Utah Jazz 78
Ricky Rubio is writing his own story
With Ricky Rubio announcing his retirement from the NBA, Emmet Ryan writes about his own mental health, basketball, and coping with yourself Thursday was a moment for reflection. It’s not the first of its type and it won’t be the last but that doesn’t make it any less important. Ricky Rubio has played his last […]
Lauri Markkanen is why the MIP award exists
With the Finland and Utah Jazz superstar picking up a much deserved NBA Most Improved Player award, Emmet Ryan on the inevitable rise of Markkamania The timing felt like everything. On the eve of EuroBasket, Lauri Markkanen’s time in Cleveland was over and he was being shipped to Salt Lake City as the Utah Jazz […]
Markkanen’s maturity will be a big plus for Utah
Lauri Markkanen could have let his trade on the eve of EuroBasket 2022 be a distraction, instead he showed just how comfortable he is in his game no matter what is written on his jersey. Emmet Ryan on how the Finn’s displays are good new for Utah Jazz fans Given I’ve already posted a piece […]
The Jazz and Bojan need a painless divorce
He’s a Jazz man for now but Bojan Bogdanovic clearly needs to move on from Utah. Emmet Ryan on how his body language spoke loudly while his mouth said little at EuroBasket This is not a matter of effort. It was clear Bojan Bogdanovic put in work for Croatia at EuroBasket but the distractions of […]
Italy bend the knee to King Giannis
It took a whole lot of walking and climbing in the hours before tonight’s main event for Emmet Ryan to truly appreciate the wonder of Giannis Antetokounmpo as the Greek Freak led his side to victory over hosts Italy Here’s the thing about middle age. The feats of wondrous athleticism you see from the media […]
Zubac on another level for Croatia
It all came so easy for Ivica Zubac against Great Britain, despite his team mates struggling against the underdogs in the first half, as the LA Clippers big man demonstrated why Croatia’s hopes ride and die with him at EuroBasket 2022 Zubac waited his turn patiently. Bojan Bogdanovic scored, so too Dario Saric, and Mario […]
Giannis caps Europe’s greatest night
First there was Luka, then there was Rudy, then the big one at the end. Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Greek Freak, the NBA MVP for 2019. Emmet Ryan on how a continent celebrated an extraordinary night from the shores of Dunkirk, through the lakes of Slovenia, to the islands of Greece Look, Luka was the one […]
Boys do cry so get over it
The reaction to Rudy Gobert crying after finding out he didn’t make the NBA All Star game was a mix of sympathy and scorn. Emmet Ryan on the utter stupidity of those who took issue with Gobert being in tears after addressing the media for the first time following his snub Best to get the […]
The pleasant surprise of Joe Ingles
After a successful but far from fire-starting career in Europe, Joe Ingles has become a factor in multiple playoff series since going to the NBA. For most observers on this side of the pond, it wasn’t accepted but it is delightful according to Emmet Ryan The magician was a bore and the only thing less […]
NBA Schedule – European Viewing Essentials
This NBA 2017/18 schedule is upon us, and after a few days consideration were looking at the games every European basketball fans need to watch. With approx 1300 games to choose from we have picked the most Euro focused games we could possibly think of. Wednesday 18th Oct – Opening night sees the battle of the bigs kick […]
Barcelona re-sign Ante Tomic through to 2018
Big news this morning for fans of Euroleague and the Utah Jazz as Ante Tomic has committed to FC Barcelona long-term in a new three-year deal Ante Tomic has inked a new deal with FC Barcelona that will see him stay at Palau Blaugrana through to the end of the 2017/18 season, at which point […]
Kirilenko’s last showdown
As the curtain seemingly falls on Andrei Kirilenko’s career, BallinEurope’s Emmet Ryan reflects on a player whose success almost played second fiddle to his character. Everything about the name should have fit. He’s Russian, he’s got the right initials, he was born in Izhevsk (where the rifle was first produced), and he even chose the […]