This article is the first in a series that will run throughout the global basketball season covering former Duke Basketball players (from both the men's and women's teams) who are now playing basketball outside of the United States. Each of their games will be covered, including their statistics, as well as notable performances by their teammates and opponents as many of them will be familiar names to followers of college and pro basketball in America. Also, given the sometimes unfamiliar format of basketball competitions around the world, the context of all of these games will be explained.
Daniel Ewing was the first player to get his season started with his team playing their first competitive game on Wednesday. After playing for teams in a variety of European countries over the past few years, Daniel opted to sign in France with Paris-Levallois. The team had a disappointing regular season in France, but hope to bounce back and play well in European competition, where they will participate in the EuroCup, which is the second level international competition for teams in Europe who did not make in into EuroLeague. Daniel's teammates include a pair of familiar faces, former UNC duo Sean May and Jawad Williams. Also on the team are ex-Michigan State player Aloysius Anagonye and ex-Furman player Maleye Ndoye. As the defending champions of the French Cup tournament, Daniel and Paris-Levallois participated in the season-opening Match des Champions with surprise French champions Nanterre. The team built a solid lead going into halftime only to let Nanterre close the gap before hanging on to an 81-72 win to start the season on a winning note. Daniel finished with 13 points in 28 minutes and Sean May had 18 points and 8 rebounds. In the loss, ex-Georgia player Travis Leslie had 17 points and 8 rebounds, ex-Rhode Island player Will Daniels had 17 points, and ex-Illinois player Trent Meacham had 12 points and 7 rebounds. Here is the boxscore:
http://www.lnb.fr/fr/Pro-A/200009/Resultat-match/8042/Nanterre-Paris-Levallois
David McClure started his season on Thursday as his team kicked off the league in Lithuania. David is playing for Neptunas again this year as his overseas career has been spent entirely in Lithuania. With the team's unprecedented success last season, they tried to maintain their core of players including David. In addition to the local Lithuanian league, the team will compete in the VTB United League which features teams from multiple countries in Eastern Europe as well as the EuroCup. The crowded upcoming schedule is why the team is going to play multiple domestic league games early in the season to clear space in the next few months. David's teammates include ex-Butler player Andrew Smith, ex-Old Dominion player Valdas Vasylius, and ex-American University player Arvydas Eitutavicius. In their season opener, they rolled to a 96-69 win over Dzukija. David had 5 points in 15 minutes. Valdas Vasylius had 11 points and Andrew Smith had 10 points. In the loss, ex-DII player James Lewis had 11 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://lkl.lt/lt/top/rungtynes/?game_id=2787759&season_id=87901#mbt:73-400$t&0=1
Here is the full video of the game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92yi0BBzviI
David and Neptunas continued to get domestic league games out of the way as they were at Lietuvos Rytas on Saturday. They struggled early against the traditional powerhouse, but did narrow the final gap as they lost 87-78. David had a quiet 10 minutes off the bench. Valdas Vasylius had 13 points and Arvydas Eitutavicius had 10 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://lkl.lt/lt/top/rungtynes/?game_id=2787761&season_id=87901#mbt:73-400$t&0=1
Nolan Smith played his first competitive overseas game on Sunday. After two seasons in the NBA, Nolan has signed with Cedevita Zagreb in Croatia. The team is looking to have a stronger season, appointing the national team coach Jasmin Repesa. Some of Nolan's teammates include ex-Michigan State player Goran Suton, 2012 Toronto Raptors 56th overall pick Tomislav Zubcic, and recent Ohio graduate Ivo Baltic. Their first game kicked off the season in Croatia, part of a three game Super Cup between the senior and two youth teams of Cedevita Zagreb and Cibona Zagreb in honor of the late Drazen Petrovic. Ironically, both teams will not be spending the early part of the season in the domestic league as they will instead be focused on the EuroCup and the Adriatic League, which features clubs from multiple countries in the Balkans. In this game, Cedevita Zagreb was trying to prevent being swept and did just that after taking a lead in the second quarter on their way to an 82-61 win. Nolan marked his debut with 8 points and 7 assists in 35 minutes. Tomislav Zubcic had 16 points. Ex-UNLV player Jerel Blassingame had 10 points in the loss.
Daniel Ewing was the first player to get his season started with his team playing their first competitive game on Wednesday. After playing for teams in a variety of European countries over the past few years, Daniel opted to sign in France with Paris-Levallois. The team had a disappointing regular season in France, but hope to bounce back and play well in European competition, where they will participate in the EuroCup, which is the second level international competition for teams in Europe who did not make in into EuroLeague. Daniel's teammates include a pair of familiar faces, former UNC duo Sean May and Jawad Williams. Also on the team are ex-Michigan State player Aloysius Anagonye and ex-Furman player Maleye Ndoye. As the defending champions of the French Cup tournament, Daniel and Paris-Levallois participated in the season-opening Match des Champions with surprise French champions Nanterre. The team built a solid lead going into halftime only to let Nanterre close the gap before hanging on to an 81-72 win to start the season on a winning note. Daniel finished with 13 points in 28 minutes and Sean May had 18 points and 8 rebounds. In the loss, ex-Georgia player Travis Leslie had 17 points and 8 rebounds, ex-Rhode Island player Will Daniels had 17 points, and ex-Illinois player Trent Meacham had 12 points and 7 rebounds. Here is the boxscore:
http://www.lnb.fr/fr/Pro-A/200009/Resultat-match/8042/Nanterre-Paris-Levallois
David McClure started his season on Thursday as his team kicked off the league in Lithuania. David is playing for Neptunas again this year as his overseas career has been spent entirely in Lithuania. With the team's unprecedented success last season, they tried to maintain their core of players including David. In addition to the local Lithuanian league, the team will compete in the VTB United League which features teams from multiple countries in Eastern Europe as well as the EuroCup. The crowded upcoming schedule is why the team is going to play multiple domestic league games early in the season to clear space in the next few months. David's teammates include ex-Butler player Andrew Smith, ex-Old Dominion player Valdas Vasylius, and ex-American University player Arvydas Eitutavicius. In their season opener, they rolled to a 96-69 win over Dzukija. David had 5 points in 15 minutes. Valdas Vasylius had 11 points and Andrew Smith had 10 points. In the loss, ex-DII player James Lewis had 11 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://lkl.lt/lt/top/rungtynes/?game_id=2787759&season_id=87901#mbt:73-400$t&0=1
Here is the full video of the game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92yi0BBzviI
David and Neptunas continued to get domestic league games out of the way as they were at Lietuvos Rytas on Saturday. They struggled early against the traditional powerhouse, but did narrow the final gap as they lost 87-78. David had a quiet 10 minutes off the bench. Valdas Vasylius had 13 points and Arvydas Eitutavicius had 10 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://lkl.lt/lt/top/rungtynes/?game_id=2787761&season_id=87901#mbt:73-400$t&0=1
Nolan Smith played his first competitive overseas game on Sunday. After two seasons in the NBA, Nolan has signed with Cedevita Zagreb in Croatia. The team is looking to have a stronger season, appointing the national team coach Jasmin Repesa. Some of Nolan's teammates include ex-Michigan State player Goran Suton, 2012 Toronto Raptors 56th overall pick Tomislav Zubcic, and recent Ohio graduate Ivo Baltic. Their first game kicked off the season in Croatia, part of a three game Super Cup between the senior and two youth teams of Cedevita Zagreb and Cibona Zagreb in honor of the late Drazen Petrovic. Ironically, both teams will not be spending the early part of the season in the domestic league as they will instead be focused on the EuroCup and the Adriatic League, which features clubs from multiple countries in the Balkans. In this game, Cedevita Zagreb was trying to prevent being swept and did just that after taking a lead in the second quarter on their way to an 82-61 win. Nolan marked his debut with 8 points and 7 assists in 35 minutes. Tomislav Zubcic had 16 points. Ex-UNLV player Jerel Blassingame had 10 points in the loss.
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