The NBA draft is here! It’s that time of the year when new players enter the league. There was a time when the only way to go was to draft someone who played college ball in America but that is no longer the case nowadays. The NBA is now a global spectacle where players from all over the world are being recognized and selected.
This article will focus on 5 out of the many international players who were superstars in their own continent and still became superstars after joining the NBA.
MANU GINÓBILI
Ginobili already had a taste of success in America when his Argentinian squad finished 2nd place in the 2002 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Championship held in Indianapolis. NBA fans will remember this as the tournament where Team USA ended up in 6th place overall.
Ginobili also found success after moving to Europe. In the 2 years before joining the NBA, he won EuroLeague and Italian League championships. You can also add a couple of MVP awards and a Dunk Contest win during those years.
Ginobili’s NBA career: Won 4 titles playing for the San Antonio Spurs, got one ‘6th Man of the Year’ award, and knocked a flying bat into the ground back in 2009.
TONI KUKOC
Kukoc won a silver medal and a couple of bronze medals playing for Team Croatia. He also found success in the EuroLeague and Italian League. He was known as “The Croatian Sensation” throughout the 1990s.
Kukoc’s NBA career: Won 3 titles playing for the Chicago Bulls, got one ‘6th Man of the Year’ award, and had a starring role in the documentary called “The Last Dance”.
YAO MING
Yao dominated the Chinese Basketball Association from 2000 to 2002 and was the go-to guy on all of Team China’s appearances in international basketball tournaments.
Yao’s NBA career: 8 All-Star Teams, joined the Hall of Fame, and probably increased the number of Asian NBA fans by 1 billion.
VLADE DIVAC
Divac won several gold and silver medals while playing for the Yugoslavian National Team and won a couple of titles playing for Yugoslavian basketball leagues.
Divac’s NBA career: Opened the door for European players to enter the NBA. Appeared in more than 1,000 NBA games. Joined the Hall of Fame. Ex-general manager of the Sacramento Kings. Mastered the art of flopping during games.
LUKA DONCIC
Pre-NBA awards: EuroLeague Champion, EuroLeague MVP, Euroscar Player of the Year, Sports Illustrated Breakout Player of the Year, FIBA Intercontinental Cup Champion, Slovenian Sportsman of the Year, and other awards that only people from Europe will understand.
Doncic’s 2-year NBA career so far: Triple-Double Threat, NBA All-Star, All-NBA First Team, Rookie of the Year, and NBA All-Rookie Team.
There are a lot of players who were successful in other continents and are still active in the NBA right now. Let’s give them a chance to write their own story. We have guys like Joe Ingles (Utah Jazz) and Ricky Rubio (Oklahoma City Thunder) who have won titles internationally and are on their way to having successful NBA careers.
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