NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen's Women's Basketball Worldwide) - Some things never change when it comes to the priceless value of having a wily and classy playmaker to pull the strings in the backcourt.

Throughout the years, teams at all levels have benefitted from having quality point guards on board who have seen and done it all before.

Yet even within that context of experienced guards having always been prevalent, it feels like we're especially blessed to be seeing some real golden oldies at FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 who are all in their 30s.

Top of my list is Laia Palau of Spain, who could have her swansong in the Czech capital where she currently plays her club basketball with ZVVZ USK Prague. Now 37-years-old, she is better than ever and a legend of EuroLeague Women having become the first player to hand out 1,000 assists in the competition.

She led Spain in Rio last year with 4.0 assists per game and, as if to underline how she is not done just yet, Palau handed out 14 assists in last week against Fenerbahce which was the best of the entire season in the tournament.

When Palau isn't handing out opportunities for her team-mates in a Spanish vest, there's Anna Cruz who can fulfill the role. She is a player who is the ultimate late bloomer and has reinvented herself almost better than any player I can remember.

Having passed her 30th birthday, she is entering veteran territory. She has been crowned a WNBA champion in recent seasons and is now pulling the strings with Dynamo Kursk. The last five or six years have been transformational for her. 

You can also tick off a possible point guard treble for Spain with the probably inclusion of recent Copa De La Reina MVP, Silvia Dominguez!

Turkey will have the ever-reliable Birsel Vardarli Demirmen to share playmaking duties with Isil Alben and the veteran has always been a huge favorite of mine, so it’s great to watch her continue being a leader.

And on the subject of Turkey and senior playmakers, you may have seen Nilay Kartaltepe hand out a jaw-dropping 19 assists in a recent KBSL game for Mersin.

Meanwhile, every time I watch Jelena Skerovic of Montenegro, I marvel at her decision-making, game management and longevity. The 36-year-old has been such a consistent performer for so many years and it will be interesting to see what relationship she develops with new head coach Roberto Iniguez who will be delighted to still have her.

Then there is Celine Dumerc of course, who I am assuming will continue in a Les Bleues vest after missing Rio with that last-minute injury blow, while Lindsey Harding would be good to see again for Belarus.

Outside of looking forward to seeing some super veterans at EuroBasket Women 2017, it seems that these experienced guards right around the world have no limit to their skills.

For example, what about Opals star, two-time WNBA champion and double Olympian Erin Phillips?

She has transferred her athletic prowess to her beloved Australian Rules Football and there's absolutely no stopping her!

Finally, it's so exciting to be thinking about some of these experienced playmakers being around for a little longer, because they relly are the flag bearers in the backcourt and leaders for their respective teams.

Roll on FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 Final Round in June!

Paul Nilsen

FIBA

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