Top International Studs to Watch in 2015 NBA Global Games
The Global Games take place outside the United States and Canada and consist of preseason matchups between NBA teams and international clubs.
This year's slate features the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers and Charlotte Hornets, as well as Real Madrid, Olimpia Milano and Flamengo.
There will be a handful of international players worth watching, including a few from overseas with whom NBA fans may be unfamiliar—even though they've been previously drafted.
Below is the Global Games schedule, which kicks off October 6 in Milan:
October 6: Boston Celtics vs. Olimpia Milano (Milan, Italy)
October 8: Boston Celtics vs. Real Madrid (Madrid, Spain)
October 11: Charlotte Hornets vs. L.A. Clippers (Shenzhen, China)
October 14: Charlotte Hornets vs. L.A. Clippers (Shanghai, China)
October 17: Orlando Magic vs. Flamengo (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Mario Hezonja, Orlando Magic, SG/SF
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The Orlando Magic will take on Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro, on October 17, when fans will get their first real look at Mario Hezonja, the 2015 No. 5 overall pick.
Hezonja has to be considered one of the more exciting NBA rookies, given his style of play and upside. The fact that he's played so little the past two years only strengthens the intrigue surrounding his development.
A 6'8" mismatch for a 2-guard or wing, Hezonja can play high above the rim and well behind the arc. He's a high-flyer with a lethal jumper. Though Orlando already dresses Victor Oladipo, Tobias Harris and Evan Fournier, none of them offer the same potent combination of explosive athleticism and shooting range.
Meanwhile, a tight handle, passing instincts and strong defensive tools fuel versatility that drives his ceiling through the roof.
Coaches will want to monitor Hezonja's shot selection, as he tends to settle for low-percentage looks. But long term, we could be talking about a two-way franchise cornerstone for one of the more promising young cores in the league.
Alessandro Gentile (Italy), Olimpia Milano, SF, 6'7" (Rights Belong to Rockets)
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Alessandro Gentile has been awfully productive since being selected as a second-round draft-and-stash pick in 2014. His rights belong to the Houston Rockets, though he'll suit up for Olympia Milano on October 6 and take on the Boston Celtics.
Gentile is coming off a solid showing at EuroBasket 2015, having averaged 16.8 points and 3.2 assists on 47.1 percent shooting and 36.1 percent from downtown.
A versatile wing loaded with energy and strength, Gentile operates out of various situations. You'll see him create off pick-and-rolls, spot up as a shooter or even overpower his defender in the post.
Despite playing alongside former NBA names like MarShon Brooks, Samardo Samuels and Linas Kleiza, Gentile, still 22 years old, led his team in scoring a year ago.
There have been questions as to whether he can guard more athletic NBA small forwards, so it will be worth watching to see how he fares against Celtics like Jae Crowder, James Young and Evan Turner.
Nikola Vucevic (Montenegro), Orlando Magic, C, 7'0"
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Nikola Vucevic's quest for All-Star consideration begins in Rio de Janeiro, where the Orlando Magic will face Flamengo, a team that's won the NBB (Novo Basquete Brazil, the country's premier league) in each of the last three years.
Vucevic was second among centers in scoring last season with 19.3 points per game on 52.3 percent shooting. He's quietly emerged as one of the game's toughest half-court covers.
Last year, Vucevic averaged five points per game as a roll man (370 total points, good for No. 2 in NBA). He also put up 5.1 points per game off post-ups (0.87 points per possession) and shot a terrific 46.3 percent in the mid-range on 213 made jumpers.
He'll once again be the No. 1 option for a young team looking to take the next step. Whether it does might come down to how much Vucevic improves in rim protection—only three teams in the league allowed opponents to shoot a higher percentage within six feet of the basket.
Sergio Llull (Spain), Real Madrid, PG, 6'3" (Rights Belong to Rockets)
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A 2009 second-round pick whose rights now belong to the Houston Rockets, Sergio Llull has spent the last eight seasons with Real Madrid.
He'll face off against Marcus Smart, Isaiah Thomas and the Boston Celtics on October 8.
Llull has racked up a handful of MVP awards just this year, including one for the FIBA Intercontinental Cup and another for the Spanish ACB Finals. He also played a key role during Spain's gold-medal run in EuroBasket last month.
A tough, crafty, fiery ball-handling combo guard, Llul thrives in pick-and-rolls and open-floor opportunities. He's a table-setter, though he can also shoot the three, having made at least 35 percent of his triples in six of his last seven seasons.
Unfortunately, it doesn't look like we'll be seeing him in the NBA next season, despite speculation he could make the jump. According to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, he'll return to Real Madrid.
But Llull will be one of the big international names to watch once the Global Games kick off, particularly for those who've questioned his ability to be effective against NBA competition.
Rudy Fernandez (Spain), Real Madrid, SG, 6'6"
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NBA fans should be familiar with Rudy Fernandez, who spent three seasons as a Portland Trail Blazer and another as a Denver Nugget.
Since leaving the U.S. in 2012, the former first-round pick has been a huge spark for Real Madrid, having averaged double figures in scoring during each of his last four seasons.
An electric athlete with dangerous shooting range, Fernandez is a potent offensive weapon capable of scoring in bunches.
He had a rough go last month at EuroBasket, where he shot just 30.8 percent from the floor, but assuming he suits up for the Global Games, Fernandez may be the biggest threat to the Celtics on October 8.
Kelly Olynyk (Canada), Boston Celtics, PF/C, 7'0"
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Celtics fans have to be encouraged by Kelly Olynyk's summer. He looked noticeably sharp through 10 games for Canada during the FIBA Americas Championship, shooting 55.3 percent and hitting 10 of his 23 threes.
“There’s really not another tournament in the world where you’re playing 10 games in 12 days,” he told Taylor Snow of Celtics.com. “You know, full-length, high-level, high-emotion games with something huge riding on the line, so it’s definitely a tournament where you can take away a lot...whether it’s confidence, skill, or just experience in general.”
Olynyk's signature performance was a 34-point, 13-rebound eruption against Venezuela on September 11.
And he'll look to carry that momentum into the 2015-16 season, starting in the Global Games against Olympia Milano (October 6) and Real Madrid (October 8).
This is ultimately a big year for Olynyk's career, considering it's the last one he's guaranteed money from the Celtics. Plus, the team just signed Amir Johnson and traded for David Lee.
However, Olynyk's ability to stretch the floor as a shooter helps set him apart from other bigs. He could be a key player off the bench in Boston, as he looks to take the next step in his development.
Nicolas Batum (France), Charlotte Hornets, SG/SF, 6'8"
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A key offseason acquisition for the Charlotte Hornets, Nicolas Batum will be looking to bounce back from a subpar season and disappointing FIBA EuroBasket with France.
And it will begin in Shenzhen, where the Hornets will face the Clippers on October 11 and October 14.
He'll likely start at the 2-guard slot alongside Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
Batum's shooting range and passing skills should ultimately hold tremendous value in Charlotte, where the team finished last in the NBA in three-point percentage and No. 27 in assists per game.
When on his game, he looks like one of the more versatile two-way players in the league. An effective Batum could potentially help take the Hornets over the hump and into the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Willy Hernangomez (Spain), Real Madrid, 6'11", C, 1995 (Rights Belong to Knicks)
8 of 8As a second-round draft-and-stash pick, Guillermo "Willy" Hernangomez flew under the radar in the 2015 NBA draft conversation.
The New York Knicks traded for his rights at No. 35 overall. Hernangomez, who'll be suiting up for Real Madrid next year and against the Celtics in Spain on October 8, is coming off a breakout season in Sevilla alongside future teammate Kristaps Porzingis.
At 6'11", 255 pounds, Hernangomez compensates for limited athleticism with a strong frame and offensive fundamentals. He's a sound post player, from the low block (where he likes to seal off defenders) to the elbows (where he's shown short-to-mid-range touch).
Hernangomez's rebounding prowess should also hold NBA value. Last year, he averaged at least 11 boards per 40 minutes in both Eurocup and Spanish ACB play.
He doesn't pack too much upside, given his lack of lift and potential in rim protection. But there is a decent chance the Knicks may have landed a serviceable rotational big, assuming he continues to make strides with his ball skills and overall development.
