Short answers, pulled from the story.
The year 1979 marked the first presentation of the Euroscar European Player of the Year Award. Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport handed the honor to Soviet center Vladimir Tkachenko that January.
A committee composed of general managers, coaches, players, and sportswriters from thirty-three countries determines the winner. This diverse group evaluates candidates based on their contributions to club teams and national squads.
Arvydas Sabonis won six Euroscar Awards spanning from 1984 through 1999. He remains one of only three players to have won five or more Euroscars throughout history.
Only four Euroscar winners played exclusively in a European league during their winning year after 1992. Gregor Fučka won in 2000 without ever joining the NBA while Miloš Teodosić took home the honor in 2016 while playing outside American leagues.
Seven Euroscar winners have been inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame including Vladimir Tkachenko, Arvydas Sabonis, Dražen Petrović, Dalipagić, Meneghin, Kićanović, and Nikos Galis. Five of those same players also reside in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.