NBA Worldwide: The All-International Team

The NBA has come a long way since it was founded in 1946.

It has become a worldwide phenomenon, with international players becoming the norm in the league, and now with European teams taking American players from the NBA (a la Josh Childress).

So, who are the best of the best to come to the NBA from overseas?

Here's my starting five, along with the team they were drafted by, and the year they came in the league (and for all of you Ricky Rubio fans, don't worry. He'll make this list within a few years of being drafted).

*Note: these players must have come from a foreign country straight to the NBA. Foreign-born players who played college ball in the U.S. (i.e. Dikembe Motumbo - born in Zaire, played college ball at Georgetown) will not be included. Since the first qualifier for that list (Panagiotis Giannakis, Greece) was drafted in 1982, that is why you won't see any draft dates from before that year.*

PG - Tony Parker, France (Round 1, pick 28 by San Antonio Spurs in 2001 draft)

Notable Achievements:

• Two-Time NBA All-Star (2006, 2007)
  
• 2007 NBA Finals MVP
• NBA Champion (2003, 2005, 2007)

SG - Dražen Petrović, Yugoslavia (Round 2, pick 60 by Portland Trailblazers)

Notable Achievements:

• 1991 New Jersey Nets MVP
• 1992 All-NBA Third team
• Two-Time FIBA Gold Medalist (1989, 1990)
• NBA Hall of Fame

*Note: Petrović was tragically killed in a car accident in 1993 at the age of 28, ending a very promising NBA career.*

SF -Peja Stojaković, Yugoslavia (Round 1, pick 14 by Sacramento Kings in 1996 draft)

Notable Achievements:

• 2001 NBA "Most Improved Player"
• Three-Time NBA All-Star (2002, 2003, 2004)
  
• 2004 All-NBA Second Team
• Two-Time NBA Three-Point Shootout Champion (2002, 2003)
  
• 2002 FIBA Gold Medalist

PF -Dirk Nowitzki, Germany (Round 1, pick 9 by Milwaukee Bucks, traded to Dallas Mavericks in 1998 draft)

Notable Achievements:

• 7-Time NBA All-Star (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
  
• 8-Time All-NBA (3 First Team, 3 Second Team, 2 Third Team)
• 2006 NBA Three-Point Shootout Champion
• 2002 World Championships MVP
• 2007 NBA MVP

C - Yao Ming, China (Round 1, pick 1 by Houston Rockets in 2002 draft)

Notable Achievements:

• 6-Time NBA All-Star (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
• 4-Time All-NBA (1 Second Team, 3 Third Team)
• 2002-2003 All-NBA Rookie Team

Honorable Mention: Unfortunately there are some very deserving players who were left off this list. That doesn't mean they aren't great players in their own right, just that they simply got the short end of the stick on this deal. There are only five starting spots and so some have to hit the bench:

Manu Giniobili, SG, Argentina (Round 2, pick 57 by San Antonio Spurs in 1999 draft)

Mehmet Okur, PF, Turkey (Round 2, pick 38 by Detroit Pistons in 2001 draft)

Pau Gasol, C, Spain (Round 1, pick 3 by Atlanta Hawks, traded to Vancouver Grizzlies in 2001 draft)

Andrei Kirilenko, SF, Russia (Round 1, pick 24 by Utah Jazz in 1999 draft)

Zydrunas Ilgauskas, C, Lithuania (Round 1, pick 20 by Cleveland Cavaliers in 1996 draft)

Vlade Divac, C, Yugoslavia (Round 1, pick 26 by L.A. Lakers in 1989 draft)

Toni Kukoč, SF, Yugoslavia (Round 2, pick 29 by Chicago Bulls in 1990 draft)

These players have brought influence to our culture, and pride to their respective countries. The precedent has been set, and this trend won't come to a stop any time soon.