The Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament (ANGT) brings together the best young talents in Europe, and since its inception in 2002, some of the world's biggest and brightest talents have passed through. You may be familiar with their names today, but when they took part in the ANGT, they were still writing the first few pages in their basketball careers.
The name on everyone's lips right now is Victor Wembanyama, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Just a few years ago, in 2019-20, the ex-LCLC ASVEL Villeurbanne forward took part in the Kaunas edition of the ANGT, averaging 15.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 6.0 blocks. Wembanyama has already been tipped for greatness, but he first announced himself at the ANGT.
Another ANGT alumni who has shown his world-beating ability at the highest level is Luka Doncic, an NBA star with Dallas. The former Real Madrid guard was named the ANGT MVP in 2015 after leading Real Madrid to the ANGT title, having averaged 12.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.3 steals. Doncic was soon impacting the EuroLeague, too, winning that competition's Rising Star Trophy in 2017 and 2018, when he was also the EuroLeague's full-season and Final Four MVP while leading Real to that season's continental title.
We all know Anadolu Efes Istanbul star Vasilije Micic for being a two-time EuroLeague champion, a two-time Final Four MVP and the 2021 EuroLeague MVP, but way back in 2010, the Serbian guard displayed his promise at the ANGT Belgrade qualifying tournament. Micic played an important role as FMP finished first, leading his side with a team-high 14 points, along with 3 rebounds and 4 assists in the final against INSEP, that season's eventual overall champion after winning a rematch with FMP in which Micic did not participate.
Like Doncic and Micic, another player who shined at the ANGT before going on to be named the EuroLeague MVP is current FC Barcelona forward Nikola Mirotic. Playing for Real Madrid, Barca's archrival, Mirotic showcased his talent in the 2008 edition of the ANGT in the Spanish capital before confirming his status as one of Europe's most promising players at the ANGT L'Hospitalet qualifier a year later. In Real's final group-stage game against FMP, Mirotic had a 35-point, 23-rebound double-double and also recorded 2 assists, 9 steals and 6 blocked shots for a PIR of 84, which remains a tournament record to this day.
Last but not least, Bogdan Bogdanovic featured in the 2010 ANGT for FMP, averaging 10.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.8 steals in four games. He went on to be named the EuroLeague Rising Star in 2014 and 2015 after shining with Partizan NIS Belgrade and Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul, respectively, while he also became a EuroLeague champion with the Turkish team in 2017. Now plying his trade in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks, Bogdanovic was able to use the ANGT as a way of propelling his career forward.