares with Dimitris Diamantidis the distinction of being named to the Euroleague All-Decade Team for both the 2000s and 2010s.
6. Vasilije Micic (Serbia)
Euroleague stats: 12.9 ppg, 4.7 apg, 2.5 rpg, 1.0 spg in 10 seasons
Euroleague accolades: Two Euroleague titles, two Euroleague Final Four MVPs, one Euroleague MVP, three All-Euroleague Team selections
Suns fans may know Vasilije Micic as arguably the last guy Mike Budenholzer would consider using in the final months of the 2024–25 season. In Europe, however, he’s an MVP who interrupted one of the most dominant runs in Euroleague history to try his luck in the NBA. Like with many European guards, the American experience didn’t go so well for Micic and he’s back in the Euroleague with up-and-coming Hapoel Tel Aviv.
Less flashy than other guards of his generation, Micic has built his career on an extraordinary offensive skillset. A solid and smart passer who can create his own scoring opportunities, he presents quite the defensive puzzle.
Micic’s ascent was quieter than other stars of his age. His arrival at Turkish team Anadolu Efes in 2018, then still without a Euroleague title, changed everything. The Serbian point guard went on to win two consecutive championships earning both Final Four MVP awards, something only Vassilis Spanoulis had done since 2003.
7. Sergio Llull (Spain)
Euroleague stats: 8.9 ppg, 3.2 apg, 1.5 rpg, 0.5 spg in 19 seasons
Euroleague accolades: Three Euroleague titles, one Euroleague MVP, two All-Euroleague Team selections
With Vassilis Spanoulis and Juan Carlos Navarro retired, the prototype of clutch Euroleague star now has Sergio Llull as its primary embodiment. Nearing two decades as the go-to guy at Real Madrid, where he’s the all-time leader in games played, the Spanish scorer has been delivering impossible shots in close games with great consistency. Three Euroleague titles, one as Final Four MVP, make him one of the most successful players in Europe, much to Daryl Morey‘s regret.
Since the Rockets paid more than $2 million for his draft rights in 2009, signing Llull became one of the top summer goals for the Texan franchise during the Morey era. But his loyalty to Real Madrid, along with the prospect of taking a backseat to prime James Harden, led him to remain in Spain. Eventually, his draft rights were traded to New York as a filler, and his door to the NBA virtually closed.
While America may not have seen much of Llull, Europe certainly has. Still a rotation player for Real Madrid at age 38, he’s the Euroleague’s all-time leader in games, minutes, and three-pointers made.
8. Sarunas Jasikevicius (Lithuania)
Euroleague stats: 10.4 ppg, 3.3 apg, 1.6 rpg, 0.6 spg in 13 seasons
Euroleague accolades: Four Euroleague titles, one Euroleague Final Four MVP, two All-Euroleague Team selections
The ultimate European competitor at the start of the century was, surprisingly, partially forged in America, playing high school basketball in Pennsylvania and college ball at Maryland. Sarunas Jasikevicius, who had two unimpressive years in the NBA, was at his best in Europe. Four Euroleague championships with three different teams are proof of that.
The “floor general” archetype never had a better example than Jasikevicius, a fierce, vocal leader who imposed his will on teammates, coaches, opponents, and referees alike. But his intensity could never be confused with recklessness. A highly creative and generous passer on the court, he was also one of the most accurate free-throw shooters ever, with a 92.7 percent mark in his Euroleague career.
Retired in 2014, Jasikevicius couldn’t stay away from basketball, beginning a coaching career that quickly brought him back to the Euroleague elite. On the sidelines, he continues the tradition of fiery European coaches, following in the footsteps of luminaries such as Zeljko Obradovic and Dusko Ivanovic. Hardly a surprise, if you knew him as a player.
9. Milos Teodosic (Serbia)
Euroleague stats: 11.1 ppg, 4.8 apg, 2.2 rpg, 0.8 spg in 13 seasons
Euroleague accolades: One Euroleague title, one Euroleague MVP, six All-Euroleague Team selections
No one in European basketball has walked the fine line between genius and madman quite like Milos Teodosic. A tall, slender point guard at 6-foot-5, usually sporting a scruffy beard and weary expression, the Serbian star was the epitome of creativity in the usually tightly coached Euroleague landscape. While his talent was never in doubt, delivering when the stakes were highest took him a while.
Despite earning Euroleague MVP honors and consistent All-Euroleague recognition, Teodosic wasn’t able to win his first championship until 2016, in his seventh Final Four. His lethal backcourt duo with then-MVP Nando De Colo at CSKA Moscow validated his status as a winner beyond his unorthodox style of play. Liberated from that burden, Teodosic tried his luck in the NBA in 2017 with the Clippers. As a 30-year-old rookie, he gave us some fun highlights, but never established himself as a starter.
For years, his passing skills and fearless shooting were captivating. Perhaps not the greatest player in Euroleague history, but certainly the most entertaining.
10. Theo Papaloukas (Greece)
Euroleague stats: 6.8 ppg, 3.9 apg, 2.4 rpg, 1.3 spg in 12 seasons
Euroleague accolades: Two Euroleague titles, one Euroleague Final Four MVP, one Euroleague MVP, four All-Euroleague Team selections
Theo Papaloukas defied convention in many ways. An unusually tall 6-foot-7 point guard, he embraced a sixth-man role despite being in most cases the undisputed star of his teams. Across 252 Euroleague games, he started only 20, but that didn’t stop him from winning two championships, earning MVP and Final Four MVP honors, and being selected to four All-Euroleague teams.
A playmaker who led through control of the game and contagious winning spirit, he didn’t even need to score to dominate, never averaging double digits per game in a Euroleague season.
His career trajectory was equally unconventional. When he became eligible for the 1999 NBA draft, Papaloukas was still competing in Greece’s second division. He wouldn’t make his debut in continental competition until 2001 at age 24. But he didn’t waste his time after that, reaching eight consecutive Final Fours and turning CSKA Moscow, then a sleeping giant in European basketball, into the most powerful team of the mid-2000s.
11. Rudy Fernandez (Spain)
Euroleague stats: 8.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.1 spg in 14 seasons
Euroleague accolades: Three Euroleague titles, two All-Euroleague Team selections, one Rising Star award
A four-year NBA stint might have diminished many players’ chances of making this list, but not Rudy Fernandez, whose endurance kept him impactful in the Euroleague until his retirement last year at 39.
Initially an offensive dynamo combining rare athleticism with effective long-range shooting, a back injury he suffered in the NBA changed his game. In fact, his golden era arrived after returning to Europe in 2012, when he won three Euroleague championships with Real Madrid and adapted to a defensive anchor role. For a player who once competed in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, finishing among the Euroleague’s all-time Top 10 in both steals and three-pointers is quite the achievement.
12. Sergio Rodriguez (Spain)
Euroleague stats: 9.3 ppg, 4.6 apg, 1.8 rpg, 0.8 spg in 14 seasons
Euroleague accolades: Three Euroleague titles, one Euroleague MVP, two All-Euroleague selections
His nickname in the NBA was “Spanish Chocolate,” a nod to his resemblance to another flashy passer, Jason Williams. In Europe, however, Sergio Rodriguez will always be “El Chacho,” a reference to his Canarian heritage meaning “The Kid.” It wasn’t a coincidence. His joyful style of play was thoroughly entertaining, but he was also a legitimate winner, with three Euroleague championships — two with Real Madrid and one with CSKA Moscow.
A year before his first title, Rodriguez even won the MVP award while coming mostly off the bench, much like Papaloukas did in 2007. His ability to change the tempo of games and throw off rival defenses was unmatched at his peak. Even after spending five years in the NBA, he retired ranked in the Top 3 all-time in both assists and three-pointers.
13. Sasha Vezenkov (Bulgaria)
Euroleague stats: 12.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.2 apg, 0.7 spg in 10 seasons
Euroleague accolades: One Euroleague title, two Euroleague MVPs, one Euroleague Playoffs MVP, four All-Euroleague 1st Team selections
Like Nikola Mirotic years ealier, Sasha Vezenkov turned down a large amount of money (nearly $6.7 million guaranteed from the Raptors) to return to Europe. The Bulgarian power forward needed only one year in Sacramento to realize that the Euroleague was the right place for him to showcase his abilities. Named MVP in 2023, he repeated the honor in 2026 and has become a steady presence in postseason accolades.
A quintessential stretch four by NBA standards, Vezenkov brings much more to the table in Europe. Beyond his elite catch-and-shoot skills, he has developed a strong presence in the paint and emerged as an underrated secondary playmaker. Despite three inconsistent Barcelona seasons and a brief NBA stint, Vezenkov has already cracked the Euroleague’s all-time Top 25 in scoring before turning 30. With continued health, he appears destined for the Top 10 before retirement.
14. Anthony Parker (United States)
Euroleague stats: 16.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.6 spg in four seasons
Euroleague accolades: Two Euroleague titles, one Euroleague Final Four MVP, two Euroleague MVPs, two All-Euroleague 1st Team selections
Compared to many players on this list, Anthony Parker’s Euroleague tenure was brief, playing only four seasons under the current format. This excludes his 2001 SuproLeague championship (then a parallel European competition) and his subsequent six NBA seasons. But during his time in the Euroleague, Candace Parker‘s older brother was arguably the most dominant player in the competition.
His run between 2004 and 2006 was legendary: two championships, one Final Four MVP, and the distinction of being the only player to win two season MVP awards. A fantastic scorer from both mid and long-range, he averaged 16.3 points per game while shooting over 50 percent from the field and over 40 percent from three. Now the general manager of the Orlando Magic, Parker remains revered as one of European basketball’s greatest American imports.
15. Dejan Bodiroga (Serbia)
Euroleague stats: 16.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.1 apg, 0.9 spg in five seasons
Euroleague accolades (modern era): Two Euroleague titles, two Euroleague Final Four MVPs, one Euroleague Top 16 MVP, three All-Euroleague 1st Team selections
His decline after age 30 left him less decorated than many others here. Including pre-Euroleague years would tell a different story entirely. Bodiroga was an insanely skilled player at 6-foot-9, known for his trademark dribble move nicknamed “The Whip,” which American fans discovered thanks to God Shammgod.
Bodiroga now wields the most influential position in Euroleague basketball as the organization’s president.
16. Jan Vesely (Czechoslovakia)
Euroleague stats: 10.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.0 spg in 15 seasons
Euroleague accolades: One Euroleague title, one Euroleague MVP, three All-Euroleague 1st Team selections
By now, you can tell there’s something clearly missing from this list: big men. Even the relatively tall players, like Dejan Bodiroga or Theo Papaloukas, made their careers outside the paint. The first true center to crack the ranking is Jan Vesely, whom Wizards fans may remember as one of the biggest draft busts in the less-than-stellar history of the franchise. In Europe, however, the 6-foot-11 Czech ranks among the competition’s best and most consistent performers.
Across three different teams and 15 Euroleague seasons, Vesely has been quite the offensive force. Once a high-energy player, he has evolved into a more polished scorer in the post and a reliable partner for every playmaker he’s played with, setting hard screens and finishing efficiently at the rim. His development is perhaps best illustrated by his free-throw percentage: from failing to reach 50 percent in his early seasons to approaching 80 percent after turning 30.
17. Nikola Mirotic (Montenegro-Spain)
Euroleague stats: 14.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.2 apg, 0.9 spg in 12 seasons
Euroleague accolades: One Euroleague MVP, five All-Euroleague Team selections, two Rising Star awards
Almost six years before the Luka Doncic trade to the Lakers, another Shams Charania report made people wonder if he had been hacked. Nikola Mirotic, a solid NBA starter likely looking at a seven-figure yearly salary, ditched free agency to join Euroleague powerhouse FC Barcelona. This marked his return to a competition where he had already earned two All-Euroleague selections before age 24, seemingly poised to become its next undisputed superstar.
While the anticipated domination never fully materialized, Mirotic’s offensive talent continued to shine in Europe. He won a Euroleague MVP award in 2021-22 and filled the box score night after night. What remains elusive for him is a Euroleague championship… and his shortcomings in big games are partly to blame. Now 35 and having battled multiple injuries, time is running short for one of European basketball’s finest shooting big men.
18. Mike Batiste (United States)
Euroleague stats: 10.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 0.5 apg, 0.8 spg in 12 seasons
Euroleague accolades: Three Euroleague titles, two All-Euroleague 1st Team selections
Parity may be en vogue in the NBA now, but it has been the norm in the Euroleague for a long time. The closest thing to a dynasty occurred between 2007 and 2011 when Panathinaikos won three of five championships. The unsung leader of that team hailed from Inglewood, California: Mike Batiste, a post player who became one of his era’s most efficient performers.
After beginning his pro career in Belgium and spending a year with Pau Gasol’s Grizzlies, Batiste became a fixture during Panathinaikos’ golden era. He currently ranks third all-time in scoring and second in rebounding in club history. A strong rebounder and finisher, he set the tone for intensity on both ends of the court without any extra flair. Following his lead, the tradition of undersized American big men excelling in Europe continued with players like Kyle Hines and, more recently, Nigel Hayes.
19. Kostas Sloukas (Greece)
Euroleague stats: 9.5 ppg, 4.5 apg, 2.2 rpg, 0.6 spg in 16 seasons
Euroleague accolades: Four Euroleague titles, one Euroleague Final Four MVP, three All-Euroleague Team selections
Among so many Euroleague legends with disappointing NBA experiences, Kostas Sloukas’ perennial disinterest in even making the leap to the States is refreshing. More importantly, the Greek point guard stands out as an offensive Swiss Army knife who has only gotten better with age. From being merely a rotation player well into his 20s, he evolved into one of the Euroleague’s better playmakers and a reliable three-point shooter consistently hitting over 40 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
In fact, his best year came just last season at age 34. Right after switching from Olympiacos to arch-rivals Panathinaikos, he led the Greens to their first continental championship in 13 years, becoming the Final Four MVP and cementing his status as one of the greats in Euroleague history. Even more remarkably, he became the second player after Sarunas Jasikevicius to win the title with three different teams. In a country like Greece, with a deep tradition of elite guards, Sloukas has earned his place in basketball’s personal Olympus.
20. Walter Tavares (Cape Verde)
Euroleague stats: 9.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.7 bpg in nine seasons
Euroleague accolades: Two Euroleague titles, one Euroleague Final Four MVP, seven All-Euroleague Team selections, three Best Defender awards
The only player from outside Europe and the USA on this list didn’t make his Euroleague debut until 2017, but his impact was massive right away. Walter Tavares arrived at Real Madrid after an underwhelming NBA stint and quickly anchored the team’s defense, helping the Spanish club win the title as their starting center in his first year. Eight seasons later, the 7-foot-3 Cape Verdean center remains one of the most dominant big men in the competition.
Named to an All-Euroleague Team in each of the last seven seasons, he can easily be considered the best rim protector since the tournament’s modern format began. Already the all-time leader in blocks, a three-time Euroleague Best Defender, and the 2023 Final Four MVP, only his relatively brief Euroleague tenure prevents him from ranking higher on this list.
21. Nikola Vujcic (Croatia)
Euroleague stats: 12.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.7 apg, 0.9 spg in 11 seasons
Euroleague accolades: Two Euroleague titles, five All-Euroleague Team selections
With the NBA always ready to snatch talented European big men, it was surprising that Nikola Vujcic spent his entire career away from the States. The Croatian center was the most dominant post player in the early years of the modern Euroleague, earning five consecutive All-Euroleague selections from 2003 to 2007 and winning two championships with Maccabi Tel Aviv. Following retirement, he maintained ties to the Israeli powerhouse, leading its front office for several years.
Coming from the same Croatian team that gave us Toni Kukoc and Dino Radja, Vujcic always stood out from other big men of his era thanks to his soft touch around the rim and exceptional passing. At his peak, he regularly averaged close to four assists per game, something nearly unheard of for a center at European basketball’s elite level. To this day, he remains the only player in Euroleague history to record multiple triple-doubles.
22. Kyle Hines (United States)
Euroleague stats: 7.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.2 apg, 0.8 bpg in 14 seasons
Euroleague accolades: Four Euroleague titles, three Best Defender awards
Making a professional basketball career out of intangibles is a gamble, but when you’re a 6-foot-6 center, it’s often the only way. For Kyle Hines, that’s exactly how he became one of the most respected players during his 14-year Euroleague career. Undrafted and overlooked by the NBA, aside from a couple of Summer League invitations, Hines quickly established himself as one of the top defenders in Europe. What he lacked in height, he made up for with toughness, impeccable timing, and relentless effort.
Despite never being selected to an All-Euroleague Team, he became the glue guy for multiple championship squads, winning the title four times. He’s also one of only three players in Euroleague history to win at least three Best Defender of the Year awards. Eventually, the NBA came calling… though in a different role. In 2024, the Brooklyn Nets hired Hines as a development assistant coach.
23. Felipe Reyes (Spain)
Euroleague stats: 8.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.6 spg in 17 seasons
Euroleague accolades: Two Euroleague titles, one All-Euroleague 1st Team
A longtime frontcourt partner of Pau Gasol with the Spanish National Team, Felipe Reyes spent his entire professional career in Madrid, making his Euroleague debut in 2000 with Estudiantes. However, it was with neighboring Real Madrid that he rose to prominence across Europe. For 17 seasons, Reyes was the heart of the squad – rarely the most talented player on the court, but arguably the toughest and most reliable, until his retirement at age 41.
Defying the stereotype of the soft European big man, the 6-foot-9 Reyes built his career in the paint, regularly battling taller opponents and establishing himself as one of the Euroleague’s strongest rebounders. As of now, he ranks fourth on the Euroleague’s all-time rebounding list. His 2014–15 season, when he earned an All-Euroleague 1st Team selection and won the first of his two Euroleague titles with Real Madrid, marked the peak of his long and decorated club career.
24. Shane Larkin (United States/Turkey)
Euroleague stats: 14.8 ppg, 4.6 apg, 2.6 rpg, 1.1 spg in nine seasons
Euroleague accolades: Two Euroleague titles, two All-Euroleague Team selections
A four-year NBA veteran and son of baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, Shane Larkin found his stride in 2018 after joining Anadolu Efes. The Turkish team, which had gone nearly two decades without making the Final Four, became a legitimate contender year after year with him at the helm. In 2019–20, with Larkin averaging 22.2 points per game on 53-51-90 shooting splits, Efes was the clear favorite, but the COVID-19 pandemic brought the Euroleague season to an abrupt end.
Over the following two seasons, nothing stopped Anadolu Efes and Larkin. Playing in what is arguably the best backcourt duo in recent Euroleague history alongside Vasilije Micic, the Turkish club won its first two Euroleague titles in back-to-back years. While Micic claimed MVP honors, Larkin was instrumental in both championship runs. At just 5-foot-11, he is the shortest player on this list.
25. Georgios Printezis (Greece)
Euroleague stats: 9.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.3 spg in 19 seasons
Euroleague accolades: Two Euroleague titles, one All-Euroleague 1st Team
No one has played more Euroleague seasons than Georgios Printezis. Over 19 years – 17 of them spent with Olympiacos – the Greek forward became one of the league’s most iconic figures. During that time, Printezis was a fixture on the court, known for his polished footwork and trademark floater. None of them, however, was more memorable than the one he hit with 0.7 seconds left to win the 2012 Euroleague final. (Highly recommend you watch the TV commentary in Greek).
That was the first of two consecutive Euroleague titles Printezis won with Olympiacos. He would never capture the trophy again, but remained one of the most important figures for Olympiacos until his retirement in 2022. Two years later, the club honored his legacy by retiring his number. Beyond his Euroleague accolades, Printezis also made involuntary history in the NBA. Selected as a late second-round pick in 2007, his draft rights were traded seven times, an all-time record for a player who never signed a contract in the league.
Honorable mentions: Marcus Brown, Nick Calathes, Ramunas Siskauskas, Luis Scola, Trajan Langdon, Erazem Lorbek, Viktor Khryapa, Manu Ginobili, Luka Doncic, Ioannis Bourousis, Alphonso Ford, Will Clyburn, Victor Khryapa, Alexey Shved, Tiago Splitter and Paulius Jankunas
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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: 25 greatest Euroleague players ever: The HoopsHype list