NBA Nation Rankings
While the NBA Finals has yet to match FIFA World Cup's global appeal, there’s no denying that basketball has plenty of international clout.
Though still very much dominated by American talent, this sport has seen a steady trickle of impactful foreign-born contributors since the 1990s.
Their arrival has been solidified over the last decade with teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks, who all benefited from the play of international teammates, winning a combined five NBA championships.
Further driving home the point is the fact that last season opened with 84 intercontinental players representing 37 different countries.
That’s still a far cry from dominating the professional basketball landscape here, but it does give rise to an intriguing debate:
If the United States contributes the best NBA players, how do other countries rank as it pertains to talent output?
Note: Due to an oversight of two Australian players, the list has been updated removing Australia from the "Honorable Mentions" section to the actual nation rankings.
Methodology:
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A lot research was required in preparing this debate. The international numbers from last season were no longer the most current data, so new information needed to be accrued.
For the most current snapshot of foreign representation, every active roster via NBA.com was consulted.
Using the country listings provided by that site, it was determined that currently there are 83 players representing 39 different foreign countries, including this year’s draft class.
In establishing the criteria for ranking, a country could only qualify if they had at least three active players, even if they were rookies. So, I'll briefly "honorable mention" every nation represented in the NBA, but only twelve top countries qualified for the actual rankings.
From there, contributions would be weighed by looking at career averages plus accolades acquired and championships won when applicable.
This obviously means that rookies could hurt a nation’s ability to be highly placed, but if the talent pool is deep enough, then that negative impact could be minimized.
On the already established point that the U.S. is No. 1, never has a countdown to second place been so exciting...
EDITOR'S NOTE: Dual and/or changing citizenship, a player's "nation of origin" and national team "participation" can get pretty messy to accurately decipher and depict. So, we stuck with the way the NBA lists a player's country of origin via their official team rosters. If the NBA doesn't argue with it, then we won't either.
Honorable Mention: Bosina, Cameroon, Czech Republic, DR Congo
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Bosnia
Out of the top 82 nations recognized in the FIBA world standings, Bosnia (which is Bosnia and Herzegovina internationally) ranks 50th. The basketball program has never medaled in the Olympics or the FIBA World Championships.
Mirza Teletovic is the sole representative of their respective nation. He has only been in the league one year and has not registered much other than 3.5 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.
Cameroon
Being an African nation, it’s probably a safer bet to assume that Cameroon is more of a soccer state than basketball. Luc Mbah a Moute took the road less traveled and is now a member of the Sacramento Kings.
Czech Republic
This past year could have been the one where the Czech Republic arrived as a budding European competitor. They were able to muster up two victories in this year’s FIBA EuroBasket tournament, falling one win short of advancing to the second round after being defeated by Croatia.
Stateside, Jan Vesely carries the Czech flag as a member of the Washington Wizards.
Democratic Republic of Congo
When the Olympics were in London back in 2012, Telegraph.co.uk profiled the visiting countries. DR Congo was described as being best known for fielding world-class runners.
Bismack Biyombo probably outgrew that athletic endeavor when he started to grow into his 6’9” frame. Instead of using that length to cover meters on the track, he used it to cover the lane averaging 1.8 blocks per game over two years with the Charlotte Bobcats.
Honorable Mention: Dominican Republic, England, Georgia, Greece
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Dominican Republic
This is another country known for runners as the Dominican Republic hit the world with a one-two punch in the 400 meter finals, taking gold and silver at the 30th Olympiad. Couple this with no basketball representation at the 2012 Summer Games, and it may be surprising that the country has produced a prospect like Al Horford.
Horford is a two-time All-Star forward for the Atlanta Hawks who has averaged 13.7 points and 9.6 rebounds over six seasons.
England
Competitive sporting from England makes one think of the Barclay’s Premier League instead of basketball. The current coach of the national team, Joe Prunty, believes the future of British basketball looks pretty bright after a better than expected showing at EuroBasket.
That should make Joel Freeland, the only current NBA player born and raised in England, feel pretty proud. Freeland is a reserve center for the Portland Trailblazers going into his second season.
Georgia
This country has had a steady output of Olympic gold medalists in judo and wrestling and still managed to land two prospects on NBA rosters this season.
Veteran ZaZa Pachulia has been in the league for 10 years now and is a currently playing for the Milwaukee Bucks. Second-year player Tornike Shengelia is a small forward for the Brooklyn Nets.
Greece
Greece is having a better year with fùtbol than they are with basketball. The men's national basketball team failed to make it out of the second round of the European championship tournament. On the soccer side of things, their team beat Latvia to stay near the top of their World Cup preliminary grouping.
In the states, Giannis Antetokounmpo stands as the only Greek. The long 6'9" guard/forward is a member of the Milwaukee Bucks. He may not see much floor time playing behind Caron Butler and Carlos Delfino, but he'll have some great examples to learn from as he prepares to adjust to the American game.
Honorable Mention: Haiti, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia
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Haiti
There has not been much to boast about when discussing the international sporting contributions of the Haitians. According to their 2012 Olympic profile, the last medal the country earned was back in 1928. To add to that disappointment, they have not qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The one bright spot is current Dallas Mavericks center and proud Haitian Samuel Dalembert. When he’s not being proficient in defensive output with his 1.8 blocks per game career average, he’s helping his homeland through the Samuel Dalembert Foundation.
Israel
The highlights of recent Israeli sports success surprisingly revolves around the water sports of wind surfing and canoeing. Knowing that makes it seem a bit atypical that this Middle Eastern country could floor two NBA players.
Omri Casspi is three-year veteran currently playing for the Houston Rockets, and Gal Mekel is a guard recently signed by the Dallas Mavericks.
Latvia
Any European basketball championships hopes this past summer were dashed when the Latvians were defeated by Belgium.
That loss was probably disappointing to Utah Jazz center Andres Biedrins, but he should find solace in the fact that the soccer team is still alive in the World Cup.
Lithuania
Lithuanians should be proud of their men’s national basketball team; they reached the EuroBasket finals but fell short against France. That success should take some sting off of the recent tumult experienced by the soccer club.
When the football preliminaries have been decided, the nation can turn their attention to the NBA and cheer for Jonas Valanciunas of the Toronto Raptors and Donatas Motiejunas of the Houston Rockets.
Macedonia
International sporting success has eluded this Balkan nation.
Hopefully European veteran turned NBA rookie Pero Antic can give them something to cheer for. The 31-year-old big man is down pretty low on the depth chart, so he will have to make the most of whatever floor time he gets.
Honorable Mention: Mexico, Nigeria, Poland, Puerto Rico
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Mexico
Mexican sports fans are probably experiencing some bitter-sweet emotions. On one hand, the men’s basketball team just won the FIBA Americas tournament; on the other hand, the soccer team is on the verge of not making it to the 2014 World Cup.
Hopefully Atlanta Hawks center Gustavo Ayon can give his motherland something to cheer for when he and his team look to improve on last season’s playoff appearance.
New Zealand
Securing 2nd place in the FIBA Oceania Championships gave New Zealand an automatic birth in the WCOB in 2014.
Someone who is probably flying high on that news is former University of Pittsburgh turned Oklahoma City Thunder first-round draft pick Steve Adams.
A center young center with a truer NBA body (7' and 255 pounds) than most of his younger contemporaries, Adams is probably in the right place to start his NBA career. The Thunder need a young presence in the middle.
He is definitely a project at the professional level, but his 7'4.5" wingspan and quick reaction time will make him a defensive force early on.
Nigeria
Although their men’s basketball team was disappointing in the FIBA AfroBasket tournament, the soccer team is sitting atop their World Cup preliminary group.
Maybe this could serve as motivation for Golden State Warriors center Festus Ezeli as he looks towards his second NBA season.
Poland
This nation has a rich tradition of Olympic success winning medals in a variety of events like rowing, fencing, track and field and athletic shooting. Their recent basketball achievements have not been very noteworthy. Poland managed to win only one game at the Euros.
Here in the NBA, Marcin Gortat is the only Polish player. Currently, he is anchoring the middle for the Phoenix Suns. With career averages of 6.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, Gortat’s physical play has been a boon for every team he has been on.
Puerto Rico
The Puerto Ricans were one three-point basket away from winning the FIBA Americas tournament, but Alexander Galindo’s shot attempt rattled out, handing the victory to Mexico.
Among the losing team's players is current Timberwolves guard Jose Barea. Maybe he can use that loss as motivation to help Minnesota improve this season and give Caribbean basketball fans a reason to cheer again.
Honorable Mention: Republic of Congo, Senegal, Serbia, Slovenia
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Republic of Congo
It’s been a rough international sporting year for the Congolese. First, the basketball team put up a paltry 1-2 record at the AfroBasket tournament, finishing 14th out of a field of 16 teams.
Then, the soccer team had a formal complaint rejected by FIFA. The club alleged that Niger fielded an ineligible player in their match that ended in a 2-2 draw. This tie prevented the Republic from advancing to the African World Cup playoffs.
If there is any solace left, it rests with Congo’s fans knowing that Oklahoma Thunder forward Serge Ibaka is making life a nightmare for all opposing teams’ offenses.
Senegal
With a third-place finish in FIBA’s Africa tournament and a current first-place spot in their World Cup preliminary grouping, the sporting life is pretty sweet in Senegal.
Adding to that recent success, the Minnesota Timberwolves drafted center Gorgui Dieng, giving the league another Senegalese player to go with Charlotte Bobcat’s veteran big man DeSagana Diop.
Serbia
Basketball life is thriving for the Serbian men having just locked up the final automatic qualifying spot for the 2014 FIBA World Cup of Basketball. Life for Serbia in the NBA is not as prosperous.
Though still active, former Chicago Bulls forward Vladimir Radmanovic is currently without a team, a sign that he may have washed out of the league. On the opposite side of that spectrum, Nemanja Nedovic is the newest addition to the Golden State Warriors' roster. It will be intriguing to see what the exciting European player can do on an already electrifying team.
Slovenia
Being the host country helped carry Slovenia to the quarterfinals of the FIBA European Championships before finally losing to perennial powerhouse France. They quickly regrouped and beat both Serbia and Ukraine in consolation games to establish a fifth-place standing, thus earning a qualifying spot for next year’s World Cup of Basketball.
That excitement should be enough to give Beno Udrih of the New York Knicks and Goran Dragic of the Phoenix Suns a little performance boost for this season.
Honorable Mention: Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Venezuela
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Sudan
Sudan lost an entire region when the southern Sudanese elected to break off from the rest of the nation back in 2011.
Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng was affected personally by the act as he is from the part of Sudan that chose to secede. That split, however, did not affect his pride in being an African player in the NBA. He may represent Great Britain in international play, but he definitely identifies with his roots.
Sweden
Sweden's soccer fortunes have been a lot better than basketball in 2013. While Sweden’s hoopers only managed a 1-4 record this past summer, the soccer team sits closely behind Germany in their preliminary bracket.
Jonas Jerebko and Jeff Taylor hope to perform better for their country when basketball season gets underway. Jerebko is a forward for a retooled Detroit Pistons team looking to get back into mix in the Central Division.
Taylor is hoping he can help his Charlotte Bobcats make strides since they have added Al Jefferson.
Tanzania
There was no representation for Tanzania in the AfroBasket tournament due to a poor showing in the FIBA Africa Zone Five Championships. On the international stage, this country has never created much buzz, winning only two Olympic medals back in 1980.
Tanzanians do have NBA representation in Oklahoma City Thunder center Hasheem Thabeet. Although he has not blossomed into the rim protector he was in his college days, Thabeet is young and still has time to develop.
Venezuela
Despite being a Top 25 team in FIBA’s world rankings, Venezuela basketball has only been moderately successful lately. Being the host nation of the FIBA Americas tournament helped them to a fifth-place finish, but that was not enough to get them an automatic spot in next year’s World Championships.
Greivis Vasquez is the only Venezuelan in the NBA ranks. He has been a solid producer, averaging 9.0 points and 5.7 assists over his three-year tenure.
And Now...
It is time to start listing the world's top producers of NBA talent.
13. Ukraine
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This former Soviet republic cracks the list because it meets the minimum three-player requirement; however, the low listing is due to the fact that two of those three qualifying players are rookies.
The most experienced of the group is still pretty nascent with only one NBA year under his belt.
Current Phoenix Suns center Viacheslav Kravtsov spent his first year with the Detroit Pistons playing in a very limited role. Kravstov played in only 25 games and managed to chip in 3.1 points and 1.8 rebounds in his restricted court time.
Miroslav Raduljica is a rookie, but only in the technical sense. Raduljica has played the past seven years across Europe, so he has plenty of experience to draw from as he adapts to the NBA.
Alex Len came to the Phoenix Suns via the 2013 NBA draft. In his last season at the University of Maryland, Len averaged 11.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.
While it remains to be seen if that productivity will translate to the professional ranks, Len has tremendous length and the ability to use it. So, the pattern here seems to be that Ukraine’s main basketball export is physical big men with a knack for filling the lane.
12. Germany
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The Germans have five active players across the league. That quantity may lead to the assumption that this nation should be higher on the list, but three of these five players are first-timers.
Dennis Schroeder was drafted this past June by the Atlanta Hawks with the 17th pick. DraftExpress.com notes that Schroeder’s strengths are his ability to run the pick-and-roll and knock down catch and shoot attempts. These should serve as a solid foundation for a smooth transition.
The downside is that Schroeder is small, only 165 pounds packed onto his 6’2” frame. He is also young at only 20 years old, so it may take some time for him to mature.
Elias Harris has earned a spot on the Los Angeles Lakers thanks to a strong Summer League showing.
Romero Osby is hoping to use the Orlando Magic training camp as his ticket to joining a professional team’s roster.
Tim Ohlbrecht currently plays for the Philadelphia 76ers. His first season with the Houston Rockets was an uneventful one playing in only three games.
Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki is the most notable German player. His resume is an impressive read, earning a regular-season MVP back in 2007 and winning a championship during his 2010-2011 season while securing a Finals MVP, as well.
11. Australia
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Australia
The Australian Men's National Team has had modest success in international competition over the years. They have a trio of fourth-place Olympic finishes and have ranked in the top 10 of the World Championships.
Andrew Bogut is the most productive of the NBA Aussies. He spent his first seven years with the Milwaukee Bucks but joined the Golden State Warriors in 2012. A fierce rebounder and capable scorer, Bogut has a skill set that any team would find desirable.
Patty Mills is an indigenous Australian who currently plays point guard for the San Antonio Spurs. He was talented enough to be one of the youngest men to play for the Australian national team, but he is still looking to find his NBA groove. Last season he managed to see playing time in 58 regular-season games averaging 5.1 points in 11.3 minutes.
Aron Bynes is another pupil of Gregg Popovich. He didn't get many opportunities to contribute last season appearing in only 16 games, but if he is in the right place for learning about the game and evolving as a player.
10. Russia
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Three players of various experience and one rookie make up the Russian delegation of the NBA. The future of this country’s NBA presence seems to be in good hands with second-year player Alexey Shved and promising rookie Sergey Karasev.
In his first year, Shved averaged 8.6 points and 3.7 assists in 23.9 minutes of play for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Karasev has yet to step on an NBA court, but he has been described as a youngster who is surprisingly efficient on offense with his ability to both get his shot off and pass well, according to NBADraft.net.
Denver Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov has not produced much in his three years, but his size and rebounding ability will almost ensure that he will have a spot on some team’s roster.
Brooklyn Nets forward Andrei Kirilenko is probably the most recognized name of this group. Spending the prior 11 years playing for the Utah Jazz, Kirilenko has developed into one the league’s more versatile players able to contribute on both sides of the ball.
Now he’s with a new team, the Brooklyn Nets, along with veterans Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, looking to make a push for a championship.
9. Montenegro
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Montenegro
Studious international geography buffs and sports fans know that up until 2006, Montenegro was paired with Serbia. After splitting in 2006, the country has had to rebuild their athletic brand. The women’s handball team won the country’s first Olympic medal back in 2012, and the men’s soccer team is in good enough position to punch their ticket to the World Cup.
Adding to the country’s elation, Nikola Pekovic and Bojan Dubljevic of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Nikola Vucevic of the Orlando Magic are having productive NBA careers.
Pekovic is coming off a very good 2012-13 season where he averaged a career-high 16.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.
Bojan Dubljevic is a 2013 second-round pick of the Timberwolves. He's a 6'9" forward who has been described as having a nice outside shot and low-post offensive skill set. Getting to practice with Kevin Love on a regular basis should do well with evolving his game.
Vucevic averaged a double-double last year with a solid 13.1 points and very impressive 11.9 rebounds per game. If he can maintain this production, he could very well make Magic fans completely okay with the departure of Dwight Howard.
8. Turkey
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Turkey has one of the more balanced groups of players in the NBA. Ersan Ilyasova, Omer Asik, Enes Kanter and Hedo Turkoglu have given their country many reasons to cheer over the years.
As a power forward for the Milwaukee Bucks, Ilyasova has been one of the best shooting big men over recent years while still helping a great deal on the boards. In his last two seasons, he has produced for an average 13.1 points and 7.9 rebounds. The most remarkable of his on-court attributes is his three-point shooting. He shot over 40% the last two seasons.
Asik made a name for himself as a defensive force while playing for the Chicago Bulls. The Houston Rockets courted and acquired Asik during the free-agency summer of 2012. He picked up right where he left off defensively, blocking 1.1 shots per game while pulling down 11.7 rebounds. He also found a bit of offense, chipping in 10.1 points per night.
Kanter is still developing as a young center for the Utah Jazz, but his 7.2 points and 4.3 rebounds in just 15.4 minutes last season is a great indicator of progress.
Orlando Magic swingman Turkoglu did not play much last season, but his career averages of 11.9 points and 4.2 rebounds are proof of a solid career that any nation should be proud of.
7. Brazil
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If there was ever a nation synonymous with soccer greatness, it would be Brazil. This country holds many prestigious World Cup records, including most tournament appearances, most matches won and most championships.
From that breed of athlete, the NBA has received three big men that embody the Brazilian energy and hustle.
As a center for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Anderson Varejao has averaged double digits in points and rebounds each of the last two seasons. He was fairly close to doing that in 2010-11 as well.
Varejao is the energy barometer for the Cavs. He makes plays that may look like a simple rebound or blocked shot in the box score, but to his teammates they are contagious examples of the effort that everyone should be exhibiting.
Washington Wizards forward/center Nene used to have a last name (Hilario), but staying true to his Brazilian roots, he shortened to the single-word moniker back in 2003. Last season, he averaged 12.6 points per game, which was his lowest over the last seven years.
As a center for the San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter has increased his output in each of his three seasons as head coach Gregg Popovich has upped his minutes. His steady production coming off of the bench was a big reason his team was able to make it back to the NBA Finals.
6. Canada
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Our neighbors to the north have a hardy collection of player representation. This should come as no surprise since basketball itself was invented by a Canadian, though that did not help in their ranking. The young core of this group of players is very promising.
Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson is coming off of 11.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game averages last season.
Andrew Nicholson of the Orlando Magic scored 7.8 points and grabbed 3.4 rebounds per game during his rookie campaign.
Kelly Olynyk has a chance to quickly establish himself for the transitioning Boston Celtics. He’s been described as having a solid low-post skill set that should help him adapt to the pace of the professional game.
Miami Heat center Joel Anthony does not get the minutes that he used to, but he’s still able to rebound and alter shots when he is on the floor.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash has carried Canada’s torch for 17 seasons. Nash has averaged more than 10 points and 10 assists seven different times in his career. He has also earned two regular-season MVP awards.
It’s obvious that his stint in L.A. is a final attempt of legitimately chasing a title, and he is definitely one of the guys it’s hard to not root for in his quest.
5. Italy
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This player grouping signals the start of the highly concentrated talent collection.
Starting with the new guy, Luigi Datome is the newest addition to an upgraded Detroit Pistons roster. Playing the last five years in the Italian League, Datome has blossomed into a legitimate scoring threat who can hit the three, something the Pistons desperately need.
Last year he averaged 16.7 points while shooting 41.5 percent from beyond the arc. With the team looking to get back to winning, he has a real chance of making a name for himself early.
Marco Belinelli is a journeyman going into his seventh year playing for his fifth team. His most productive seasons were the ones spent with the New Orleans Pelicans when they were the Hornets. He averaged 11.2 points per game between 2010 and 2012 in New Orleans.
Belinelli’s scoring dipped to under 10 points per game while playing for the Chicago Bulls last season, but he came up big when it counted, hitting numerous game-winning shots.
Danilo Gallinari has found his scoring groove since returning to Denver. His 16.2 points per game scoring average marks the sixth straight season he’s been good for 10-plus per game. With Andre Iguodala now a part of the Golden State Warriors, this could be a big year for Gallinari.
Andrea Bargnani had been the face of the Toronto Raptors for seven years, but he is now a part of the New York Knicks after an early July trade. Bargnani gives the Knicks a perimeter frontcourt player to compliment Tyson Chandler’s low-post presence.
It’s not entirely certain where Bargnani fits in with a lineup that also includes Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, but he has enough experience to know how to maximize whatever situation he’s put in.
4. Argentina
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Over the past decade, Argentina has really established itself as a world basketball powerhouse. Since 2002, they have medaled twice in the Olympics, including gold in 2004, and once at the FIBA World Cup of Basketball. They are as talented as any other nation, and their NBA crop proves it.
Reserve guard Pablo Prigioni is the lesser known Argentine, but his story is a testament to his reputation as a formidable basketball player. Last year, Prigioni was a rookie at 35 years old.
According to NYTimes.com profile, he never really considered playing in the NBA until very recently. After 15 very successful years overseas, Prigioni signed a one-year deal last summer and was impressive enough to be offered a three-year extension after last season. At his age, that is a testament to how much he is respected and appreciated.
Carlos Delfino is rejoining the Milwaukee Bucks after a one-year layover playing for the Houston Rockets. He is a reliable scorer whose skill set is perfect for insuring there is consistent production from the second unit.
Luis Scola is coming off of a solid season with Phoenix Suns, averaging 12.6 points and 6.6 rebounds. Now he is a member of the Indiana Pacers thanks to an offseason trade.
With Roy Hibbert and David West still on the roster, it is likely that Scola will be serving in a reserve capacity. But with a forward bunch that also includes Danny Granger and Paul George, Scola makes the Pacers’ frontcourt even more potent.
Manu Ginobili is the most prominent Argentine in the NBA. He has played his entire 11-year career with the San Antonio Spurs, helping his team win three championships and maintaining a playoff streak that extends back to the 1997-98 season.
Ginobili is a high-energy player who’s not afraid to sacrifice his body to make a play or take big shots. After last year’s deep playoff run, it will be interesting to see if Ginobili and the gang have anything left in the tank for another try at a championship.
3. France
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This is the deepest group of the countdown, leading all nations with nine active players, only two of them with less than three years of experience. With so many players in one assemblage, only the most productive will be highlighted here.
Boris Diaw is a 10-year veteran who has played for six different teams. His well-traveled playing career may suggest that he is a bit undesired, but Diaw’s experience and scoring ability make him an asset.
He puts up 9.1 points per game over his career, but during last year’s NBA Finals, Diaw turned heads with how well he defended LeBron James. At this point in his career, Diaw is not leading any team in any major category; however, he does have enough experience to offer those intangibles that cannot be coached.
Nicolas Batum has spent the last four years showing that he is a pretty proficient scorer for the Portland Trailblazers, increasing his point output every year since the 2009-10 season.
Batum carried that scoring with him into the FIBA EuroBakset Finals, helping his national team defeat Lithuania with a 17-point effort. If his current pace is maintained, he could very well be one of the premier foreign players in the league.
Tony Parker is the alpha-Frenchman, spending all of his 12 years with the San Antonio Spurs. Parker has appeared in four NBA Finals, winning three, and has even nabbed a Finals MVP award.
Definitely in the last years of his career, he fell one game short of getting title No. 4. With a European championship win this past summer, it will be worth watching Parker to see if that experience served to increase his drive to go for it all one more time.
2. Spain
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With five active players in the NBA, Spain’s grouping also has the highest concentration of studs. This should not be surprising for a team that earned a World Cup of Basketball championship in 2006 and back-to-back silver medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
Four of the five Spanish players have double-digit career scoring averages. One player has earned a Rookie of the Year award, and another a Defensive Player of the Year honor. Throw in three championships and it would be a tall task arguing another foreign nation contributing higher quality talent.
Ricky Rubio is the young star averaging 10.7 points and 7.7 assists in his two years of play. The scary thing about those numbers is that he has yet to play a full season.
Rubio tore his ACL in the middle of his first season, an injury that cause him to missed part of his second season, as well. Even before and after such a major setback, he was still very efficient. It will be fascinating to see what Rubio can do with a full 82 games at his disposal.
Jose Calderon has played seven-and-a-half of his eight seasons with the Toronto Raptors and the latter part of last year with Pistons after a trade.
Calderon has always been a solid scorer, but his main contribution has been getting his teammates involved; he averages 7.2 assists for his career. Now he is part of the Dallas Mavericks, and head coach Rick Carlisle has a more than capable floor general to keep the offense flowing.
Marc Gasol has been a part of the Memphis Grizzlies for his entire five-year career.
It was actually a trade involving his brother that landed him with the Grizz. Once he stepped on the court, Marc quickly erased any assumptions anyone had about him being the other Gasol brother.
Scoring 13.3 points and pulling down 8.0 rebounds for his career, Marc added Defensive Player of the Year to his resumè last season. That accomplishment pretty much solidifies him as the antithesis of the European big-man reputation of preferring not to get physical.
It also means that he’s unequivocally his own man playing outside of his brother’s shadow.
Speaking of brothers, Pau Gasol’s career is a bit more storied than his younger brother, but he did have a six-year head start. Pau started his career with a bang, earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2002.
After many productive years in Memphis, Pau was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2007-08 season and helped the team win championships in 2009 and 2010. Pau continues to be productive after 12 years, averaging 13.7 points and 8.6 rebounds. That scoring average was the lowest of his career, but it can be attributed to him sharing the block with Dwight Howard.
As long as the Lakes have Kobe Bryant on the perimeter and Pau in the post, it is hard to write them off as being finished. It can be said with confidence that Pau cannot wait to make a statement this season.
1. United States
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No other nation produces better NBA talent than the United States.
There are very few no-brainers in life, but this is one of them.
With all due respect to all nations and players represented on all of the preceding slides, when you run down the list of great American-born basketball players, it becomes apparent that even second-place Spain is not coming close.
Keeping the focus on active players, the top five scorers from the aforementioned list would be Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Manu Ginobili, Andrea Bargnani and Tony Parker. The highest scorer out of that grouping is Nowitzki with a career average of 22.6 points per game.
Grouping the top five American scorers would bring together Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and James Harden. The highest scorer from those players would be LeBron James with a career average of 27.6 points per game.
Last year’s scoring champ, Carmelo Anthony, averaged 28.7 points per game and has a 25-point career mean.
Of course, there are many more facets to the NBA game than scoring, but if you looked at every other major category from last season, the only one that is not lead by an American-born player is blocks per game.
History also sides with the United States. Over the years, only three foreign-born players have ever won the regular-season MVP award: Nowitzki, Steve Nash and Hakeem Olajuwon. Parker and Nowitzki also join Olajuwon as the only foreign players to also win a Finals MVP award.
Granted, it’s a numbers game. There are way more Americans playing in the NBA than any other nationality. That is true, but rosters can carry up to 15 players, making for up to 450 players at any giving moment. Of those current 450 potential spots, only 85 are held by overseas players.
With technology increasing the ability for foreign athletes to get exposure, there should be a continued uptick in international representation, but it does not seem likely that the U.S. will ever be supplanted as the nation with the best collection of basketball talent.
