20 Players Who Passed Through Liga Endesa and You Won’t Believe Where They’re Playing Now
Introduction
Every season, the Liga Endesa stirs up quite a frenzy, making it one of the busiest leagues in the world during the summer and even throughout the regular season. It’s wild out here, folks! We’ve got a bucketload of players who once graced the courts in Spain and are now off on unexpected adventures. Let’s take a look at 20 players who have common roots in Spain and have meandered off to some surprising locales while still staying active in their basketball careers.
Adventures of Ex-Liga Endesa Players
Not just Derrick Williams, the former Valencia Basket star, has packed his bags and set sail for South Korea; others are on epic quests as well! For instance, Kerem Kanter, who you might remember from Penya (and yes, he is related to Enes Kanter from the Celtics), has bounced around Greece, Poland, Japan, Germany, and Russia. He’s now lighting it up in South Korea this season, recently dropping 40 points in a game while averaging a solid 15 points and 7.4 rebounds.
The 39-Year-Old Wonder
At 39, Hetts could easily be part of our recently published piece on unexpected active players in the biz. He’s had quite the journey, playing across Spain with teams like Obradoiro, Casademont Zaragoza, Fuenlabrada, Real Madrid, and Unicaja. And guess what? He’s still at it, competing fiercely in his home country in the latest campaigns.
Croatian Roots and Beyond
The Croatian big man began his journey with Surne Bilbao in a solid 2016/2017 season, where he not only played in Liga Endesa but also the Eurocup, averaging 12 points and 5 rebounds. Then, after a stint with Valencia Basket, he meandered through Turkey, Lithuania, Italy, and spent several years in Japan, eventually landing at Sporting Al Riyadi in Lebanon. Fun fact: last year, Ilimane Diop was with him, and he’s now sharing the court with several ex-Liga Endesa players, including Perrin Buford from Joventut and Maurice Kemp from Fuenlabrada.
North American Journeys
Over in the USA, we have the American pivot who flashed through Real Madrid before his second European gig after playing for Khimki. While he had several strong seasons in the EuroLeague with Zenit and Virtus, he’s wrapped up his last two campaigns in China, where he’s posted impressive averages of 18.5 points and 8.7 rebounds this past season.
Milton’s Global Escapade
After a standout stint in the G-League, Milton Doyle landed at UCAM Murcia and has since traveled through Israel, Italy, Turkey, Puerto Rico, and landed primarily in Australia, where he’s currently crushing it with Melbourne United, averaging 15.3 points per game this season alongside former Casademont Zaragoza players Chris Goulding and Finn Delany.
Exotic Locations
If you’ve played as a big man in Liga Endesa, your agent’s probably had calls offering gigs in Japan. The Land of the Rising Sun has been a magnet for talent, attracting players who could easily find spots on any Liga Endesa roster. For instance, Sebas Saiz is already in his seventh season over there, averaging 17.4 points and 7.9 rebounds!
Wanderlust in Basketball
Having passed through Baskonia in the 2016/2017 season, this player has become somewhat of a basketball nomad, exploring Turkey, Puerto Rico, China, Poland, Italy, and Venezuela. Lately, he’s been a regular in the Lebanese league for the last three seasons!
Intriguing Titles
Italy might not seem like the most exotic destination for someone like Erick Green, who played in Naples last year, but it’s still astonishing to see him making a stop in Lebanon for a short stint. He just recently joined Cantù and had a trio of great performances right out of the gate!
From Malaga to Montenegro
The French player’s outstanding performance in Surne Bilbao captured Unicaja Malaga’s attention, leading him to play there from the 19/20 season until the end of the 21/22 season. After that, he made his way to Turkey for three more seasons, ultimately arriving in Montenegro, where he is currently part of Buducnost Podgorica, also competing in the Eurocup.
Chinese Ventures
Another familiar face in Liga Endesa rotations, he played for teams like Monbus Obradoiro, Joventut Badalona, and UCAM Murcia before making a return to Obradoiro last year in the Primera FEB. This season, he’s taking his talents to China, sharing the locker room with another former UCAM Murcia player, Travis Trice.
Back to the G-League
One of the most talked-about cases among G-League players who passed through Liga Endesa but aren’t in the NBA, Kyle Guy, is back in the spotlight. Not to forget, two other guys didn’t have the greatest luck in Liga Endesa last year and are now back playing in the States: L.J. Figueroa from Leyma Coruña and Giorgi Bezhanishvili from Covirán Granada.
Conclusion
From Spain to various astonishing destinations, these players prove that basketball has no borders. Their adventures inspire us to keep pushing boundaries in our game, just like they do on the court!
