11 Amazing Immigrants - Part II

The NBA's Top Foreign Players

April 13, 2008

Finishing off the round-up of the NBA's top international talent, here is the top-five. (To check out ranks 6-11, click here: [1] )

5. Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs)

He is the reigning Finals MVP, he married his desperate housewife Eva Longoria in a French chateau last year and he breaks ankles and gets anywhere he wants to in the paint like no one else. Except for Chris Paul, that is, who is even better but unfortunately for the purposes of this list is American. Still, Parker was injured for part of the season and such is the quality of the reigning champs, that he isn’t even the best foreign player in San Antonio anymore. His French rap album also rules out a better ranking – Tony, please stick to basketball!

4. Yao Ming (Houston Rockets)

My millions of loyal Chinese readers may disagree and never visit this blog again but while Yao may be a great offensive player he does not equal that output on the defensive end. Yao has become the best offensive center in the NBA but in spite of his 7 foot 6 frame he is no Dwight Howard when it comes to protecting the basket. And unfortunately, just as you can count on bad weather in Berlin, you can be sure that Yao is going to miss a sizeable chunk of the season with some sort of injury. It also has to detract from his overall value when his team goes on to win ten straight games without him in the lineup.

3. Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns)

On the alternative list of Canadians to make it big in the U.S. he stands somewhere behind Celine Dion. On my list, however, he is beyond doubt the highest-ranking North American. Nash has disproved conventional wisdom which tells us that guards - and point guards in particular - fall off dramatically soon after they hit 30. Outside of professional sprinters like Chris Paul, Tony Parker or teammate Leandro Barbosa, no-one plays at a faster pace than Nash, yet seems to always make the right decision. While he is a close second to CP3 in overall assists, nobody makes as many passes that lead to easy baskets as Nash. Just ask Shawn Marion whether he rather gets the ball from Nash or his new Miami point guard Chris Quinn. And if you need any more proof for Nash’s value, then take a quick glimpse at Shaq whose body language since coming to the desert shows you what a pleasure it is to play with Canada’s finest.

2. Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks)

I may be a great homer and a loyal admirer of the big German's unique game. The way he came back from a high ankle sprain in no time to save the Mavs’ season should ultimately rid him of the “soft”-tag that has unfairly followed Dirk throughout his career. Yet, even I have to admit that after his deserved MVP season last year, Nowitzki has dropped off ever so slightly. So in spite of his beautiful step-back jumper and his fist-pumping passion for the game, I am forced to leave him here: at a very good second place. Of course, if Dallas proves all doubters wrong and wins the crown this year with Jason Kidd running the show, Nowitzki is going to reclaim his rightful spot atop this list. Or any list, for that matter.

1. Manu Ginobili (San Antonio Spurs)

Ginobili has a huge bald spot on the back of his head, and it’s really the only weak spot I could find in him. Although he comes of the bench (how many elite players would consent to that?), he scores, rebounds, passes and wills his team to victory in a year where Tim Duncan appears to have lost a step. Oh yes, he also plays stifling defense and infuriates opponents by drawing a ton of charges. While Ginobili cost the Spurs the title in 2006 by stupidly fouling Nowitzki in the final seconds of Game 7 of the Conference Finals, he might make up for it this year by helping the Spurs to defend their title for the first time ever. And though he is unlikely to become the first player to win the MVP in the Euroleague and the NBA, Manu is worth every bit of consideration.

That's it for this year's best migrant workers. You may have noticed that - with one exception - all of the above play on winning teams. So listen up General Managers around the League: Give jobs to foreigners! It pays...

- Ole

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Created by: Ole