Is Manu the greatest international player ever in the NBA?

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

Galis is among the best players I've ever seen but you need to consider the level of compe ion he faced and what he accomplished. Only 1 euro 'ship seems to little to consider somebody as the greatest FIBA player ever. Anyway this thread was 'bout the best international player in the NBA

Manu can be this if win NBA le and get medal again at Olympia. But Yao is player can take this from him also. if he stay healthy one of these years he is will lead team to championship I think.

[Pero]

Yes... but 2nd, 3rd... never 1st.

Never 1st. He doesn't have the things needed to be a winner.

He choked leading role players. And now that he has anoter great player with him, like Kidd, he still chokes. 0-2 now, and what is the excuse this year?

Until he gets any trophy, for me he'll never be better than Manu. And I'm not in CoM.

Peace!

Yeah, but Dirk went there with virtually nobodies while Manu had a good team. Dirk would have to average like 50/20/10/5/5 to get a WC or olympics championship with that team.
And Kidd isn't what he used to be.

[DAF86]

And I'm not in CoM.

Peace!

Your username says "ManuAddicted" so i found that hard to bealive.

[Ariel]

I wonder how many actually saw some of those players enough to make an informed opinion. Not me, on many cases.

Let's take Petrovic, for instance. I've seen him play in international tournaments, a few NBA games and lots of clips, but how am I supposed to pass definitive judgment based on that when it's only an insignificant fraction of his career? At least I don't feel I'm in position to do so.

And then let's not even talk about Galis. How on Earth am I to say how good a player he was or not when while he was at his prime some 20 years ago I was an infant living in a country half way around the world where there was no coverage of the European leagues?

So Kill Bill, don't take it personally if people don't acknowledge Galis (and others), because I'd bet in many cases they (myself included) simply haven't seen them play enough to have a say in the matter. And I'd bet some of those opinions are based on some site's summary as opposed to personal experience.

[DAF86]

I wonder how many actually saw some of those players enough to make an informed opinion. Not me, on many cases.

Let's take Petrovic, for instance. I've seen him play in international tournaments, a few NBA games and lots of clips, but how am I supposed to pass definitive judgment based on that when it's only an insignificant fraction of his career? At least I don't feel I'm in position to do so.

And then let's not even talk about Galis. How on Earth am I to say how good a player he was or not when while he was at his prime some 20 years ago I was an infant living in a country half way around the world where there was no coverage of the European leagues?

So Kill Bill, don't take it personally if people don't acknowledge Galis (and others), because I'd bet in many cases they (myself included) simply haven't seen them play enough to have a say in the matter. And I'd bet some of those opinions are based on some site's summary as opposed to personal experience.

You look at players' resume.
And how can you say that you don't know Galis, He's known all over the world (except maybe U.S. 'cause they only care 'bout the NBA and college BB). He's one of the greatest of all time, if you are a BB fan you should know who Nick Galis is.

[Ariel]

You look at players' resume.
And how can you say that you don't know Galis, He's known all over the world (except maybe U.S. 'cause they only care 'bout the NBA and college BB). He's one of the greatest of all time, if you are a BB fan you should know who Nick Galis is.

Umm, I never said I didn't know who he was, I said I myself didn't follow his career and therefore I don't feel en led to pass judgment on his game. Or what, am I supposed to stand here with a straight face pretending that having heard about him or googling his resume somehow qualifies me as an authority on the matter?

[Quill392013400]

At least the top 3
Don't forget he's also one of the greatest player in Europe

[HarlemHeat37]

first post..

a lot of reasonable posts in this thread, but some people are acting like huge homers..

if Olajuwon is considered as an international player, then he's easily the best..top 10 player of all-time IMO..one of the few guys in NBA history to lead a team to a championship without another all-star on his team as well(Timmy did it in 2003 too)..

Sabonis could have been 2nd if we had seen his entire career play out..I've heard many stories, and I believe them..he was a solid C in the NBA, despite being past his prime and hit by injuries..

Dirk is clearly ahead of Manu, come on guys..Dirk isn't a "choker" btw, he's just a soft player..he HAS put up big numbers in the playoffs when his team needed him, did all of you forget the series they had vs. us in 2006?..Dirk is capable of being a big-time playoff performer..he had 2 soft series vs. Miami and Dallas, but the rest of his team choked as well..even Avery choked..

Dirk is an MVP caliber 1st option, while Manu is a 2nd option..nothing wrong with speaking the truth..nobody is denying Manu's greatness, but Dirk has obviously been better..

I'd have to say Nash as well..it's hard to argue against TWO MVP's and leading a good team these past few years..

Yao is CURRENTLY a better player, but he hasn't done much in his career to give him a clear edge over Manu..

it would be easier to rank Manu at the end of his career..it'll be impossible for him to catch Dream though, there is no possible scenario..

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

I am very confuse. This list just for NBA player or for all the international player? I hope this just for international player which has play in NBA. if this not such thing this list is joke sorry but true.

My reply was to the question that started the thread:

Is Manu the greatest international player ever in the NBA?

Again...

This is stupid many of best international players and better than ones in names here have never play in NBA. I not even see Bodiroga Belov or Galis even talks about here.

yes Sabonis and Petrovic were great players but why no one mentions these others. What about Marcuilonis and he also plays NBA like Drazen do and Sabas do? I can names many great players that not play in NBA. What about Papaloukas? What about McAdoo do he not count? What about Giannakis?

Do fan here even know what Galis is able to do? Is he player only know in Greece? Stupid thing how American player never get credit. He is greatest FIBA player so far not Manu.

Is Manu the greatest international player ever in the NBA?

Keywords in bold.

And Galis better than Manu? Gimme a break...

Yao is better center than Sabonis even before Sabonis have injury. Sabonis before injury I say probable better than Ilgauskas and Divac. But not Yao. Honest I think even Gasol and Dirk is better in FIBA and yes Yao than Sabonis. But Sabonis still very good. Just know almost all Lithuania players overrate because Lithuania have similar system as US.

Hype and promote players like US do. Marcuilonis is easy best player of Lithuania and no person ever hear about him just about Sabonis and Jasekivicius and remembers how every person claim Jasekivicius is best "Europe player ever"

Yao better than Sabonis? Are you serious? Have you watched Sabonis in his prime??? Or even after his injury, he had fundamentals and a skill set that Yao could only dream about.

But thread make no sense. International player mean player who play international basketball. So topic is error. If say "best foreign player" then make sense but as is calls make no sense.

Actual any NBA player that play for US team is also international player.

In the NBA the foreign players are called "international" while in Europe "international" is used to describe players who play for their national teams.

[Brutalis]

Among fans or coaches?

[Spurs Dynasty 21]

Spurs win the le this year then he is #2



that gives him 4 les, Gold medal, all star, 6th man award

[diego]

i hate these threads. but for the record...

hakeem easily wins, but i dont consider him international because he played college ball in the US and basically learned to play there. The other guys (sabonis, drazen, et all) deserve credit for being pioneers, but didnt have the protagonism of the current crop for several reasons, most outside of their own control.

nash is great offensively in a very important position, but he sucks on D and hasnt really done anything besides win 2 mvps (which are pretty controversial). also, i have a hard time considering canada international.

dirk is more well rounded than nash and is a matchup nightmare, but also hasnt really accomplished much career wise save for that MVP trophy and a finals trip.

manu has the best career of the 3 (not incl. hakeem), and is the most well rounded, however, he plays a position with many good players and is not the focal point of his team the way nash and dirk are. i think nash and dirk are more "special," but manu is more successful. as players, i would rate them:

1) dirk (standout offense, matchup problem, good rebounder, leader of his team)
2) manu (complete player, efficient winner)
3) nash (amazing on one end, liability on the other).

also, all 3 of them play on stacked teams, i dont see how someone can hold that against manu and not dirk or nash.

[Brutalis]

This is old.

We have to break it down.

Africa? Hakeem
South America? Manu

there, take it as a gift.

[Typhoon]

Vassilis Spanoulis greatest international player ever.

/THREAD

[MajorMike]

At least the top 3
Don't forget he's also one of the greatest player in Europe

Yah, he was named one of the 50 greatest Euro players of all time; no-win-ski was not mentioned.

[FromWayDowntown]

Yah, he was named one of the 50 greatest Euro players of all time; no-win-ski was not mentioned.

EuroLeague players -- not European players.

http://www.euroleague.net/history/50-years/main

To my knowledge, Nowitzki never actually played in EuroLeague.

[DAF86]

Please people, stop bringing Nowitzki up on this discussion, until he wins something, anything, at least a freaking euro-cup, he can't be on this discussion. It's like saying that Malone is better than Duncan.

And olajuwon was formed in the U.S and played for the U.S national team so he can't be considered an international player.

[Lakers_55]

Michael Jordan wins hands down. They figured out years ago he was not of this earth.

[anakha]

Michael Jordan wins hands down. They figured out years ago he was not of this earth.

* Insert obligatory Space Jam reference here

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

I just have say again yes Yao is better than Sabonis in prime. if you not realize this you have no point in such topic here.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

Vassilis Spanoulis greatest international player ever.

/THREAD

He only 25. He about to have 2 Greek championship and also 2 enic Cup championship. He also have gold in European championship and he have silver in World Championship.

He have under 18 bronze medal for Europe. This like finish 3rd place for whole country in high school in US or much better than high school champion of state.
he also have the under 20 Europe gold medal. This like win college championship in US. He also is MVP of Europe under 20. This like have NCAA player of year and final MVP.

If he win medal at Olympia in summer and follow this with Euroleague championship he is already at age 26 one of best "international" player ever. This true even though fan not want admit it. This why he have so many hater. Even in as he have so many hater much like Kobe in US do.

[Nikos]

I never saw him play, but if Nick Galis led the NATION in scoring -- why the was he picked so low in the NBA draft?

Was he that bad on defense?

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

Please people, stop bringing Nowitzki up on this discussion, until he wins something, anything, at least a freaking euro-cup, he can't be on this discussion. It's like saying that Malone is better than Duncan.

And olajuwon was formed in the U.S and played for the U.S national team so he can't be considered an international player.

If this true then Peja is Greek player. Because Peja is form and make in Greece. So from now on he must be count as Greek player.

[Nikos]

I did a quick check on WIKI

"Due to a severe injury that he suffered during the Celtics pre-season training camp, the franchise was no longer interested in offering him a contract because Gerald Henderson had taken his place[3] and his injury would keep him out for the foreseeable future. It was then that Galis decided to pursue a professional career in Greece's A1 League. A move that would change his life forever."

It couldn't have been that serious of an injury could it? I mean he did score 35ppg+ in Euro competetion same type of competetion as Petrovic, and he did well for himself in the NBA.

Did he get a injured label or something?

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

I never saw him play, but if Nick Galis led the NATION in scoring -- why the was he picked so low in the NBA draft?

Was he that bad on defense?

It is complicate issue. What happen him first is he is 6 feet tall player. Even though he great college scorer of big school Seton Hall and play good conference he play as shoot guard. he is like Iverson but many year before. In these day NBA not want shoot guard that is small. After how Galis do in Europe idea change for Iverson and he is pick for NBA.

Then Galis get stupid agent. His agent tells him thing like "if you refuse works out for any team then you can pick what team you want plays for" Team he wants play for is Celtics. And they make point not let any other team drafts him.

Celtic draft him and then bad thing for him happen. In train camp of team he gets very bad injury. I think he blows out knee or some type issue as this. He have surgery and is not play I think maybe like 6 month? Also Celtics have the player Gerald Henderson at time. So because of Galis injury they lets him go and use Henderson is his place and he is good player.

At this time president of Aris this is same club Darius Washington play for now goes to US and offers him contract. At time he is injure and no team and no money. So he take contract. Once he get to Saloniki where Aris play he love city so much and life there so much he decide he will not leave and go back NBA. He get offer several time by Celtic go back but he like as so much he stay. This how I understand what happens.