Best international player to never play in the NBA?

RIPskaterdude · Post #1 » by **RIPskaterdude** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 6:55 am

I would have to say Dejan Bodiroga.

Bodiroga was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in the second round (overall #51). One year later, the Kings selected his younger countryman Peja Stojakovic. However, unlike Stojaković, Bodiroga declined the offer to play in the NBA, choosing instead to remain in Europe.

I suppose there could be alot more, but try to keep it to people who were at LEAST drafted.

candy for lunch · Post #2 » by **candy for lunch** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 6:58 am

The real Arvydas

Mr. Savage · Post #3 » by **Mr. Savage** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:00 am

Radivoj Korac.

nestleflipz317 · Post #4 » by **nestleflipz317** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:13 am

Oscar Schmidt.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Schmidt

His best Olympic performance was the 1988 Seoul Olympics. He scored 338 points for an average of 42.3 points per game.

Cammo101 · Post #5 » by **Cammo101** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:14 am

Probably Oscar Schmidt.

Mr. Savage · Post #6 » by **Mr. Savage** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:17 am

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radivoje_Korac

RIPskaterdude · Post #7 » by **RIPskaterdude** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:29 am

Whoa...

99 points in a game

Post #8 » by **DelaneyRudd** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:36 am

Fran Vazquez...

or how 'bout Frederic Weis?

mattyj · Post #9 » by **mattyj** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:43 am

Its Oscar Schmidt

/thread

UDRIH14 · Post #10 » by **UDRIH14** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:49 am

victor sanikidze

javtokas

Apollo64 · Post #11 » by **Apollo64** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:56 am

Nikos Galis for me, without a doubt.

Proof below, bear in mind he was playing that way in EVERY game for years and years, he was Europe's scoring equivalent of Michael Jordan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94X7oyzlfeY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjKjvNVidNw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93qc8EzsohM

theGreatRC · Post #12 » by **theGreatRC** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:59 am

Oscar Shmidt and it isn't even close. My dad used to rave about him when he would kill in the Olympics.

Post #13 » by **wetsthebed** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 8:15 am

supersteve wrote:The real Arvydas

That's what I was gonna say. He played in the NBA, but it would have been nice to see a Prime Sabonis in the league.

Mike Hunt · Post #14 » by **Mike Hunt** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 8:16 am

If I remember correctly, when Leandro Barbosa was drafted, I think I heard he was #1 or 2 in his league's scoring. The other leading scorer was a 45 year-old Oscar Schmidt. If this information is accurate, Oscar Schmidt wins this hands down.

Apollo64 · Post #15 » by **Apollo64** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 8:18 am

Oscar Schmidt was good, but he was never close to Galis' level. Back in the late 80s the argument was which of the two is the best player playing in Europe, Petrovic or Galis and i always thought Galis was at least one level above Petrovic. Oscar was probably one of the top five players back then, but his name rarely entered the top overall discussion.

Point forward · Post #16 » by **Point forward** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 10:01 am

The usual suspects are Bodiroga, Galis and Schmidt, who are all named in this thread. But I am sure that there are also several Soviet players who were great and could not play for obvious reasons.

swampdog · Post #17 » by **swampdog** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 10:12 am

Luc Longley, Shane Heal :clap:

gavran · Post #18 » by **gavran** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 10:14 am

Bodiroga, hands down. He was a GREAT on the international level.

mattyj · Post #19 » by **mattyj** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 10:20 am

swampdog wrote:Luc Longley, Shane Heal

Yeh good, except they played in the NBA :banghead:

jeahwe · Post #20 » by **jeahwe** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 10:34 am

He wasn't drafted but NO DOUBT Sergei Belov was the best player who never played in NBA. He probably is the best international player of all time. For sure he was on the same level as Sabonis and Petrovic.

Schmidt, Galis, Cosic, Korac and Meneghin (!) were also very good but not as much as the three above.

As to Belov... it's hard to compare him to anybody, but he was called "Jerry West of Russia" and it's compliment to the Logo. That good was Belov.