Euro-US Connection At 2009 Euroleague Final Four

15 Europeans With US Connection Playing For Euroleague Semifinalists

Apr 17, 2009

The 2009 Euroleague Final Four in Berlin will see at least one European win the title who has connections to basketball in the United States.

American basketball can lay claim to impacting the champions of the 2009 Euroleague Final Four. Every one of the semifinalists has at least one European who played basketball in the United States - either in the NBA or college, or even both. Here a breakdown of each team's American-Europeans.

Erazem Lorbek: This Slovenian power forward broke the hearts of Michigan State fans when he left East Lansing following his freshman season in 2003 to return to Europe, leaving Tom Izzo's team a gaping hole in the low post. The Indiana Pacers later drafted Lorbek in the second round of the 2005 Draft (No. 46 overall).

Sasha Kaun: The Russian center played from 2004-08 at Kansas and helped the Jayhawks to the 2008 NCAA title. The Oklahoma City Thunder drafted him in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft (No. 56 overall).

Viktor Khryapa: This forward played two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers (2004-06) and then one-and-a-half with the Chicago Bulls (2006-08) before returning to Europe.

Zoran Planinic: The Croatian point guard was a leader for the New Jersey Nets for three seasons from 2003-06 before returning to European hoops.

Giorgos Printezis: This Greek forward was selected in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs (Pick No. 58 overall). His rights have since been traded to the Toronto Raptors.

Vassilis Spanoulis: This Greek guard played one season in the NBA for the Houston Rockets in 2006-07.

Antonis Fotsis: This Greek forward played one season with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2001-02.

Nikola Pekovic: The Montenegro big man was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft (No. 31 overall) and Minnesota management are considering bringing him stateside for 2009-10.

Sarunas Jasikevicius: This Lithuanian playmaker went to high school in Pennsylvania before attending Maryland from 1994-98. He returned to Europe and won three straight Euroleague crowns (2003 with Barcelona, 2004 and 2005 with Maccabi Tel Aviv) before playing in the NBA from 2005-2007 for the Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors.

Lubos Barton: This Czech forward played college basketball at Valparaiso University from 1998-2002 before this return to Europe.

Juan Carlos Navarro: This Spanish guard played one season in the NBA for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2007-08. After Pau Gasol left Memphis, Navarro said goodbye to the U.S.

Fran Vazquez: This Spanish big man seemingly ruined any European's hopes of playing for the Orlando Magic after getting drafted by the Magic with the No. 11 overall pick of the 2005 NBA Draft but never playing in the NBA.

Ersan Ilyasova: This Turkish forward spent his first season in the U.S. with the Tulsa 66ers of the D-League in 2005-06. In 2006-07 Ilyasova starred at times with the Milwaukee Bucks. But he bolted the NBA for more consistent playing time with Barcelona.

Daniel Santiago: This Puerto Rican center played college basketball at NM Military Institute (1994-95), New Mexico (1995-97) and St. Vincent College (1997-98). He would go on to play in the NBA from 2000-02 for the Phoenix Suns and 2003-05 for the Milwaukee Bucks.

David Andersen: This Australian center was selected in the second round of the 2002 NBA Draft (No. 37 overall) by the Atlanta Hawks

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