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Virtus Roma offers deals to Andrea Bargnani, interesting new sponsor
Now here’s an interesting twist in NBA player signings and one that brings new meaning to the expression “business affairs.” In following a model first tested by Beşiktaş in the signing of Deron Williams, Virtus Roma is pursuing Andrea Bargnani with at least two offers – a three-month deal and a full-season contract pending resurrection […]
Eurobasket 2011 round two: Impressions, links, notes and highlights
With just two days (and one game per team) remaining in 2011 EuroBasket round two, BallinEurope takes a brief look at some issues and trends going down in the tournament – plus links and YouTubes, of course. Read on for quips, quotes and clips. • Importance of remaining games. Of six games left to play, […]
Rapping about Jonas Valanciunas
Naturally, everyone in basketball-rabid Lithuania has their own favorite on the national team, but the overwhelming devotion attractor right now is unquestionably Jonas Valanciunas. As the future of Lithuanian basketball itself – he’s six years and one month younger than the next most junior member of the national team – it’s not too much of […]
Eurobasket opener bullets: Pnini vs. Dirk, Spain's competition, Kanter's rust, more
Hours remain until Eurobasket 2011 tips off here in Lithuania. As a warmup this morning, BallinEurope brings a roundup of some chatter from around the world regarding the big tournament; in ESPN TrueHoop tradition, we’ll bring it bullet-style. • Poor Israel, one of the more unheralded teams in the tournament … not only are they […]
Profile: Davis Bertans, San Antonio Spurs draft pick
BallinEurope’s man in the U.K., Sam Chadwick, feels a little bad about a slightly harsh assessment given to Davis Bertans on this website and so today takes a broader look at the current Union Olimpija forward and second-round 2011 draft pick. Name: Davis Bertans Country: Latvia Club: Union Olimpija Position: SF/PF Height: 6’11” (2.10 meters) […]
Greatest of all-time: Yugoslavia or Spain?
An interesting exchange of tweets went down last Friday (yes, minus points for untimeliness, but on another job BallinEurope thought deep into the matter all weekend) between HoopsHype/ESPN Deportes writer Jorge Sierra and Team Australia/Milwaukee Bucks big man Andrew Bogut. Things started innocuously enough, with Sierra plugging a Spanish-language piece he’d written for Deportes: “An […]
Profile: Jonas Valanciunas, Toronto Raptors lottery pick
Which player was the sensation of this year’s U19 European Championship (and the guy whose arrival Toronto Raptors fans should be anticipating with optimism)? Jonas Valanciunas of Lithuania, of course! Today, Sam Chadwick takes a look at this rising star and his recent successes in youth tourney play. Name: Jonas Valanciunas Country: Lithuania Club: Lietuvos […]
Lithuania tops Serbia, 85-67, to take U19 title; Russia finishes third
Congratulations from BallinEurope go out this morning to Team Lithuania, who took the FIBA U19 World Championship title with an 85-67 victory over Serbia last night. Jonas Valanciunas again contributed a dominant performance with 36 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and three steals; to no one’s surprise, the Lithuanian was named tournament MVP. (Excited yet, […]
Preview: Lithuania-Serbia in FIBA U19 championship; on Jonas Valanciunas and (a little) more
The FIBA U19 World Championship closes out today, and BiE is proud to say that two of Europe’s finest basketball powers, Lithuania and Serbia, will be meeting for the title. Following, a few links, video clips and the like serving as a preview for the big youth match. • The biggest audience in North America […]
NBA players to Europe: Weems will, Kirilenko could, Radmanovic might
That rhythmic pounding you hear over the basketball world? It’s the sound of the clock ticking as many an NBA player gets antsy awaiting a seemingly unreachable resolution to the player lockout in the big league. We’re only three days into the NBA’s first work stoppage since 1998 but with European ball a much more […]
From Kanter to Bogdanovic: Brief looks at seven Europeans drafted into NBA
The 2011 NBA Draft is still going on as of this writing, but with the amazing amount of Continental players going early and often – a direct contrast to last year’s greatly Europe-bereft selections – BallinEurope gets in a quick two Eurocents with a brief look at (and YouTube clips of) the first seven players […]
Reports: Ettore Messina signs with Los Angeles Lakers as consultant
The rumor mill is grinding it out on Sunday, with some in the blogosphere today reporting that Ettore Messina has been hired as a “consultant” under new Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike Brown. Stories of Messina perhaps landing work in the Lakers organization first began two weeks ago. Eric Pincus over at website HoopsWorld […]