Best International Players in NBA History
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is an international game. While the NBA doesn’t have the biggest global market cap of the big four sports, it is the leader in global diversity.
At the start of the 2018 season, one in five NBA players was from outside North America. The Dallas Mavericks had an NBA-high seven international players, and NBA rosters featured 108 international players from 42 countries.
The league has come a long way to reach this point. These are the international players that have impacted the NBA most.
30. Gorgui Dieng, Senegal
Born: Jan. 18, 1990, in Kebemer, Senegal
Position: Center and power forward
Career: 2013-present (6 seasons)
Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves
Stats: 8.0 PPG, 6.2 REB, 1.4 AST, 1.0 BLK
NBA titles: None
Impact: Dieng, which means "old one" in his native Wolof language, embodies the NBA’s "Basketball Without Borders" program, which started in 2001 to "promote the sport and encourage positive social change in the areas of education, health, and wellness" around the world.
Gorgui Dieng attended the Sports for Education and Economic Development (SEEDS) Academy in Thies, Senegal, and was voted MVP of the NBA’s camp in South Africa in 2009, beating out 60 promising players selected from across the continent.
He has played his entire career with the Timberwolves — a team in a mid-market city (Minneapolis) with a population of 3.4 million and over 8 percent of immigrants (foreign-born individuals) — and averaged 22.7 minutes per game.
29. Steven Adams, New Zealand
Born: July 20, 1993, in Rotorua, New Zealand
Position: Center
Career: 2013-present (6 seasons)
Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder
Stats: 9.7 PPG, 7.4 REB, 1.0 AST, 1.0 BLK
NBA titles: None
Impact: Steven Adams is half Tongan, but identifies strongly with the New Zealand Maori culture and is the youngest of 16 siblings. He is the highest-paid professional New Zealand athlete ever.
A huge fan of comics, he released his own called "Kiwi Legend" on his 25th birthday and is renowned for getting under the skin of opponents.
Adams definitely has a team-first mindset and doesn’t shy away from the gritty work on the court.
28. Manute Bol, Sudan
Born: Oct. 16, 1962, in Gogrial, South Sudan
Died: June 19, 2010 (age 47)
Position: Center
Career: 1985-95 (10 seasons)
Teams: Washington Bullets, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors
Stats: 2.6 PPG, 4.2 REB, 0.3 AST, 3.3 BLK
NBA titles: None
Impact: Manute Bol, at 7-foot-7, was one of the three tallest players in NBA history and blocked more shots than he scored points.
The center might have been older than he said while playing in the NBA, as he allegedly made up his age in 1984 and could have been 50 years old during his playing days.
Bol was most notable for his activism in promoting human rights in Sudan. He frequently visited Sudanese refugee camps, spent much of the money he made during his NBA career supporting those causes, and established the Ring True Foundation to continue fundraising for Sudanese refugees.
27. Hedo Turkoglu, Turkey
Born: March 19, 1979 (Age: 40-205d) in Istanbul, Turkey
Position: Forward
Career: 2000-15 (15 seasons)
Teams: Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers
Stats: 11.1 PPG, 4.0 REB, 2.8 AST, 0.8 STL
NBA titles: None
Impact: Hedo Turkoglu was underrated.
During the 2007-08 season, he averaged a career-high 19.5 points per game with the Magic and was voted the Most Improved Player in the NBA. He also was a key player on Orlando's 2009 Finals team, which lost to the Lakers in five games.
After 15 seasons in the NBA, Turkoglu became the president of the Turkish Basketball Federation.
26. Andrei Kirilenko, Russia
Born: Feb. 18, 1981, in Izhevsk, Russia
Position: Forward
Career: 2000-11, 2012-15 (13 seasons)
Teams: Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets
Stats: 11.8 PPG, 5.5 REB, 2.7 AST, 1.8 BLK, 1.4 STL
NBA titles: None
Impact: Andrei Kirilenko was a great all-around player and one of the most suffocating wing defenders to ever play the game, especially as a forward.
Kirilenko was such a weapon on both ends of the floor that he earned the nickname "AK-47."
After his NBA playing days ended, he became the commissioner of the Russian Basketball Federation.
25. Danilo Gallinari, Italy
Born: Aug. 8, 1988, in Sant'Angelo Lodigiano, Italy
Position: Forward, shooting guard
Career: 2008-present (11 seasons)
Teams: New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder
Stats: 15.9 PPG, 4.9 REB, 2.0 AST, 0.8 STL
NBA titles: None
Impact: Danilo Gallinaro turned pro at age 16 in Italy. But don't surprised if his best days are ahead of him.
At age 30, he had his best production as a pro with the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 20 points per game.
Now, "The Rooster" starts a new chapter in Oklahoma City.
24. Rik Smits, Netherlands
Born: Aug. 23, 1966, in Eindhoven, Netherlands
Position: Center
Career: 1988-2000 (12 seasons)
Teams: Indiana Pacers
Stats: 14.8 PPG, 6.1 REB, 1.4 AST, 1.3 BLK
NBA titles: None
Impact: Rik Smits was the Pacers' starting center for the majority of his NBA career.
Nicknamed "The Dunking Dutchman," the 7-foot-4 player had perfect shooting form and averaged double-digit points every season.
Smits also was a hustler, especially on the defensive end, which might explain why Indiana teams made the playoffs in 10 of his 11 NBA seasons.
23. Luol Deng, South Sudan/United Kingdom
Born: April 16, 1985, in Wau, Sudan (now South Sudan)
Position: Center
Career: 2004-2019 (15 seasons)
Teams: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves
Stats: 14.8 PPG, 6.1 REB, 2.3 AST, 1.0 STL
NBA titles: None
Impact: Luol Deng was born in Sudan as a member of the Dinka tribe.
His father was a member of the Sudanese Parliament and moved the family to Egypt to escape the Second Sudanese Civil War. In Egypt, they met former NBA center Manute Bol, who eventually became a mentor.
The Deng family emigrated to London, and Luol became a British citizen in 2006. He received the NBA Sportsmanship Award a year later, became an ambassador for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 2014 for his charity in the United Kingdom and Sudan.
22. Goran Dragic, Slovenia
Born: May 6, 1986, in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Position: Guard
Career: 2008-present (11 seasons)
Teams: Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, Miami Heat,
Stats: 13.7 PPG, 3.1 REB, 4.8 AST, 1.0 STL
NBA titles: None
Impact: Goran Dragic's mom played basketball and encouraged him to try it instead of soccer.
Both a point guard and shooting guard, Dragic is one of only three European guards to make an All-NBA Team (the others are Drazen Petrovic and Tony Parker).
There’s also a rap song about Dragic, which is better than Tony Parker’s rap career.
On top of that, Dragic speaks four languages: Slovenian, Serbian, English and Spanish.
21. Nikola Vucevic, Montenegro
Born: Oct. 24, 1990, in Morges, Switzerland
Position: Center
Career: 2008-present (8 seasons)
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic,
Stats: 15.7 PPG, 10.1 REB, 2.4 AST, 0.9 BLK
NBA titles: None
Impact: Nikola Vuvevic’s family moved to Montenegro when he was a teenager. By the age of 15, he was named Montenegro's best young player.
He made his NBA in 2011 at the age of 21, and he has not disappointed. He is not only one of the best rebounders in the NBA, but also one of the greatest pick-and-pop scoring threats.
He also speaks Serbian, English and French
20. Nene, Brazil
Born: Sept. 13, 1982, in Sao Carlos, Brazil
Position: Center and power forward
Career: 2008-present (17 seasons)
Teams: Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets
Stats: 11.3 PPG, 6.0 REB, 1.8 AST, 1.1 STL, 0.7 BLK
NBA titles: None
Impact: Born Maybyner Rodney Hilario, he was nicknamed "Nene," a variation of Brazilian-Portuguese for "baby," because he was the youngest in his family and friend group.
He legally changed his name in 2003 and has outlasted the entire 2002 NBA draft class, which included No. 1 pick Yao Ming.
Nene proves that age is just a number, especially as the NBA average career length for players is three years.
19. Kristaps Porzingis, Latvia
Born: Aug. 2, 1995, in Liepaja, Latvia
Position: Power forward
Career: 2015-present (3 seasons)
Teams: New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks
Stats: 17.8 PPG, 7.1 REB, 1.3 AST, 2.0 BLK
NBA titles: None
Impact: One of the tallest players in the NBA today, Kristaps Porzingis stands at 7-foot-3-inches. His wingspan measured 7-foot-6-inches at the NBA combine.
Porzingis followed his parents' footsteps and started to play basketball at an early age. He made his NBA debut with the Knicks at 20 and had a look of a major star before missing a season with a knee injury.
Now, the power forward gets a fresh start in Dallas with the Mavericks. The sky's the limit for Porzingis, who also has the most lucrative shoe deal ever for a European player.
18. Serge Ibaka, Congo
Born: Sept. 18, 1989, in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
Position: Center and power forward
Career: 2009-present (10 seasons)
Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors
Stats: 12.3 PPG, 7.3 REB, 0.7 AST, 2.2 BLK
NBA titles: 1 (2019)
Impact: Serge Ibaka's mother and father played basketball, and he has made his family proud.
The third-youngest of 18 children, Ibaka was the first player from the Republic of Congo to be picked in the NBA draft (the Republic of the Congo is separate from D.R. Congo where Dikembe Mutombo was from), and he has shined in the league as a two-way force.
No wonder the standup NBA star also is a standout single father.
17. Andrew Bogut, Australia
Born: Nov. 28, 1984, in Melbourne, Australia
Position: Center and power forward
Career: 2005-present (14 seasons)
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers
Stats: 9.6 PPG, 8.7 REB, 2.2 AST, 1.5 BLK
NBA titles: 1 (2015)
Impact: Before Ben Simmons, there was Andrew Bogut, the first Australian ever drafted No. 1 overall. Even Kyrie Irving claims his Australian heritage because of him.
The 7-foot center helped Milwaukee pick up 10 extra wins and then sneak into the playoffs his rookie season in 2005-06, playing in all 82 regular-season games that year.
After averaging double-figures in points for six straight seasons, including 15.9 points in 2009-10, Bogut has played a supporting role in the second half of his career.
16. Rolando Blackman, Panama
Born: Feb. 26, 1959, in Panama City, Panama
Position: Center and power forward
Career: 1981-94 (13 seasons)
Teams: Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks
Stats: 18.0 PPG, 3.3 REB, 3.0 AST, 0.7 STL
NBA titles: 1 (2015)
Impact: Rolando Blackman was the first Panamanian-born player in the NBA.
Drafted ninth overall by the Dallas Mavericks in 1981, Blackman was a superb shooter and a fantastic competitor.
The four-time All-Star has been a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations since 2006.
15. Al Horford, Dominican Republic
Born: June 3, 1986, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Position: Center
Career: 2007-present (12 seasons)
Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers
Stats: 14.1 PPG, 8.4 REB, 3.2 AST, 1.2 BLK
NBA titles: None
Impact: The son of Tito Horford, who played for three years in the NBA, Al Horford won back-to-back titles in college at Florida before being the third overall pick in the 2007 draft.
Horford has yet to win an NBA title, but he's played in the playoffs every season of his NBA career while being a double-digit scorer on all of his teams.
The five-time All-Star moves to the 76ers as he seeks his first ring.
14. Vlade Divac, Serbia
Born: Feb. 3, 1968, in Prijepolje, Serbia
Position: Center
Career: 1989-2005 (16 seasons)
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, Sacramento Kings
Stats: 11.8 PPG, 8.2 REB, 3.1 AST, 1.4 BLK, 1.2 STL
NBA titles: None
Impact: Vlade Divac is one of the NBA’s international pioneers and one of the game’s great passing big men.
The Hall of Famer played 121 playoff games across 16 different seasons and paved the way for Peja Stojakovic, who scored 17 points per game and won an NBA hampionship in 2011.
Both Serbian players are now executives for the Sacramento Kings. It’s no coincidence that Nikola Jokic, also from Serbia, now dominates in the NBA.
13. Arvydas Sabonis, Lithuania
Born: Dec. 19, 1964, in Kaunas, Lithuania (then part of the Soviet Union)
Position: Center
Career: 1995-2001, 2002-03 (7 seasons)
Teams: Portland Trail Blazers
Stats: 12.0 PPG, 7.3 REB, 2.1 AST, 1.1 BLK
NBA titles: None
Impact: Arvydas Sabonis is considered one of the greatest European players of all time.
He averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds per game in Olympic tournaments and reminds us that the Basketball Hall of Fame isn’t just an NBA one. International contributions count.
Sabonis didn’t come to the NBA until he was 31, almost 10 years after he was drafted (first by the Atlanta Hawks in 1985, then by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1986),, after lots of injuries because of overuse by Soviet teams.
Without Sabonis, there wouldn’t be Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who played for 13 years in the NBA and had his number retired by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Arvydas’ son, Domantas, who was born during his time with the Trail Blazers, now scores 10 points per game in the NBA.
12. Drazen Petrovic, Croatia
Born: Oct. 22, 1964, in Sibenik, Croatia
Position: Shooting guard
Career: 1989-93 (4 seasons)
Teams: Portland Trail Blazers, New Jersey Nets
Stats: 15.4 PPG, 2.3 REB, 2.4 AST, 0.9 STL
NBA titles: None
Impact: Drazen Petrovic was a legend who could flat-out shoot and score. He once scored 112 points in a Yugoslav League game and made the 1993 All-NBA Third Team.
Had a fatal car crash not cut his life short, Petrovic would have been one of the NBA's career scoring leaders. His offensive attack from the perimeter was on a superstar level.
And his game paved the way for other players from Croatia like Toni Kukoc (a three-time NBA champion). They can thank Petrovic for enabling the influx of European players into the NBA.
11. Joel Embiid, Cameroon
Born: March 16, 1994, in Yaounde, Cameroon
Position: Center
Career: 2016-present (3 seasons)
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers
Stats: 24.3 PPG, 11.4 REB, 3.2 AST, 2.0 BLK
NBA titles: None
Impact: Nicknamed "The Process," Joel Embiid originally planned to play pro volleyball in Europe, but started emulating Hakeem Olajuwon’s basketball game at age 15 and scored Luc Mbah a Moute (a fellow Cameroonian and NBA player) as a mentor a year later.
He credits rapper Rick Ross with helping him learn English, and his soccer skills are good enough to make him think he could play for the Cameroon national team.
Embiid has won tons of individual accolades in his first three NBA seasons. Is an NBA title in his future?
10. Tony Parker, France
Born: May 17, 1982, in Bruges, Belgium
Position: Point guard
Career: 2001-19 (18 seasons)
Teams: San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets
Stats: 15.5 PPG, 2.7 REB, 5.6 AST, 0.8 STL
NBA titles: 4 (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
Impact: Tony Parker is the son of a pro basketball player (overseas) and was raised in France.
He was the first non-American player to be named NBA Finals MVP and leads all international players in scoring, assists, and steals in NBA playoff history.
He also produced a rap song called "Balance Toi" that was No. 1 in the French charts for a week.
9. Pau Gasol, Spain
Born: July 6, 1980, in Barcelona, Spain
Position: Power forward and center
Career: 2001-present (18 seasons)
Teams: Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers
Stats: 17.0 PPG, 9.2 REB, 3.2 AST, 1.6 BLK
NBA titles: 2 (2009, 2010)
Impact: Pau Gasol is one of the most accomplished international players.
The league rookie of the year in 2002, Gasol is a six-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA performer, and played a major role on two Los Angeles Lakers championship teams.
He and his younger brother Marc, who also became an NBA champion in 2019, are the sons of a doctor and a nurse. Pau entered medical school at 18, but left to pursue a basketball career.
Even with all his NBA success, Pau still is an accomplished pianist and philanthropist who regularly visits children’s hospitals. He won the annual NBA community assist award in 2012.
8. Manu Ginobili, Argentina
Born: July 28, 1977, in Bahia Blanca, Argentina
Position: Shooting guard
Career: 2001-present (16 seasons)
Teams: San Antonio Spurs
Stats: 13.3 PPG, 3.5 REB, 3.8 AST, 1.3 STL
NBA titles: 4 (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
Impact: Manu Ginobili is one of only two players to win a EuroLeague title, an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal.
He comes from a family of professional basketball players and spent the early part of his career in Argentina and Italy, where he holds dual citizenship.
As a result of his travels, he’s fluent in Spanish, Italian, and English.
7. Patrick Ewing, Jamaica
Born: Aug. 5, 1962, in Kingston, Jamaica
Position: Center and power forward
Career: 1985-2002 (17 seasons)
Teams: New York Knicks, Seattle SuperSonics, Orlando Magic
Stats: 21.0 PPG, 9.8 REB, 1.9 AST, 2.4 BLK
NBA titles: None
Impact: Patrick Ewing never won an NBA ring, but the Hall of Famer is an all-time great.
One of seven children in his family — his dad was a mechanic, and his mom was a homemaker — Ewing excelled at cricket and soccer as a child in Jamaica and moved to the U.S. when he was 12, developing into one of the best high school basketball players in the country.
Ewing has since been named one of the greatest basketball players in college and the NBA. He now coaches for Georgetown, the college team he led to three NCAA championship games and one national title.
6. Dikembe Mutombo, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Born June 25, 1966, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Position: Center
Career: 1991-2009 (18 seasons)
Teams: Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets
Stats: 9.8 PPG, 10.3 REB, 1.0 AST, 2.8 BLK
NBA titles: None
Impact: On the basketball court, Dikembe Mutombo was legendary for blocking shots. The eight-time All-Star was a four-time NBA defensive player of the year and averaged a double-double for most of his career.
Beyond the game, he’s well-known for his humanitarian work. He toured Africa with other NBA stars to spread the game and improve infrastructure, even paying for the Zaire women's basketball team to get to the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Mutombo also was named one of the "Good Guys in Sports" and received the President's Service Awards, the United States' highest honor for volunteer service.
5. Steve Nash, Canada
Born: Feb. 7, 1974, in Johannesburg, South Africa
Position: Point guard
Career: 1996-2004 (18 seasons)
Teams: Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers
Stats: 14.3 PPG, 3.0 REB, 8.5 AST, 0.7 STL
NBA titles: None
Impact: One of the best point guards in history, Steve Nash led the league in assists five times for the Phoenix Suns and had the field-goal percentage of a top-five center.
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Nash family moved to Canada with his family when he was 18 months old. His father played pro soccer around the world before settling there, where Steve played soccer and ice hockey before getting into basketball in eighth grade.
And the rest is history. Nash won two MVPs, was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and is the best player ever from Canada, which has produced the most international NBA players of any country.
4. Hakeem Olajuwon, Nigeria
Born: Jan. 21, 1963, in Lagos, Nigeria
Position: Center
Career: 1984-2002 (18 seasons)
Teams: Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors
Stats: 21.8 PPG, 11.1 REB, 2.5 AST, 3.1 BLK, 1.7 STL
NBA titles: 2 (1994, 1995)
Impact: Nigeria has produced the most NBA players of any African country, and none were better than Hakeem Olajuwon, the NBA’s first international superstar.
Unlike Dirk Nowitzki, Olajuwon started his American basketball career in college at the University of Houston. When he got to the NBA, "The Dream" displayed a unique blend of power and grace on the court and led the league in rebounding twice and blocks three times.
In 1994, he did something no NBA player has ever done before or since — win the regular-season MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP in the same season. Now, that's how a sweet dream becomes reality.
3. Dirk Nowitzki, Germany
Born: June 19, 1978, in Wurzburg, Germany
Position: Power forward and center
Career: 1998-2019 (21 seasons)
Teams: Dallas Mavericks
Stats: 20.7 PPG, 7.5 REB, 2.4 AST, 0.8 BLK, 1.7 STL
NBA titles: 1 (2011)
Impact: Dirk Nowitzki played the most seasons with one team, breaking a tie with Kobe Bryant, and is the most prolific international scorer in league history, finishing his career with 31,560 points.
Coming from a small town in Wurzburg, Germany, Nowitzki rose to stardom in Dallas, Texas in an inspiring way. His win over LeBron James' Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals is legendary.
While Nowitzki wasn’t the first international superstar, the 14-time All-Star demonstrated that international players could dominate in the NBA and bridge the international gap.
2. Yao Ming, China
Born: Sept. 12, 1980, in Shanghai, China
Position: Center
Career: 2002-11 (9 seasons)
Teams: Houston Rockets
Stats: 19.0 PPG, 9.2 REB, 1.6 AST, 1.9 BLK
NBA titles: None
Impact: Yao Ming didn't have the longest career of an international, but no one will have his legacy.
The amount of fans in China who regularly watch NBA games is more than twice the population of the entire United States. The NBA is the most-followed sports league on social media in China. And 300 million people now play basketball there, according to the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
After a historic NBA career, shortened by injuries, Yao Ming is now the president of the Chinese Basketball Association. How he resolves the recent NBA-China controversy could add to his legend.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece
Born: Dec. 6, 1994, in Athens, Greece (parents are immigrants from Nigeria)
Position: Forward, guard
Career: 2013-present (6 seasons)
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks
Stats: 18.8 PPG, 8.3 REB, 4.1 AST, 1.2 STL, 1.3 BLK
NBA titles: None
Impact: The "Greek Freak" was recently voted the No. 1 player who NBA general managers would want to start a franchise with.
The 24-year-old has surpassed LeBron James as the most active and efficient interior scorer and is the most self-sufficient dunker fans have seen in decades. He’s also a top defender.
Giannis' uplifting story is just getting started, and his positive attitude is contagious. He knows how to connect and appreciates fans. Plus, he wants us all to learn history.