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.<\/p>\n
Ben Simmons<\/a><\/strong>, 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<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Luka Doncic<\/a><\/strong> 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<\/a> as a playoff lock.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.Luka Doncic<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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