[ESPN] The 30 best international players in the NBA (Yao #4)

CharlieMurphy · Apr 26, 2007

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=All-World-30Best

The 30 best international players in the NBA
By John Hollinger

Yes, it's a global game. We've been hearing it for years now, as basketball's increasing popularity overseas has borne fruit in recent years in the form of international players who are capable of playing at the NBA level.

Yet recently, there's been another shift. While teams have looked overseas for big men for years, owing to the challenge of finding somebody who is 7 feet tall and coordinated in any corner of the world, now the quality of international play is good enough to supply good guards, too.

In fact, four of the game's most daring and exciting little guys -- Steve Nash, Jose Calderon, Tony Parker and Leandro Barbosa -- were born on another continent, and there's plenty more from where that came from. File away the name Ricky Rubio, for instance -- you'll be needing it in a couple of years.

And with that, we're seeing one more chink in the armor of American basketball dominance. Yes, the losses in international tournaments have been mounting for years, but nobody is totally sold on that as defining evidence of the decline in U.S. dominance -- not when the rules are different and the refs, in some cases, seem openly biased.

But the fact is, foreign guys aren't just dominating in the tournaments with the funny-shaped lane. They're coming over here and kicking butt too.

The latest reminder came when I looked at my MVP nominations, and noticed that three of the top four names on my list -- Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan and Nash -- were born in distant lands. (And actually, the other guy on my list was Kobe Bryant, who spent much of his youth in Italy.) Believe it or not, of the top 12 players in PER this season, half were internationals.

For more evidence, here's another exercise: Make a list of the best player at each position. If your list looks like mine, three of the five names will be non-American -- Steve Nash at point guard, Yao Ming at center, and either Duncan or Nowitzki at power forward. Only at the wings does American talent have a choke hold on the top spot.

So perhaps it's no accident that the NBA's last bastions of Americanness are struggling. Only two teams had an all-American roster this year, and both are wobbling. The Knicks struggled to a 33-win season despite a bloated payroll, while the defending champion Heat find themselves halfway to elimination against a Chicago team whose three key international players have torn them to shreds.

Overall, 85 players from overseas were on NBA rosters this season, and while some made only brief cameos (nice knowing you, Andrea Glyniadakis), many others have made huge impacts. Duncan, Nash and Nowitzki are the most obvious examples -- if you pencil in Nowitzki as this year's winner, they've accounted for five of the past six MVP trophies.

But there are plenty of others. A scan of NBA lineups reveals at least 30 internationals making major impacts for their respective clubs. And that doesn't include the ones who are more than capable, but for either contractual or personal reasons have declined the invitation to join the NBA, including Argentina's Luis Scola, Spain's Fran Vazquez and Greece's Theodoros Papaloukas.

That's why I've chosen to shine a light on all the internationals making a mark on the league, by giving you one man's look at the best 30 players from overseas.

But before we get to the list, as always, I must explain the ground rules.

Several players could plausibly be defined as being from multiple countries -- Chicago's Luol Deng, for instance, could be described as Sudanese or English.

The growing market for "ringers" to join international teams in the Olympics and World Championships only complicates matters -- witness Portland, Ore., native Ime Udoka suiting up for Nigeria last August, for instance. Thus, to simplify matters, I'm using the "birth certificate rule" -- I'll count anyone who was born outside the U.S.

As for the rankings: I'm not basing the rankings solely on a player's performance this past season; instead I'm looking at the big picture. Andrei Kirilenko's play, for instance, has plummeted this year. But nobody denies his talent level because of his previous production, and a lot of people suspect that being forced to play on the perimeter is crushing his productivity.

OK, let's get down to business with the top 30. As you'll see, ranking them gets difficult almost immediately.

1. DIRK NOWITZKI, DALLAS MAVERICKS

Age: 28 | Profile
Birth Date: 06/19/78
Born: Wurzburg, West Germany

Position: Power Forward
NBA experience: 9 years
2006-07 PER: 27.70

An almost total unknown when the Mavericks traded for him on draft day in 1998 in the now-infamous deal for Robert Traylor, Nowitzki has gone from an interesting prospect on a German club team to this year's likely MVP. He's become perhaps the game's most consistent player thanks to his sweet jumper and newfangled post-up game from the free-throw line. In doing so, he's done more than anyone to create the annual spring migration of scouts to Europe looking to uncover the next Nowitzki.

As much as it pains me to rank anyone ahead of Duncan, Nowitzki's results demand it. He was No. 1 in PER last year and No. 2 this year, plus he beat Duncan in last year's playoffs and led the Mavs to 67 wins. Amazingly, his success has had almost zero impact on basketball in his country, which hasn't produced a decent player since he arrived.

2. TIM DUNCAN, SAN ANTONIO SPURS

Age: 31 | Profile
Birth Date: 04/25/76
Born: St. Croix, Virgin Islands

Position: Power Forward
NBA experience: 10 years
2006-07 PER: 26.20

Talk about making lemonade from lemons: Duncan was an aspiring swimmer before Hurricane Hugo destroyed the only Olympic-sized swimming pool on the Caribbean island of St. Croix, where he grew up. So he took up basketball instead, and although a relatively low-wattage recruit out of high school he quickly turned Wake Forest into a powerhouse.

He's done the same as a pro, leading the Spurs to three championships with a fourth possibly in the offing this season. He's also won two MVP awards, made the All-Defense team every year he's been in the league, and refined the midrange bank shot to an art form.

3. STEVE NASH, PHOENIX SUNS

Age: 33 | Profile
Birth Date: 02/07/74
Born: Johannesburg, South Africa

Position: Point Guard
NBA experience: 11 years
2006-07 PER: 24.12

Though a Canadian citizen, Nash was born in Johannesburg, where his English father was playing soccer at the time. (Are you getting all this? By the way, his wife is South American, so if he can just adopt an Asian baby and make ex-Sun Luc Longley its godfather he'll have every inhabited continent covered.)

Nash was an unheralded high school player in Victoria, B.C., but tiny Santa Clara gave him a scholarship and he did enough there to become a first-round pick by the Suns. It took him awhile to reach NBA stardom, but since returning to Phoenix he's become a two-time MVP and, obviously, one of the great free-agent signings of all time.

4. YAO MING, HOUSTON ROCKETS

Age: 26 | Profile
Birth Date: 09/12/80
Born: Shanghai, China

Position: Center
NBA experience: 5 years
2006-07 PER: 26.70

China hasn't been a basketball hotbed, but it's tough to escape notice when you're 7-6. There would be no Nowitzki-like slips under the draft radar for Yao, not when he was dominating the Chinese league. The Rockets won the lottery to make him the first overall pick in 2002, and Yao quickly convinced a skeptical public that he was no Shawn Bradley.

Yao "Americanized" his game the past two years, becoming much more aggressive in the post and using his size and strength to attack smaller players. As a result he's become the game's best center, and has a real shot to lead Houston on a deep playoff run. The only drawback has been injuries. He's missed 59 games the past two years, which is a major reason his team hasn't been able to match the Mavs, Spurs and Suns in the standings.

By the way, if you're keeping track, we just named the best player on the four best teams in basketball … and none of them was American.

5. PAU GASOL, MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Age: 26 | Profile
Birth Date: 07/06/80
Born: Barcelona, Spain

Position: Center
NBA experience: 6 years
2006-07 PER: 24.39

The international craze was just gaining steam when Gasol came out for the draft in 2001, which explains why he was the third overall pick and not the first. Gasol had played well for FC Barcelona in Europe, so he was a known quantity, but teams still felt safer drafting American high schoolers Kwame Brown and Tyson Chandler ahead of him. Oops.

Gasol almost immediately became the Grizzlies' best player and still remains oddly underrated considering his many talents. The 7-footer is quick, coordinated and can handle the ball and pass, but questions about his defensive intensity combined with playing in an NBA backwater have kept him from A-list superstar status.

6. MANU GINOBILI, SAN ANTONIO SPURS
7. TONY PARKER, SAN ANTONIO SPURS
8. LUOL DENG, CHICAGO BULLS
9. MEHMET OKUR, UTAH JAZZ
10. BEN GORDON, ENGLAND
11. LEANDRO BARBOSA, BRAZIL
12. NENE, BRAZIL
13. ANDREI KIRILENKO, UTAH JAZZ
14. ZYDRUNAS ILGAUSKAS, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
15. ANDRES NOCIONI, CHICAGO BULLS
16. PEJA STOJAKOVIC, NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
17. JOSE CALDERON, TORONTO RAPTORS
18. ANDREW BOGUT, AUSTRALIA
19. ANDRIS BIEDRINS, LATVIA
20. ZAZA PACHULIA, ATLANTA HAWKS
21. SAMUEL DALEMBERT, PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
22. ANDERSON VAREJAO, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
23. NENAD KRSTIC, NEW JERSEY NETS
24. BORIS DIAW, PHOENIX SUNS
25. DARKO MILICIC, ORLANDO MAGIC
26. HEDO TURKOGLU, ORLANDO MAGIC
27. RAJA BELL, PHOENIX SUNS
28. WALTER HERRMANN, CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
29. JORGE GARBAJOSA, TORONTO RAPTORS
30. ANDREA BARGNANI
Click to expand...

I'm not too sure how I feel about this list. Hollinger said he's not ranking them solely on their performance this past season but instead at the big picture. If that's so, wouldn't Duncan be #1? Yao defintely is a top four though. His PER of 26.54 warrants him second behind Dirk's 27.70 for international players.

There's a description for every player, but I only decided to post the first five. If there's a certain player's description you want me to post, feel free to ask.

texanskan · Apr 26, 2007

were the hell is Spanoulis? this list is bs.

Kam · Apr 26, 2007

texanskan said:

were the hell is Spanoulis? this list is bs.
Click to expand...

he is number 31.

WNBA · Apr 26, 2007

6. MANU GINOBILI, SAN ANTONIO SPURS
7. TONY PARKER, SAN ANTONIO SPURS
8. LUOL DENG, CHICAGO BULLS
9. MEHMET OKUR, UTAH JAZZ
10. BEN GORDON, ENGLAND
11. LEANDRO BARBOSA, BRAZIL
12. NENE, BRAZIL
13. ANDREI KIRILENKO, UTAH JAZZ
14. ZYDRUNAS ILGAUSKAS, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

a massed up list.

tinman · Apr 26, 2007

how is Duncan not ahead of Dirk?

ooliverb1 · Apr 26, 2007

WNBA said:

6. MANU GINOBILI, SAN ANTONIO SPURS
7. TONY PARKER, SAN ANTONIO SPURS
8. LUOL DENG, CHICAGO BULLS
9. MEHMET OKUR, UTAH JAZZ
10. BEN GORDON, ENGLAND
11. LEANDRO BARBOSA, BRAZIL
12. NENE, BRAZIL
13. ANDREI KIRILENKO, UTAH JAZZ
14. ZYDRUNAS ILGAUSKAS, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

a massed up list.
Click to expand...

I won't rank Kirilenko at 13 either, even though I know know Kirilenko has a very good tear drop

CharlieMurphy · Apr 26, 2007

texanskan said:

were the hell is Spanoulis? this list is bs.
Click to expand...

Hey at least he made it on the PER list for international players. Number 79 out of 86. LOL

79. Vassilis Spanoulis

Houston Rockets
Player Profile
POS: G
AGE: 24
COUNTRY: Greece
PER: 5.47

Capsule: Spanoulis struggled mightily in his first NBA season. The Rockets needed him to be a spot-up shooter but his strengths are as a creator. At 6-4 he's plenty big for the position and he had a high assist rate in Europe. However, he's been turnover-prone and shot only 31.9% for Houston.
Click to expand...

Of course, Mutombo is on that list at 30.

30. Dikembe Mutombo

Houston Rockets
Player Profile
POS: C
AGE: 40
COUNTRY: United States (Born in Zaire)
PER 14.37

Capsule: Mutombo's shot-blocking and rebounding still make him an effective option off the bench, and he even filled in admirably as a starter while Yao Ming was sidelined. His only drawback is that the increasing emphasis on speed and quickness around the league creates more matchups where it's impossible to keep Mutombo on the court.

Mutombo doesn't get the ball much, but when he does he's not about to give it up -- when he catches in the post, or gets a rebound near the basket, he's looking to score.
Click to expand...

Jake ranked at #72.

72. Jake Tsakalidis

Houston Rockets
Player Profile
POS: C
AGE: 27
COUNTRY: Greece (Born in Republic of Georgia)
PER: 8.31

Capsule: At 7-2, 290 pounds, Tsakalidis is an immovable target in the lane, and he has a decent right-handed hook shot that he uses to finish from close range. He's at his best playing against other big centers, and for some reason has always played extremely well against Shaquille O'Neal.

His size is also an asset defensively against the right opponent, but he must be spotted carefully. Tsakalidis is ponderously slow, so he's of little use helping against pick-and-rolls and his speed in transition is another concern.
Click to expand...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=All-World-1-20

Yaozer · Apr 26, 2007

John Hollinger And with that said:

chink[/SIZE] in the armor of American basketball dominance.
Click to expand...

I don't know what he means by that.. but is this a little racist?

Tree Rollins · Apr 26, 2007

"By the way, if you're keeping track, we just named the best player on the four best teams in basketball … and none of them was American."

So if the Rockets lose in the first round, it's on Yao?

bladeage · Apr 26, 2007

Does Tim Duncan really count as International?

Tree Rollins · Apr 26, 2007

bladeage said:

Does Tim Duncan really count as International?
Click to expand...

Yes, more than some of the others. Duncan lived 18 years in a different country.

sbyang · Apr 26, 2007

tinman said:

how is Duncan not ahead of Dirk?
Click to expand...

It's gotta be based on Hollinger's PER.

Bandwagoner · Apr 26, 2007

I would go both Duncan and Nash (2 time MVP ahead of dirk)

DonkeyMagic · Apr 26, 2007

yeah, i dont understand how dirk is above TD.

FishBulb913 · Apr 26, 2007

6 of the top 7 are in our division haha go southwest!!!

Precision340 · Apr 26, 2007

DonkeyMagic said:

yeah, i dont understand how dirk is above TD.
Click to expand...

Yeah TD should definitely be first.

Amel · Apr 26, 2007

texanskan said:

were the hell is Spanoulis? this list is bs.
Click to expand...

I agree, Spanoulis should have been at 4!

macfan · Apr 26, 2007

Yaozer said:

I don't know what he means by that.. but is this a little racist?
Click to expand...

I don't know if you're joking or not.

"chink in the armor" is a figure of speech. It means there's weakness or vulnerability

robinxlee · Apr 26, 2007

Yaozer said:

I don't know what he means by that.. but is this a little racist?
Click to expand...

When he wrote "chink" it refers to scratch, hole, or dent in Americas "armor." It is not racist. It is a common figure of speech not related at all to race. BTW I am Chinese.

ucansee2020 · Apr 26, 2007

What I really like to see is the international versus the American all-star games. It should be a better game than the West against the East.

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