Oklahoma City Thunder 75
Vesely named FIBA Europe young player of 2010
[Editor’s note: BallinEurope apologizes for a previous edition of this piece which incorrectly identified Jan Vesely as having rights owned by the Oklahoma City Thunder. This was a grievous error of which you surely need not know details. Rest assured that the infinite number of monkeys formerly ravaging the BiE headquarters are now under control […]
The Eurocentric 2010-11 NBA Preview (or How the Hoops World revolves around Europe)
With the 2010-11 NBA season tipping off tonight, BallinEurope marks the occasion in the best way possible: By overrating the league’s Continental players and making a few offhand Fearless Predictions™ in the guise of a preview column. Brief notes and snarky remarks on all 25 NBA teams follow. (Yes, BiE said “all 25.” Since the […]
CSKA Moscow meets the Heat as Euroleague American Tour 2010 tips off
The Russians have landed in Florida and they’re ready: Five days after the defending NBA and Euroleague champions met in Barcelona, a pair of would-be dethroners will meet when the supercharged Miami Heat host CSKA Moscow in the first game of the Euroleague American Tour 2010. A few connections between players on both sides may […]
European players in the NBA for 2010-11 (or, Come on, Raptors, sign Primoz Brezec already) [UPDATED]
With NBA teams starting to get warmed up for the regular season tipoff, BallinEurope figured it high time to take stock of the European players prospectively set to take the court in America for 2010-11. In considering the expanded rosters for each of the 30 NBA teams, BiE counted 50 players from The Continent plus […]
FIBA World Championship final: What to watch for in USA-Turkey match
And now, the conclusion of the 2010 FIBA World Championship. In hindsight, it looks like a meeting made inevitable by destiny: Hosts Turkey riding their home advantage and deploying its strongest roster since 2001 (if not ever) to meet the world’s basketball public enemy no. 1, Team USA. Since no one needs reasons to watch […]
Rondo leaves Team USA; FIBA Worlds roster set
It’s a good news/bad news news item for Team USA backers: The good news is that the Red-White-and-Blues finally have their 12-man roster for the 2010 FIBA World Championship roster; the bad news is that the electrifyingly exciting Rajon Rondo won’t be on, having essentially decided to leave the team proactively before his dismissal. Figuring […]
Post-fight wrap: Vassilakopoulos says no punishment; Presti, Krstic talk; Team USA watches
A little fallout – but not too much pointed commentary – appeared in local media yesterday after the Acropolis rumble between Serbia and Greece. Former FIBA Europe head George Vassilakopoulos is reportedly not too worried about any Hellas players receiving suspensions during 2010 FIBA World Championship games, telling Greece-based media that though the option of […]
New York news: Kobe praises Spain; Team USA, Puerto Rico cruise
Kobe Bryant was hanging around in New York last week as part of the World Basketball Festival festivities and, upon praising Team Spain, was dutifully quoted by Spain-based sports media outlet Sport.es. “When it comes to really tough opponents,” said Bryant, “no doubt, Spain is the team.” Kobe has seemed somewhat positive about this year’s […]
Barton Think: Should Will go D League or to Europe?
“It dont get no worse than this. The hardest thing I ever had 2 face is here. Need vision cuz everything blurry now. Where do I go from here?” – American prospect Will Barton on Twitter Will Barton of Baltimore faces an all-too-familiar problem of young American basketballers, but thanks to Latavious Williams and Brandon […]
Nowitzki won’t play in 2010 FIBA Worlds, will play in 2011 Eurobasket
Cross yet another internationally-known name off the list for participation in the 2010 FIBA World Championship: Dirk Nowitzki today announced in a good news/bad news kind of way that he would not be playing for Team Germany in this summer’s tournament but that he will be suiting up for next year’s 2011 Eurobasket competition. Nowitzki […]
Which team has the most followers on Twitter and Facebook…?
It was only a matter of time before someone came up with this, BallinEurope supposes, and could be an interesting way to mobilize European fan bases this summer. An outfit called Coyle Media is now tracking the performance of professional sports teams and organizations on social networking media Facebook and Twitter pages. The “Sports Fan […]
Euroleague American Tour dates announced; Russian, Spanish champs to visit U.S. in October
CSKA Moscow and Caja Laboral Baskonia have been chosen to represent The Continent on the annual Euroleague American Tour. The slate of games will feature four NBA teams. On October 14, the Baskonians will be facing off against the Memphis Grizzlies, that team with the Spanish connections historically, while CSKA Moscow takes on those dynamic […]