THE LEAGUE^©

For over 25 years, the NBA has seen a steady infusion of international talent enter the league.  Time was, drafting an international player meant a team would have to wait several years before seeing a return on its investment.  Today, however, internationals have significantly shortened the learning curve, with many now ranking in the upper echelon of the league’s best players.  But the road wasn’t always paved with gold.

Arvydas Sabonis of Lithuania was drafted by Portland in the first round of the 1986 NBA Draft but didn’t wear a Blazers jersey until 1995.  Toni Kukuc of Croatia was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the second round of the 1990 Draft, but didn’t see action until 1993.  Peja Stojakovic of Yugoslavia was chosen by Sacramento in the first round of the 1996 Draft, but didn’t enter the league until 1999.  Nonetheless, the international game, particularly in Europe, has made steady and significant inroads since the early 1980s, with many factors at its core.

By televising American basketball to international audiences — particularly the NBA — the perception of the game was forever altered for the international player.  Basketball was no longer the plodding, mechanical game played in the rest of the world throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s. It was now seen as a vibrant game of speed, grace, skill and athleticism.

Suddenly the international player was growing up watching Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, and no-look passes and double-clutch jumpers became a reality. Later, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and company were as big an influence on young Europeans as on young Americans. Some might say even bigger.

Foreign coaches began making regular sojourns to the United States, a practice pioneered very early on by the Yugoslavs who copied and assimilated American basketball concepts and then made their own adjustments and developments. In addition, American coaches, e.g., Hubie Brown, were invited abroad to share their knowledge and experience at clinics and camps all over the world, which further bridged the gulf between American and international basketball.  As a result, the international player began to evolve at an expedited pace, with the primary aspect of this evolution being physical. Suffice it to say, international players finally mastered the challenges of the NBA game. Today, they can run and jump, and they have the speed, quickness, and reflexes previous generations lacked. Although not yet on a par with Americans regarding athleticism or strength, some have managed to make up for their deficiencies by honing skills to a far more refined degree than those of their American counterparts, particularly at younger ages.

Another huge advantage for the young international player is his opportunity to play in top leagues in his early teens. Therefore, when the draft rolls around, he’s already been playing professionally for several years against tough veteran competition.  Thus, before donning an NBA uniform, he’s already had a year or two of high-level pro ball under his belt.

Despite these myriad advancements, the international game may never be as spectacular, creative, or as physically demanding as the American game, so to prove their mettle international players will continue to make the trek to the NBA.

But it looks like things are about to change …

With the explosion of international players in today’s game, it was only a matter of time before the NBA’s desire to expand into Europe would be revisited, especially given the few opportunities for expansion domestically.  As such, David Stern is mulling plans to create five full-fledged franchises in Europe over the next decade, with the five teams forming a “European” division within the NBA.  The teams would play the full 82-game schedule and compete for the NBA championship.  The proposal is new and many facets still need to be worked out, with everything being predicated upon more arenas being built in Europe in coming years, as well as the development of international partnerships with local federations and business interests on par with the deal struck by the NBA and NBA China in January of this year.

Can the NBA sustain this proposed expansion?  Would American players be willing to play overseas?  Most important, can the NBA model succeed in Europe with low-scale popularity, government regulation, and rigid basketball organizing bodies — the complex network of old-world federations that run the sport in each counry and throughout Europe?

If the FIBA model is any indication then the answer is a resounding yes, particulalry in light of the sheer numbers of internationals now playing in the NBA.

This season, NBA rosters featured 76 international players from 31 countries and territories (active and inactive).  The Toronto Rapters and Phoenix Suns have the most international players in the league with six. The Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, and Golden State Warriors each have five international players. The Atlanta Hawks’ Al Horford, the top international selection in the 2007 NBA Draft, and Milwaukee Bucks Yi Jianlian, the NBA’s fourth player from China, also will make their NBA debuts this year. In addition, this year NBA rosters included a record eight players from France, five from Spain and six from Argentina.  Of this number, nine players made MeanD’s Big Board this postseason, with Tony Parker leading the way as the reigning Best Damn Guard as well as the 2006-07 Finals MVP.

For further proof of how far-reaching the game has become, and in keeping with the spirit of the 2007-08 playoffs, lets take a brief look at the careers of the five players currently in the running for Lord of the League on MeanD’s Big Board, starting with none other than reigning NBA Champion Tony Parker.

Three-time NBA champion William Anthony Parker was born in Bruges, Belgium and raised in France.  His father, Tony Sr., played NCAA basketball at Loyola University in Chicago and then on the professional level overseas.  His younger brother, TJ, played three seasons at Northwestern University and is now in his second professional season in France. Predictably interested in soccer as a youth, Parker switched to basketball after watching Michael Jordan evolve into a global basketball superstar.

Parker played for France in the 2001 European Championships.  In addition, he played for France’s Junior National Team in the European Junior Championships in both 1998 and 2000.  Soon afterwards, he made a big splash at the 2000 Nike Hoop Summit in Indianapolis, scoring 20 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals against top U.S. talent.  Parker’s performance prompted a recruiting war between several colleges, including UCLA and Georgia Tech who were on the verge of persuading Parker to join them. However, Parker decided to forgo the NCAA and remain in France where he spent the next two years with Paris Basket Racing in the French championship before entering the 2001 NBA Draft.

Despite his pedigree and tremendous basketball acumen, Parker was not an immediate hit with Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich, certainly not as San Antonio’s point guard of the future.

Parker’s first experience with the Spurs was daunting as coach Popovich had him play against Spurs scout and ex-NBA-player Lance Blanks. Parker was so overwhelmed by Blank’s tough and physical defense that Popovich was ready to send him packing after just 10 minutes.  However, after seeing a “best of” mix tape of Parker’s best plays, Popovich decided to invite the talented guard back a second time. This time, Parker made a better impression against Blanks.  Said Popovich, “… when we gave him his first workout, we didn’t think he was tough enough – and we sent him home. And then we set up another interview, another workout … and he was fantastic in that one.” 

In 2001-02, Parker was named to the All-Rookie First Team becoming the first foreign-born guard to earn the honor.  Today, Parker has blossomed into one of the NBA’s elite point guards.  Despite his relatively small size for a basketball player (6′2″), he led the league in “points in the paint” for a large portion of the 2005–06 season. He is considered one of the fastest in the league from baseline to baseline, and his steadily improving jump shot now makes him an almost impossible cover when healthy.  For all his hard work, Parker was selected as a first-time NBA All-Star in the 2005–06 season, averaging a regular season career-high 18.9 ppg on an impressive 55% from the field. In 2006-07, Parker was named 2007 Finals MVP, also becoming the first European-born player to win the award.

Today, with the Spurs leading the Phoenix Suns 2-0 in their best of seven first round matchup, Parker is not only reestablishing himself as one of the best-shooting point guards in the NBA, but as one of the premier PGs in the world.

Born in Turkey in 1979, it’s probably difficult for Americans to imagine how Mehmet Okur was exposed to the game of basketball enough during that time to learn to play it at such a high level. But obviously he was. And he wasn’t alone. Not just in Turkey of course, but in many parts of the world. Players have crossed borders and seas to impact today’s NBA, and it’s an impact that has given basketball fans a product we couldn’t have imagined as recently as twenty years ago.

Okur may not garner the recognition of some of his fellow countrymen, but his game will most certainly be emulated by future generations of Turks for years to come. Mehmet gives the Utah Jazz such a versatile presence with his dangerous perimeter game that he has become one of the league’s most difficult covers for even the most savvy defenders.  Of course, versatility is a very common thread among international players, and it becoming increasingly common in more and more American big men as a result.

Originally drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 2002 draft, Okur was the first NBA player born in Turkey. He played two seasons in The Motor City, the second of which resulted in a championship in 2004. The salary cap dictated a move, and he was signed by the Jazz in the following off-season. He has provided a great inside-out balance, averaging 17 points and 7.5 rebounds over the last three years.

Heading into this season’s playoffs, any critics of the Jazz’ chances usually included a mention of their inside play coming up short. So far, Okur has met the challenge of his critics. Granted, the undermanned Houston Rockets may not be a good barometer — although they did manage to bring their best-of-seven series to 2-1 with a gutsy win in Utah last night — if the Jazz advance, there will be new matchups and challenges awaiting Okur, most likely versus the Los Angeles Lakers.  While the Lakers have more capable big men to play Okur when he ventures into the low post, his outside game may be the equalizer. And in a matchup that may be overlooked, I for one will be looking forward to seeing Lamar Odom battle Mehmet’s newfound low post game.

Like George Mikan and Wilt Chamberlain, though for different reasons and attributes, German-born Dirk Nowitzki may prove in the long run to have an effect on the NBA like few contemporaries his size. At seven feet, Nowitzki may already be the most accomplished and acclaimed foreign-born player the league has seen, having already achieved an NBA MVP and an upper echelon reputation. At the age of 29, he has cemented himself as one of this era’s greats. He is also the first European-born player to win the MVP award. Perhaps unfairly, he has received some criticism for his relative lack of post-season success. But there are many lesser players who have achieved greater heights with regards to team accomplishments, which proves the theory that it’s more than just the player who’s responsible in this intricate team sport that is professional basketball.

Nowitzki was selected ninth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1998, but traded to the Dallas Mavericks immediately afterward in an intelligent move by then-head coach of Dallas, Don Nelson. Perhaps Nelson saw something he had never seen before, as a player of that size with a long-range game like Nowitzki’s simply wasn’t normal. Given the responsibility of rebounding or scoring from the low-post – while the latter is not his strong suit – Nowitzki has proven adept at those as well.

Nowitzki has gradually improved his game, with seven NBA All-Star and seven All-NBA team selections to show for it. It would have been quite an adventurous statement twenty years ago that the league’s MVP and one of its top players would be German – and that a seven-footer could possibly posses the game he has. But that’s life in today’s NBA. And there is no doubt more are coming.

Currently down 0-2 to the New Orleans Hornets, Dirk has put up very solid numbers in both games.  Nevertheless, look for the Mavs to bounce back at home with strong performances from Dirk’s supporting cast, as Dallas looks to even the series at two before heading back to New Orleans for a pivotal Game 5.

With three championship rings and many clutch moments to his credit, Argentinian Manu Ginobili has proven that sound fundamentals trump sheer athleticism. Born with an innate gift for the game, Ginobili joined the San Antonio Spurs in 2002, though the team drafted him in 1999 — which was a blessing for the Spurs because when Ginobili finally arrived in San Antonio he and his game were already refined. Manu is the only player to win a Euroleague title, and Olympic gold medal and an NBA championship. Following the ’02 FIBA World Championships, he was named to the all-tournament team, along with Nowitzki, Stojakovic, and Yao Ming.

Ginobili comes from a family of basketball players, some professional. As a result, it didn’t take long for him to impact the league. Of the current foreign crop in the NBA, Manu’s game is arguably the most well-rounded.  And like fellow NBA champions Danny Ainge, Dennis Rodman, and Bill Laimbeer, Ginobili is revered as both hero if on your team, and villian if not.  But the fact is, Ginobili is a winner, which, despite his incessant flopping, may be the most frustrating of all to opponents. And, as was the case with Ainge, Rodman, and Laimbeer, most NBA fans would forgo their disdain for Manu’s antics if he were wearing their hometown team’s jersey.

Now 30 years old, his NBA legacy is already cemented. And while his Spurs teammates, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, may get more publicity, the fact is, San Antonio would not be who and where they are without Manu.

Pau Gasol has often been compared to fellow European players Toni Kukoč and Dirk Nowitzki, holding career averages of 18.8 ppg, 8.6 rpg and 3.1 apg. He is a refined scorer from both inside and midrange, and also is near-ambidextrous. Gasol uses a variety of midrange jumpers, hookshots, up-and-under moves, reverse pivots, and shot fakes to score very efficiently. He is also an above-average shotblocker, with a career average of 1.8 bpg.

Named MVP of the 2006 FIBA World Championships in leading Spain to the gold medal, despite missing the final due to a broken fifth metatarsal in his left foot, Gasol also played for Spain in the 2004 Olympics, averaging 22.4 ppg, and 7.3 rpg.  His younger brother Marc, a 6-10 center, played high school basketball at Lausanne in Memphis for two seasons before joining Pau’s former F.C. Barcelona team in Spain. Pau and Marc were teammates on the Spanish national team during the 2006 World Championships. Both his parents played second-division basketball in Spain. Pau began playing at the age of seven, playing point guard until he was 13.  His first contact with the NBA came via television at age 12 while watching the original 1992 Dream Team win Olympic Gold Medal in Barcelona.  Not surprisingly, Pau lists Michael Jordan as the most exciting player he’s ever played against.

Pau was a member of one of the best teams in the ACB, the top professional basketball league in Spain. He was also a member of teams that won the ACB Championship and Junior World Championship in 1999. Playing for Barcelona’s junior team, he was an integral part of the team that won the 1998 Albert Schweitzer Tournament and the 1998 European Junior Championship.  He was named MVP of the Spanish National Cup (Copa del Rey) after leading team to victory in Malaga, Spain, and he had a breakthrough season in 2000-01 as a 20-year-old playing for F.C. Barcelona, playing in 29 of team’s first 33 games, averaging 11.3 points and 5.2 rebounds in 23.8 minutes.

On February 9, 2006, for the first time in his career, Gasol was selected to play in the 2006 NBA All-Star Game as a reserve center for the Western Conference.  He was the first Spanish basketball player as well as the first Grizzlies player to ever make it to the All-Star Game.

With the Lakers currently enjoying a 2-0 advantage over the high-powered Denver Nuggets, pundits cite Gasol’s acquisition from Memphis as the likely reason many predict Los Angeles to come out of the Western Conference.

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These are just a few of the best Euros to come down the pike in the past 6-10 years.  All are highly-skilled, versatile players capable of playing multiple positions.

In coming years, more and more internationals are sure to come.  However, to the detriment of the American player, internationals are highly receptive to coaching.  They typically study every facet of the game, absorbing the lessons of the Jordans, Birds, Magics and the other greats who came before them.  Perhaps this will be a wake-up call to the American player, who, until recently, was in danger of losing his competitive edge as a result of his preoccupation with contracts and stats rather than wins and losses.

NBA

Ford and Calderon get Raptors back in series

T.J. Ford scored 21 points, Jose Calderon had 18 points and 13 assists, and the Raptors beat the Magic 108-94 on Thursday night, cutting Orlando’s lead to 2-1 in their first-round playoff series.

Dwight Howard had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Magic, while Hedo Turkoglu added 26 points and Rashard Lewis scored 19.

Posted by MeanDovine-Ricko on Friday, April 25th, 2008 at 4:15 am.