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Porn_Player · 11-27-2007, 05:27 AM

Ok so I will edit this thread every week (mid-weekish), hopefully by that time people will have contributed a few players from different countries. I will then slot these players into the list. Try not to just name players because this thread can be used as a tool to help those who may not know much about International basketball, so more info/clips/pictures the better.

7 Players from each country MAXIMUM
Allowed to be any country in the world even USA
No hogging all the players let people contribute unless of course this thread dies on its feet then go crazy

You name them and I compile them.

Perhaps I will even conduct a vote to rank teams once ordered

I will get things underway -

Brazil's Oscar Schmidt 6'8" Shooting Guard- This guy averaged over 30ppg in Brazilian league at almost 40. One of the best 3point shooters ever with a stroke that was clean but not so pretty. Although drafted by the Nets, he kept playing in Brazil and went to Spain, where he amazed with his scoring abilities . He played in 5 olympics his first in 1980 and his final appearance 16 years later. His scoring average on the world stage was 28.8 but during Barcelona in '92 he remarkably went off for 42.3 average on the tournament.

A substantial player not only for his incredible scoring abilities but he was in fact the first foreign player with no college experience to be drafted into the NBA. Schmidt never did make it to the L citing understandle reasons "I know my limitations, my defects, but I could never play 10 minutes a game. [The] NBA is great if you are a star. But if not, you get moved around. My friend (Georgi) Glouchkov played a year in Phoenix. He tells me bad stories about [the] NBA. The guards [did not] like him, they don’t pass him the ball. I would not like that. I could not stand that."

Video of an awesome battle where Schmidt scores 44 (I think) while Petrovic drops 62

in '89 European Cup Winners Cup, Enjoy

**Krstic All Star** · 11-27-2007, 05:32 AM

Israel
Oded Katash

A 6'4 guard known for his ball-handling and shooting skills, formed a dynamic backcourt with former UConn star Doron Sheffer for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the late 1990s. Was going to play in the NBA, but the lockout of 1998 ended that hope, and he later suffered a career-ending knee injury in 2000, though he wouldn't formally retire until 2004.

Israeli League MVP 1997-1998 season, led Maccabi Tel Aviv to four Israeli championships and two Israeli cups, but ironically won the Euroleague title with Panathinaikos - beating his old team to win it.

luther · 11-27-2007, 04:40 PM

Serbia, Dejan Bodiroga, 6-9 SF (1973, drafted in 2nd round of 1995 NBA Draft by Sacramento Kings).

Probably the closest thing Europe has had to a Magic Johnson or Larry Bird in that Bodiroga never was a brilliant athlete. And like Magic, he never was a pure, deadeye shooter. He seemed like a PG sometimes, a SF or even PF at others. But he won multiple Euroleague championships and proved in international competition, including against the USA, that he was a truly top-flight player, if not talent.

Bodiroga played with powerhouses such as Real Madrid, Panathinaikos and FC Barcelona, as well as Rome and KK Zadar. Despite being drafted, he never came to the NBA.

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HB · 11-27-2007, 04:42 PM

Turkey
Hidayet Turkoglu

Very unique skillset. Excellent shooter, nice handles for a big man. More comfortable at the 3 spot, but I am sure you could get away with playing him at the 4 on occasion.

Porn_Player · 11-27-2007, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luther

Serbia, Dejan Bodiroga, 6-9 SF (1973, drafted in 2nd round of 1995 NBA Draft by Sacramento Kings).

Great choice, the 'Bodriga bodywrap crossover' (as i have just officially dubbed it

) was so darn effective and I never seen him mess it up. I practice that move everytime I step on court it just delivers perfect ball protection from the defender.

P.S - It is real easy to embed video's next time you go onto youtube and watch a video underneath About This Video is a little embed code just simply copy and paste that. Hope that helped

luther · 11-27-2007, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porn_Player

P.S - It is real easy to embed video's next time you go onto youtube and watch a video underneath About This Video is a little embed code just simply copy and paste that. Hope that helped

Ah, i was thinking it was a button on the msg board--and obv not finding it. Thanks. And cheers, indeed (as i actually was taking a drink when i read your post).

But I think you're wrong that Schmidt was the 1st international, non-collegian to be drafted. I'll do some research to prove it...eventually.

luther · 11-27-2007, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HB

Turkey
Hidayet Turkoglu

Very unique skillset. Excellent shooter, nice handles for a big man. More comfortable at the 3 spot, but I am sure you could get away with playing him at the 4 on occasion.

He's starting at the 4 this year, isn't he?

Great choice, anyway. I love Turkoglu, and think he's been underrated for years. He played all five positions while he was in Sacramento. One of those guys (like my Serbian nominee, Bodiroga) who is simple a basketball player. I love skill guys.

If I can add to the Turkey list...

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Ibrahim Kutluay, a 6-3 combination guard. There was a time I thought he might be the first Turkish player to make the NBA, but he didn't actually get a shot until the mid-00s (if you can call what Seattle gave him "a shot"). Not a real PG, not a SG, not a shooter, not a leaper, just a player. Very good. The guy can score. A staple on the Turkish national teams, even when guys like Turkoglu sometimes begged competitions off.

luther · 11-28-2007, 01:40 PM

Croatia: I'll begin with a controversial choice. There are arguably two men who stand above the others, but I'll go with the one who (at least in America) isn't considered a legend.

Toni Kukoc, 6-11 F/G.

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The other player who is obviously deserving as being named among the top couple of Croatian players ever is the late, great Drazen Petrovic. And because of his scoring prowess, many people probably would rate him first. But Kukoc was such an amazing, versatile, multi-skilled player that I had to start with him. He won European league titles and competitions while with Jugoplastika Split and Benneton Treviso, then came to America and was a key factor in the Bulls' second set of titles. The 6-11 player could play all five positions ... and did, even in the NBA. Arguably both the best shooter and passer on the late Bulls teams, although inarguably not as good as either Jordan or Pippen overall. A player who was either behind or ahead of his time, his style was better suited to either the 80s or 00s, with tempos increased and a less physical game. Think about a younger, healthy Kukoc on the Phoenix Suns, the Orlando Magic or even the early 00s Sacramento Kings teams.

The Croatian Sensation, the Waiter, the Spider from Split, the Pink Panther...Toni Kukoc.

**Krstic All Star** · 11-29-2007, 07:38 AM

Can't see you going wrong with Kukoc.

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