Stock Up, Stock Down for NBA Players in 2015's FIBA EuroBasket Tournament
EuroBasket 2015 was loaded with NBA talent. And we saw some big-time performances from both young prospects and old veterans, most notably Pau Gasol, who led Spain to the gold after a legendary all-around showing.
Danilo Gallinari, Jonas Valanciunas and Giannis Antetokounmpo were also impressive. Meanwhile, we got to see Nemanja Bjelica and Tibor Pleiss—two incoming rookies who've been stashed overseas—excite fans unfamiliar with their games and style of play.
A handful of NBA pros emerged as standouts for their respective countries. But there were also a few who hit the wall.
We took stock reports for those NBA players who made notable impressions—both positive and negative— during EuroBasket 2015.
Pau Gasol, Spain, C
1 of 14
Stock Report: Up
The no-brainer MVP of EuroBasket 2015, Pau Gasol dominated while leading Spain to gold.
He went for 25 points and 12 rebounds in the final against Lithuania, capping off a tournament in which he put up averages of 25.6 points and 8.8 boards.
Gasol's signature outing was ultimately a 40-point eruption during an overtime win over France in the semis.
Appearing spry and fresh throughout, Gasol was active around the basket and sharp with his ball skills. He burned defenses using flashy back-to-the-basket post moves, as well as soft touch in the mid-range.
Gasol and Spain's guards also abused opponents in the pick-and-roll game.
It was a pretty epic overall performance from the 35-year-old big man. Gasol has given no indication he's ready for the inevitable decline that every veteran eventually experiences.
Jonas Valanciunas, Lithuania, C
2 of 14
Stock Report: Up
He ended on a sour note, having fouled out in a blowout loss to Spain, but overall, Jonas Valanciunas had himself a solid EuroBasket 2015.
The Lithuanian big man averaged 16 points and 8.4 rebounds. His back-to-the-basket game looked sharp—Valanciunas scored over both shoulders with some nifty shaking and baking. And he knocked down the occasional face-up jumper when the defender sagged back.
He was also a consistent factor in the pick-and-roll game as a finisher.
Valanciunas did get beat and caught a few times defensively throughout the tournament.
Still, Raptor fans have to be encouraged by what they saw from their new $64 million man. Valanciunas was named to the All-EuroBasket first team.
Tony Parker, France, PG
3 of 14
Stock Report: Down
Fourteen seasons of wear and tear might finally be catching up to Tony Parker. He looked a step slower through nine EuroBasket games, having shot just 34.3 percent from the floor.
Though he's never been known for his explosiveness, Parker still struggled to turn the corner and create much one-on-one separation.
He just wasn't very effective, particularly over France's final five contests, when he combined to shoot a dreadful 14-of-59 (23.7 percent) against Israel, Turkey, Latvia, Spain and Serbia.
His jumper didn't do him any favors, either (8-of-28 from three). The fact that Nando De Colo played so well further magnified Parker's struggles.
If last season wasn't a sign, maybe EuroBasket 2015 should be. Parker's status as one of the game's elite point guards could be in jeopardy.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece, SF
4 of 14
Stock Report: Up
He wasn't the focal point of Greece's offense, but Giannis Antetokounmpo was efficient through eight games, shooting 49.2 percent and averaging just 1.1 turnovers.
He looked poised and mature, but the biggest takeaway from Antetokounmpo's EuroBasket performance revolves around his shooting. After improving his jumper in his second year as a Buck, he looked even more comfortable from deep in September (10-of-26 from three for 38.5 percent).
Antetokounmpo was also a legitimate factor under the boards—he racked up 17 rebounds (eight offensive) against Spain and averaged 11.3 per 40 minutes.
Assuming his development doesn't suddenly plateau, the Bucks should be getting a more complete player in 2015-16. His play this past month suggests he's ready to take that next step.
Dennis Schroder, Germany, PG
5 of 14
Stock Report: Up
Dennis Schroder looked the part of an electric NBA playmaker. He averaged 21 points and six assists through five games for Germany, having consistently flashed the ability to beat defenders and break down defenses.
Super quick off the dribble, Schroder's shiftiness and handle made him a nightmare in space and pick-and-roll situations. He did a nice job of setting the table for teammates off ball screens and penetration, and he converted as a scorer with crafty drives and pull-up jumpers.
Schroder tends to try to do too much—he did average 4.2 turnovers. Decision-making and shooting range are two areas where he'll certainly have to improve. But Schroder, just 22 years old, appears to be on the right path. Look for him to emerge as one of the more valued backups in the league next season.
Bojan Bogdanovic, Croatia, SG
6 of 14
Stock Report: Down
EuroBasket couldn't have gone much worse for Bojan Bogdanovic, whose poor play was compounded by a pair of injuries and disappointing team results.
He hurt his ankle, suffered a concussion, shot 31.5 percent and missed 20 of 24 threes.
Considering he doesn't offer much as a playmaker, rebounder or defender, he'll need to become a more consistent shooter in 2015-16.
Croatia was ultimately eliminated after losing to Georgia and Czech Republic. It was a tournament to forget for Bogdanovic, whom the Brooklyn Nets will be looking for rotational minutes from in 2015-16.
Nemanja Bjelica, Serbia, SF/PF
7 of 14
Stock Report: Up
Minnesota Timberwolves fans have to be pumped about Nemanja Bjelica, whom the team will bring over next season as a 27-year-old rookie.
He was terrific for Serbia in EuroBasket, where he averaged 13.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists on 56.1 percent shooting.
Bjelica's versatility consistently stood out—at 6'10", he flashed the ability to attack slower bigs off the dribble, as well as knock down shots around the arc. And having hit 12 of 32 threes, it's not difficult to recognize Bjelica's stretch 4 potential for the Wolves.
Minnesota has a handful of forwards, but after his performance over the past month, you have to think Bjelica will compete for regular minutes at some point next season.
Danilo Gallinari, Italy, SF
8 of 14
Stock Report: Up
If Danilo Gallinari's EuroBasket performance was any indication of what's to come, his two-year, $34 million extension should look like a bargain to the Denver Nuggets.
Gallo showcased his dangerous one-on-one game and well-documented shot-making skills throughout the tournament. He took over stretches and games, having hung 33 points on Turkey, 29 on Spain and 25 on Germany.
While he had the perimeter arsenal working—step-backs, pull-ups, jab steps into jumpers—Gallinari was also a force around the basket. He appeared healthy, and his upper body looked strong through a handful of finishes after contact.
As Italy's go-to option, Gallinari managed to shoot 56.9 percent through eight games.
Denver should be feeling really good about its decision to keep him during the offseason. Gallinari looks poised for a monster year as the team's top offensive gun.
Nicolas Batum, France, SF
9 of 14
Stock Report: Down
Outside of hitting a clutch late three against Spain that tied the game and sent it to overtime, Nicolas Batum just couldn't build any rhythm throughout EuroBasket.
He shot 35.3 percent and an ugly 6-of-35 from downtown. It's a bit concerning, considering Batum is coming off a major down year in Portland, where he put up career lows in field-goal percentage (40 percent) and three-point percentage (32.4 percent).
Now in Charlotte, Batum will be looking to have a bounce-back season in a contract year, but the Hornets coaching staff must find a way to reignite the versatile swingman's confidence.
Omri Casspi, Israel, SF
10 of 14
Stock Report: Up
Omri Casspi was a standout for Israel at EuroBasket, where he averaged 16.4 points on 47.5 percent shooting through five games.
His ball-handling and shot-making skills were on full display. Casspi hurt defenses with spot-up threes (8-of-17) and pull-up jumpers, as well as layups and runners off drives.
Casspi even did some damage as a playmaker, dishing out 3.2 assists per game.
His signature performance was a 29-point, six-rebound, five-assist explosion against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Even with the addition of Marco Belinelli and Caron Butler, the Sacramento Kings are bound to tap into Casspi's offensive versatility.
Rudy Gobert, France, C
11 of 14
Stock Report: Up
Rudy Gobert continues to build his image as one of the game's most exciting young players. He had some trouble with Pau Gasol, who dropped 40 against France, but overall, Gobert's presence was consistently felt.
His size, foot speed and unprecedented length translated to easy buckets (10.4 points per game, 59.3 percent shooting), rim protection (two blocks per game) and active rebounding (8.1 boards in 23.6 minutes).
It's no secret Gobert looks poised to emerge as a star defensive player, but his physical tools and mobility also showed up on offense during EuroBasket. Gobert ultimately gave the French guards a monster target in the pick-and-roll and drive-and-dish games. And though he's still not much of a fluid post scorer, he got himself a number of second-chance points at the rim.
Gobert's development in 2015-16 should be one of the major storylines to follow early on. All signs point to more progress.
Nikola Mirotic, Spain, C
12 of 14
Stock Report: Even
Nikola Mirotic produced somewhat of a mixed bag at EuroBasket 2015. He had a few big offensive games, including a 22-point outing against Iceland and an 18-point showing against Greece.
Mirotic showed off his shooting range, as well as his ability to attack closeouts and get to the rack in line drives.
He also dished out some nice passes from the post.
But Mirotic had some trouble at the defensive end, particularly out on the perimeter, where he remains vulnerable to getting beat.
Overall, there wasn't anything new to really take away from Mirotic's performance. He appears on track to become a key player for Chicago in 2014-15, but to become a more complete player, he'll have to tighten up his defense.
Joffrey Lauvergne, France, PF/C
13 of 14
Stock Report: Up
Joffrey Lauvergne showed off a promising inside-out repertoire at EuroBasket, where he finished with double digits in scoring in seven of nine games.
Strong, active and crafty around the basket, Lauvergne also hit five of 10 three-pointers. His jumper looked awfully fluid for a player who made just three triples in all of 2014-15.
Overall, Lauvergne converted opportunistically as a shooter, finisher and low-post scorer, having shot a tremendous 58.6 percent from the floor.
Unsurprisingly, he had some difficulty defending Pau Gasol, but the Frenchman's production, motor and versatility should make him a player to watch entering training camp.
Tibor Pleiss, Germany, C
14 of 14
Stock Report: Up
Tibor Pleiss, who signed with the Utah Jazz this summer, was effective for Germany through five games at EuroBasket, having put up per-40-minute averages of 18.4 points and 12.4 rebounds.
At 7'1", he was a major pick-and-roll weapon, as well as a tough box-out cover inside, where he converted missed shots into second-chance points.
Pleiss also showed off his promising shooting touch—he didn't take any threes, but he made 12 of 13 free throws after hitting 79-of-92 from the line for Barcelona in 2014-15.
Though he's not known for his rim protection, there is clearly some offensive upside available for the Jazz to tap into. Without much depth behind Rudy Gobert at center, Pleiss will be an under-the-radar rookie to watch in Utah.
