


With his physical advantages, the Greek Freak should be able to put up Wilt Chamberlain-like numbers in this competition, as he already did last week during the World Cup qualifiers with Greece when he dropped 40 points against Serbia (albeit in a loss) and 26 points against Belgium. Giannis Antetokounmpo, despite his loads of NBA accolades and the championship ring he won in the toughest league in the world, hasn’t tasted much FIBA success yet, something he will surely hope to change at the 2022 Eurobasket. Jokic has taken a bit of heat from Serbian fans for skipping the last few national tournaments but he’s back this summer and could take his country to gold status, which would make those relative slights all but forgotten. That’s not to say Jokic – one of the best low-post finishers in the world who can knock down shots from all over the floor, rebound with the best of them and pass with aplomb unheard of for centers – won’t be the focal point for Serbia, but he will have more help around him than the next two players will on their national teams, including from Micic. 3 on our list, which isn’t meant as a slight to Nikola Jokic but moreso speaks to how loaded the competition will be and to how much more of the load the next two players on our list are going to be counted upon to carry for their countries.

The two-time reigning NBA MVP actually checks in at No. 2 option on a strong Serbia team, Micic could be the late-game, go-to option for the country with gold-medal expectations at the 2022 Eurobasket.įIBA accolades: One senior national team silver medal (2016 Rio Olympics), one youth national team silver medal (2013 U19 World Championship) He’s got great size for a guard, too, with a game reminiscent of a poor man’s Luka Doncic, as our own Dionysis Aravantinos wrote a few months ago. Micic is a high-IQ guard who plays with loads of swagger, nailing step-back shots from all over the floor, playing at his own pace and setting up teammates for good looks. The second half of the nasty Anadolu Efes backcourt along with Larkin, Vasilije Micic will be one of the most fun players to watch in the tournament for the American basketball fans who don’t watch much EuroLeague action. FIBA accolades: 2017 Eurobasket silver medal (2017), U19 World Cup silver medal (2013), U18 European Championship silver medal (2011), two-time EuroLeague champion, EuroLeague MVP, two-time EuroLeague Final Four MVP, 1st Team All-EuroLeague, two-time 2nd Team All-EuroLeague
