Washington Wizards

Marcin Gortat is shining for Poland in EuroBasket play

Published Sep. 8, 2015 4:26 p.m. ET

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Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat is an average NBA big man. No parts of his game are exceptional, but he's solid on both ends and does what's asked of him.

But for Poland's National Team, Gortat is a superstar. He's the only NBA player on Poland competing in EuroBasket, and he's doing a pretty great job.

Here's more on Gortat's performance over the past few days, from Washington Post reporter Jorge Castillo:

The 31-year-old Gortat averaged 12.2 points and 8.7 rebounds on the Wizards last year, his eighth season in the NBA. He's essentially putting up the same numbers in EuroBasket play, but with a much larger role.

(h/t: Washington Post)

Marcin Gortat’s Poland squad has been one of the surprises in the 16-team EuroBasket. The Polish team, ranked 48th in the world and 18th in Europe entering the tournament, is 2-1. It opened with a win over Bosnia and stunned Russia (ranked sixth in the world and fourth in Europe). Then, on Monday, Poland nearly shocked France, the world’s fifth-ranked team whose roster boasts six NBA players. Poland hung tight with the French, never trailing by more than nine points and had a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds, but Gortat’s three-pointer was off the mark. The 6-foot-11 Gortat, who is entering the second of a five-year, $60 million contract with the Wizards, is averaging 12.7 points and eight rebounds as the only NBA player on Poland’s roster. Poland next plays Israel in group play on Wednesday.