Greatest International player of all Time?

[remingtonbo2001]

This thread is suppose to be about THE GREATEST INTERNATIONAL PLAYER.

Please explain why most are only judging by NBA measurements.

Back in the day, such an argument might have been qualified, but the quality of play in the league has deteriorated.

Manu's got a Gold Medal. That is non-NBA related.
Hakeem has one too.
Really, I'd say it's a lock between Manu and Hakeem.

[Texas_Ranger]

Hakeem.

[meta2007]

In 1996, Olajuwon assisted in the gold medal-winning performance of the United States national team.

Hakeem.

[exstatic]

In 1996, Olajuwon assisted in the gold medal-winning performance of the United States national team.

He naturalized when he was in his 30s. His basketball career was almost over at that point. The preponderance of his career was spent as a foreign player.

[meta2007]

I remember Yao was considered as the first international player to be the no.1 pick in nba history. That means Hakeem was not an international player when he was the no.1 pick!

He naturalized when he was in his 30s. His basketball career was almost over at that point. The preponderance of his career was spent as a foreign player.

[exstatic]

I remember Yao was considered as the first international player to be the no.1 pick in nba history. That means Hakeem was not an international player when he was the no.1 pick!

They differentiate between players who come straight from abroad, and those who play some HS or college ball here. Hakeem was born outside the US, and was a non-US citizen until his 30s. This isn't even a debate. Stop the madness.

[meta2007]

Without a doubt, Hakeem is not a pure international player. He was trained in USA, and get his olympic gold with USA team.

In addition, Manu is 30 years old now. When Hakeem was 30 years old, he even didn't get his first ring! 30 years old Manu >>>> 30 years old Hakeem!

Manu is in his prime time now, and he still will have some amazing achivements ahead. If you guys want to compare Manu to Hakeem, you should do it when Manu is retired.

They differentiate between players who come straight from abroad, and those who play some HS or college ball here. Hakeem was born outside the US, and was a non-US citizen until his 30s. This isn't even a debate. Stop the madness.

[Toni61]

Drazen Petrovic was at time the best national Player in the leage !!!

[exstatic]

I refuse to acknowledge that a player born and drafted as a Nigerian citizen is an international player.

[some_user86]

That's why it's hard to win, iy's not just a single tournament, you have to qualify first, and then win the championship. Plus you don't choose your country, if the coach doesn'tfit you, or your teammates, you can't switch to an other country.
Parker has never played the Olympics (last shot in 2012 ?) or a world championship despite being a final MVP, 3 times NBA champion. Look at US national teams over the last years who can't win those tournaments too (I know I know, Timmy said it, FIBA sucks) despite having the best cast on paper.

It's not a matter of qualification, rules, or things such as that. It's the fact that the best players refuse to play for their respective teams. That's why it is a useless metric for performance or 'greatness'. It doesn't mean anything if some players refuse to compete. Why else is Euroleague considered a comparatively worse league to the NBA? Because the level of compe ion isn't as stringent as in the NBA (though that is changing), not because of some flaw in Euroleague design. It's all about the level of compe ion, and the NBA has the best of such a metric.

[Pero]

For ANY basketball player, a NBA le is the greatest achievement (Manu might said the contrary when he led his country to Olympic Gold but he was not telling the truth)

And you know this since you read Manu's mind right?
For most international players I'd dare say that an Olympic Gold is much more important than an NBA le.

[meta2007]

Bush: "I am proud to call Hakeem the citizen of the united states!"

[romain.star]

And you know this since you read Manu's mind right?
For most international players I'd dare say that an Olympic Gold is much more important than an NBA le.

Manu loves his country too much to say so, he just doesn't want to disapoint his fans abroad

[Pero]

Manu loves his country too much to say so, he just doesn't want to disapoint his fans abroad

Yeah, right.

[romain.star]

thanx for agreeing

[exstatic]

I refuse to acknowledge that a player born and drafted as a Nigerian citizen is an international player.

[meta2007]

Bush: "I am proud to call Hakeem the citizen of the united states!"

...

[dallaskd]

I remember Yao was considered as the first international player to be the no.1 pick in nba history. That means Hakeem was not an international player when he was the no.1 pick!

Based on that, ill go with Dirk. Manu has the awards but if you go by who is a better basketbal player...DIRK>MANU

[meta2007]

Based on that, ill go with Dirk. Manu has the awards but if you go by who is a better basketbal player...DIRK>MANU

[exstatic]

I refuse to acknowledge that a player born and drafted as a Nigerian citizen is an international player.

[ploto]

"Drazen Petrovic was an extraordinary young man, and a true pioneer in the global sports of basketball. I know that a lasting part of his athletic legacy will be that he paved the way for other international players to compete successfully in the NBA. His contributions to the sport of basketball were enormous." -- David Stern

[meta2007]

NBA CAREER AVERAGES

YEAR TEAM G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
89-90 POR 77 0 12.6 .485 .459 .844 .60 .80 1.40 1.5 .30 .03 1.25 1.70 7.6
90-91 POR 18 0 7.4 .451 .167 .682 .60 .40 1.00 1.1 .33 .00 .67 1.20 4.4
90-91 NJN 43 0 20.5 .500 .373 .861 1.00 1.20 2.10 1.5 .86 .02 1.60 2.60 12.6
90-91 -- 61 0 16.6 .493 .354 .832 .80 1.00 1.80 1.4 .70 .02 1.33 2.20 10.2
91-92 NJN 82 82 36.9 .508 .444 .808 1.20 2.00 3.10 3.1 1.28 .13 2.62 3.00 20.6
92-93 NJN 70 67 38.0 .518 .449 .870 .60 2.10 2.70 3.5 1.34 .19 2.91 3.40 22.3
Career 290 149 26.4 .506 .437 .841 .80 1.50 2.30 2.4 .91 .09 2.06 2.60 15.4
Playoff 29 9 21.0 .474 .324 .696 .60 1.20 1.80 1.4 .41 .03 1.72 2.30 10.2

International

Medal record
Compe or for Yugoslavia, Croatia
Basketball
Olympic Games
Bronze 1984 Los Angeles Yugoslavia
Silver 1988 Seoul Yugoslavia
Silver 1992 Barcelona Croatia
FIBA World Championship
Bronze 1986 Spain Yugoslavia
Gold 1990 Argentina Yugoslavia
FIBA European Championship
Bronze 1987 Greece Yugoslavia
Gold 1989 Yugoslavia Yugoslavia

"Drazen Petrovic was an extraordinary young man, and a true pioneer in the global sports of basketball. I know that a lasting part of his athletic legacy will be that he paved the way for other international players to compete successfully in the NBA. His contributions to the sport of basketball were enormous." -- David Stern

[Rip-Hamilton32]

wow i can't believe people saying manu is better then hakeem, i know this is spurstalk but come on this guy is a legend and a hall of famer, manu is not

[meta2007]

Manu is still in his prime time, and he will be a HOF.

wow i can't believe people saying manu is better then hakeem, i know this is spurstalk but come on this guy is a legend and a hall of famer, manu is not

[whottt]

You guys have to excuse excstatic...he clearly doesn't understand what being an American means....to the degree that he insults Hakeem Olajuwon.


I guess Bob Hope isn't an American either....