They came with a loud shout, but as great as the expectations were, so great was the fall.
High selection in the draft, long periods in the best league in the world and a big name are no guarantee of success in Europe, certainly not in the Euroleague.
We have seen this before, and this season the phenomenon seems to be particularly noticeable.
One of them will be seen tomorrow against Maccabi Tel Aviv - Kenneth Farid, a player of CSKA Moscow.
These are not players who have passed in the best league in the world but those who have been stars, or at least significant players behind hundreds of NBA games, impressive statistics, achievements and also many millions in the bank account.
It turns out that drinking an "NBA" device does not guarantee anything.
Everyone and his story, but it turns out that making the transition between the two continents is a profession.
Almost all of the high-profile players who came this season from the NBA are failing, playing little, not factors, and some will not finish the season.
One has already been released.
In most cases their teams also fail.
Why go far?
In our league, two teams play in the first two top ten selections in the draft.
Hapoel Jerusalem players Thun Maker and Anthony Bennett are having a hard time and it seems that at least Maker will be released soon.
There were previous examples in the Euroleague.
We remember the season of Panathinaikos with two top-10 picks (Wesley Johnson and Jimmer Perdett).
Greg Monroe - Choice 7 - arrived with a big bang, but did not impress.
At Maccabi Tel Aviv we saw Dragan Bender and Johnny O'Brien, and Derrick Williams (second choice) also came next to Eliyahu after a difficult season at Valencia.
Modiay.
Not a coordinator, Photo: EPA
Not everything that glitters in gold and not everything that has worked overseas will work in the Euroleague.
These are two different worlds, even the high expectations do not serve the purpose.
Reverse example: Eli Okubo of Willerban, who struggled to fit into the NBA, is currently the best player in the Euroleague.
Farid is a 22nd pick, he has eight seasons and more than 500 games in the NBA and an Olympic medal in 2014.
He arrived as a replacement for Nikola Milutinov, who was injured and did not find himself (two field goals in four games).
Mitigating Circumstances: He has hardly played in the last two years.
"Until a few years ago he was an NBA star, and that remains in the consciousness of the fans," says CSKA president Andrei Watutin. "The thing is, the past does not play for him.
His getting into things was difficult because he only arrived after the season opener and didn’t really have time to adjust.
He did not know European basketball.
However, he is committed and diligent and still contributes to us.
It is not yet time for summaries. "
"Takes time to get used to"
O.J. Mayo of Kazan is a No. 3 pick in the draft, he has eight seasons and nearly 600 games in the NBA.
In 2016 he was suspended from the league for two years due to drug use.
Since then he has not played at the highest levels.
Quite a few people in European basketball raised an eyebrow when he and Farid came to the Euroleague, given what they have been through in recent years.
Emanuel Modii has 7 picks, five seasons in the NBA, 15 points per game in New York in 2019 and more than $ 15 million at the bank.
He is 25 years old and did not land in Europe for retirement, but has already been released from Zalgiris, the worst team in the Euroleague.
Mitigating Circumstances: Designate him for the position of coordinator and he is not a coordinator.
A similar failure is Yogi Pearl in Panathinaikos.
Troy Daniels in Milan has not yet been absorbed, but should be given a discount because he did not start the season following an injury.
It looks like Buzz Napier, who has yet to play this season due to injury, will affect Zenit St Petersburg.
Such an issue needs an expert.
David Blatt knows both sides of the coin best after being at the highest levels in both leagues.
"The game is completely different, the rules, the style, the length of the game, the refereeing, the spacing, the physicality," the coach says.
"This is not an easy way for players who were used to charter flights, another language and even sleeping in a room alone in away games. Such a player is expected to bring something special, but there they were 'roll players' with little responsibility.
Blatt with LeBron James.
Know the two leagues well // Photo: AP,
"In my opinion, beyond the first 6-5 in each team there is no difference between NBA players and the good Euroleague players. They need the right time and place to get used to the different atmosphere. Those who are able to make the adjustments and can learn and adopt a whole new way of doing things are the ones who succeed." .
