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The NBA is the world's biggest basketball organisation. Before the 1980s, it was only limited to America and not particularly popular - though players like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird helped it gain popularity worldwide.
As of today, it has evolved to become a global league, one that distributes its games and programming in 215 countries. Many foreign-based players join NBA teams for exposure and a good paycheck, as the number of international players league-wide continues to increase each season.
Europe has produced some of the finest basketball players including Dirk Nowitzki, the Gasol brothers (Marc and Pau) and many more besides. These players proved themselves in European leagues before later going to play in the NBA. In this list, we take a look at the top five European players who feature in the league right now:
#5 Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic is one of the league's finest young players at present, playing for the Dallas Mavericks in the point guard and small forward positions. Both a creative and versatile player, he won the NBA's Rookie of the Year award for an impressive 2018/19 campaign.
Born on February 28, 1999 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Luka rose to prominence when signing a five-year deal to play for Spanish side Real Madrid back in 2012. He became the youngest player in club history to play for their senior side in the Liga ACB.
Luka performed very well for Madrid, winning numerous accomplishments along the way - EuroLeague MVP, Rising Star on two separate occasions as well as the ACB's best young player accolade. He represents the Slovenian national team and won the EuroBasket 2017 tournament with them.
Unsurprisingly, he decided to take his talents to the NBA and was selected as the third pick of the first round by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2018 Draft. They soon traded him to the Mavericks in exchange for fellow draftee Trae Young, where he became the youngest player to score 20 points in a game - averaging 21.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and six assists per game during an excellent rookie campaign. The future looks bright for the young superstar, who has potential to become an all-time great like Dirk did for the Mavericks.
#4 Kristaps Porzingis
The Dallas Mavericks recently acquired Latvian star Kristaps Porzingis from the New York Knicks - he plays at both the power forward and center positions. One of the league's tallest players, he stands at 7 ft 3 in and is 23-years-old.
Another Mavericks star to emerge from Liga ACB, Kristaps began his professional basketball career with Sevilla and too made his senior debut in 2012. He became the youngest player to win the EuroCup Rising Star award back in 2015.
That same year, Porzingis declared himself for the NBA Draft in 2015 and was selected with the fourth pick of the first round by the Knicks. He finished second behind Karl-Anthony Towns in the Rookie of the Year award race and was named in the All-NBA Rookie First Team, scoring 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.3 assists per game.
Kristaps was named for the Eastern Conference All-Star reserve in 2018, but on February 6 he sustained a torn ACL and consequently sidelined for the season. They decided against extending his rookie contract and traded him to Dallas earlier this year, before he signed a five-year $158m deal earlier this month. Pairing alongside Doncic, they could form a strong partnership and lead the Mavs to glory long-term.
#3 Rudy Gobert
Rudy Gobert - born in Saint-Quentin, France - is widely known for his defensive ability, great passing and ball-handling skills. Currently playing for the Utah Jazz, he has claimed the Defensive Player of the Year accolade in successive seasons (17/18 and 18/19), while being named in the All-Defensive First Team on three separate occasions.
Rudy began his professional career with French side Cholet Basket, making his senior debut in 2010 and staying there for two seasons. Entering the 2013 NBA Draft, his nickname was 'The Stifle Tower', due to his large wingspan.
Initially selected by the Denver Nuggets as the 27th pick, he was soon traded to the Jazz and has since played more than 400 games for them - averaging a double-double in points and rebounds per game. Representing his native France, he won a bronze medal at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and another bronze at the EuroCup the following year.
#2 Nikola Jokic
Born on February 19, 1995 near a small town in the northwest of Serbia, Nikola Jokic developed a strong interest in basketball at a young age. He started his senior career with the Belgrade-based side Mega Viruza, competing in the Serbian and Adriatic Basketball League.
Jokic remained there until 2015, winning the League MVP and Top Prospect award. His NBA journey began when selected by the Denver Nuggets as the 41st pick of the 2014 Draft and he averages 16.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists in his 308 games for them to date - their best all-round player and franchise star.
Last season, he earned his first NBA All-Star selection and led the team to the playoffs, before they were eliminated by the Trail Blazers in the Western Conference semi-finals in a game seven. He proved his worth in the postseason, scoring 25.1 points with 13 rebounds and 8.4 assists before being praised by many for his leadership skills and excellent displays.
He won the Serbian player of the year award in 2018 and two years prior, led Serbia to a second-placed finish at the Summer Olympics in Rio.
#1 Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo won the NBA's MVP award for the 2018/19 campaign and given his Greek Freak nickname, is certainly living up to the billing. Known for his dominant performances, ball-handling skills and athleticism, the Athens-born small forward began playing competitive basketball for Filathlitikos' youth squad at 13 before earning his place in their senior side a few years later.
He remained there until the 2012/13 season, where he announced himself eligible for that summer's NBA Draft. The Bucks selected him as the 15th pick and given his solid displays, he was named in the All-NBA Rookie Second Team, working hard and improving his game - winning the league's Most Improved Player award in 2017 - while earning three successive All-Star selections between 2017 and 2019.
Last season, Giannis was unstoppable: he averaged 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds and six assists per game while leading the Bucks to the Eastern Conference Finals where they were defeated in a six-game series by eventual NBA Champions Toronto Raptors.
Antetokounmpo represented the Greece national team in the FIBA World Cup, EuroBasket and Olympic Qualifiers while winning last year's Euroscar European Player of the Year accolade. There's no doubt that he's the best European player in the NBA today.
