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With every season the number of international players that are taking part in the NBA increases and for this past season it was a record breaking 92 with the NBA Champions San Antonio Spurs being the team with the most international players-10. Country wise its France which is best represented in the NBA with 10 players making it to the opening night rosters for the 2013-14 season of the NBA teams.With a new season not too far from us, it would be safe to presume that there will be even more international players this time around. So while we wait for more young international prospects to showcase themselves here are the top 10 international players in the league based on their performance last season and the form heading into training camp.
#10 Patty Mills (Australia)
The San Antonio Spurs are one of the best team when it comes to finding the right players to fit into their system and use them efficiently. One of the players who the Spurs scouts found was Australian Patty Mills. He first arrvied at the stage with an excellent showing for his national team against USA in the 2012 Olympics.
However his NBA career didn’t go as well with the Portland Trailblazers. He was acquired by the Spurs but was the third point guard for the team after Tony Parker and Cory Joseph. So after his first season with the Spurs, he used the off-season to lose some pounds and improve his shot efficiency from the field.
He returned the next season to the training camp faster, fitter and sharper. He started eating Joseph’s minutes during the regular season and over the course of the season he became an invaluable piece in the Spurs offense.
He provided constant reliable production off the bench in the Finals which has earned him this spot on the list.
#9 Goran Dragic (Serbia)
Courtesy of the Dragic brothers Goran and Zoran, Serbia finshed the FIBA World Cup with a 5-2 win-loss record, much better than what they would have expected prior to the commencement of thetournament. Among the siblings, it was captain Goran who led the way for Serbia.
He has been having a great year of 2014 so far not only in with Serbia but also in his career in the NBA. For outstanding averages with the Phoenix Suns of 20.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 6 assists at 51% shooting for the previous season he was awarded the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award. For Serbia in the World Cup he averaged 17 points, 2.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
Internationally or in the NBA, Dragic does seem to have a problem knocking down free throws at an efficient percentage. If he was to fix that issue he could very well join the elite 50-40-90 club consisting of Larry Bird and Kevin Durant to name a few.
He has three years remaining on his four year 30 million dollar deal with the Suns which also includes a final year player option.
#8 Nicolas Batum (France)
Despite his excellent showing this past season, Nicolas Batum is still in the list of the top 10 underrated in the league. Which ever team he plays for, the Portland Trailblazers in the NBA or France internationally, he is a player who does all the little things that bring success to those teams.
He is a huge reason that his country finished the World Cup with the third spot. Batum was also felicitated while being named as the Small Forward in the tournament’s All-Star Five. He averaged 13 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the NBA season.
Not many consider to be so but Batum is very versatile on offense and defense. The assists average which is a career high and the ability to guard players from spot 1 to 4 on the floor is proof enough of his versitality.
#7 Serge Ibaka (Spain)
A defensive anchor for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Serge Ibaka has been part of a team for over seven years that has the talent but has failed miserably the past three seasons to achieve what his worth the talent of the roster.
His mediocre offensive game, which could use a lot of help and a monstrous defensive presence has Ibaka in the 8th spot in the top 10 international players in the league. No doubt defense is his stronghold but working on his offensive game from mid range and in the post will make life easier for Durant, Westbrook and the rest of the team.
Nonetheless he is such a crucial part of affairs in the team that they cannot win without him. So he is still needed but with more effect on the offensive side of the court. Whenever he has led the league in the blocks (3.7 in 2011 and 3 in 2012), he has done so with huge margins to the second place player.
#6 Manu Ginobili (Argentina)
He might not be among the top 5 shooting guards in the league but the Spurs would alone know his true value. Coming off the bench, Ginobili directs the offense for the San Antonio’s second unit, which are highly skilled themselves.
Even at the age of 37, there isn’t a single part of his game that can be highlighted and pointed out as a weakness. Being fearless and knocking down the clutch shots when the team requires is still something which hasn’t left him.
He led the Argentina to a major upset in the 2004 Olympics beating the heavily favored USA basketball team however since then he has failed to taste any success with his national team.
#5 Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
A 7-footer shooting jumpers efficiently from the field and beyond the arc was not something commonly seen when Dirk Nowitzki first came to the league when he was drafted to the Milwaukee Bucks. But he managed to change the way the game was played by big men from the field.
Arguably the best shooting big man in the history of the NBA, Nowitzki has helped the the Mavericks organisation by settling for a three-year $25 million deal allowing the franchise to pick much needed pieces to make the team as competitive as it can be.
If defenders believed that Nowitzki’s current game due to his age has made him somewhat guardable, well think again because according to the German himself and legendary shot doctor Holger Geschwinder they have been successful in making Nowitzki’s shot release faster during the on going off-season.
Despite being 36, the 2011 NBA Finals MVP still has a good 2-3 years left in him before he retires.
#4 Joakim Noah (France)
Ability to move fast laterally, all out hustle, being a beast on the boards and executing the Bulls’ defensive policies to the mark are the reason frenchmen Joakim Noah was named the KIA NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Although Derrick Rose has been out for all but 10 games in the last two seasons, the Bulls were never short of point guards still at the end of the regular season it was Noah who led the team in total assists. His passing and transition game is overshadowed by his defensive prowess.
The only big tournament he has represented his country was EuroBasket 2011 when the French side won the Silver medal losing to Spain in the final. Currently 29 years old, Noah still has many years of strong helpful production ahead for both Chicago and the French National Team.
The workload is body would suffer this season would be lesser given that Derrick Rose is making a stronger return this season along with new acquisition Pau Gasol also expected to make it to the starting line-up.
#3 Boris Diaw (France)
Boris Diaw who was such an essential part of the Spurs championship run this season was waived by the Charlotte Bobcats two years ago, looks like the Bobcats (now Hornets) would be ruing over decision making. His insertion into the starting line-up during Games 3 and 4 of the 2014 NBA Finals was a master stroke by Head Coach Greg Popovich.
Diaw is the typical European player, a big man whose stronghold is versitality. He can run the floor with the ball, make incredible passes, shoot hooks and shoot efficiently from long range. It was his play along with that of Batum’s that led France to a 3rd place finish in the most recently concluded FIBA World Cup.
#2 Tony Parker (France)
After the most recent victory in the NBA Finals, Tony Parker has finally found some time to allow his body to recuperate after 3 years of 8-9 months of basketball with very little success but the last year has been very fruitful for the Frenchmen.
He led France to the 2013 EuroBasket gold medal and was named the MVP of the tournament and just over three months ago celebrated his fourth NBA ring after entering the league as a 19 year old in 2001.
Despite being 32, Parker is still among the fastest in the world to get up and down the court. He still amazes not only players but audiences in the stands and at home with his mesmerising finishes near the basket.
With the good minutes management that Head Coach Greg Poppovich does, expect Parker to be around at least till the age of 37 to lead the Spurs at the point guard position.
#1 Pau Gasol (Spain)
With most recent form in the FIBA World Cup Pau Gasol takes the top spot in the list of best international players in the NBA. Despite being one of the consistently performing players of the team, his game is often wrongfully considered to be soft.
After a disappointing last couple of seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers which was probably the best thing to happen to his career, Gasol is headed East to Windy City to team up with Rose and Noah in the quest for a championship. He brings experience along with his game to the Bulls locker room.
In what was probably the best international tournament of his career, he failed to lead Spain past France in the World Cup. He has been on the losing side of two consecutive Olympic gold medal matches to the USA.
Although the Lakers replaced Gasol with Carlos Boozer who Gasol replaced in Chicago, the purple and gold franchise will find it hard to deal with Gasol’s absence on the floor which was on most nights the reason behind their victories while Kobe Bryant was recovering from injuries.
