It’s not an exaggeration anymore to say that European players are feared. Even in the current NBA scenario, European superstars have dominated the league. From Nikola Jokic to Giannis Antetokounmpo, not only have these international players won individual accolades but they’ve lifted the famous Larry O’Brien trophy as well. With the Paris 2024 Olympics approaching, many would want to know who are some of the biggest threats to the US team. The Club 520 Podcast team named two such players, which was soon followed by an intriguing instance from former NBA guard Jeff Teague.
“I mean he cold (Domantas Sabonis) in the NBA but he be clowning with Lithuania,” Teague said on the Club 520 Podcast. His co-host then followed it up by saying, “Olympic Patty Mills is one of the coldest s**t for sure.” This led to Jeff Teague recalling an instance about Patty Mills from his draft year. “Yeah, I ain’t going to lie, he had me worried in the draft one year like, ‘Damn that n**** be hooping like that?’ I’m like, “Sh*t, he crossing Deron Williams like that?’ Shoutout to Patty.“
The co-hosts mutually agreed on how both Sabonis and Mills are phenomenal while representing their teams on the international platform. Speaking from his experience, Jeff Teague appeared more confident about his claims about Mills. The Aussie player had an incredible college run. The 35-year-old averaged 18.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in the 2008-2009 season for the Saint Mary’s Gaels.
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USA Today via Reuters
Who do you think is the coldest European player in the NBA?
Ultimately, he became the first player from Saint Mary’s College of California to be drafted. He was selected as the 55th pick by the Portland Trail Blazers and currently plays for the Miami Heat. His record during his appearances in the Olympics is enough to understand the Club 520 podcast squad’s connection.
Domantas Sabonis and Patty Mills killing it for their nations
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Mills made his first appearance in the FIBA Oceania Championship as a teenager in 2008. Back in the Tokyo Olympics 2020, he scored 42 points to help Australia win its first-ever bronze medal in men’s basketball defeating Slovenia 107-93. The Miami Heat veteran was also named among the top shooting guards in the men’s basketball tournament at the Tokyo Olympics, receiving the honor of being part of the All-Star Five.
The Sacramento Kings star, Domantas Sabonis, was also praised for groundbreaking efforts. He made a powerful comeback this year to represent his nation after injuries in the 2022-23 NBA season prevented him from joining the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
His international debut was in the 2012 FIBA U-16 European Championship. Another NBA player, Jonas Valančiūnas, also joined him on the roster. However, Sabonis and his squad had to compete in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying tournaments but lost to Puerto Rico, which secured the final Olympic spot. On the other hand, Australia is already among the 8 teams selected through the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. Things are only about to get intense.
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Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.
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