is manu the best international player of all time?

[HarlemHeat37]

Sabonis was one of my favorite players in the NBA, even though he was clearly past his prime and had serious injury problems..he's by far the best passing big man I've ever seen, just ridiculous..I can only imagine seeing him in his physical prime, which is proven with how so many other players describe him..

He also outplayed Admiral in the 80's, and Dave was a top 20 player of all-time(obviously not at the time, but he turned out to be)..

As for Manu..if we're talking about his combined accolades in the NBA and in Euroball, then he's certainly up there, and has a legit argument for #1..as for being "the best" player, I'd put him behind a few..Sabonis, Petrovic, Dirk off the top of my head..probably Yao..

[manu_maniac]

If you went to a US College you shouldnt be considered an international player. Especially for this argument.

There are plenty of international students attending U.S. universities. It shouldn't matter if a foreign player is playing collegiately.

As for the best international player, I'll go with Sabonis

[DAF86]

Manu is not, and has not been a better player than Dirk.

Manu's been on better teams and had better coaching...but he's not a better player.

I'd take Manu at his prime over Dirk at his prime any day of the week.

[Brazil]

He isn't even one of the best right now. At his prime I'd say he was among the 500 best players in the world at that time.

you're exagerating a bit here... In his prime playing for the great machester David y was a top 20 players at that time

[HarlemHeat37]

I don't think anybody can take Manu over Dirk without being biased..Dirk is underrated career-wise, he's been a top 5 player of this entire generation with Duncan, Shaq, Kobe, and KG..he has an MVP, he's been an all-NBA caliber player for the majority of his career, he's led a team to the Finals..he's never really had elite support too..

[dirk4mvp]

I'd take Manu at his prime over Dirk at his prime any day of the week.

That makes you re ed then.

[dirk4mvp]

About as delusional as you thinking Dirk is better than Duncan.

I don't mind someone trying to make a case for Duncan, it was pretty entertaining. Saying Manu is better than Dirk is beyond re ed.

[DAF86]

you're exagerating a bit here... In his prime playing for the great machester David y was a top 20 players at that time

I may be exagerating a little bit, but I think you're overrating him. No way Beckham was a top 20 player in the world at any point of his career.

[DAF86]

That makes you re ed then.

Manu's prime was from 2000/2001 'till 2005/2006, the problem is that he wasted part of that time adjusting as a rookie to the NBA. If he would have got at age 20 to the NBA in 2003 he would have played better than in 2005.

[CGD]

Young Sabonis from the 1988 Olympics was amazing. A close call, but IMO Manu has both the international (including Olympic gold) and NBA credentials to warrant putting him ahead of Sabonis.

[benefactor]

Anyone that says they would take Manu over Dirk is being a homer...and I hate the Mavs and Dirk.

[DAF86]

Anyone that says they would take Manu over Dirk is being a homer...and I hate the Mavs and Dirk.

Anyone that thinks that Manu > Dirk isn't at least arguable hasn't seen even half of Manu's career.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

What the ? I love Manu but better than Olajuwon? Better than Galis? Um no.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

I find it difficult to classify Hakeem as an "international" player. He was born in Nigeria, to be sure, but he didn't really play professionally overseas. He started playing in school at age 15 and then came to the United States to go to college. He red-shirted and didn't really get much playing time until his soph. year.

If you want to categorize Hakeem Olajuwon as an international player because he was born in Nigeria, then why not include Dominique Wilkins in this list? He was born in Paris, France.

WTF is this nonsense?

Jasikevicius played high school and US basketball in the USA. I guess he is also an American player right?

[Phenomanul]

That makes you re ed then.

I will say this, Dirk has just put up better numbers as his team's number one option, for a far longer time... for a perennial "contender," no less...

And Manu while enjoying the benefit of not having to play as the number one option for the Spurs at any point during the regular season (during his prime)... could always be counted on when it mattered the most - in the clutch... No one can argue that he wasn't the lightning plug that catapulted the Spurs to a championship in 2005. Duncan, while highly effective (as always) took a back seat during that run due the severely sprained ankle he was nursing at the time...

So one could argue that when Manu was in his prime he was an unstoppable force... and led his teams to championships... (see Argentina GOLD medal winning team in '04 and during his playoff run in '05). Manu took it hard to the rim and seemingly scored at will, or got to the line... his decision-making was impeccable. That playoff run was one for the ages as far as international players are concerned.

When Dirk was in his prime he... he accomplished... ummm... an MVP season?? A Finals embarrassment....??

You keep Dirk....

I'll take Manu.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

C. Arvydas Sabonis
PF. Dirk Nowitzki
SF. Toni Kukoc
SG. Drazen Petrovic
SG/PG. Manu Ginobili

Galis was better than every single player on this list.

[Fingaroll44]

I almost forgot, what about Vlade Divac (i might have mispelled it)?

...and the winner for best international flopper goes to...

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

Duncan might have been born outside the U.S. but he did go to Wake Forrest and played for team USA in the Olympics. I would classify him as domestic, plus people born in the U.S. Virgin Island are also considered US Citizens.

An International player for me is someone who grew up and learned to ball overseas, then came to the U.S. and made a name for himself a la Ginobli, Dirk.

So why the is not Arroyo considered American then?

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

Drazen Petrovic I'd agree for those who do not know or ever heard of this guy, he was the best European basketball player in the game till he had an untimely passing.

Those were words right out of MJ mouth

1. Galis
2. Drazen

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

If you went to a US College you shouldnt be considered an international player. Especially for this argument.

So why is Jasikevicius not considered American? He played high school and college in USA.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

I would consider Manu to be the most accomplished International Basketball player.

However, Sabonis easily had the highest level of Basketball IQ among those noted. One could argue that Sabonis had the highest IQ of any post player.

Time to bust out the Sabonis Mixtape.

Manu is better than Sabas.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

It's close, but I'd give the edge to Sabonis. Most of the people I've talked to who watched Euro ball when he was young say he was the Jordan of Europe.

1. Galis
2. Drazen
3. Marciulionis
4. Sabonis

Best players of the 80s in Europe. If you want to look at the 90s then Kukoc, Galis, Bodiroga were all better than Sabonis. Whoever you talked to clearly never watched any European basketball back then.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

That's not saying much considering that Euro ball was Euro crap pre Dream Team. How many Euro players during Sabonis's stint in Euro ball were actually viable NBA candidates?

You are stupid.

[Dr. Gonzo]

1. Galis
2. Drazen
3. Marciulionis
4. Sabonis

Best players of the 80s in Europe. If you want to look at the 90s then Kukoc, Galis, Bodiroga were all better than Sabonis. Whoever you talked to clearly never watched any European basketball back then.

John Stamos!

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

I don't think anybody can take Manu over Dirk without being biased..Dirk is underrated career-wise, he's been a top 5 player of this entire generation with Duncan, Shaq, Kobe, and KG..he has an MVP, he's been an all-NBA caliber player for the majority of his career, he's led a team to the Finals..he's never really had elite support too..

I would rather have Dirk for a season but for a game 7 of playoffs or one game of single elimination in FIBA I take Manu every time over Dirk.