The top 10 international players who never played in the NBA

Honorable mention – Croatian legend Krešimir osiMention basketball and the mind makes an instant association to the United States of America. But the reality is pleasingly different. Given, the States loves its sports and focuses a lot more attention and resources on them, resulting in a virtual monopoly in certain sports, basketball in particular.This fact doesn‘t preclude foreign players with the ability to raise fans to their feet. In fact, no small number of top stars in the NBA originated in other countries. The facilities and dedication available in the league that matters the most promotes their furtherance as athletes, something that endures and improves with time.The absence of he aforementioned doesn’t mean talented ballers can’t come from any corner of the globe, as evidenced by these ten stalwarts:

#10 Manuel Raga

Raga became the first international player to be chosen in the NBA Draft, when he was picked by the Atlanta Hawks in 1970. "The Flying Mexican" would never play in the NBA, but ply his trade in his motherland, representing his team in the 1964, 1968 and 1976 Olympics.

The most remarkable of his achievements was a silver medal he won in the 1967 Pan-American Games. In 2008, he was named one of the 50 Greatest Euroleague Contributors.

#9 Miki Berkovich

Obstructed from a career in the NBA despite offers from the Nets and the Hawks, Berkovich would carve out his legacy in his home country of Israel. That was a slight understatement, as he’s called the greatest Israeli player to ever play.

Having spent the most of his career with Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv, Berkovich captured 19 national titles. He won a gold with the national team in the 1974 Asian Games and a silver in the 1979 FIBA Eurobasket.

#8 Drazen Dalipagic

After starting his career with Serbian club Partizan, Dalipagic would play for other teams like Real Madrid, Glaxo Verna and cap off his career with Partizan’s arch-rival, Red Star Belgrade. Dalipagic’s breast would resemble a decorated general’s if all his medals were displayed there. He’s a five-time FIBA Eurobasket medallist (3 golds), four-time FIBA World Cup medallist (1 gold) and an Olympic gold medallist (Moscow 1980)

#7 Dino Meneghin

The greatest Italian player ever remained active on the hardwood from the age of 16 till 45. In that span, he won seven Euroleague titles, twelve Italian League titles, three Eurobasket medals (2 bronze, 1 gold) and even played against his son Andrea, in the Italian League.

The two-time European Player of the Year was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2010.

#6 Dejan Bodiroga

One of the luminaries of European basketball in the early 2000s, Bodiroga’s career was in jeopardy when the Yugoslavian conflict started to inflame in the 90s. He grabbed a chance to play in Italy, rejecting offers from two top Greek clubs.

Bodiroga would go on to become one of a select few who won the three major European basketball titles – Spanish, Italian and Greek. Bodiroga is also a three-time Euroleague champion, a two-time FIBA World Cup winner and an Olympic silver medallist, finishing behind the USA in the 1996 Games.

#5 Sergei Belov

The Late Great Sergei Alexandrovich Belov was the first international inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Belov is a four-time FIBA Eurobasket gold medallist, a two-time FIBA World Cup winner, but his most memorable feat was scoring the winning point that clinched the gold in the 1972 Munich Olympics, pipping the swaggering Americans.

In 1991, FIBA named Belov the “Best FIBA Player Ever”. The Russian great passed away on 3^rd October 2013 in Perm, Russia.

#4 Oscar Shmidt

Legend has it that before Kobe Bryant was quoted as saying Magic Johnson is his favourite player, he had on his lips the name of this Brazilian legend. Regarded by many to be the greatest player to never set foot in the NBA, Schmidt is considered to be the highest scorer in the history of basketball, with a jaw-dropping 49,737 career points in domestic and international competition.

The 6’9” combo-guard is a member of the FIBA and Naismith Memorial Halls of Fame in addition to being placed on FIBA’s 50 greatest player of all time. He also holds the record for the longest active basketball competitor, having played at a recognized level from 1974-2003.

Mao Santa (Holy Hand) was diagnosed with having a malignant brain tumour and successfully underwent surgery. The cancer is now in remission, thankfully.

#3 Theodoras Papaloukas

The third of our list’s Greek triumvirate was one of the flag-bearers in Europe’s rise as a basketball superpower. This two-time Euroleague champion stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the man above him on this list when the Greek team upset the Americans in the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

At 6”6’, “Teo” could play at both Guard positions, but what was extolled about him was his play-making ability. Never selfish, he would always analyze the court for the best scoring option. That attribute earned him the moniker “The Computer”.

#2 Dimitris \"Dimitrios\" Diamantidis

“The Octopus” earned his nickname because of his impressive reach, which is quite disproportionate to his 6’5” frame, that enables him to be a suffocating defensive player. Six “Euroleague Best Defender” titles are testament to that, though just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to his accolades.

Diamantidis has won the Greek League title a mind-blowing nine times, bagging the MVP Award in six of those campaigns and is also a three-time Euroleague Champion. Most hardcore ball fans will remember him as the leader of the Greek national team that shell-shocked the American national team (impregnated by Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard, to name a few) en route to a silver at the 2006 FIBA World Championships.

#1 Nikos Galis

The New Jersey-born son of penniless Greek immigrants originally wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father and become a boxer. Boxing’s loss, basketball’s gain! Though drafted by the Boston Celtics, Galis would be forced to forgo the opportunity because of a grave injury. The immortal Red Auerbach would rue the fact that he didn't do more to retain Galis.

Galis wouldn’t have to wait long for another door to open, as he was grabbed by the Greek club Aris in 1979. His ensuing 15-year career would mythologize him in Greek basketball. Galis is an 8-time Greek League Champion, an 8-time Euroleague top scorer and one of FIBA’s 50 greatest players of all time.

Edited by Staff Editor