FIBA World Cup 2014 Results: Players Whose Stock Rose the Most in Spain
Patriotism is great and all, but part of the fun of the FIBA World Cup came from watching how players from your favorite NBA team fared.
The tournament is a great chance for many international players to build some momentum heading into the upcoming season. Many of them are either still based in Europe or have yet to claim a regular starting spot on their team.
With France's 95-93 win over Lithuania in the bronze-medal game, the conclusion of the World Cup is on the horizon. Almost every player has had his chance to impress in Spain.
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Among the NBA-based international players, these four players have stood out the most.
Jonas Valanciunas, Lithuania
Don't blame Jonas Valanciunas for Lithuania's loss Saturday. The 22-year-old led his team with 25 points and nine rebounds in the defeat.
Throughout the entire tournament, Valanciunas has been one of the standout players. Heading into the final, he ranks 10th in player efficiency (18.6), 19th in scoring (13.1) and sixth in rebounds (8.4). Valanciunas did a little bit of everything in his nine games at the World Cup.
Entering his third year in the NBA, Valanciunas looks primed for a big 2014-15 season. His potential has been there for all to see over the past two years. The Toronto Raptors' big man should take a major step forward this coming campaign.
The National Post's Eric Koreen wrote that Toronto's season will hinge quite a bit on Valanciunas making a natural progression in his evolution on the court:
"For the Raptors to take another step forward in the development, Valanciunas will need to do so as well. Accordingly, the team had him spend time with Hakeem Olajuwon this summer, with the hope being that the Hall of Famer would teach the burgeoning Raptors centre some grace in the post. On the other end, Valanciunas will need to further navigate the intricacies of Dwane Casey’s defensive system — another reason Hayes occasionally ate up some of his minutes in Toronto last year.
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With as good as Valanciunas looked in the World Cup, that shouldn't be an issue.
Rudy Gobert, France
When he arrived to the NBA from France in 2013, Rudy Gobert was known as more of a freakishly tall guy with freakishly long arms. His game was still very raw, and it would likely be about two or three years before Gobert began putting it all together.
Gobert didn't stuff the stat sheet at the World Cup, averaging 4.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 15.7 minutes a game, but the 22-year-old displayed a little more polish and looked much more like an NBA player.
Pro Basketball Talk's Kurt Helin thinks Gobert's one of those players who will use the World Cup as a springboard for the NBA regular season:
For somebody who's 7'2", Gobert has obscene athleticism. Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey highlighted one play in which the Frenchman dazzled with his ball-handling and agility:
Gobert's still a year or two away from really hitting top form, but he should begin to carve out a role in the Utah Jazz's rotation.
Gorgui Dieng, Senegal
Senegal was one of the bigger surprises of the World Cup, advancing to the round of 16. A big reason for that success was Gorgui Dieng. He tweeted out his pride at having played so deep in the tournament:
Dieng averaged a double-double in Senegal's six games with 16 points and 10.7 rebounds a game. He blocked 1.5 shots a game as well.
The 24-year-old continued using a mid-range jumper, which is made all the more effective since he's 6'11". Dieng shot only 42 percent from the field in the tournament, so his problems on the offensive end of the floor persist.
If he continues honing a mid-range shot, though, the Minnesota Timberwolves center can become more than a one-dimensional rim protector.
Bojan Bogdanovic, Croatia
Not to be confused with Phoenix Suns first-round draft pick Bogdan Bogdanovic, Bojan Bogdanovic has been one of the top scorers at the World Cup. With 21.2 points a game, he sits third behind J.J. Barea and Andray Blatche among the leaders overall.
The Miami Heat selected Bogdanovic in the second round of the 2011 draft, but he's remained in Europe for the past three years. The Heat traded his draft rights to the Brooklyn Nets, who inked him to a three-year deal this summer.
Staying overseas allowed Bogdanovic to smooth out some of the edges to his game and ensured that he'd truly be ready to hit the NBA when the time arrived. He's a good shooter who can also handle the ball well and penetrate.
The Nets need all the help they can get next year, and Bogdanovic should contribute right when he hits the court this fall.
All stats are courtesy of FIBA's official website.
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