Best International Team (NBA)

[Billyhoyle]

If you had to pick a best ever International NBA team who would you pick?

I know there is heaps of great players who never played NBA but only talking NBA here.

Good list here if needed - http://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/birthplaces.cgi

 

[thePACisback]

Do international players who played college ball in the US count?

 

[Billyhoyle]

C - Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria)
PF - Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
SF - Dominique Wilkins (France)
SG - Drazen Petrovic (Croatia)
PG - Steve Nash (South Africa)

Honorable mentions - Dikembe Mutombo, Tony Parker, Yao Ming, Luol Deng, Kyrie Irving, Manu Ginobli, Marc/Pau Gasol, Greek Freak, Toni Kukoc, , Peja Stojakovic, Vlade Divac, Detlef Schrempf , Drazen Petrovic, Sarunas Marcuilionis, Porzingis, Andrei Kirilenko, and every Australian player (and every NZ player cause we'd claim them anyway)

Tim Duncan - I discounted due to the extension of the US goveerning the Virgin Islands (pretty much the same rule I applied to players from NZ really being from Australia)

 

[Billyhoyle]

Do international players who played college ball in the US count?

like Bogut? Yeah let's make it born internationally

 

[Jaames]

C - Patrick Ewing (Jamaica)
PF - Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
SF - Dominique Wilkins (France)
SG - Manu Ginobili (Argentina)
PG - Steve Nash (South Africa)

 

[exzibit3]

Can't argue with those selections Billy except Drazen. I've heard the folklore about how good he was before he joined the nba but never saw him play at his best. Kyrie has already surpassed him and he's got a whole career ahead of him. I'd give it to Kyrie. Same as Sabonis and how he was already on the decline of his career when he joined the nba, his skills were still extraordinary but you can't take him over Olajuwon just on what-ifs.

 

[Billyhoyle]

Can't argue with those selections Billy except Drazen. I've heard the folklore about how good he was before he joined the nba but never saw him play at his best. Kyrie has already surpassed him and he's got a whole career ahead of him. I'd give it to Kyrie. Same as Sabonis and how he was already on the decline of his career when he joined the nba, his skills were still extraordinary but you can't take him over Olajuwon just on what-ifs.

yeah see I'm old enough to remember watching Drazen in 91 and 92 (and the 92 olympics Silver medal 24.6ppg) and remember his last season of 22ppg

 

[nike1]

i legitimately don't think you could top the team you posted @Billyhoyle

kyrie wouldn't count because he's playing for USA.. even though he was born in australia.

 

[thePACisback]

Just get @Billyhoyle's team, swap Drazen for Manu Ginobili and you have my team.

 

[Billyhoyle]

i legitimately don't think you could top the team you posted @Billyhoyle

kyrie wouldn't count because he's playing for USA.. even though he was born in australia.

Pretty good second five too!

 

[0kramrajnoc]

Thats the way @Billyhoyle , I agree with you 100%. Drazen was so good he deserves to be in your Starting Lineup and in the Honorable Mentions.

Ewing
Dirk
Nique
Petro
Nash

 

[taffster74]

Kind of hard to go with just five players....

Centers - Olajuwon, Ewing
Forwards - Nowitzki, Schrempf, Nique, Kukoc
Guards - Nash, Kiki Vandeweghe, Ginoboli, Tony Parker

Those are guys who made significant contributions to the nba.