1.הסלטיקס פייבוריטים נגד דאלאס

דאלאס מבריקס עשו דרך ארוכה מלהיות "LONG SHOT" במערכה העכשווית לאליפות ה-NBA עד הגיעם לאן שהגיעו. אז עתה הם נאבקים על אליפות ה-NBA, אבל לפי ה-ESPN BET – המחשב סיכויי קבוצות במתכונת לאס ווגאס – הסלטיקס הם 225- פייבוריטים לנצח את האליפות. דאלאס היא 185+ אנדרדוג. אני לא מבין במספרים האלה והייתי מאושר אם ישנו מישהו שכן מבין והוא מוכן להסביר: https://www.espn.com/espn/betting/story/_/id/40248465/tatum-celtics-favored-doncic-mavs-nba-finals

מכל המספרים האלה של 225- ו-185+, השורה התחתונה היא שבוסטון היא פייבוריטית לנצח את המשחק הראשון ב-6 נקודות. או, עכשיו אני מבין במה מדובר!

ג'ייסון טאטום הוא ה-BETTING FAVORITE לזכות ב-MVP ב-130-. לוקה הוא שני עם 200+. ג'יילן בראון הוא שלישי עם 600+ וקיירי אירוינג רביעי ב-2,400+.

המבריקס התחילו את העונה כ-LONG SHOT לזכות באליפות עם סיכויים של 25-1. במשך העונה הסיכויים ירדו ל-50-1. מאז הכל התהפך:

"At the start of the playoffs, this potential series price would have had the Celtics a heavier favorite, but now looks quite a bit closer," sports trader David Lieberman, who oversees NBA odds for Caesars Sportsbook, told ESPN.

בוסטון החליקו ממש בפלייאוף ללא קריסטפאס פרוז'ינגיס, אבל לפי ג'ף שרמן, סגן נשיא "SUPER-BOOK" בלאס ווגאס, "אפילו שפרוז'ינגיס אמור לחזור להרכב, הרושם שהשאירה דאלאס בפלייאוף ישפיע כנראה במידה רבה על המתערבים בלאס ווגאס.

2. אנטוני אדווארדס מזהיר את עולם ה-NBA: "אנחנו עוד נחזור. בעונה הבאה"

The Dallas Mavericks might have put an abrupt stop to the best Minnesota Timberwolves' postseason run in decades on Thursday, dominating Game 5 to clinch the Western Conference crown and a berth in the NBA Finals, but it didn't dampen Anthony Edwards' outlook on the future one bit.

"אנחנו חוזרים בעונה הבאה", אמר אדווארדס אחרי שקלע 28 נק' ב-10 מ-18, 9 ריב', ו-6 אסיסטים בהפסד 124-103 לדאלאס.

3. לחיצת הידיים בין לוקה ואדווארדס אחרי המשחק הולכת וויירל. מראה רספקט ואחוות ספורט

4. האם פרוזי ישחק או לא? הנה תשובתו:

תחליטו אתם:

Paldies visiem, kuri atbalsta un jūt līdzi visas sezonas garumā.
Pavisam drīz jau būšu atpakaļ ierindā. Tiekamies finālos ☘️ un pēctam arēnā ar savējiem 🇱🇻🙌

— Kristaps Porzingis (@kporzee) May 29, 2024

5. כדי לשכנע את דונובן מיצ'ל להישאר בקליבלנד הם יתנו לו לראיין ולבחור את המאמן שהוא רוצה

6. שחקני מינסוטה טימברוולבס החליטו להתעלם מ-TNT ששידר את המשחק נגד דאלאס, ולא להתראיין אתם אחרי המשחק בנצחון או הפסד

הסיבה: הביקורת שלו משך כל הסידרה על רודי גובר וטאונס שהם כינו כ-"לא הוגנת" ו-"BIASED":

According to a new story from Jon Krawczynski and Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Timberwolves collectively decided that no player would appear on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” postgame show following the team’s Game 4 victory. The Timberwolves made the move in protest of the presence of Draymond Green, as the team found Green’s criticisms of Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns to be over-the-top and needlessly personal.

Green is a long-standing critic of Gobert, and that continued during this series. His presence on the TNT desk during the season seems to have irked the Timberwolves, especially since there were times that it openly seemed like Green wanted the Mavericks to win the series.

7. השחקן הטוב ביותר של כל מדינה

The Best NBA Player From Every Country For The 2023-24 Season

With 40 different countries represented in

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Angola – Bruno Fernando

Honorable Mention: N/A

The first country on our list for the 2023-24 season is the country of Angola. Bruno Fernando is Angola’s sole representative for the 2023-24 season heading into his fifth year in the NBA. Fernando has struggled to find the court in recent years. He is coming off a 2022-23 season in which he appeared in just 39 games for the Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks, playing just 10.4 minutes per game and averaging 3.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

Fernando remains with the Hawks for 2023-23 but with their depth, has once again struggled to find a fit in their rotations. Through the Hawks’ first seven games, Fernando has appeared in just two of them for a total of 2.9 minutes per game. He has yet to record any statistics for the 2023-24 season with hardly any opportunity to do so.

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Australia – Kyrie Irving

Honorable Mention: Josh Giddey, Ben Simmons

For the second straight season, Kyrie Irving remains the representative from Australia over talents such as Josh Giddey and Ben Simmons. After a tumultuous 2022-23 season that saw him suspended by the Brooklyn Nets and ultimately traded to the Dallas Mavericks, Irving looks ready to get to work alongside Luka Doncic in what should be one of the game’s best backcourts this year.

In 20 games with the Mavericks to end last season, Irving averaged 27.0 points and 6.0 assists per game on 51.0% shooting. Through the Mavericks’ seven games in 2023-24, Irving has been battling injury but appeared in five of these games averaging 20.0 points and 7.8 assists per game on 43.3% shooting from the field. Dallas is 6-1 through those six games with their lone loss coming to the defending champion Denver Nuggets.

As the season wears on, Irving will be essential to the Mavericks success. After all, they signed him to a massive three-year, $136 million deal this offseason in hopes that he can help them return to the NBA playoffs after missing them entirely in 2022-23.

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Austria – Jakob Poeltl

Honorable Mentions: N/A

The country of Austria is another country with just one representative for the 2023-24 season. Jakob Poeltl of the Toronto Raptors is Austria’s lone NBA liaison this year, continuing with the Toronto Raptors after being dealt there from the San Antonio Spurs at last year’s trade deadline. In 26 games for the Raptors last season, Poeltl averaged 13.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, adding a solid defensive presence to their interior as well.

The Austrian big man has helped the Raptors get off to a 3-4 start through seven games this season with 10.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game during that time. Poeltl has served as a starter at center, receiving 25.9 minutes of action per night and appearing in all seven games for the Raptors thus far. With his ability to rebound and defend the paint, Poeltl’s role will be crucial to any success that Toronto has in 2023-24.

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Bahamas – Deandre Ayton

Honorable Mentions: Buddy Hield

The Bahamas has two players representing them during the 2023-24 season with Deandre Ayton of the Portland Trail Blazers getting the selection for this 2023-24 campaign. The last two seasons have been up and down for the former No. 1 overall pick with public and animated showings of frustration taking center stage with the Phoenix Suns.

This summer, Ayton was granted a fresh start when he was dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers as a part of the three-team deal that sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks. Ayton was very clearly relieved to arrive in Portland and has responded quite well on the court through the team’s first seven games.

In seven starts, Ayton is averaging 10.4 points, 13.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game as the Trail Blazers have gotten off to a 3-4 start. Ayton is also shooting 56.5% from the field and helping to usher in a brand new era for a Trail Blazers team hoping to at least contend for a playoff or play-in spot this season. With Ayton seemingly relieved to get a fresh start and a franchise as a whole doing the same, it looks to be a match made in Heaven in the early going of 2023-24.

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Belgium – Toumani Camara

Honorable Mentions: N/A

For the third time so far on our list, a country will have just one representative on the court for the 2023-24 season. Rookie Toumani Camara of the Portland Trail Blazers is Belgium’s one player on the court to begin 2023-24 and is off to a promising start in his career in the NBA.

Camara is coming off a final season in college with the Dayton Flyers in which he was selected to the All-Atlantic 10 First Team and the All-Defensive Team. He was the 52nd pick of the Phoenix Suns in the 2023 NBA Draft, traded to the Trail Blazers in the same Damian Lillard deal that landed them Deandre Ayton and Jrue Holiday.

Camara has gotten off to a decent start in his rookie campaign, averaging 6.3 points and 4.6 rebounds through the team’s first seven games as they have started with a 3-4 record. The 6’7’’ forward has shown promise on the offensive end but is shooting just 33.3% from the field to open the season which should undoubtedly fix itself as the year continues.

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Bosnia And Herzegovina – Jusuf Nurkic

Honorable Mentions: N/A

For the first time since 2016-17, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s representative Jusuf Nurkic began the 2023-24 season with a team not named the Portland Trail Blazers. Nurkic spent the last six and a half seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers before being dealt to the Phoenix Suns this offseason in the deal that sent Deandre Ayton to Portland and Damian Lillard to Milwaukee.

There is a lot of caution that Phoenix needs to take with the 7-foot big man as he has not played more than 56 games in a season since 2018-19 amid struggles with injuries. Being one of the tallest and heaviest players in the league doesn't exactly help. However, Nurkic has been solid to start the 2023-24 season, starting all seven games and playing 25.4 minutes per game.

Through Phoenix’s first seven games, Nurkic is averaging 9.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. He has been a solid addition to their interior on both sides of the floor, aiding in the absence of Devin Booker and Bradley Beal who have been injured to start the year. The Suns are currently 3-4 and 10th in the Western Conference. Now, it is all up to Nurkic to remain healthy and be on the court to help Phoenix right the ship for the remainder of 2023-24.

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Bulgaria – Sasha Vezenkov

Honorable Mentions: N/A

One international player who is slightly flying under the radar to begin the 2023-24 season is Bulgaria’s Sasha Vezenkov of the Sacramento Kings. Vezenkov is coming off a season with the Olympiacos of the EuroLeague where he was named MVP averaging 17.6 points and 6.8 rebounds on 66.0% shooting overall and 38.0% from three.

This past July, Vezenkov signed a three-year, $20 million deal with the Sacramento Kings and has already gotten off to a fast start in 2023-24. Through seven games, Vezenkov has appeared in five of them playing 14.8 minutes per game. He is averaging 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 0.6 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game during this time while shooting just 40.0% from the field and an uncharacteristic 31.6% from three.

With time and acclimation to the NBA, Vezenkov is going to be a serious weapon for the Kings on both sides of the floor, evidenced by his early career stat-stuffing he is already doing which has helped the Kings get off to a 2-3 start. I expect Sasha Vezenkov to be a serious contender for All-Rookie honors by the time that 2023-24 is over.

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Cameroon – Joel Embiid

Honorable Mentions: Pascal Siakam

While reigning MVP Joel Embiid has excitedly declared to play for the United States in the 2024 Olympics, he is still of Cameroonian descent and quite easily their best player for the 2023-24 season. Embiid’s 2022-23 MVP season was abruptly ended in the second round of the NBA playoffs by the Boston Celtics, calling into question his future with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Despite the question marks, Embiid and the Sixers are off to a hot start in 2023-24 with a 4-1 record through five games. To start the season, Embiid is hot on the trail to his third consecutive scoring title with 32.5 points per game on 53.5% shooting. He has followed up his All-Defensive First Team selection last season with 11.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game as well.

Despite all the distractions that this offseason brought to the table for the 76ers, Embiid, and his teammates have seemingly put it behind them with their hot start after the emergence of Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. as great options behind Embiid. With Embiid continuing this elite level of play, the Sixers should be headed for yet another successful regular season. The only question is if they can finally get over the hump of the second round of the playoffs in a very competitive Eastern Conference.

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Canada – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Honorable Mentions: Jamal Murray, RJ Barrett, Andrew Wiggins

Outside of the United States, Canada is the country with the most representatives for the 2023-24 season with 26. Of all the talent that Canadian basketball has introduced to the NBA over the years, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has risen above the rest as their clear best player for the 2023-24 season.

In 2022-23, Gilgeous-Alexander had a true breakout season with his first All-Star selection and an All-NBA First Team selection averaging 31.4 points per game on 51.0% shooting for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Now, in 2023-24, he has the Thunder on the verge of breaking out as a team and becoming a real contender in a loaded Western Conference.

Gilgeous-Alexander has played in six of Oklahoma City’s first seven games averaging 25.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. He is shooting 48.0% overall from the floor as well as just 30.8% from three. With those numbers undoubtedly set to improve, and a plethora of talent from around the world surrounding him, the Thunder are in a position to take on any challenges they may face in 2023-24 en route to a playoff spot.

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Croatia – Ivica Zubac

Honorable Mentions: Luka Samanic, Dario Saric

For the last several seasons, I have been on record saying that I believe Ivica Zubac is the most underrated player in the NBA for the Los Angeles Clippers. Of the three players hailing from Croatia in 2023-24, Zubac is the clear choice to be the country’s best player in 2023-24 as he has continued his stellar play from last season into the very early start of this season.

Zubac is a rebounding and defensive machine who, at times, has been the heart and soul of the Clippers during their injury struggles. Zubac averaged 10.8 points and 9.9 rebounds in 2022-23 as the Clippers limped into the playoffs. Now, with a fully healthy roster around him to start the year, Zubac has continued that success and helped the Clippers earn the title of early-season contenders for the 2024 NBA title.

So far in 2023-24, Zubac has started all six games for the Clippers and is averaging a career-high 11.0 points per game along with 7.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. While everyone is talking about their superstar core of Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook, it is Zubac who will end up being the most important piece for the Clippers during their 2023-24 campaign. With such a small lineup around him, Zubac's rebounding and interior defense have never been so important at any point in his eight seasons in the NBA.

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Democratic Republic Of Congo – Jonathan Kuminga

Honorable Mentions: Bismack Biyombo

Heading into his third season in 2023-24, Jonathan Kuminga gets the selection as the Democratic Republic Of Congo’s best player after just missing out in 2022-23. Kuminga has had a ton of buzz around the impact he can make for the Golden State Warriors this season and has already begun to show that potential in his role off the bench this year.

In his first two seasons, Kuminga has seen the floor sporadically with 70 and 67 appearances for the Warriors in 2022 and 2023 respectively. In 2023-24, Kuminga is still coming off the bench but making the most of his opportunity with 12.7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game while shooting 43.8% from the field. The Warriors have started the season 5-2 through seven games largely in part due to their bench and role players stepping up and holding things down while their starters head to the bench with Kuminga being one of the most impactful.

If he can continue this level of play throughout 2023-24, I expect the Warriors to be in contention as they always are at the end of the season led by their superstar core as well as their star-studded second unit.

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Dominican Republic – Karl-Anthony Towns

Honorable Mentions: Al Horford, Chris Duarte

After a FIBA World Cup tournament this summer that saw Karl-Anthony Towns make his debut for the Dominican Republic, it is only fair that he be selected as the country’s best player this upcoming season.

Towns is coming off a 2022-23 campaign he would love to forget as the 6’11 big man missed all but 29 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 2023-24 season will prove to be a pivotal one in his career as the team heads in a different direction for the future. Anthony Edwards has emerged as Minnesota’s clear best player and it is unknown how Towns is going to feel about that over an entire year.

When you mix that fact with getting used to sharing the court with Rudy Gobert in the frontcourt, the rumors have already begun to fly about Towns seeking out via trade or otherwise. Despite the rumors, Towns has gotten off to a solid start for Minnesota in 2023-24, averaging 16.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game in five starts. Towns’ poor shooting has been a bit of a concern, especially for a player who claims to be the greatest shooting big man of all time.

Although the chatter will be loud at times and dim at others, Towns is going to inevitably break out and be a massive part of Minnesota’s success moving forward.

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Finland – Lauri Markkanen

Honorable Mentions: N/A

The country of Finland is down to one player representing their country for the 2023-24 season but that player has done them more than proud. Lauri Markkanen is coming off a 2022-23 campaign that saw him earn his first All-Star selection and named the NBA’s Most Improved Player. In 66 games for the Utah Jazz last season, Markkanen averaged a career-high 25.6 points per game on 49.9% shooting from the field as one of the NBA’s biggest surprises.

In 2023-24 with Utah, he is being asked to lead a rebuilding team to new heights as he continues to impress on the court. Through seven games, Markkanen is averaging 24.0 points and 8.8 rebounds per game while shooting 47.1% overall and 43.6% from three. Unfortunately for the Jazz, things have not come together as a unit quite yet and they are off to a 2-6 start, putting them toward the bottom of the Western Conference.

It is clear that as of right now, the Jazz are Markkanen’s team and it will run through him for at least the near future. Markkanen continues to prove last season was not a fluke and can help Utah dig themselves out of the early-season hole they are in.

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France – Victor Wembanyama

Honorable Mentions: Rudy Gobert, Killian Hayes

I have seen enough of the 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick Victor Wembanyama to definitively say he is the best French basketball player in the NBA right now. At 7’4’’, Wembanyama’s size was already going to make a difference for the Spurs during his rookie campaign but as we have seen over the first few weeks of the season, it is so much more than that.

No player at Wembanyama’s size has ever moved with the fluidity and grace that he does, until now. Wembanyama has shown he is a crafty ball-handler and shot-creator as well as an overwhelming defensive presence in the paint. It has taken all of six games into his NBA career to realize what a special talent Wembanyama is and that the hype leading up to his debut was warranted.

In the first seven games of his career, Wembanyama is averaging 19.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 2.7 blocks per game. He is shooting 48.9% overall and 31.3% from three during these first seven games as well which includes back-to-back wins over a Kevin Durant-led Suns team.

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Georgia – Goga Bitadze

Honorable Mentions: Sandro Mamukelashvili

For the second consecutive season, Goga Bitadze is the selection for the best player from the country of Georgia. The 2023-24 season will be Bitadze’s fifth in the NBA with a role much larger than in years past. Bitadze was traded from the Pacers to the Orlando Magic in the middle of last season, appearing in 17 games off the bench for them after the deal went through.

Now, in 2023-24, the Magic will rely on Bitadze in the coming months as starting center Wendell Carter Jr. will require surgery on his fractured hand. Bitadze had his first start with the Magic on Saturday in a blowout win over the Lakers. He played 26 minutes and recorded 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks. His continued effort on the glass and on defense was as clear as day during that contest, giving Orlando hope for a 2023-24 season full of high expectations and growth.

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Germany – Franz Wagner

Honorable Mentions: Dennis Schroder, Maxi Kleber, Moritz Wagner

The country of Germany has five players representing them during the 2023-24 season including our selection for the best, Franz Wagner. Heading into his third season with the Orlando Magic in 2023-24, Wagner has proven he is worthy of this selection with his all-around play that has the world talking about the Magic as a sleeper in the Eastern Conference.

In his first two seasons with Orlando, Wagner averaged 16.9 points on 47.7% shooting combined but has begun to make a serious leap through six games in 2023-24. Wagner is currently averaging 18.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game through these first seven games while leading the Magic to a 4-3 record which includes a big win over the Lakers this past weekend.

Wagner, along with reigning Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero, is set to usher in a new era of success in Orlando following years of finishing at the bottom of the league over the last decade.

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Greece – Giannis Antetokounmpo

Honorable Mentions: Thanasis Antetokounmpo

When it comes to the country of Greece, Giannis Antetokounmpo reigns supreme over his brother Thanasis by a long shot. Over the last five seasons, Giannis has battled with Nikola Jokic for the title of the best player in the World. Although he has lost some ground in that debate over the last three seasons, he remains a close second as one of the top two-way players in the league.

Giannis is already one of the greatest international players in NBA history with two MVP awards, an NBA championship, a Finals MVP award, and a Defensive Player of the Year award. After a 2022-23 season that abruptly ended with a first-round playoff loss to the Miami Heat, he is on a mission to get both himself and the Milwaukee Bucks back on track as serious contenders for an NBA championship.

Now paired with Damian Lillard for the 2023-24 season, Giannis is in prime position to do just that even if they have stumbled out of the gates so far. Still, through six games, Giannis has been impressive with 26.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. He has yet to hit his stride alongside Lillard which may take some time to get acclimated to each other on the court. Currently, the Bucks are 4-2 on the season but will undoubtedly finish near the top of the standings as long as Giannis continues to be one of the best players in the world just as he has been for the better part of the last several seasons.

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Israel – Deni Avdija

Honorable Mentions: N/A

The country of Israel is yet another country that is represented by a single player in 2023-24. Fourth-year small forward Deni Avdija is that player and is headed into a pivotal season for both his career and that of the Washington Wizards. In 2022-23, Avdija received 40 starts, appearing in 76 games in total while averaging 9.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.

Now, with the departure of Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis, and the arrival of Jordan Poole, Avdija’s role with the team has grown. Avdija is already showing he can be a valuable member of the team as a starter in 2023-24. Through six games, he is averaging 13.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game on 56.9% shooting overall and 50.0% from three. The Wizards have struggled out of the gate though with a 1-5 record.

Even with Avdija’s continued development, it has become clear that the Wizards have a ton of work to do as a team to get back to a competitive spot in the Eastern Conference. I expect Avdija to come up a ton in trade rumors over the next few months and possibly be on the move at this year’s trade deadline. Wherever he goes, he will represent the country of Israel proudly and be an asset to any team he is a part of.

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Italy – Danilo Gallinari

Honorable Mentions: Simone Fontecchio

In 2022-23, Danilo Gallinari’s season was over before it even began. Shortly after signing a deal with the Boston Celtics, Gallinari would suffer a knee injury that would cost him the entire season. The injury was a huge blow to Gallinari’s value heading into free agency this past summer as well as the depth of the Celtics coming off the bench.

This past summer, Gallinari would be traded to the Washington Wizards to play under a $7 million player option he had in place and opted into the week prior. Now, Gallinari finds himself in a bench role for the Wizards having seen 14.0 minutes per game through five games so far this season. He is averaging 6.5 points and 2.3 rebounds per game on 51.9% shooting overall and 25.0% from three for the Wizards. Although it seems like his role is minimal at this point, it could only continue to grow with the Wizards if they continue to lose games and he continues to be efficient the way he has been through five games.

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Jamaica – Nick Richards

Honorable Mentions: N/A

After two seasons of having to earn his way with the Charlotte Hornets, Jamaican-born big man Nick Richards finally broke through in 2022-23. In a role mostly off the bench last season, Richards appeared in 65 games and averaged 8.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game for the Hornets in just 18.7 minutes of action.

So far in 2023-24, Richards has been along the same lines in terms of time on the court as well as the production he is putting out on the court. He has appeared in six games off the bench for Charlotte so far, averaging 7.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game. He is converting 76.2% of his field goals as well, something that cannot go unspoken for a player with minimal opportunity on the offensive end of the floor.

Moving forward, the plans for Richards should be bigger coming from the Hornets. The only issue is the logjam they seem to have going on with their frontcourt position. Regardless, as long as he continues to make the most of his time on the court, Richards will either be a big part of their season going forward or a nice pickup for another team at this year’s trade deadline.

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Japan – Cam Thomas

Honorable Mentions: Rui Hachimura, Yuta Watanabe

While Rui Hachimura and Yuta Watanabe have excelled in their role with their respective teams, Cam Thomas, born in Yokosuka, Japan, is the country’s best player for the 2023-24 season. After two seasons in a role that was mostly off the bench, Thomas forced the hand of the Brooklyn Nets to insert him into their starting lineup in 2023-24.

This is due to Thomas’ explosive start to the season that has seen him average 28.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.0 steals per game through six contests to start the year. Thomas is shooting 48.3% from the field and 33.3% from three, relying on his crafty shot selection and creation from the mid-range to do most of his scoring.

Thomas’s role with the Nets may have grown but there are still doubts as to whether it can be sustained over the length of an entire season. It seems the Nets have finally caved and are allowing him to prove it can be with a spot in their starting lineup. If Thomas continues to perform at this level, a Most Improved Player award could be headed in his direction along with other accolades that come with the production he has put forth.

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Latvia – Kristaps Porzingis

Honorable Mentions: Davis Bertans

Only two players in the NBA hail from the country of Latvia with Boston's Kristaps Porzingis taking the selection out of him and Davis Bertans. In 2022-23, Porzingis had a rejuvenated season of sorts, playing 65 games or more for the first time since 2016-17. Porzingis averaged a career-high 23.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in what could be considered the best year of his career.

This offseason, with free agency looming, Porzingis was dealt to the Boston Celtics in a deal that saw Celtics guard Marcus Smart land in Memphis. Now, Porzingis has made the Celtics one of the teams to beat in the Eastern Conference as he has continued that elite play into 2023-24. Through six games, the Celtics are 5-1 with Porzingis averaging 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game.

Though a slight drop in his numbers was expected, his impact on both sides of the court remains evident and could be what sets the Celtics apart from every other team in the East and gets the team back to the NBA Finals.

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Lithuania – Domantas Sabonis

Honorable Mentions: Jonas Valanciunas

Lithuania has two of the more accomplished big men in the NBA that represent them for the 2023-24 season. Thanks to a historic 2022-23 season and a much more well-rounded skill set, Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis is the choice over New Orleans’ Jonas Valanciunas. In 2022-23, Sabonis earned his first All-NBA Team selection, third All-Star appearance, and his first career rebounding title.

It is also worth noting that Sabonis was an enormous reason for the Kings breaking their 17-year playoff drought. In the NBA playoffs, Sabonis helped push the defending champion Golden State Warriors to seven games in the first round. With that momentum, both Sabonis and the Kings entered 2023-24 with high expectations.

So far, things have looked great for him on an individual level with 15.8 points and 13.2 rebounds per game through the Kings’ first six games with a record of 2-4 in those games. Sabonis continues to lead the NBA in rebounding in the early stages of this year, picking up right where he left off last season. With his help, the Kings can be so much more than a playoff team with a first-round exit.

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Montenegro – Nikola Vucevic

Honorable Mentions: N/A

Chicago’s Nikola Vucevic is the NBA’s lone representative of the country of Montenegro which he is extremely proud of. Vucevic also represented his country during this year’s FIBA World Cup, their first appearance in the tournament in the country’s history. As for Vucevic in the NBA, things in Chicago have looked bleak in recent seasons despite three former All-Stars leading the charge for them on the court.

In 2023-24, Montenegro’s Nikola Vucevic has his work cut out for him with the Bulls once again. They are off to a lowly 2-5 start through seven games, carrying over their disappointing output from 2022-23 to the start of this season. Through eight games, Vucevic is averaging 15.9 points and 11.7 rebounds per game on 48.0% shooting.

Having re-signed with the Bulls this offseason, Vucevic doesn’t seem to be in any immediate danger of being shipped out at the trade deadline in 2023-24 but if something doesn’t turn around soon for the Bulls franchise, you can expect major changes coming to the team sooner rather than later.

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Nigeria – Precious Achiuwa

Honorable Mentions: Josh Okogie, Udoka Azubuike

The country of Nigeria has never been as represented in the NBA as it is right now with five players hailing from the country currently within the NBA ranks. Of those five, Precious Achiuwa seems to be making the largest impact for their respective team in 2022-23 and so far in 2023-24.

Although he is dealing with an early-season groin injury that has limited him to just three games, there is no doubt how much he has meant to the Raptors over the last two seasons. In those three games I speak about this season, Achiuwa is already averaging 7.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. As Toronto’s backup to Jakob Poeltl, Achiuwa has not complained about his role within the team and is thriving despite not being a starter. His role in Toronto’s return to the NBA playoffs this season will be much larger than anticipated and he could be what makes or breaks their success moving forward.

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Poland – Jeremy Sochan

Honorable Mentions: N/A

Although born in Oklahoma and attending high school in the United Kingdom, Jeremy Sochan’s ties to Poland and its national team make him the country’s lone representative for the second straight season. As a rookie with the Spurs in 2022-23, Sochan displayed his smooth all-around game with 11.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in 56 appearances and 53 starts.

With the arrival of Victor Wembanyama, the second-year forward has been in the starting lineup for all seven games so far this season, averaging 8.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game on 39.3% shooting from the field. The Spurs are 3-34in those games with all of the attention on rookie prospect Victor Wembanyama. With the injury to Devin Vassell, it is time for the Spurs supporting cast, including Sochan, to increase their productivity to get where they aim to go as a team. With just a bit more time to develop and get used to his new role, Sochan has shown he can be another option for a Spurs team seeking to get back to playoff basketball.

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Saint Lucia – Chris Boucher

Honorable Mentions: N/A

The 2023-24 season marks the seventh season of undrafted Chris Boucher’s career, sixth with the Toronto Raptors. In recent years, Boucher’s role with the team has dwindled a bit into a bench role at less than 15.0 minutes per game. He has done his country of Saint Lucia proud with his basketball career so far which may be coming to an end in Toronto by the end of this season.

In five appearances for the Raptors this season, Boucher is averaging his lowest minutes per game and production output since the 2019-20 season. He is putting out 6.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while shooting just 40.9% from the field. There seems to be minimal room for Boucher left on the Raptors’ roster for Boucher to make an impact, bringing the idea of a trade to be made to light.

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Senegal – Mouhamed Gueye

Honorable Mentions: N/A

If it wasn't for rookie Mouhamed Gueye, the country of Senegal would have zero representatives for the 2023-24 season. Gueye was selected 39th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2023 NBA Draft only to be traded to the Celtics and then to the Hawks six days later. In 2023-24, Gueye has seen just four minutes of action in total spread over two games. It is unclear what Gueye’s role with the Hawks will be moving forward but for now, he remains the one and only player from Senegal in the NBA this season.

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Serbia – Nikola Jokic

Honorable Mentions: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Aleksej Pokusevski, Nikola Jovic

The country of Serbia is well-represented in the NBA in 2023-24 with seven players hailing from the European country on rosters to begin the year. Of these players, only one is the correct call as their best player and that is defending Finals MVP and two-time MVP Nikola Jokic.

As he continues to break the mold for NBA centers in 2023-24, Nikola Jokic has snatched away the title of the best player in the world, continuing the dominance he has had over the league for the last few seasons. It will be hard to top his 2022-23 performance that ended with the first championship in the history of the Denver Nuggets and only added to the story of one of the best centers in NBA history.

With a target on their backs heading into 2023-24, Nikola Jokic has hardly felt the pressure through seven games. He is averaging 28.4 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game while shooting 63.3% from the field overall and 38.7% from three on 3.9 attempts. The Nuggets are 7-1 already to start the season and look as if they are the class of the Western Conference once again.

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Slovenia – Luka Doncic

Honorable Mentions: N/A

With the departure of Goran Dragic from the NBA this season, Luka Doncic remains as the only star from Slovenia on an NBA roster this season. Ever since coming into the NBA in 2018-19, Doncic has been one of the NBA’s premier guards and an elite-level scorer, playmaker, and passer.

After a disappointing 2022-23 season that saw the Mavericks miss the playoffs for the first time since Doncic’s rookie season, he looks to lead his team back into contention in 2023-24. Things have started in the right direction in 2023-24 with early rumblings that Doncic is heading toward his first MVP.

Through the team’s first seven games, the team is 6-1 behind Doncic’s 31.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game. He is shooting 49.3% from the floor overall and 41.3% from three for the first time in his career. A more efficient Luka has been the difference this season for the Mavericks who look like a much more complete team in the early going of this season. If things continue to trend in this direction, Doncic will be prevalent in MVP discussions just as he was up until Dallas’ collapse in 2022-23.

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Spain – Santi Aldama

Honorable Mentions: N/A

Third-year forward Santi Aldama represents Spain for the 2023-24 season with the Memphis Grizzlies. In 2022-23, Aldama played an integral part off the bench for the Grizzlies averaging 9.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game as they went on to earn the second seed in the Western Conference.

Things seem to have taken a turn for Aldama in 2023-24 to start the season. After not appearing in their first six games to start the year, Aldama made his 2023-24 debut in their first win over the Trail Blazers on Sunday night. In that game, Aldama came off the bench for 20 minutes and had 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in the victory.

It is unclear how much time Aldama will see moving forward this season and how much Taylor Jenkins is willing to integrate him into their rotations. What should be noted is that his contributions during their only win this season were evident and could lead to much more time on the floor.

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Sudan – Bol Bol

Honorable Mentions: N/A

For several seasons now, we have been hearing about the complete skill set of Sudan’s Bol Bol. Without any real insight into his game other than flashes of decent play, Bol was relegated to the sidelines without much action. That is, until the 2022-23 season with the Magic that saw him appear in 70 games, averaging 9.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game.

After such a promising season, Bol Bol signed with the Phoenix Suns this offseason who were already loaded with talent. Despite rumblings of an increased role for him this year, Bol has appeared in just two games for the Suns in their first seven and a total of 3.5 minutes per game. From the naked eye, it appears Bol has just not been able to work his way into the main rotations for the Suns yet this season and it does not look like he will anytime soon.

Could it be that Bol Bol was just a fan-hyped player who in reality just isn't good enough to be a consistent and effective player in the NBA? Every passing moment without him on the court says yes.

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Switzerland – Clint Capela

Honorable Mentions: N/A

The country of Switzerland has just one representative on the court for them in the 2023-24 season and that is the Atlanta Hawks’ big man Clint Capela. Hailing from Geneva, Switzerland, Capela heads into his fourth year with the Atlanta Hawks where he has been a double-double machine benefiting from playing alongside playmakers Trae Young and Dejounte Murray.

As the Hawks look to break their first-round playoff woes since their 2021 Conference Finals run, Capela is being relied upon in a big way in 2023-24. After a slow start to their year this season, the Hawks have quietly turned things around and are 4-3 through seven games. Capela has been huge for their early-season turnaround with 10.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game.

As long as Capela is controlling the boards and finishing the easy baskets that his playmakers have provided, he will be an irreplaceable asset for this team. Young and Murray may get a lot of the attention but it is Capela doing the dirty work that will get this Hawks team the wins when they need them the most.

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Turkey – Alperen Sengun

Honorable Mentions: Cedi Osman, Furkan Korkmaz

The country of Turkey currently has five of its players on an NBA roster for the 2023-24 season. While players like Cedi Osman and Furkan Korkmaz are savvy veterans with multiple seasons of experience, it is a third-year player who takes the nod as Turkey’s best player this season.

Alperen Sengun began trending toward this selection in 2022-23 with the Houston Rockets. Last season, he earned the nickname “Baby Jokic” for his abilities as a scorer, playmaker, and passer. In 75 games last season, Sengun averaged 14.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game for the rebuilding Rockets as they finished toward the bottom of the NBA in the standings.

In 2023-24, the Rockets have high hopes for their squad after big-time free agent signings and a change in their coaching staff with the arrival of Ime Udoka. So far, the team has gotten off to a slow start with a 3-3 record through six games. Sengun is thriving, however, taking the third-year leap most projected was to come this year. In five games, he is averaging 18.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game on 57.3% shooting. Although Jalen Green was their choice at the top of the draft just three years ago, it may be Sengun that ends up being the superior draft pick when it is all said and done.

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United States Of America – Stephen Curry

Honorable Mentions: LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker

As is to be expected, the most represented country in the NBA is, of course, the United States of America. With a plethora of choices for the U.S.’s best player, right now the only selection seems to be Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors. Coming into the season, there was a question as to whether he was the NBA's best point guard still. Through seven games this season, we are now wondering if he is still a top-three player in the entire league.

After a disappointing end to their title defense in 2022-23, the Golden State Warriors made some drastic changes to their roster this past summer. They traded young guard Jordan Poole to the Wizards in exchange for a 38-year-old Chris Paul, a move that was heavily criticized due to the fit alongside Stephen Curry at the point guard position. With Paul agreeing to come off the bench, Curry has looked like he turned back the clock to his 2016 unanimous MVP season.

Through eight games, Curry is averaging 30.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. He is shooting 53.0% from the field overall and 47.5% from three on a ridiculous 11.7 attempts. It is the most efficient we have seen Curry since the 2022 NBA Finals but is more along the lines of his MVP years a decade ago. The Warriors continue to silence the doubters like myself with a 6-2 record to begin 2023-24.

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Ukraine – Svi Mykhailiuk

Honorable Mentions: Alex Len

Ukraine’s representation in the NBA is down to two players in 2023-24 with Svi Mykhailiuk being named over Alex Len ever so slightly heading into 2023-24. Both players have been limited to two appearances in their team’s first six games this season. Only Mykhailiuk has recorded any stats during those two games with 4.0 points per game for the Celtics in a total of 16 minutes on the court. Len is in his third season with the Kings and has been limited to just five total minutes during this time as well.

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United Kingdom – OG Anunoby

Honorable Mentions: Admiral Schofield

The final country on our list today is the United Kingdom. With just two players coming over from across the pond, OG Anunoby is the easy selection over Admiral Schofield to represent them as their best player in the NBA in 2023-24. Anunoby is coming off a 2022-23 season that saw him earn his first All-Defensive Team selection while also averaging 16.8 points and a league-leading 1.9 steals per game.

Anunoby is the most sought-after commodity from the Toronto Raptors in terms of other teams placing calls to inquire about his availability. With Toronto making it clear that it will take an out-of-this-world offer to pry Anunoby away from their clutches, he has been one of their best players to begin the season and aid in their 3-4 start to the year.

Anunoby is currently averaging 16.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game while appearing in six of their seven games so far this season. While the team remains competitive in a loaded Eastern Conference, Anunoby has been one of their most important stars on both sides of the ball. Unless their season goes completely off the rails, I do expect Anunoby to remain in Toronto through the season and beyond. Now, it is time for him to aid in their return to the NBA playoffs after falling short in the play-in in 2022-23.