The EuroLeague Final Four is a season-ending celebration of the top international basketball league in the world outside of the NBA. This year's event provided a stark contrast from last year's, which was a send-off for generational talent Luka Doncic a month before the draft. Far fewer NBA scouts were in attendance, partially due to the overlap with the NBA combine but also because of what this event has become.
"The EuroLeague is an aging competition," said one Eastern Conference executive who nevertheless decided to make the trip to Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. "It's hard to get NBA people excited about the Final Four, as great as the basketball is. Most of the best players in this league are in their late 20s or early 30s, and for a lot of them, their NBA window has closed."
Research backs that assertion. The effective age of a player in this competition, weighted by minutes played, is the oldest it's been since the EuroLeague's inception in 2000 -- exceeding 29 years old for the first time. The EuroLeague went to a closed competition, with 30 games and only 16 teams, in 2016, eliminating opportunities for clubs from traditional basketball talent hotbeds such as Serbia, France, Croatia and Slovenia. The do-or-die nature of every game makes it difficult for coaches to justify giving chances to teenagers, which manifested itself most vividly in the league's "Rising Star award," handed out to the competition's best young player.
Projected first-round pick Goga Bitadze ran away with the voting despite having joined the league at the halfway mark and playing in only 13 games. Bitadze, 19, joined the last-place team thanks to his agent's close relationship with club officials at Buducnost, and he promptly returned to his home club Mega Bemax in Serbia in April, having boosted his stock significantly from the league's platform. Only one other draft-eligible player -- Maccabi Tel Aviv's Yovel Zoosman (15 minutes per game) -- managed to establish himself as a serious rotation player.
EuroLeague officials are quietly expressing a level of concern about the current situation. Young basketball fans in Europe are growing up watching the NBA, not the EuroLeague, and the limited pathway to minutes at the highest levels is causing many talented prospects to explore the NCAA route. Germany's best young prospect in years, Franz Wagner, is openly flirting with college despite the fact that his Alba Berlin team is likely to receive a wild card to next season's EuroLeague. Top prospects such as Enes Kanter, Domantas Sabonis, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Alex Len and Lauri Markkanen have benefited from college basketball in recent years.
Meanwhile, China, the G League and the rise of the NBA two-way contract have taken a huge bite out of European basketball's player pool, which partially helps explain why EuroLeague teams have been forced to recycle the same aging group of players season after season. In the past, young Americans who went undrafted out of college would work their way up the European ladder. Fewer are opting to take that route.
While the lack of young talent in the competition was certainly alarming this season, this could very well be cyclical. The EuroLeague wisely elected to give a wild card to French team ASVEL next season, which means potential top-five draft pick Theo Maledon will be starting at point guard. Maccabi Tel Aviv will likely provide more opportunities to potential top-five pick Deni Avdija as well. Real Madrid is likely to promote arguably the top 2002-born prospect on the continent, Usman Garuba, to its senior roster next season, and the aforementioned Wagner could elect to stay home.
Still, it would be wise for the EuroLeague to think about the long-term health of its competition and the sport itself in deciding whether it's necessary to have five clubs from rich markets such as Spain and Turkey and zero from some of the growing basketball-development grounds, which might not be as lucrative financially but are part of the fabric of the European game.
International free agents
This event has provided one-stop shopping for NBA teams looking for rotation free agents. Joe Ingles, Aron Baynes and Boban Marjanovic are just a handful of EuroLeague players signed by NBA teams who ended up providing significant value.
Here are the players who drew interest this year.
Cory Higgins | 6-5 | SG | CSKA Moscow | Age: 29
Higgins was the top standout, scoring 20 points on 10 field goal attempts in a championship game victory over Anadolu Efes Istanbul while proving impossible to take off the floor. Higgins -- who made the NBA for two seasons as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado back in 2011 -- is an unassuming player who impresses thanks to his poise, skill, basketball IQ and consistency.
A poor shooter early in his career, Higgins has turned himself into a lights-out marksman, emerging as a 47 percent 3-point shooter at the EuroLeague level through 129 games while making 85 percent of his free throws. He plays a variety of roles for CSKA, often being asked to bring the ball up and initiate the offense and play pick-and-roll. At other times, he's tasked with a spot-up role spacing the floor alongside other guards, which gives him nice positional flexibility. He's a lockdown defender who was a major key in CSKA's comeback victory with his ability to switch seamlessly from point guards to big men and hold his ground despite his slender frame. He has made a huge volume of big shots in his EuroLeague career, which continued to be the case this past weekend.
Higgins is the exact type of off-guard many NBA teams are looking for to pair alongside a star primary ball handler. He gives you just enough playmaking ability to keep defenses honest while bringing the type of knockdown shooting, steady defense, selfless attitude and feel coaches need from a role player. After signing a multiyear contract with CSKA, Higgins is finally a free agent this summer, giving him the ability to explore the NBA market and possibly finish his career in the U.S. His agent, Marlon Harrison of BDA Sports, told ESPN that Higgins is both interested in returning and is being pursued by quite a few NBA teams at the moment.
"Cory in his prime and is open to coming back to the NBA," Harrison told ESPN via text. "He's not a minimum guy -- he's the best American guard in Europe. Phoenix, Denver, Brooklyn, Utah, Detroit and Philadelphia have all expressed interest already. The top clubs in the EuroLeague will be after his services, including his current team CSKA, according to his co-agent in Europe Nikos Spanos, but he's going to do what makes the most sense at this point."
Shane Larkin | 5-11 | PG | Anadolu Efes | Age: 26
The No. 18 pick in the 2013 draft, Larkin has been back and forth between the EuroLeague and NBA the past few years, spending last season with the Boston Celtics. Larkin helped Efes to the best season in its history, making the championship game of the EuroLeague Final Four after finishing 7-23 and dead last in the competition last season.
Larkin blossomed into the best point guard in European basketball this season, upping his scoring efficiency and shooting percentages dramatically while proving nearly unguardable at this level with his speed and agility. He's also improved his ability to handle and finish with his off hand, repeatedly getting to the rim and finishing with his left against CSKA, something that would have resulted in an off-balance floater earlier in his career. He's absorbing contact better, become more efficient with his decision-making and wasn't anywhere near the defensive sieve that he was earlier in his career, showing impressive toughness at times fighting through screens and holding his ground on switches.
Larkin's dimensions -- 5-foot-11½ in shoes, 5-foot-10¾ wingspan, 171 pounds (in 2013) -- will always be a tough sell for NBA teams that might have a hard time seeing him being able to survive in the playoffs. For others, his incredible athleticism, deep range on his pull-up and ability to thread the needle in pick-and-roll will be attractive. Larkin was buried in a deep Celtics guard rotation last season but still found ways to have an impact when healthy. He reportedly still harbors NBA aspirations, but would like to have a bigger role than what he enjoyed in Boston.
Complicating the situation is the incredible season Larkin is having in Europe, resulting in a contract offer from Efes that reportedly exceeds $2 million.
Vasilije Micic | 6-6 | PG/SG | Anadolu Efes | Age: 25
Micic was a hyped international prospect, growing up alongside the likes of Nikola Jokic; he ended up being drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2014 at the end of the second round. They still hold his rights. Injuries were a real issue earlier in his career, but he's truly broken out and has become one of the smartest and most versatile guards in Europe. Micic has phenomenal size and has really filled out his frame. He had one of the best games of his career in the EuroLeague semifinals against Fenerbahce, scoring 25 points in 33 minutes and playing with the type of confidence and assertiveness we initially saw from him as a teenager.
Micic is not a prototypical NBA athlete, but he's very smooth, fluid and increasingly powerful off the dribble, changing speeds and getting seemingly wherever he wants on the floor. His jumper is a major weapon, both with his feet set and off the dribble, and his size, strength, IQ and shooting give him the ability to play any of the backcourt positions, intriguing in the modern NBA. Micic's defense has improved, but still might be an issue projecting to the NBA level.
He signed an extension with Efes earlier this season and has no outs in his contract for the NBA this summer, but he does have interest in exploring the NBA in the summer of 2020, a source told ESPN. The timing might line up nicely for the Sixers, a team that would need to use an exception to bring him over but certainly could use more backcourt depth if this latest playoff run was any indication. Micic proved he can play alongside a dominant ball handler in Larkin this season and still find ways to be productive, which could be attractive with Philadelphia's roster.
The Adidas Next Generation Tournament
From an NBA scouting standpoint, arguably the most valuable aspect of the EuroLeague Final Four is that eight of the top junior clubs in Europe are invited to play a four-day tournament pitting some of the best prospects on the continent against each other.
Here are the five best prospects we saw:
Deni Avdija | 6-9 | PG/SF | Maccabi Tel Aviv | Age: 18
The point forward averaged 25 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists in three tournament games. Avdija's jumper was streaky (9-of-37 from 3), but it wasn't hard to tell why he's such a highly touted prospect when watching him handle the ball and run a team at his size. He showed his phenomenal vision and creativity, picking apart defenses in operating expertly out of the pick-and-roll, as well as by throwing perfectly timed outlet passes the length of the floor to a teammate in full stride. Avdija's ability to take a rebound off the defensive glass and ignite the fast break on his own is tailor-made for the modern NBA, and the instincts and feel he shows on both ends of the floor will make it easy for him to make a seamless transition playing anywhere from PG to PF.
Avdija's body continues to fill out nicely, and his defense is making significant strides as well, a product of the experience he's getting fighting for minutes at the professional level with Maccabi. As long as Avdija can get back on track from the perimeter -- something that will be easier once he isn't forced to settle for a half-dozen difficult step-back 3-pointers every game as he does with his junior club -- he looks like an easy top-10 pick next year.
Usman Garuba | 6-8 | PF | Real Madrid | Age: 17
Not eligible for the NBA draft until 2021, Garuba has nonetheless been on NBA radars for quite some time, winning MVP of the FIBA Under-16 European Championship as a 14-year-old back in 2016. Garuba has expanded his game significantly and become an absolutely dominant force at the European youth level, looking like a man among boys at times.
Garuba isn't particularly tall or long for a big man, but he's a unique athlete who is blessed with incredible instincts on both ends of the floor as well as an insatiable competitive streak. While not an incredibly high flyer vertically by NBA standards, Garuba is fluid, quick off his feet and exceptionally well coordinated. He has exquisite body control. He's devastating facing up opponents from the perimeter or in the post and using his quickness and footwork to bounce off defenders and finish through contract, sometimes in highly acrobatic fashion using soft touch and either hand. He sees the court impeccably as well, possessing tremendous vision and timing finding the open man. He's highly competitive defensively on top of that, covering ground fluidly while staying in front of guards and big men alike, getting in a deep stance on the perimeter, rotating nicely for blocks and steals and showing an impressive approach to the game in terms of his level of focus, awareness and intensity that you rarely see from players his age.
The next step in Garuba's development -- one that will help determine if he's more of a role player or has a chance to hit the Draymond Green comps he gets -- is his jump shot. He found mixed results during this tournament, looking capable of throwing in 3-pointers on occasion but seemingly shooting it a different way every time. He was streaky from the free throw line as well.
A level of skepticism has surrounded Garuba among European scouts regarding how his powerful game will translate to the senior levels -- is he simply overpowering junior competition? Garuba's versatility and terrific basketball IQ -- as well as his sheer dominance both statistically and in terms of affecting his team's victories -- suggest that those concerns are overblown. We will get a chance to see Garuba in the EuroLeague for the next two seasons with Real Madrid, as he's being promoted to the senior team next season, a source told ESPN. That should help NBA teams get an excellent evaluation of him before he becomes eligible for the draft.
Amar Sylla | 6-9 | PF/C | Real Madrid | Age: 17.6
Coming off an up-and-down showing at the BWB Global Camp in February, Sylla absolutely exploded in Vitoria, playing an essential role in Real Madrid steamrolling its way to the ANGT Championship. Blessed with freakish length and athleticism, Sylla regularly pulls off highlight-reel plays thanks to his ability to get off his feet effortlessly for blocks, dunks and rebounds. What was interesting to see was the level of skill Sylla demonstrates at the same time. He looked very adept handling the ball in transition and passing out of short-roll situations, appearing comfortable making decisions on the move and also knocking down a number of midrange jumpers and short-range scoop shots around the basket, demonstrating fairly soft touch.
Sylla's body is still a major work in progress. His experience level and overall feel for the game still need to improve as well, as he plays a little too sped-up at times. Nevertheless, the flashes he shows on both ends of the floor give him one of the highest ceilings of any prospect in Europe, as he looks like a potentially devastating multipositional force defensively who also has some budding versatility offensively.
Sylla's contract with Real Madrid expires this summer, and it appears likely that he will be entering his draft-eligible season in another team's uniform, as there simply aren't enough minutes for him at the high-level EuroLeague, particularly since he largely overlaps with Garuba. Sources say that the NBA G League has made him a significant priority as a potential G League select contract candidate. A representative from the league was present in Vitoria to court his representation; there were other agents in attendance, according to sources who received a pitch. It is unknown whether Sylla will elect to take that route, as he also has options in Europe. He looked every bit the part of a first-round pick here, if not a top-20 selection.
Paulius Murauskas | 6-8 | PF | Zalgiris | Age: 15.2
Murauskas was the youngest player to see minutes at the ANGT level this season, not becoming draft-eligible until 2023 -- unless the age limit changes, as expected.
Murauskas impressed with his strong frame, extremely long arms, budding skill and impressive confidence and poise. He showed the ability to handle the ball in the open floor, make an open 3 and draw fouls in the post with his aggressive mentality, seeking out contact frequently. Defensively, he's completely upright and very much stuck in between positions, which is not a surprise considering his age. He has solid potential on that end thanks to his reported 7-foot-2 wingspan, though. He'll need to be careful not to bulk up too much as he continues to develop.
It's premature to say exactly what kind of long-term prospect Murauskas can become down the road due to his extreme youth, but the early results look very promising. He's in arguably the best development situation in Europe with Lithuanian powerhouse Zalgiris, which leaves plenty of room for optimism.
Boris Tisma | 6-9 | SF | Real Madrid | Age: 17.2
Tisma played strictly on the perimeter for the eventual champions, coming off the bench and mostly being asked to hit open, spot-up 3-pointers, which he did with mixed results.
Tisma has looked like a much more versatile player in other settings. For the national team, he demonstrated some ballhandling ability and a solid feel for the game as well as the ability to hit shots in a variety of ways. Although blessed with good physical tools -- including a nice frame that will fill out in time and solid mobility -- Tisma tends to get lost in the shuffle for Real Madrid, looking passive and uninterested in inserting himself into games. When Tisma's jumper is falling, he looks every bit the part of a top-flight, long-term prospect thanks to his size, mobility, fluidity and shooting potential, but his productivity just isn't always there at this stage.
The question is what will happen next season with go-to guys Garuba, Sylla and Mario Nakic off to the senior ranks, leaving a large void for the young Croatian to step into, if he's confident and aggressive enough to take the opportunity. He's not draft-eligible until 2021, meaning scouts should be patient and see how he develops, because the talent is there. Still, this has been a little bit of a disappointing season for Tisma considering what we saw from him previously.
Adidas Under-16 All-Star Showcase
Adidas debuted this event -- a one-off international all-star game -- last year after completely stepping out of the showcase circuit in the wake of the FBI/NCAA investigation.
Here are the top three prospects we saw:
Victor Wembanyama | 7-1 | C | Nanterre | Age: 15.3
Mike Schmitz has written extensively about the big man with a reported 7-6½ wingspan, and it was good to be able to check on his progress. Wembanyama remains painfully thin and wasn't productive at all in the game, but he nevertheless dropped impressive glimpses of his long-term upside and intrigued all of the NBA scouts in attendance (despite the fact that he's not draft eligible until 2023). Wembanyama has huge hands and moves exceptionally well for a player his size, showing an intriguing skill-level and feel for the game handling the ball, passing ahead and even stepping outside and shooting 3-pointers with strong mechanics and touch. He has enormous potential defensively with his ability to cover ground seamlessly and protect the rim, even blocking some 3-pointers on the perimeter with his gigantic reach.
With all of his upside, Wembanyama is far from a sure thing at this stage, as he is lacking much in the way of toughness (avoids contact, gets pushed around by smaller players, poor body language). Comparisons from NBA scouts ranged from Isaiah Austin to Mo Bamba to Rudy Gobert - with most freely admitting it's far too early to get any type of real gauge on exactly how he might develop. Wembanyama will likely need to be in the right environment where he's challenged by similarly sized players. Still, his potential is undeniable.
Nikola Radovanovic | 6-8 | SF | Partizan Belgrade | Age: 16.1
Bosnian born but developing in Serbia with Partizan Belgrade, Radovanovic did not disappoint. A lefty with big shoulders and long arms, Radovanovic is listed at 6-8 and has the type of frame that is going to fill out nicely in time. He is a good athlete who is not afraid to put his tools to use, and he demonstrated arguably the best work ethic and intensity level of any player in the game. Aggressive attacking in transition or in the half-court with a strong first step, Radovanovic drew fouls in bunches but shows unconventional mechanics from the free throw line (and beyond the arc) that will need to be corrected if he's to reach his full potential as a prospect.
It's rare to see a player this age who gets after it defensively while also demonstrating a good feel for the game as a passer, giving Radovanovic plenty to work with from a versatility standpoint. Radovanovic will represent Serbia at the international level starting this summer at the U16 European Championship. He has a chance to develop into a very good prospect over time if he continues to polish his offensive game and maintains this intensity level.
Gustav Lund Knudsen | 6-8 | SF/PF | Virum | Age: 16
Knudsen showed an impressive combination of size, athleticism and skill for someone his age. He made some very impressive plays defensively going up with verticality around the rim and getting in a deep stance on the perimeter and sliding to contain smaller players with a high energy level, which is intriguing given his height. He also handled the ball in the open court, finished above the rim at times and showed some potential as a 3-point shooter thanks to his mechanics. It will be interesting to see how Knudsen fills out physically and continues to round out his game. He doesn't have much length, but brings a lot more versatility than most players his age, giving him a nice framework long-term.