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Basketball has been making rapid strides across Asia in the last half a decade. The spread of the game has resulted in quite a few talented players from Asia stepping up and some of them have even featured in the NBA. In this latest top 10 piece, we look at the top basketball players in Asia.
1. Hamed Haddadi (Iran)
The 7 ’2″ former NBA player has been the best in all Asian competitions till now in which he has participated. He was named the tournament MVP and was amongst the tournament’s top five players(called All Star team) during the FIBA ASIA Championships at Manila,Phillipines. The player has won three gold medals at the FIBA ASIA Championships and one bronze in the Asian Games at Doha in 2006. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he led the league in blocked shots per game and rebounds per game.
2. Yi Jianlian (China)
Yi Jianlian #9 of Guangdong Southern Tigers (a Getty Images)
He is one of the best Chinese players to ever play the game. The 7-footer was the #6 overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft. He played with the Chinese national basketball team in the 2004 summer Olympics and the 2006 FIBA World Championships. He was the tournament’s most valuable player at the 2011 FIBA Asia Championships at Wuhan,China. He has won 3 gold medals at FIBA Asia Championships and 1 gold at the 2006 Doha Asian Games, which make him one of the best players in Asia.
3. Samad Nikkhah Bahrami (Iran)
Mohammad Samad Nikkhah Bahrami (Getty Images)
Mohammad Samad Nikkhah Bahrami is the 6’6″ small forward for the Iranian team.He was also selected in the tournament’s All Star team of the FIBA Asia Championships 2013 alongside his teammate Hamed Haddadi. He has won 3 gold medals at Asian Championships, 1 gold medal at the Asian Cup and 2 bronze medals at the Asian Games.
4. Min-Goo Kim (South Korea)
Kim was selected for the South Korean national basketball team to compete in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships. Kim averaged 12.7 points, 2.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds in only 19.9 minutes per game, and topped the entire tournament with 25 three-point field goals made in nine games. He was named to the tournament’s All-Star team.
5. Lin Chih-Chieh (Chinese Taipei)
Lin Chih Chieh (Getty Images)
The 6’3″ shooting guard too was selected for the 2013 FIBA ASIA championships at Manila. He almost had a triple-double against Philippines, he ended up with 19 points,12 assists and 9 rebounds.He is a very skilled passer and shooter and deserves to be in the list of the top Asian basketball players.
6. Jayson Castro (Philippines)
The 2013 FIBA Asia Championships’ mythical All-Star selection – Best Point Guard in Asia. That’s the honor he got in the latest edition of the Asian Championships. The 5’11 guard is probably the best point guard in Asia.Every Filipino is waiting to see him at the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
7. Jimmy Alapag (Philippines)
He is one of the oldest members of the Philippines national basketball team.The 5 foot 9 play maker is considered to be one of the most explosive point guards the Philippines has produced. Jimmy is well known for his lethal 3-pointers. That makes him one of the best basketball players in Asia.
8. Zhizhi Wang (China)
Wang Zhizhi (Getty Images)
The 1999 NBA second round pick is one of the oldest active players in Asia.He has participated in many competitions internationally and the Chinese veteran became an Olympian at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.Where he averaged 11.1 PPG and 5.6 RPG in China’s 8th place finish.The veteran has won 5 gold medals,1 silver medal and 1 bronze over the years for China.
9. Kosuke Kanamaru (Japan)
Kosuke Kanamaru (Getty Images)
He is known as the ‘Sniper’ in Japan thanks to his good three point accuracy. He shot nicely in the recent 2013 FIBA Asia championships at Manila.He led the team in scoring during the tournament and deserves to be in the list of best Asian basketball players.
10. Mehdi Kamrani (Independent Iran)
He is the captain of the Iranian basketball team; with the the 6’0 point guard has a lot of experience,his passing skills and drives are fabulous.He is average shooter but that won’t prevent him from being in the list of best Asian basketball players.He has won 3 Gold medals and 2 bronze medals playing for his country till now.
Some honorable mentions-
1. Zhelin Wang (China)
2.Wang Shipeng (china)
3. Kosuke Takuechi (Japan)
4. Jean Marc Pingris (Philippines)
5. Zhou Peng(China)
Guess the Lakers players!
