In the last several years, it has become a trend for NBA role players to move overseas to play basketball. But what if we told you that some stars and Hall of Famers have also played in Europe?
10 Surprising NBA Stars Who Played In Europe
Kemba Walker
Kemba Walker might be the most recent big-name star to move to Europe, even though he did so two seasons ago. He is a former UConn player and NCAA champion, drafted ninth overall in 2011 by the Charlotte Bobcats. The point guard is also their franchise leader in points and minutes. Following the 2022-23 season, Walker moved to Europe to play for Monaco.
Amar’e Stoudemire
Amar’e Stoudemire had three different stints for an Israeli basketball team. In 2016, he joined Hapoel Jerusalem, a team he also co-owned. He was selected to the All-EuroCup second team. He retired, and then came back to sign with them for the 2018-19 season. In 2020, he returned again, this time with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Deron Williams
Deron Williams might not have his jersey retired in the NBA. He left the Utah Jazz on bad terms and didn’t have success with other teams. However, he does have his jersey retired in Europe. It only took him 15 games and two months to get this honor from Besiktas in the Turkish League. During the 2011 NBA lockout, he signed a deal with Besiktas. Once the lockout was over, he returned to the NBA, and the team retired his No. 8.
Allen Iverson
One year before Williams suited up for Besiktas, another superstar point guard played in Turkey: Allen Iverson. He suited up for 10 games before calling it quits due to injuries.
Scottie Pippen
Scottie Pippen was a six-time NBA champion who played only three games in Europe. Pippen retired from the NBA in 2004, but he returned briefly to the game in 2008. He was well past his prime at 42, but he appeared in three games as part of a marketing campaign aimed at popularizing the sport in Finland and Sweden. He played in two games for Torpan Pojat in Finland and one for Sundsvall in Sweden. His presence drew significant attention to the league.
Dennis Rodman
Pippen and Dennis Rodman played together in Chicago, winning multiple championships. They also played on the same team in Finland, albeit not at the same time. Rodman, a global superstar during his playing days, was known worldwide. He was signed to suit up for the Torpan Pojat in 2005. Despite being 44 years old at the time, he scored 17 points with five three-pointers. As a global superstar, he drew a large crowd of more than 7,000 spectators.
Byron Scott
In the 1990s, the Greek Basketball League was one of the best in the world. Byron Scott, a former NBA champion, signed with Panathinaikos for the 1997-98 season. At the time, it was the largest contract ever offered to a player in Europe. Scott also helped lead the team to the Greek Basket League championship. After one season, he retired from playing and began his coaching career.
Dominique Wilkins
There are not many NBA players bigger than Dominique Wilkins, the human highlight film. In the summer of 1995, Thanasis Giannakopoulos, then president of Panathinaikos, wanted the best player in the world. So, they offered Wilkins a two-year, $7 million deal to play in the Greek league. He quickly adapted to the European game, helping the team win the EuroLeague Final Four in 1996 and earning the MVP Award. He ended up returning to the NBA after just one season with the club due to legal battles. After one season with the San Antonio Spurs, he went back to Europe, this time to Fortitudo Bologna.
Bob McAdoo
Bob McAdoo spent six years in Italy and even said that he enjoyed them more than his time in the NBA. After his career ended, the two-time champion joined Olimpia Milano. There, he won two EuroLeague titles, two Italian League championships, and an Italian Cup. Fans in Italy still consider him a legend, and rightfully so.
Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson suited up for five games for a Swedish team. In 1999, the owner of the M7 Boras reached out to see if Magic had any interest in a marketing deal. They offered him a percentage of the team with cash and named it after him. Although he was never the majority owner, he agreed to play in five games, all of which sold out.
Featured image: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
