Best non-American NBA players of all-time
There have been loads of brilliant basketball players who weren't from the US, but have played in the NBA. In this article today, we are going to have a look at the best non-American NBA players of all-time. Stay with us and keep reading the article.
NBA is a basketball league with lots of fans worldwide. It will be surprising to hear that someone with passion for basketball haven't heard of NBA before. Nowadays, even those who follow other sports know a little bit about this league, which is undoubtedly one of the best basketball leagues in the world.
As said, a lot of basketball fans follow the NBA in and outside of America, thus loads of those who play it, imagine themselves playing in this league and reaching success with one of the NBA teams. Some of them do it! They get the chance of playing in this North American basketball league. A number of them leave their homelands to play in NBA and these players are who you are going to read about.
Top foreign NBA players
In this article today, we are going to have a look at the best non-American NBA players of all-time. Stay with us and keep reading the article.
Andrew Bogut
The first name among the best NBA players of all time who is not from the United States is Andrew Bogut, who is a retired basketball player. Born in Melbourne, Australia, Bogut started playing basketball at the Australian Institute of Sport, where he won the East Conference title.
For his college career, he went to Utah Utes in the United States in 2003/04. This former basketball player became the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year and made it to the second-team All-Mountain West Conference in his first season as a freshman.
Bogut’s college career lasted until 2005. This Australian basketball player became one of the 31 players of his team who had scored 1000 points. He is the 3rd player to do it in 2 seasons.
Having a look at the
best NBA players of all time
who are not from the US, it is seen that in the 2004/05 season, Bogut was named the national player of the year by ESPN and Basketball Times. He also got the John R. Wooden Award and Naismith College Player of the Year.
During his professional career, this former basketball player has played for Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers and Sydney Kings. In 2020, Andrew Bogut announced his retirement.
During his career, Bogut has become the NBA champion, NBA blocks leader, NBL Most Valuable Player and the NBL Best Defensive Player, thus he is one of the best non-American NBA players of all-time. He has made it to the All-NBA Third Team, NBA All-Defensive Second Team and NBA All-Rookie First Team 1 time.
Peja Stojakovic
The next name on our list for the
best non-American NBA players of all-time
is Peja Stojakovic. He was born in Slavonska Pozega, SFR Yugoslavia. When the Yugoslav wars began, Peja’s family went to Belgrade. This retired basketball player later moved to Thessaloniki, Greece, with his father staying in his homeland fighting with the Croatian Army in the Army of the Republic of Serbian Krajina. In 1995, Peja’s father joined him in Thessaloniki.
This former basketball player was a small forward whose career started in 1992 and ended in 2011. Peja Stojakovic played for Red Star Belgrade and PAOK Thessaloniki in Serbia and Greece before moving to the United States. He joined Sacramento Kings in 1998 and after 8 years, Peja moved to Indiana Pacers. Then he joined New Orleans Hornets, where he played for 4 years.
Peja went to Canada to play for Toronto Raptors, although after only 1 season he returned to America to play for Dallas Mavericks, where he finished his career.
Going over the best non-American NBA players of all-time, it is understood that Peja Stojakovic has become the NBA champion 1 time, NBA 3-Point Contest champion 2 times, the Greek Cup 1 time and the FR Yugoslavian League Most Valuable Young Player 1 time during his career.
This brilliant basketball player has also made it to the NBA All-Star 3 times and Greek All-Star 2 times.
Al Horford
Al Horford is among the
NBA international players 2020/21
. This brilliant basketball player was born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, however, his family went to Lansing, Michigan for living and he attended Grand Ledge High School, where he set 7 school records.
As a senior, Horford became the Class A Player of the Year after he had gained 21 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocks per game. During his college career, this outstanding basketball player won 2 Southeastern Conference championships and 1 NCAA Tournament with the University of Florida.0
Having a look at the best non-American NBA players of all-time, it is seen that Horford’s NBA career started in 2007. He joined Atlanta Hawks and played there until 2016. This Dominican basketball player then moved to Boston Celtics and after 3 years, he joined the Philadelphia 76ers, where he played for only 1 season.
Al Horford went on to join Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2020/21 season, although he returned to Boston Celtics the next season.
This power forward, who is among the
best foreign NBA players 2021
, has made it to the NBA All-Star 5 times, All-NBA Third Team 1 time, NBA All-Defensive Second Team 1 time and NBA All-Rookie First Team 1 time.
Luol Deng
The next name among the best non-American NBA players of all-time is Luol Deng. This retired basketball player was born in Wau, Sudan. When he was young, his family moved to Egypt to protect themselves from the Sudanese Civil War. Then they met the former NBA player Manute Bol, who taught Luol and his brother how to play basketball.
Later, the family immigrated to England. It is interesting to know that Luol’s brother, Ajou is also a retired basketball player.
Luol Deng started his basketball career at the Brixton Basketball Club. When he was 13, this British-Sudanese player was included in England’s squad in the European Junior Qualifying Tournament. He averaged 40 points and 14 rebounds and became the Most Valuable Player of these games.
At the age of 14, Deng moved to the United States to play at Blair Academy in New Jersey.in his senior year, he was regarded as the 2nd most promising high school senior in the US. During his college career, Deng played for Duke University.
Going over the best non-American NBA players of all-time, it is seen that Deng’s NBA career began in 2004 with Chicago Bulls. He played there for 10 years and joined Cleveland Cavaliers, but left after a short time.
In 2014, Deng moved to Miami Heat and after 2 years, he went on to play for Los Angeles Lakers. In 2018, this former basketball player joined Minnesota Timberwolves and after a season, he finished his career.
Luol Deng has made it to the NBA All-Star 2 times, NBA All-Defensive Second Team and NBA All-Rookie First Team 1 time. He has also won the NBA Sportsmanship Award 1 time.
Dirk Nowitzki
The next basketball player on our list for the
best non-American NBA players of all-time
is Dirk Nowitzki, who was born in Wurzburg, Germany. It is interesting to know that he has an athletic family. His father was a professional handball player and his mother was a basketball player. His sister also is a former basketball player.
Nowitzki started his career at DJK Wurzburg, where he played with Robert Garrett and Marvin Willoughby, who are former German basketball players who are among the best non NBA players right now. After 4 years of playing for DJK Wurzburg, he moved to America to play for Dallas Mavericks.
This German retired basketball player played for Dallas Mavericks from 1998 until 2019. During his career, he became the NBA champion, NBA Finals MVP, NBA Most Valuable Player, Bundesliga Most Valuable Player and the Bundesliga Top Scorer. He also made it to the NBA All-Star 14 times, All-NBA First Team 4 times, All-NBA Second Team 5 times and All-NBA Third Team 3 times.
Nikola Jokic
The next name among the best foreign NBA players 2021 is Nikola Jokic. Born in Sombor, Serbia, he started playing basketball professionally at Mega Basket, which is a Serbian team in 2012. After 3 years, this brilliant basketball player moved to America to play for Denver Nuggets, where he is playing now.
Having a look at the NBA international players 2020/21, it is seen that Jokic has become the NBA Most Valuable Player and the Serbian Player of the Year 1 time. This Serbian basketball player has made it to the NBA All-Star 3 times, All-NBA First Team 2 times, NBA All-Rookie First Team and All-NBA Second Team 1 time.
Detlef Schrempf
The next one among the
Best non-American NBA players of all-time
is the German retired player Detlef Schrempf. Born in Leverkusen, Schrempf began his career in the Bayer Leverkusen youth team and then he attended Centralia High School in Centralia, Washington.
After graduating from high school, this German former basketball player went to the University of Washington, where he played from 1981 until 1985. During his college career, Schrempf scored 1449 points and was included in the All-Pac-10 First Team and The Sporting News All-America Second Team.
In 1985, the NBA career of this former basketball player started. He joined Dallas Mavericks and played there for 4 years. Schrempf then moved to Indiana Pacers, where he played until 1993. After that, this brilliant basketball player went on to play for Seattle SuperSonics and after 6 years, he joined Portland Trail Blazers, where he finished his career in 2001.
During his career, Detlef Schrempf became the German Player of the Year 1 time and the NBA 6th Man of the Year 2 times. He also made it to the All-NBA Third Team 1 time and NBA All-Star 3 times.
Rudy Gobert
The next name on our list for the best non-American NBA players of all-time is Rudy Gobert. Born in Saint-Quentin, France, he started playing basketball in his native country. This brilliant player joined JSC St-Quentin in 2003 and later, he moved to Saint-Quentin BB.
In 2007, Gobert joined Cholet Basket and 3 years later, he went to the first team, where he competed with some of the
best non NBA players right now
.
In 2013, Rudy Gobert moved to America to play for Utah Jazz, although he was sent to play for the Bakersfield Jam in his first season. Since then, this French basketball player has been playing for Utah Jazz.
During his career, Gobert has become the NBA Defensive Player of the Year 3 times, NBA blocks leader and the French Player of the Year 1 time. He has also made it to the NBA All-Star 2 times, All-NBA Second Team 1 time, All-NBA Third Team 3 times and NBA All-Defensive First Team 5 times.
This was our article on the best non-American NBA players of all-time. Thanks for reading. Do YOU want to add any other names? Share it with us in the comments section.
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