Image via USA Today Sports/Richard Mackson
Basketball has truly evolved beyond borders, as international talent in the NBA is at an all-time high. We’ve seen guys like Hakeem Olajuwon, Dirk Nowitzki, and Pau Gasol come to the NBA and prove that elite talent doesn’t just reside on American soil. Those three, along with pioneers like Yao Ming, Steve Nash, Dikembe Mutombo, and Drazen Petrovic have paved the way for many of the young stars in the NBA today. We’ve seen African native Joel Embiid draw comparisons to Olajuwon, while European Kristaps Porzingis has flashed shades of Nowitzki in his game. These legends and many others are the reason for the NBA’s spike in imported talent.
We’ve seen Giannis Antetokounmpo aka “The Greek Freak” take the league by storm in his first few seasons, and there are more future superstars on their way. The favorite for the No. 1 pick of this year’s draft is Luka Dončić, a Slovenian native who plays in Spain for Real Madrid. The No. 1 rated player in high school is Steve Nash mentee and fellow Canadian R.J. Barrett, who’ll play at Duke this fall.
The best of the international group in the NBA is under the age of 23, and the common trend of international players is that they’re the full package. In addition to their physical traits, they bring a new crop of skill and awareness that the league has yet to see. Whether it’s the passing of Nikola Jokic, a 7-foot-3 forward in Porzingis, or the freak that is Antetokounmpo, the NBA is now home to a number of skilled, positionless players, who are taking the league by storm. Without further ado, here are the ten best foreign players in the NBA today.
Note that if you were born outside of the United States but grew up in the United States, you don’t qualify for this. Therefore, Kyrie Irving, who moved to the United States at two years old, is not eligible.
10. Goran Dragic
Team: Miami Heat
Country: Slovenia
Before his All-Star selection this year, Goran Dragic never attracted the respect he deserve. Even with the All-Star selection, he’s still criminally under the radar. The disciple of Steve Nash has averaged at least 14 points per game in each of his last six seasons. He’s also led an injury-plagued Miami Heat team to a winning record in the first half, with a chance to make the postseason.
9. Rudy Gobert
Team: Utah Jazz
Country: France
If there was a redraft of the 2013 NBA Draft class, Rudy Gobert, who was selected at No. 27, would go in the top four, without a doubt. The 7-foot-1 big man finished in the top three in the Defensive Player of the Year voting last season. His 8-foot wingspan is the reason this defensive force is known as the “Stifle Tower.”
8. Al Horford
Team: Boston Celtics
Country: Dominican Republic
Al Horford has one of the ugliest games in the NBA. He doesn’t do anything pretty, but he’s effective. He’s a five-time All-Star and he’s put himself in the running to win Defensive Player of the Year this season, as the backbone of the best defense in the NBA.
7. Andrew Wiggins
Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Country: Canada
Although Andrew Wiggins is struggling this year next to Jimmy Butler, let’s not forget he averaged 23.6 points per game while shooting 45 percent from the field as a 21-year old last season. He’s uber talented and has superstar potential, but may not reach that potential as the third option in a Tom Thibodeau slow-paced offense. In his first four seasons, he’s averaging 19.9 points per game. That’s impressive.
6. Marc Gasol
Team: Memphis Grizzlies
Country: Spain
Like Wiggins, Marc Gasol’s numbers are down a bit from last year in terms of scoring and efficiency. That being said, he’s still putting up just under 18 points and eight boards per game. He hasn’t put together a career like big brother Pau’s, but he’s done pretty damn well playing for a franchise that never received much national publicity until the playoffs. He’s adjusted to the current era of basketball, adding an outside shot to his game, in addition to his inside game and deadly midrange.
5. Ben Simmons
Team: Philadelphia Sixers Country: Australia Ben Simmons might be fighting for the top spot on this list in a few years. Once this man gets a jumper, there’s absolutely no way to stop him. He’s the closest player we’ve seen to LeBron James in recent years. Simmons and his loyal country of Australia seemed bothered by his All-Star snub, but this will probably be the last time that Simmons isn’t in the big game for a long time. The 6-foot-10 point guard just secured his sixth triple-double of the season as a rookie, becoming the first rookie to notch at least six triple doubles since Magic Johnson.
4. Nikola Jokic
Team: Denver Nuggets
Country: Serbia
In case you don’t know, Nikola Jokic is the best passing big in the NBA. This is not up for discussion.
He’s averaging 5.7 assists per game as big man—more than All-Star point guards Kyrie Irving and Goran Dragic. Passing isn’t his only quality, though. The Serbia native is also averaging a double-double with 16.5 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game. He can beat from beyond the arc or in the paint, and if you decide to double, he’ll find the open man nearly every time. If you haven’t heard of him yet, get used to his name.
3. Kristaps Porzingis
Team: New York Knicks
Country: Latvia
Before his heartbreaking ACL tear, Kristaps Porzingis was the only thing keeping New York Knicks fans in good spirits. Assuming Carmelo Anthony’s role as the only face of the franchise, Porzingis garnered the first All-Star of his young career, averaging 22.7 points per game and leading the NBA in blocks per game with 2.4. In an era of multiple unicorns, Porzingis is the rarest unicorn of all. Let’s hope he gets well and comes back even stronger.
2. Joel Embiid
Team: Philadelphia Sixers
Country: Cameroon
Joel Embiid was a laughing stock at the beginning of his career, and even drew Greg Oden comparisons. Now he makes all opponents the butt of his jokes on social media—after he puts up 20 and 10 on their heads. Embiid is close to being crowned the best center in the league after two years, and those Oden comparisons have turned into Hakeem Olajuwon comparisons. There’s nothing to hate about the man. He backs up his talk and has embraced Philly culture like no other.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Country: Greece
The aforementioned Greek Freak. When LeBron James hangs it up, the favorite to assume the throne is Giannis Antetokounmpo. He’s 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan (explain that, science), plus guard handles, guard speed, and unreal athleticism. He’s put the Milwaukee Bucks back on the map, averaging 27.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. An MVP is imminent in his career. Just look at this photo of him touching the rim and the ground; they don’t make boys like this in America.