Many players stand out in each round of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, whether or not their teams win. Here are some players who impressed in Rounds 3 and 4.
Rounds 3-4 roll call: Double-round standouts
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Belinelli showed that age is just a number
Marco Belinelli may be 37 years of age, but the Virtus Segafredo Bologna team captain showed that he can still mix it with the young’uns of the EuroLeague. Across Virtus’s two games in the first double-round week of the season – against ALBA Berlin and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade – Belinelli averaged 13.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steal en route to two important victories. Virtus is now on a three-game unbeaten run and its veteran guard’s play is a big reason why there’s so much positivity in the so-called Basket City right now.
Giedraitis grabbed his chance in double-round week
Zalgiris Kaunas found another diamond in a rough that will get team's rotation deeper this season with Dovydas Giedraitis coming up huge during the double-round week. After playing less than a total of 2 minutes combined in the first two games of the season, the 23-year old guard used the absence of Arnas Butkevicius in Round 3 loss against Real Madrid, and posted 10 points, 3 rebounds and a steal in 21:35 on the floor, but in a 93-79 loss. Two days later, despite Butkevicius returning to the lineup, Giedratis got another shot, and shined. Spending 22:37 on the floor in an 82-99 road win in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Giedraitis had 13 points, shooting 3-for-3 from long range, while dishing 4 assists and picking up a steal. During this week young guard set single-game personal-bests in points (13), PIR (11), rebounds (3), assists (4), three-pointers made (3), among others, while likely locking up his spot in the coach Kazys Maksvytis rotation.
Moneke shines in losses
Baskonia suffered a pair of home losses this past week, but it was not for the lack of effort, or production of its second-year center Chima Moneke. The big man had 10 points and 4 rebounds in 18:33 in a loss against FC Bayern Munich on Tuesday, then had one of the best performances of the 2023-24 season. In a loss against Zalgiris, Moneke accumulated a PIR 37, the highest of any player in Round 4. He scored 32 points, the highest total through four rounds this season, making 7-of-11 twos, 4-of-8 threes and 6-of-9 free throw, while pulling down 9 rebounds, and delivering 2 blocks and 2 assists. Baskonia suffered a 17-point loss, but Moneke had +8 in a +/- column over 27 minutes and 33 second in that game.
James put Monaco on his back for twin victories
With his team facing an 0-2 start and a difficult road game to open the first double-round week, Mike James once again proved his leadership chops, compiling team highs of 18 points 11 assists and 24 PIR in AS Monaco's 76-82 takedown of host Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade in Round 4. At home two nights later, he repeated the feat, although this time his 17 points, 7 assists and 23 PIR were all game highs as Monaco downed ALBA Berlin 86-75 for a double-round sweep. James now ranks fourth in points (17.5), third in assists (7.0) and fifth in PIR (21.8) and Monaco has snuck into the top eight in the standings. All is right again in the principality.
Parker keeps going from strength to strength
It hasn’t taken Jabari Parker long to find his feet in the EuroLeague. The No. 2 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft played an important role in FC Barcelona defeating Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade on the road in Round 3, coming close to a double-double with 9 points and 11 rebounds. Impressively, 6 of those boards came on the offensive end of the floor. Then, three days later in Round 4, he posted a new season high for points by scoring 15 in a 98-59 drubbing of FC Bayern Munich. It certainly seems that Parker has found a home at Barca.