15 Greatest International NBA Players of the Last Decade

Even though the NBA is an American league, basketball, now more than ever, is truly a global sport. From Africa, to China, to Europe, it seems as though the whole world is embracing the game. 

Especially this last season, foreign-born players have been showing just how talented they can be. Tons of international prospects were drafted early in the 2011 NBA draft just shortly after Dirk Nowitzki led the Dallas Mavericks to a title. 

Read on for the top 15 international players of the last decade. 

15. Luis Scola

Position: Power forward and center

Nationality: Argentine/Spanish

Teams: Houston Rockets (2007-present)

Per-Game Stats: 14.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists

Accolades: None of note

Luis Scola may only have been a part of the league since 2007, but the tough, long-haired big man from Argentina has already left a strong impression. He's not done on his rise towards the more elite ranks of the NBA quite yet. 

14. Hedo Turkoglu

Position: Forward

Nationality: Turkish

Teams: Sacramento Kings (2000-2003), San Antonio Spurs (2003-2004), Orlando Magic (2004-2009, 2010-present), Toronto Raptors (2009-2010), Phoenix Suns (2010)

Per-Game Stats: 12.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists

Accolades: None of note

Thanks to his above-average athleticism and dribbling skills for a forward, Hedo Turkoglu excelled during the early and middle portions of the 2000s. He was never absolutely dominant, but his versatility enabled him to be a very valuable member of quite a few teams. 

13. Nene Hilario

Position: Power forward and center

Nationality: Brazilian

Teams: Denver Nuggets (2002-present)

Per-Game Stats: 12.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists

Accolades: None of note

Always one of the more underrated players in the league, Nene may finally leave the Denver Nuggets in free agency this offseason. During the past decade, he won over the hearts of many Denver fans with his constant hustle and valuable contributions in the paint. 

12. Andrew Bogut

Position: Center

Nationality: Australian

Teams: Milwaukee Bucks (2005-present)

Per-Game Stats: 12.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists

Accolades: One-time All-NBA

When he's healthy, which isn't too often, this Australian center is a double-double machine and one of the best shot-blockers in the entire league. Bogut is still young and could continue to improve, but it's likely that he's already reached his peak. 

11. Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Position: Center

Nationality: Lithuanian

Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers (1996-2010), Miami Heat (2010-present)

Per-Game Stats: 13.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists 

Accolades: Two-time All-Star

Zydrunas Ilgauskas was never really a truly great player, but he ranged in between good and very good for quite some time. A long-time Cleveland Cavalier, this bald-headed center was almost always a nightly threat for a double-double. 

10. Luol Deng

Position: Small forward

Nationality: South Sudanese/British

Teams: Chicago Bulls (2004-present)

Per-Game Stats: 16.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists

Accolades: None of note

The lanky small forward has always toiled away in the background for the Chicago Bulls. Without ever being the No. 1 scoring option in the Windy City, Luol Deng has still managed to put up very good numbers ever since he was drafted in 2004. 

9. Al Horford

Position: Power forward and center

Nationality: Dominican

Teams: Atlanta Hawks (2007-present)

Per-Game Stats: 12.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists

Accolades: Two-time All-Star, One-time All-NBA

The former Florida Gator will surely move up these rankings as the years pass, but for now, the talented double-double threat is hurt by his lack of time spent in the NBA. 

8. Andrei Kirilenko

Position: Small forward

Nationality: Russian

Teams: Utah Jazz (2001-present)

Per-Game Stats: 12.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists

Accolades: One-time All-Star, Three-time All-Defensive

AK47 has been a versatile player, stat-sheet stuffer and defensive stopper for quite some time now. He's almost had as many hairstyles as he's had points scored. 

7. Peja Stojakovic

Position: Small forward

Nationality: Serbian

Teams: Sacramento Kings (1998-2006), Indiana Pacers (2006), New Orleans Hornets (2006-2010), Toronto Raptors (2010-2011), Dallas Mavericks (2011)

Per-Game Stats: 17.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists

Accolades: Three-time All-Star, One-time All-NBA, One-time NBA Champion

In the early 2000s, Peja Stojakovic actually managed to average over 20 points per game in four different seasons. Because of the steep decline he's undergone over the last few years, it's hard to remember just how dominant he used to be. 

6. Tony Parker

Position: Point guard

Nationality: French

Teams: San Antonio Spurs (2001-present)

Per-Game Stats: 16.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists

Accolades: Three-time All-Star, One-time All-NBA, Three-time NBA Champion

The French point guard with a flair for finding both open spots in the lane and open teammates around him on the court was a crucial part of three championship-winning runs by the San Antonio Spurs. He's been overrated at times and underrated at others but will always be remembered as a very good player. 

5. Yao Ming

Position: Center

Nationality: Chinese

Teams: Houston Rockets (2002-2011)

Per-Game Stats: 19.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists

Accolades: Eight-time All-Star, Five-time All-NBA

If only it wasn't for the injury imp. Had Yao Ming stayed healthy, he could have been so much more. But as it stands, the Chinese giant was dominant while he was on the court and will always be one of the more popular players in NBA history. 

4. Manu Ginobili

Position: Shooting guard

Nationality: Argentine/Italian

Teams: San Antonio Spurs (1995-present)

Per-Game Stats: 15.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists

Accolades: Two-time All-Star, Two-time All-NBA, Three-time NBA Champion

With seemingly inexhaustible bundles of energy, the ability to finish in strange ways in the lane and the penchant to always try to take a charge (whether necessary or not), Manu Ginobili has definitely made his mark in the NBA. It doesn't hurt that he was a big part of three NBA championships. 

3. Pau Gasol

Position: Power forward and center

Nationality: Spanish

Teams: Memphis Grizzlies (2001-2008), Los Angeles Lakers (2008-present)

Per-Game Stats: 18.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists

Accolades: Two-time NBA Champion, Four-time All-Star, Three-time All-NBA

Pau Gasol received more recognition once the Los Angeles Lakers stole him away from the Memphis Grizzlies, but he's been one of the most offensively-talented big men in the NBA for quite some time now, almost a decade, in fact. 

2. Steve Nash

Position: Point guard

Nationality: Canadian/British

Teams: Phoenix Suns (1996-1998, 2004-present), Dallas Mavericks (1998-2004)

Per-Game Stats: 14.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 8.5 assists

Accolades: Two-time NBA MVP, Seven-time All-Star, Seven-time All-NBA

A two-time MVP in the league, Steve Nash has some of the most remarkable court vision I've ever seen. Even though he's not a scorer, Nash makes every single one of his teammates better and just manages to win games while entertaining everyone in the crowd. 

1. Dirk Nowitzki

Position: Power forward

Nationality: German

Teams: Dallas Mavericks (1998-present)

Per-Game Stats: 23.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists

Accolades: One-time NBA Champion, One-time NBA MVP, 10-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA

Maybe the greatest international player of all time, Dirk Nowitzki cemented his legacy this past season when he led the Dallas Mavericks to the first title in the franchise's history. Dirk is a terrific shooter for a big man and will go down as one of the all-time greats. 

Adam Fromal is a syndicated writer and Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report. Follow him on  Twitter.

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