Top International Players Not In NBA

[sportskid_021]

So I am trying to get a general idea of the top players internationally that are not in the NBA. I am working on a fantasy draft with some friends where we make all players in the world available and I was just wondering who the top foreign players are and if someone could help with their contracts (with source) that would help even more...

[jolbin]

Courtesy of Lakers_4_life

Current list of the top 30 paid professional basketball players in Europe

When player salaries are equal per season, the players are ranked based on the length of their contracts.

Buyout amounts listed for Sarunas Jasikevicius and Vassilis Spanoulis are the amounts of money netted by the player in salary from the NBA after their contract releases. They are not an amount of money paid to the NBA team to release them.

Top 30 current salaries (players making above the full NBA MLE currently are in bold print with an asterisk, players making equal to the full NBA MLE are in bold print with no asterisk):

1. Josh Childress* (Olympiacos Piraeus): 4.5 million euros per year (3 years 13.5 million euros)

2. Sarunas Jasikevicius* (Panathinaikos Athens): 3.73 million euros per year (3 years 11.2 million euros) (3 years 10.5 million euros salary, plus 700K euros buyout salary) - third year is an option year

3. Theodoros Papaloukas* (Olympiacos Piraeus). 3.5 million euros per year (3 years 10.5 million euros)

4. Bostjan Nachbar* (Dynamo Moscow): 3 million euros per year (3 years 9 million euros)

5. Jorge Garbajosa* (Khimki): 3.0 million euros per year (2 years 6 million euros)

5. Nenad Krtsic* (Triumph): 3.0 million euros per year (2 years 6 million euros)

7. Carlos Delfino* (Khimki): 2.833 million euros per year (3 years 8.5 million euros)

8. Matjaz Smodis* (CSKA Moscow): 2.5 million euros per year (3 years 7.5 million euros)

9. Ramunas Siskauskas* (CSKA Moscow): 2.5 million euros per year (2 years 5 million euros)

10. Juan Carlos Navarro* (Barcelona): 2.4 million euros per year (5 years 12 million euros)

11. Fran Vazquez* (Barcelona): 2.333 million euros per year (3 years 7 million euros)

12. Arvydas Macijauskas* (Olympiacos Piraeus): 2.25 million euros per year (4 years 9 million euros)

13. Nikola Vujcic* (Olympiacos Piraeus). 2.25 million euros per year (2 years 4.5 million euros)

13. Lynn Greer* (Olympiacos Piraeus): 2.25 million euros per year (2 years 4.5 million euros)

15. Nikos Zisis* (CSKA Moscow): 2.2 million euros per year (3 years 6.6 million euros)

16. Earl Boykins* (Virtus Bologna): 2.2 million euros per year (1 year 2.2 million euros)

17. Vassilis Spanoulis* (Panathinaikos Athens) 2.076 million euros per year (3 years 6.230 million euros) (3 years 5.5 million euros salary, plus 730K euros buyout salary)

18. Felipe Reyes (Real Madrid): 2.0 million euros per year (5 years 10 million euros)

19. Viktor Khryapa (CSKA Moscow): 2.0 million euros per year (4.5 years 9 million euros)

20. David Andersen (Barcelona): 2.0 million euros per year (3 years 6 million euros)

20. Darjus Lavrinovic (Dynamo Moscow) 2.0 million euros per year (3 years 6 million euros)

20. Aleksey Savrasenko (CSKA Moscow) 2.0 million euros per year (3 years 6 million euros)

20. Lazaros Papadopoulos (Real Madrid): 2.0 million euros per year (3 years 6 million euros)

20. Zoran Planinic (CSKA Moscow): 2.0 million euros per year (3 years 6 million euros)

20. Sergei Monia (Dynamo Moscow): 2.0 million euros per year (3 years 6 million euros)

20. Tiago Splitter (TAU Vitoria): 2.0 million euros per year (3 years 6 million euros)

20. Ersan İlyasova (Barcelona): 2.0 million euros per year (3 years 6 million euros)

20. John Robert Holden (CSKA Moscow): 2.0 million euros per year (3 years 6 million euros)

29. Dimitris Diamantidis (Panathinaikos Athens): 1.9 million euros per year (3 years 5.7 million euros)

30. Mike Batiste (Panathinaikos Athens): 1.833 million euros per year (3 years 5.5 million euros)



It took a hell of a long time to track all of this down and to get actual amounts in some cases because of conflicting reports and also to pinpoint some issues like contract buyouts and how everything works. These are the final figures though once these guys signed contracts, which is not to be confused with some sources that list different figures, but were reporting negotiations or offers, not the actual signed amounts.

Since there is a lot of debate about this topic right now I just wanted to post this for everyone's information. Keep in mind the euro is worth about 1.6 US dollars currently and also keep in mind that these amounts are NET contracts, not gross amounts listed like NBA contracts are listed in gross amounts. A 2 million euros contract listed here is equal to the full NBA MLE. Because the exchange rate is about 1.6 dollars = 1 euro and because of the difference between net and gross salaries. Because NBA contracts are gross and these are net.

The average tax rate for state and federal taxes across all the NBA cities came to 42% tax rate for NBA player salaries. This is the federal tax bracket of the average NBA salary and the average state tax across all NBA cities. Thus, a full NBA MLE contract of about $5.5 million gross salary is about the same as a 2.0 million euros net salary.

Keep in mind many people here keep arguing that players would still pay taxes in Europe. These salaries in Europe are the after tax amount. That is all it means. The net salary. It's just the NBA reports their salaries as gross. So yes, even though a guy like Lynn Greer still has to pay US federal taxes out of his Euro salary, you do NOT deduct taxes from the amount listed here because this is his AFTER TAX salary that is listed in Europe.

28 players in Europe are currently making equal to the full NBA MLE and 17 players in Europe are currently making MORE than the full NBA MLE.

So we have these European players making equal to the full NBA MLE:

Felipe Reyes
Viktor Khryapa
David Andersen
Aleksey Savrasenko
Lazaros Papadopoulos
Zoran Planinic
Sergei Monia
Tiago Splitter
Ersan İlyasova
Darjus Lavrinovic
JR Holden

And we have these European players making more than the full NBA MLE:

Josh Childress
Sarunas Jasikevicius
Theodoros Papaloukas
Bostjan Nachbar
Jorge Garbajosa
Nenad Krstic
Carlos Delfino
Matjaz Smodis
Ramunas Siskauskas
Juan Carlos Navarro
Fran Vazquez
Arvydas Macijauskas
Nikola Vujcic
Lynn Greer
Nikos Zisis
Earl Boykins
Vassilis Spanoulis


OK, so now that we have some better grasp of the salary situation, let's debate how we all think this will affect the NBA.

From a year ago..
Top players?
Definently Teodosič, Nachbar, Navarro, Rubio, Mickeal, Spannoulis, Splitter, Siskauskas, Childress..

[sportskid_021]

I did see that but that was from a few years ago. I was wondering if anyone had any more recent updates...

[Italia Raps Fan]

The 15 highest paid players in Europe per season 2009-10:

1. Josh Childress 5.3 million euros net

2. Linas Kleiza 4.6 million euros net

3. Theo Papaloukas 3.5 million euros net

4. Juan Carlos Navarro 3.0 million euros net

5. Matjaz Smodis 2.5 million euros net

6. Nikola Vujcic 2.25 million euros net

7. Sarunas Jasikevicius 2.2 million euros net

8. Dimitris Diamantidis 2.1 million euros net

9. Gordan Giricek 2.0 million euros net

- Jorge Garbajosa 2.0 million euros net

- Bostjan Nachbar 2.0 million euros net

- Marko Jaric 2.0 million euros net

- Sergey Monya 2.0 million euros net

- Ramunas Siskauskas 2.0 million euros net

15. Vassilis Spanoulis 1.9 million euros net


As far as the best Euroleague players, the top 4 to me would be (not in order, but just who they are) something like Juan Carlos Navarro, Ramunas Siskauskas, Vassilis Spanoulis, Milos Teodosic. I'd say that is an elite Euroleague players list. Those are the superstars.

If I had to pick 16 more to make a top 20 (again not in order) it would be something like: Dimitris Diamantidis, Theo Papaloukas, Linas Kleiza, Fran Vazquez, Ioannis Bourousis, Erazem Lorbek, Nikola Pekovic, Aleks Maric, Tiago Splitter, Viktor Khryapa, Josh Childress, Trajan Langdon, Terrell McIntyre, Pablo Prigioni, Jorge Garbajosa, Sergio Llull, Zoran Planinic. Well that's 17, but they come to mind.

[penzias]

As far as the best Euroleague players, the top 4 to me would be (not in order, but just who they are) something like Juan Carlos Navarro, Ramunas Siskauskas, Vassilis Spanoulis, Milos Teodosic. I'd say that is an elite Euroleague players list. Those are the superstars.

If I had to pick 16 more to make a top 20 (again not in order) it would be something like: Dimitris Diamantidis, Theo Papaloukas, Linas Kleiza, Fran Vazquez, Ioannis Bourousis, Erazem Lorbek, Nikola Pekovic, Aleks Maric, Tiago Splitter, Viktor Khryapa, Josh Childress, Trajan Langdon, Terrell McIntyre, Pablo Prigioni, Jorge Garbajosa, Sergio Llull, Zoran Planinic. Well that's 17, but they come to mind.

Spanoulis is not a superstar, and neither is Teodosic yet, though he's coming close.
BTW Prigioni and Garbajosa could be in the top 20 4-5 years ago but not anymore, and i'm not sold on Maric yet.

[jamalkandur]

First of all if a player is not Petrovic or Sabonis he must under the age of 24 who can play in NBA accordingly i can advice some of turkish players; Semih Erden(23), Omer Asik(23), Emir Prezdlic(22),Enes Kanter(18). All of them are currently plays in turkish team FENERBAHCE(Eurolegue and TBL). Actually they are not undiscovered players.

Semih Erden(PF/C); 2008 - 2nd round (30th pick) by the Boston Celtics. He is 2.14m(7ft) and his play and physical appearance similar to KG.
Omer Asik(C) ; 2008 - 2nd round (6th pick) by the Portland Trail Blazers to Chicago. This 7 foot guy's off. is weak but very stronger in defense.
Emir Prezdlic(SF); 2009 - 2nd round (27th pick) by the Phoenix Suns to Cleveland. He's a very talented swingman. You can regard as a 6'9" Rubio who can shoot the ball or more athletic Hedo.
Enes Kanter(PF); He just 18. He's play at Nike hoop summit 2010 and break game point record. He's going to play for Kentucky next year. Most probably he will be in top 3 in 2011 draft.

[RavensH12]

Rubio has to be in that list, if Barcelona is winning everything in Europe this year is basically because of his work (of course the rest are great players, but the special plus is Rubio).

[Ricky Business]

Rubio has to be in that list, if Barcelona is winning everything in Europe this year is basically because of his work (of course the rest are great players, but the special plus is Rubio).

Rubio's salary in Barca is 6 years €6.6 million euros. So actually, he isn't one of the highest paid players in Europe. Navarro for example in the same team has a 5 year €15 million euros contract. Or do you mean top players playing wise?

[RavensH12]

Rubio has to be in that list, if Barcelona is winning everything in Europe this year is basically because of his work (of course the rest are great players, but the special plus is Rubio).

Rubio's salary in Barca is 5 years €5 million euros. So actually, he isn't one of the highest paid players in Europe. Navarro for example in the same team has a 5 year €15 million euros contract. Or do you mean top players playing wise?

OK, my fault, i thought we were talking about best players, not highest paid players.

[Batu7]

About the players in Turkey listed above:

Semih's game is by no means similar to Garnett. He can't shoot, can barely finish on the low post, most of his plays are dunks. His hustle is great though, he gives %110 effort each game.

Ömer is a great defender, one of the best in the country, but his offense is really bad, especially his free throws.

Preldzic is a good scorer, but he's no Rubio. He also doesn't have the court vision and passing Hedo has. He can be a good player off the bench in the NBA.

Enes was a beast in the junior leagues, glad to see he's doing good in the USA as well. He has superstar potential.

[Ricky Business]

Rubio has to be in that list, if Barcelona is winning everything in Europe this year is basically because of his work (of course the rest are great players, but the special plus is Rubio).

Rubio's salary in Barca is 5 years €5 million euros. So actually, he isn't one of the highest paid players in Europe. Navarro for example in the same team has a 5 year €15 million euros contract. Or do you mean top players playing wise?

OK, my fault, i thought we were talking about best players, not highest paid players.

Yeah. I went back and checked though and Rubio actually has a 6 year €6.6 million euros contract with Barcelona. Still, at €1.1 million per season he is not amongst the highest paid players in Europe.

[jman3134]

Pekovic, Diamantidis, R Siskauskas, Bouroussis etc.

[khaled_a_d]

Guys,had anybody watched Nick Calathes?I would love to hear ppl who watched him play with Panathinaikos and I didn't want to make a thread for such a question

[Ricky Business]

Guys,had anybody watched Nick Calathes?I would love to hear ppl who watched him play with Panathinaikos and I didn't want to make a thread for such a question

He's a talented player for sure. But he needs a lot of improvement before he would be a good Euroleague player.

[Greek]

Guys,had anybody watched Nick Calathes?I would love to hear ppl who watched him play with Panathinaikos and I didn't want to make a thread for such a question

He is currently playing for one of the best (if not the best) coaches in Europe. If he is dedicated in 2 seasons will explode...If not...

[khaled_a_d]

Thanks Ricky Business&Greek
but do you think he will play in the NBA? I am a Mavs fan and we have his rights

[VictorPage44]

^

If anyone can answer this, could you also tell me the chances of Fran Vasquez and Tiago Splitter coming over this season?

[brassviews]

^

If anyone can answer this, could you also tell me the chances of Fran Vasquez and Tiago Splitter coming over this season?

Vazquez is giving off vibes that he will never play in the NBA. Splitter is likely to come but may not play for the Spurs.