The International Greats of the NBA.

[jimboiitmac]

After seeing Pau Gasol dominate today, had me thinking of who the all-time international greats are.

Anyone who can bring up some memories can perhaps talk about great international players prior to the 21st century. Obviously this new era has seen a lot of global great players come to the league, but prior to that?

The few that come to mind are Detlef Schrempf who won a few 6th Man Awards in the NBA while being a multiple time NBA All-Star, in addition to the great Drazen Petrovic who would have had a tremendour career, as well as the multi-skilled, multi-facteted Toni Kukoc, truly one of the integral members of the Bulls second half 3 Championship conquests, he was very versatile.

Who else was there. And what about today, how would you rank the best international players in the NBA today?

My top 5 would be:

1. Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
2. Tim Duncan (Virgin Islands)
3. Steve Nash (Canada/UK)
4. Pau Gasol (Spain)
5. Tony Parker (France)

Also answer the above poll stating, "who is the best international player in the NBA?"

 

[Chowpei]

dirk's got to be the best atm... but timmy D was the best for years.. then steve nash.. manu and pao

 

[Farmer2Goggin2Wade]

Duncan he's one of the best ever. Better than all them hacks.

 

[mookie3three]

Hakeem, Luuuuuuuuc (not the best of all time but good aussie), Steve nash is hardly an international and nor's Tim Duncan. Detlef for sure, Rik Smits was a good centre, Dikembe Mutombo players like that. Yeah and now Dirk.

 

[Chowpei]

why's Kirilenko there? lol.. i'd put deng or nene in there before kirilenko.. or rudy fernandez!!!

 

[Ersk]

What? No Longley Bogut or Anstey? How about Heal and Gaze?

 

[ozflava]

Arvidas Sabonis was a total stud, as was Sarunas Marciulionis. Both of those guys are easily in the best of all time

 

[Ersk]

Hakeem, Luuuuuuuuc (not the best of all time but good aussie), Steve nash is hardly an international and nor's Tim Duncan. Detlef for sure, Rik Smits was a good centre, Dikembe Mutombo players like that. Yeah and now Dirk.

Well, Hakeem was naturalised and therefore became a US player.

Duncan will have to do that is he wants to win some Olympic Gold.

As for Nash.....he is Canadian (is he not?) so not a US player and so definitely International.

 

[Lippo]

TD for me. Nash and then Dirk close 2nd and 3rd

 

[Farmer2Goggin2Wade]

What about Šarūnas Jasikevičius?

 

[BruzDB]

Didn't Duncan play for the US at the 2004 Olympics?

Nash, Nowitzki and Ming would be the top 3 for me.

 

[jimboiitmac]

why's Kirilenko there? lol.. i'd put deng or nene in there before kirilenko.. or rudy fernandez!!!

Dunno mate kinda put Kirilenko in there cause he was up there, just the last season or two haven't been so kind to him. I know that's not really fair ong uys like Deng or Nene but it just didn't seem right putting them before him.

Mutombo is a great one whoever rememberd that, as is Arvydas Sabonis.

 

[mookie3three]

Canadian is barely international though. Technically is, but same sh*t different smell.

 

[Farmer2Goggin2Wade]

Canadian is barely international though. Technically is, but same sh*t different smell.

He's Canadian/South African/UK.

 

[ljandkg]

Sabonis was the best player on the planet - just wasn't playing in the NBA at the time. Duncan is the best on that list but if he doesn't represent the islands he came from is he international?

Also what about Oscar Schmidt from Brazil - averages 40 ppg in the olympics for his career - ask Scottie Pippen about trying to guard him! Basically said he was unstoppable.

Also - NO SEAN MARKS? WTF????

 

[nenjabin]

Definately Duncan #1, then Nash, then Dirk.

 

[nenjabin]

Dunno mate kinda put Kirilenko in there cause he was up there, just the last season or two haven't been so kind to him. I know that's not really fair ong uys like Deng or Nene but it just didn't seem right putting them before him.

Mutombo is a great one whoever rememberd that, as is Arvydas Sabonis.

Not to worry Jimbo, Kirilenko sh*ts all over Deng and Nene. Maybe they will pass him 1 day, but what the heck has Deng done yet other than be injured, and Nene is finally having his first good season now after being nothing ut injured prior too.

 

[dickyKnee]

Drazen Petrovic, was an amazing player. Him and Vlade kind of started the Euro wave.

Of the current crop, for me its Dirk (Not including Duncan since he has played for team USA)

 

[nbacardDOTnet]

Marko Jaric is Winner !!

He's Canadian/South African/UK.

yah..really right

His root was from South Africa then went to Canada.

And Another Canadian(not superstar though) was Rick Fox.



And very nice OPs here. !!

I voted TD and if all time voting, that would be Olajuwon.
(Of course, they got US citizen, but their root was from other place.)


=============================================================
Well, I can't understand why you guys didn't say anything about Marko Jaric?

He is winner in history !!

Why? Look !

His action was like this.
(This is not 2000-01 Topps Heritage Card)

article
Adriana Lima Married Marko Jaric | dailystab.com

In my country, people likes NBA called him as Final winner of NBA. lol

('')Right Person looks like Rajon Rondo lol



about Adriana Lima
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adriana_Lima"]Adriana Lima - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Adriana_Lima_by_David_Shankbone.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Adriana_Lima_by_David_Shankbone.jpg/225px-Adriana_Lima_by_David_Shankbone.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/8/86/Adriana_Lima_by_David_Shankbone.jpg/225px-Adriana_Lima_by_David_Shankbone.jpg[/ame]

 

[ozballer23]

Based on current form, I find it hard to go past Gasol, but on achievements, Timmy D is in a League of his own! If Dirk had a better supporting cast, he would be on the same level as TD imho!