The Love of Sports put together a list of the top 20 international players of all-time. It’s a solid list, but I have a few qualms with the top 6:
6. Tony Parker – France
Parker was born in Belgium and raised in France. The captain of the French National Team is lightning quick with the ball and a creative finisher around the basket. He’s won three NBA titles since joining the Spurs in 2003, and in 2007 became the first European player to be named the MVP of the NBA Finals.
5. Yao Ming – China
Yao’s been one of the greatest ambassadors for the game of basketball since joining the Rockets in 2002. The big fella’s steadily improved each year, averaging 22 points, 10.8 rebounds and two blocks per game last season. This past summer, he led China to the quarterfinals at the Beijing Games before an exalted home crowd.
4. Manu Ginobili – Argentina
Ginobili’s been successful at every level of basketball. Before joining the Spurs in 2002, he won a Euroleague Championship while playing in Italy. Then he won three rings with San Antonio, and in 2004 led Argentina to an Olympic gold medal, taking home the tournament MVP award in the process.
3. Steve Nash – Canada
Nash is a fierce competitor who thrived as the general in Mike D’Antoni’s fast-paced offense. He’s deceptively quick, a great shooter and his impromptu passes are a joy to watch. He won back-to-back MVP awards in 2003-04, 2004-05 and was generally recognized as the best point guard in the game.
2. Dirk Nowitzki – Germany
Nowitzki’s one of the most unique players in the NBA, a seven-footer with the ability to put the ball on the floor and range that extends beyond the arc. He led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2006 and was named the league’s MVP the following season, becoming the first European player to win the award.
1. Hakeem Olajuwon – Nigeria
Olajuwon could control a game on the boards by blocking shots or with his fanciful footwork. He carried the Rockets to back-to-back championships and won a gold medal with the U.S. at the 1996 Olympics. “The Dream” was named NBA Finals MVP twice, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and the first international player to win the MVP award.
Olajuwon at #1 is right, he was unstoppable in his prime. Nowitzki seems to be fading – not statwise, but domination-wise – so I’d have him below Nash, who did win two MVPs to Nowitzki’s one. Besides, you have to give credit to Nash, who looks like he would be a better fit as a roadie for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers than as a point guard for a NBA team.
I prefer Ginobili to Nowitzki, but I have no real basis to back that up. I just prefer Ginobili’s toughness and willingness to take the ball to the hoops. Dirk settles for too many jump shots. After that, I think Parker has to go ahead of Yao. The big man has simply been too injury-prone to be listed ahead of the talented Frenchman, who has won a NBA Finals MVP and is married to one of the hottest women on the planet…
There was one omission – Tim Duncan. I guess the list maker considers the U.S. Virgin Islands as domestic, and according to Wiki its head of state is George W. Bush (sorry about that, fellas), so I guess technically it is. However, his inclusion would have made for a very interesting debate at #1.
Oh, by the way, I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re adding Portland’s Rudy Fernandez to this list in the next few years.
As a quick follow up to yesterday’s “What’s wrong with the Celtics?” post, the Rockets went into Boston without their most dynamic player (Tracy McGrady) and beat the defending champs, 89-85. Von Wafer — yes, the same Von Wafer that has been with five teams in four seasons — hit a huge three late in the 4th to give the Rockets the win.
