The NBA is one of the most dominant leagues in basketball, and every player's dream is to get an opportunity to play for the Championship Trophy. Even players from abroad are living the American dream, representing some of the biggest teams in the world, leading to many players bringing their nation’s playing style to the American courts. Some big names have entered the league and shone, despite travelling internationally to play. The NBA’s global growth mirrors the rise of other entertainment industries in the U.S., such as nj slots online.
Dirk Nowitzki
The German born power forward Dirk Nowitzki paved the way for European players, while even managing to redefine the position. The 7’0 power forward has scored over 31,500 career points spanning across his 21 year career in the NBA. He was first selected in 1998 for his rookie season, being the 9th pick in the first round for the Dallas Mavericks. His initial entry into the league saw the tall, shy, skinny youngster look out of his depth, until he eventually found his feet and became a tough player to face for many sides. Throughout his NBA career, Nowitzki had built a name for himself and for German basketball, becoming the first European player to win an NBA MVP in 2007, and even crowned his stellar time in the NBA with the Championship in 2011 with the Dallas Mavericks.
Yao Ming
Despite what was a relatively short career, retiring at the age of 30, Yao Ming had a massive impact on the NBA, as well as the viewership rates across China and Asia as a whole. Standing at 7’6, Yao Ming wasn’t shy about being the tallest player in NBA history. He made his NBA debut in 2002 after being the first pick of the first round for the Houston Rockets, who had seen great potential in the Chinese centre. During his nine seasons with the Rockets, Yao Ming was selected as an eight-time NBA All-Star. His career, which ended in 2011 due to health complications and the need to preserve his long-term well-being, earned him induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. Beyond basketball, Ming is a highly influential figure in China, widely supported by both the government and media, making him one of the most recognizable names in Asia.
Luke Doncic
Luke Doncic is known around the world and especially throughout the NBA, with the 26 year old being praised as the next best thing when it comes to top players in the league. The Slovenian born forward and guard made the move to the NBA after shining in Spain with Real Madrid, until the Atlanta Hawks drafted him before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks. During his ongoing career, so far, Doncic has picked up 6x NBA All-Star features and was the 2024 NBA scoring champion. As of 2025, Doncic made his move to the Los Angeles Lakers, a move that has brought interest to the Slovenian forward with high expectations to carry. He is one of the latest players to pave the way for European talents in the NBA and could make an even bigger impact on the league in the future.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Another example of a modern day international that is taking the league by storm is Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Nigerian Greek forward is currently sending shockwaves around the NBA with his ability on the court as well as his extremely humble personality off it. With his success in the league since he joined in 2013, he has picked up a Championship in 2021, as well as an MVP in a Championship Final, while also being awarded 8x NBA All-Star placements. Despite this, Antetokounmpo has been credited for his incredible humility and loyalty to the Bucks, remaining with the squad throughout his entire NBA career, despite massive rumours of moving to one of the NBA super teams. As of now, Antetokounmpo will most definitely go down as one of the best international players to feature in the NBA, while even having the opportunity to land a spot in the top 20 NBA players of all time rankings.
Manu Ginobili
Manu Ginobili is one of the retired international players who took the NBA by storm and massively helped his Argentinian national side thrive in a very dominant period for the nation. Ginobili spent a lot of time in Argentina throughout his basketball career before moving to Italy to pursue his dream further, finally landing a spot in the NBA in 2002. He was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs, where he stayed for 16 years, winning 4 NBA Championships and featuring as an All-Star twice. His legacy, not only for Argentina but also for the Spurs, will remain with the team after they opted to retire the number 20 jersey upon his retirement announcement.
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