#8) Nando De Colo, 6'5, Guard, 29.1 years old, France
EWA: 1.0
PER: 23.7
TS%: 71.8%
14.7 PTS, 2.5 REB, 2.5 AST, 1.3 STL, 5-13 3P%, 21-21 FT%, 59.6 FG%
Seeking their first Olympic Medal in Men's basketball since winning silver in 2000, the French team, which had high expectations in Rio, fell short after getting bounced by Spain in the first round of elimination play. In his second Olympic competition, Nando De Colo led the French team in scoring ahead of current NBA players Nicolas Batum, Boris Diaw, Rudy Gobert, Joffrey Lauvergne, and former Spurs teammate Tony Parker.
De Colo's strong performance at the Olympics followed what was the most successful season of his career, in which he earned Euroleague MVP honors and led CSKA Moscow to a Euroleague championship. De Colo was drafted 53rd overall by the Spurs in 2009 but spent three seasons playing in the ACB in Spain before joining the Spurs in 2012. He was traded the following season to Toronto Raptors in exchange for Austin Daye and after finishing out the 2013-14 season with the Raptors, returned to Europe where he has been with CSKA Moscow. It would not be surprising to see De Colo return to the NBA at some point in his career, as he has proven repeatedly that he has the quality to play there, but for now he is enjoying the major role he has, at the highest level in Europe.
Comments