Basketball has increasingly become a global sport generation after generation. American-born players still represent the majority of the league, but the NBA international player count stood at a whopping 108 when the 2019-20 season began. To put this into perspective the NBA international player count in 1994-95 was 24 players. These also aren’t just role players. Many of them stand at the top of the game.
NBA All-International Starting Five
Backcourt
Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons, from Australia, is one of the league’s backcourt stars. He’s already a back-to-back All-Star at 23, and a centerpiece of one of the league’s better teams in the Philadelphia 76ers. First of all, he offers rare size at his position. Standing at 6’10”, Simmons plays the one with the size of a five. Due to this, his rebounding numbers are insane for a guard. His size and his athleticism also make him one of the best defenders in the NBA. He can take the defensive burden of guarding a team’s best player, from guards to forwards.
Besides that, Simmons is one of the best assist men in the league. He finds open teammates with ease and makes those around him better. He’s a triple-double threat on any given night. If he can improve his outside shooting, expect Simmons to be in the MVP conversation very soon.
Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic at only 21 is already a top 10 player in the league. His averages of 29-9-9 this season have him in the MVP conversation and the Dallas Mavericks as a playoff lock.
Doncic is similar to Simmons in that he has rare size for a lead ball handler. This makes him a match-up nightmare as he can shoot from the outside but can also drive and post-up defenders. He’s not the most athletic player, but his strength surprises many. In addition, it seems like he has an unlimited offensive arsenal.
Originally from Slovenia, Doncic dominated with Real Madrid in Spain and is now doing the same in the NBA. He’s already one of the NBA’s shining stars in only his second year, so the sky really is the limit.
Frontcourt
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo, from Greece, is not only the best NBA international player but arguably the best player in the league. He’s well on his way to securing back-to-back MVP awards after leading the Milwaukee Bucks to the playoffs again with a ridiculous 30-14-6 stat line. He does all of that in 30 minutes a night due to the fact that he makes the Bucks so dominant that they rarely need him to close games.
The entire landscape of the NBA is going to change if Antetokounmpo leaves Milwaukee in 2021. That alone speaks volumes about the player that he is.
Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid, from Cameroon, is the second member of the 76ers to appear on this list. Embiid is an elite center that offers maximum defensive effort and an in-and-out offensive game. He’s quietly averaging 23-12-3 this season, and it’s rarely spoken about because it’s just expected.
Nikola Jokic
Rivaling Embiid as one of the league’s best centers, and not just international centers is Nikola Jokic from Serbia. He’s the epitome of basketball’s new generation – a big man with a strong inside game and rebound ability of the past, but also one who can shoot threes and pass like a guard. This season he’s putting up averages of 20-10-7. Twenty points and 10 rebounds alone make him a great center, but his vision is unforeseen in a player of his size. The Denver Nuggets also have another possible future MVP in their ranks.
Honorable Mentions
Pascal Siakam, Rudy Gobert, Kristaps Porzingis, and Domantas Sabonis were the toughest omissions. They rank amongst the top of their positions in the league. There’s also a large collection of young international backcourt stars that are making their way amongst the league’s elite.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
