Since the late '80s, the NBA has imported the best players from across the globe to play basketball in America. Initially these players made little impact on the game, but over time, some of the best players in the world are from abroad. Many European players have flourished in the NBA, with Dirk Nowitzki being the most prominent. Winning the league's MVP award in 2007, Nowitzki led the Dallas Mavericks to the 2011 NBA championship over the favored Miami Heat. The German forward is easily the most recognizable name to come from Europe, but he's certainly not the only star. Nowitzki's former teammate Steve Nash is another former MVP (in fact a two-time winner) who is from abroad. Born in South Africa and raised in Canada, Nash has been dazzling NBA arenas for nearly two decades.
Both Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have been a vital cogs in the San Antonio Spurs system since joining the team. The France-born Parker has established himself as one of the best point guards in the game, while the Argentinian-born Ginobili is an integral player off the bench on a team that has won three championships since the duo has been in San Antonio.
While a lot of the players on this list aren't household names outside of the NBA community, they are the best current and former international players in the league. This is your chance to pick who is the best foreign NBA player of all time.1
1,733472Dražen Petrović
CroatiaAge: Dec. at 29 (1964-1993)
Birthplace: Croatia
Teams: Portland Trail Blazers, Brooklyn Nets
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2,1831,440Hakeem Olajuwon
NigeriaAge: 57
Birthplace: Africa
Teams: Houston Rockets, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors
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1,118464Toni Kukoč
CroatiaAge: 52
Birthplace: Croatia
Teams: Chicago Bulls, Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks
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1,715735Giannis Antetokounmpo
GreeceAge: 26
Birthplace: Athens, Greece
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks
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2,3531,596Dirk Nowitzki
GermanyAge: 42
Birthplace: Germany
Teams: Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Mavericks
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1,051694Patrick Ewing
JamaicaAge: 58
Birthplace: Jamaica
Teams: New York Knicks, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Orlando Magic, Seattle Supersonics
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886606Dikembe Mutombo
Democratic Republic of the CongoAge: 54
Birthplace: Africa
Teams: New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia 76ers
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699482Arvydas Sabonis
LithuaniaAge: 56
Birthplace: Europe
Teams: Portland Trail Blazers, Portland Trail Blazers
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642215Kristaps Porzingis
Latvia10
1,032734Yao Ming
ChinaAge: 40
Birthplace: China
Teams: Houston Rockets, Houston Rockets, China men's national basketball team, Shanghai Sharks
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726510Marc Gasol
SpanishAge: 35
Birthplace: Spain
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers
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1,4011,038Steve Nash
Canada, EnglandAge: 46
Birthplace: South Africa
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Suns
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355201Manute Bol
SudanAge: Dec. at 48 (1962-2010)
Birthplace: South Africa
Teams: Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards
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496338Al Horford
Dominican RepublicAge: 34
Birthplace: Dominican Republic
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers
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376202Steven Adams
New ZealandAge: 27
Birthplace: Rotorua, New Zealand
Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder
![Nikola Jokić]()
16701297Nikola Jokić
SerbianAge: 21
Birthplace: Sombor, FR Yugoslavia
Teams: Denver Nuggets
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1,5331,206Manu Ginóbili
ArgentinaAge: 43
Birthplace: South America
Teams: San Antonio Spurs
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1,051818Tony Parker
FranceAge: 38
Birthplace: France
Teams: San Antonio Spurs
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1,105866Pau Gasol
SpainAge: 40
Birthplace: Europe
Teams: Portland Trail Blazers
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280172Patty Mills
AustraliaAge: 32
Birthplace: Australia
Teams: San Antonio Spurs
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50161Joel Embiid
CameroonAge: 21
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers
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755583Peja Stojaković
SerbiaAge: 43
Birthplace: Serbia
Teams: Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings
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41875Kyrie Irving
AustraliaAge: 28
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
Teams: Brooklyn Nets
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364264Detlef Schrempf
GermanyAge: 57
Birthplace: Germany
Teams: Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Indiana Pacers, Seattle Supersonics
![Ben Simmons]()
2533952Ben Simmons
Australia
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