Saturday, June 11, 2011

Top 10 foreign players in the NBA today

With German-born Dirk Nowitzki the favorite to get NBA finals MVP I think that it is time to identify the top ten foreign (foreign to USA) players as there are many of them these days. (Tim Duncan and JJ Barea not included since he is from the US virgin islands and Puerto Rico
10. Tony Parker
Tony Parker is a Belgian-born Point Guard of French nationality. He is a good shooter but has to improve his 3-point shooting. He is also good in the post which is rare for a guard. Tony Parker is getting older and is not as good as he once was.
9. Danilo Gallinari
Danilo Gallinari is an Italian small forward for the Denver Nuggets. Ever since being traded from the New York Knicks in the Carmelo Anthony trade Gallinari has improved. He is scoring much more and his defense has improved as well. Expect him to average some 22 points per game in the 2011-2012 season. He is young so expect him to become one of the best basketball players in the world but for now let's keep him at 9th among foreign players.

8. Joakim Noah
Joakim Noah is a French center who currently plays for the Chicago Bulls. He has been put down because of his lack of offensive capability. He is a great player at defense and is the main reason Chicago is so good at getting second chance points. He is big on the rebounding end especially on offensive rebounds.

7. Al Horford
Al Horford is a Dominican center who currently plays for the Atlanta Hawks. He is a good scorer and gets a lot of rebounds. Al Horford is young and athletic so people should expect him to improve.

6. Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol is a Spanish power forward who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. He is good at scoring in the paint and by taking jump shots. He is also good at rebounding and defense. However in the 2011 playoffs he was off his game causing him to drop to 6th when he was 1st a few years ago. Pau Gasol is aging but at the same time it is hard to see whether or not he will get back to form or not.

5. Marc Gasol
Marc Gasol is a Spanish center who currently plays for the Memphis Grizzlies. He had a great postseason and is no longer living in his older brother Pau's shadow (see above). Expect the younger Marc Gasol to become one of the best centers in the NBA.

4. Nene
Nene is a Brazilian center who plays for the Denver Nuggets. He is the best in field goal percentage. Ever since Carmelo Anthony got traded to the Knicks he has improved. His rebounds went up from 5 to 7 per game and his points went up from 10 to 15 per game. I think that Nene will be one of the best centers in the NBA next season. Next season he should average 20 points and 10 rebounds per game.

3. Steve Nash
Steve Nash is a point guard who plays for the Phoenix Suns. He was born in South Africa but is of Canadian nationality. He is really good at making other players around him better. The Phoenix Suns did not make the playoffs this season but if they did not have him  they would be a lottery team. Steve Nash runs Phoenix.

2. Manu Ginobili
Manu Ginobili is an Argentinean shooting guard who plays for the San Antonio Spurs. Manu Ginobili is a great shooter from everywhere and is alright at defense. Ginobili can also drive to the rim and set up other players. Manu Ginobili is a great player.

1. Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki gets 1st place easily. Everyone else was fighting for 2nd place. Nowizki can do everything. He can drive, he can shoot, he can post up, he can draw the foul, He can rebound, Dirk Nowitzki is the full package. Nothing left out. No matter whose guarding him Dirk always has the better matchup. Dirk Nowitzki is the best foreign player in the NBA.

This list will change in the future because of players developing and players aging. Steve Nash is 37 so he does not have that long before he retires. Ginobili and Parker are also aging. I expect Ricky Rubio to high up on the list when he starts with Minnesota next season. Young players like Gallinari and Horford will develop and go up on the list. Pau Gasol is very unpredictable because he may suck forever or get back to form. I think that this list in general is unpredictable because there are draft picks, young stars, old stars and their game will change in the future whether they get better or get worse 





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