Mirza on the mend and a nice All-Star wrinkle

VALENCIA (Jeff Taylor's Eurovision) - We have passed the half-way point of the 2014-15 NBA regular season and there are plenty of pluses.

There has been a big downer, though, especially for European hoops fans and aficionados, with Mirza Teletovic of the Brooklyn Nets having had his year cut short with a health scare.

The 29-year-old forward from Bosnia and Herzegovina had complained of not feeling 100 percent after a game at the Los Angeles Clippers on 22 January and doctors discovered he had blood clots in his lungs.

Teletovic, after several days in the hospital, was released and the Nets later announced that he would make a full recovery.

Team physician Michael Farber said in a statement on 28 January: "Diagnostic testing was arranged and he was then observed until testing showed that he reached the expected therapeutic range. 

"We are pleased to say that he reports no symptoms at this time and that he will be discharged to return home today.

"I expect Mirza to make a full recovery."

Teletovic was a real beast on the court when he played in Europe and Spain for Vitoria outfit Baskonia (Laboral Kutxa) in Spain's top flight and the Euroleague, but he was always kind and willing to talk after games, at least in my experiences with him.

There are some positives to stress in this situation.

First of all, Teletovic received a proper diagnosis - pulmonary embolus - and then he got excellent medical care.

The player also rediscovered how many fans and friends he has.

However, it is worth pointing out how terrific Teletovic has been in representing his country many times over the years.

He is the captain of his national team.

Teletovic poured in the points at the last couple of EuroBaskets.

In their successful 2nd Qualification Round campaign last year, and this is no exaggeration, Teletovic was a superstar.

In his three games - two against against Great Britain and one against Iceland - he averaged 26.3 points per game.

Where did that rank among all players? He was No. 1 in scoring average, not too shabby when you consider there were 26 teams in the 2nd Qualification Round.

Whether he will be able to play at the EuroBasket in September is immaterial at this point.

Teletovic needs to make sure he is healthy first and then both he and the Bosnia and Herzegovina Federation will address the issue in due course.

On to other matters and specifically the Rising Stars Challenge that will take place during the NBA All-Star Weekend.

This year, the game that features the best rookies and sophomores in the league will be played in a different format, with a USA team taking on a World team.

It's worth noting that six of the players in the showcase competed in last summer's FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Teletovic's Nets team-mate Mason Plumlee was a high-flying reserve for Mike Krzyzewski's title-winning USA side in Spain.

He is the only World Cup player in the USA team for the Rising Stars Challenge.

The World Team has Utah Jazz duo Rudy Gobert (France) and Dante Exum (Australia), Minnesota Timberwolves big man Gorgui Dieng (Senegal), Milwaukee Bucks sensation Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) and Bojan Bogdanovic (Croatia), of Brooklyn.

You know what play comes to mind when I think of Gobert? Sorry Spain.

Other World Team players that have national team connections are New Zealand's Steven Adams (Oklahoma City Thunder), the Canadian duo of Andrew Wiggins (Minnesota) and Kelly Olynyk (Boston Celtics), Germany's Dennis Schroder (Atlanta Hawks) and Spain's Nikola Mirotic (Chicago Bulls).

The World Team will go up against a U.S. Team that has Trey Burke (Utah), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Detroit Pistons), Michael Carter-Williams, Nerlens Noel (both Philadelphia 76ers), Zach LaVine, Shabazz Muhammad (both Minnesota), Victor Oladipo, Elfrid Payton (both Orlando Magic), Plumlee (Brooklyn) and Cody Zeller (Charlotte Bobcats).

I wonder how a World Team would fare against a U.S. Team in the All-Star Game itself? 

I would venture to say it could keep the game close and maybe even win.

You could have both Pau and Marc Gasol along with Dirk Nowitzki on the World Team frontline with Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili in the backcourt.

There would also be players like Luol Deng, Serge Ibaka, Goran Dragic, Greivis Vasquez and Al Horford. 

You could chop and change with numerous other players.

The Rising Stars game should be fun to watch. 

Jeff Taylor

FIBA

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