Bleacher Report Ranks the 10 Best European Players in NBA History
Paul Connor
Host · Writer
1. Nikola Jokic
Playing Career: 2012-Present
Position: Center
Team(s): Denver Nuggets
Career Stats (10 Seasons): 31.7 MPG | 21.8 PPG | 10.9 RPG | 7.2 APG | 1.3 SPG | 0.7 BPG | .560 FG%
Career Highlights:
- NBA Champion (2023)
- NBA Finals MVP (2023)
- 3x NBA Most Valuable Player (2021, 2022, 2024)
- 7x NBA All-Star (2019-2025)
- 5x All-NBA First Team (2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025)
- 2x All-NBA Second Team (2020, 2023)
10. Vlade Divac
Playing Career: 1989-2005
Position: Center
Team(s): Los Angeles Lakers (1989-1996, 2004-2005), Charlotte Hornets (1996-1998), Sacramento Kings (1999-2004)
Career Stats (16 Seasons): 29.8 MPG | 11.8 PPG | 8.2 RPG | 3.1 APG | 1.1 SPG | 1.4 BPG | .495 FG%
Career Highlights:
- NBA All-Star (2001)
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9. Marc Gasol
Playing Career: 2008-2021
Position: Center
Team(s): Memphis Grizzlies (2008-2019), Toronto Raptors (2019-2020), Los Angeles Lakers (2020-2021)
Career Stats (13 Seasons): 33.2 MPG | 14.0 PPG | 7.4 RPG | 3.4 APG | 0.9 SPG | 1.4 BPG | .481 FG%
Career Highlights:
- NBA Champion (2019)
- 3x NBA All-Star (2012, 2015, 2017)
- All-NBA First Team (2015)
- All-NBA Second Team (2013)
- NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2013)
8. Rudy Gobert
Playing Career: 2013-Present
Position: Center
Team(s): Utah Jazz (2013-2022), Minnesota Timberwolves (2022-Present)
Career Stats: 12.6 PPG | 11.7 RPG | 1.4 APG | 0.7 SPG | 2.1 BPG | .656 FG%
Career Highlights:
- 3x NBA All-Star (2020-2022)
- All-NBA Second Team (2017)
- 3x All-NBA Third Team (2019-2021)
- 4x NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2018, 2019, 2021, 2024)
- 7x NBA All-Defensive First Team (2017-2022, 2024)
- NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2025)
- NBA Rebounding Leader (2022)
- NBA Blocks Leader (2017)
7. Andrei Kirilenko
Playing Career: 2001-2011, 2012-2015
Position: Small Forward/Power Forward
Team(s): Utah Jazz (2001-2011), Minnesota Timberwolves (2012-2013), Brooklyn Nets (2013-2014)
Career Stats (13 Seasons): 30.0 MPG | 11.8 PPG | 5.5 RPG | 2.7 APG | 1.4 SPG | 1.8 BPG | .474 FG%
Career Highlights:
- NBA All-Star (2004)
- NBA All-Defensive First Team (2006)
- 2x NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2004, 2005)
- NBA Blocks Leader (2005)
6. Tony Parker
Playing Career: 2001-2019
Position: Point Guard
Team(s): San Antonio Spurs (2001-2018), Charlotte Hornets (2018-2019)
Career Stats (18 Seasons): 30.5 MPG | 15.5 PPG | 2.7 RPG | 5.6 APG | 0.8 SPG | 0.1 BPG | .491 FG%
Career Highlights:
- 4x NBA Champion (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
- NBA Finals MVP (2007)
- 6x NBA All-Star (2006, 2007, 2009, 2012-2014)
- 3x All-NBA Second Team (2012-2014)
- All-NBA Third Team (2009)
5. Pau Gasol
Playing Career: 2001-2019
Position: Power Forward
Team(s): Memphis Grizzlies (2001-2008), Los Angeles Lakers (2008-2014), Chicago Bulls (2014-2016), San Antonio Spurs (2016-2019), Milwaukee Bucks (2019)
Career Stats (18 Seasons): 33.4 MPG | 17.0 PPG | 9.2 RPG | 3.2 APG | 0.5 SPG | 1.6 BPG | .507 FG%
Career Highlights:
- 2x NBA Champion (2009, 2010)
- 6x NBA All-Star (2006, 2009-2011, 2015, 2016)
- 2x All-NBA Second Team (2011, 2015)
- 2x All-NBA Third Team (2009, 2010)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (2002)
4. Luka Doncic
Playing Career: 2018-Present
Position: Point Guard
Team(s): Dallas Mavericks (2018-2025), Los Angeles Lakers (2025-Present)
Career Stats (7 seasons): 34.9 MPG | 28.6 PPG | 8.6 RPG | 8.2 APG | 1.2 SPG | 0.5 BPG | .468 FG%
Career Highlights:
- 5x NBA All-Star (2020-2024)
- 5x All-NBA First Team (2020-2024)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (2019)
- NBA Scoring Champion (2024)
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Playing Career: 2013-Present
Position: Power Forward
Team(s): Milwaukee Bucks
Career Stats (12 Seasons): 32.9 MPG | 23.9 PPG | 9.9 RPG | 5.0 APG | 1.1 SPG | 1.2 BPG | .551 FG%
Career Highlights:
- NBA Champion (2021)
- NBA Finals MVP (2021)
- 2x NBA Most Valuable Player (2019, 2020)
- 9x NBA All-Star (2017-2025)
- 7x All-NBA First Team (2019-2025)
- 2x All-NBA Second Team (2017, 2018)
- NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2020)
- 4x NBA All-Defensive First Team (2019-2022)
2. Dirk Nowitzki
Playing Career: 1998-2019
Position: Power Forward
Team(s): Dallas Mavericks
Career Stats (21 Seasons): 33.8 MPG | 20.7 PPG | 7.5 RPG | 2.4 APG | 0.8 SPG | 0.8 BPG | .471 FG%
Career Highlights:
- NBA Champion (2011)
- NBA Finals MVP (2011)
- NBA Most Valuable Player (2007)
- 6th All-Time in Career Points (31,560)
- 14x NBA All-Star (2002-2012, 2014, 2015, 2019)
- 4x All-NBA First Team (2005-2007, 2009)
- 5x All-NBA Second Team (2002, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011)
- 3x All-NBA Third Team (2001, 2004, 2012)
1. Nikola Jokic
Playing Career: 2012-Present
Position: Center
Team(s): Denver Nuggets
Career Stats (10 Seasons): 31.7 MPG | 21.8 PPG | 10.9 RPG | 7.2 APG | 1.3 SPG | 0.7 BPG | .560 FG%
Career Highlights:
- NBA Champion (2023)
- NBA Finals MVP (2023)
- 3x NBA Most Valuable Player (2021, 2022, 2024)
- 7x NBA All-Star (2019-2025)
- 5x All-NBA First Team (2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025)
- 2x All-NBA Second Team (2020, 2023)
10. Vlade Divac
Playing Career: 1989-2005
Position: Center
Team(s): Los Angeles Lakers (1989-1996, 2004-2005), Charlotte Hornets (1996-1998), Sacramento Kings (1999-2004)
Career Stats (16 Seasons): 29.8 MPG | 11.8 PPG | 8.2 RPG | 3.1 APG | 1.1 SPG | 1.4 BPG | .495 FG%
Career Highlights:
- NBA All-Star (2001)
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