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Best international player to never play in the NBA?
Posted: Sat Feb 2, 2008 6:55 am
by RIPskaterdude
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.
Posted: Sat Feb 2, 2008 6:58 am
by candy for lunch
The real Arvydas
Posted: Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:00 am
by Mr. Savage
Radivoj Korac.
Posted: Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:13 am
by nestleflipz317
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.
Posted: Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:14 am
by Cammo101
Probably Oscar Schmidt.
Posted: Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:17 am
by Mr. Savage
Posted: Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:29 am
by RIPskaterdude
Whoa...
99 points in a game
Posted: Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:36 am
by DelaneyRudd
Fran Vazquez...
or how 'bout Frederic Weis?
Posted: Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:43 am
by mattyj
Its Oscar Schmidt
/thread
Posted: Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:49 am
by UDRIH14
victor sanikidze
javtokas
Posted: Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:56 am
by Apollo64
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
Posted: Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:59 am
by theGreatRC
Oscar Shmidt and it isn't even close. My dad used to rave about him when he would kill in the Olympics.
Posted: Sat Feb 2, 2008 8:15 am
by wetsthebed
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.
Posted: Sat Feb 2, 2008 8:16 am
by Mike Hunt
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.
Posted: Sat Feb 2, 2008 8:18 am
by Apollo64
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.
Posted: Sat Feb 2, 2008 10:01 am
by Point forward
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.
Posted: Sat Feb 2, 2008 10:12 am
by swampdog
Luc Longley, Shane Heal
Posted: Sat Feb 2, 2008 10:14 am
by gavran
Bodiroga, hands down. He was a GREAT on the international level.
Posted: Sat Feb 2, 2008 10:20 am
by mattyj
swampdog wrote:Luc Longley, Shane Heal
Yeh good, except they played in the NBA
Posted: Sat Feb 2, 2008 10:34 am
by jeahwe
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.