12 Boston Celtics included in HoopsHype ‘best player in country history’ list

The Boston Celtics are a founding member and the most storied ball club of the league now known as the NBA, having been among the handful of teams from the era of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) days as the precursor league that would grow into today’s NBA was called.

So it should not surprise that the players who have worn the green and white over the nearly eight decades of existence of the franchise have at times been among the best to play the game anywhere in the world. In fact, there is a notable number of Celtics alumni present in a HoopsHype assessment of the best players to come from specific countries around the globe.

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Let’s take a look at which Boston alumni made the cut — and what countries they hail from.

With the 2023 offseason rapidly drawing to a close as training camps are now weeks rather than months away, we can begin to project how the 2023-24 season will go for Boston and their peers, https://t.co/Lsn0emaRKh

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Angola - Bruno Fernando

Celtics’ Bruno Fernando, left, fouls Kings’ Jahmi’us Ramsey during the first half of the NBA summer league championship basketball game Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Brazil (runner-up) - Leandro Barbosa

Celtics coach Doc Rivers talks to Jason Terry (4) and Leandro Barbosa (12) in a time-out during the game against the Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena. Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

Canada (runner-up) - Tristan Thompson

BOSTON: Tristan Thompson #13 of the Boston Celtics defends Danilo Gallinari #8 of the Atlanta Hawks during the first quarter at TD Garden on February 19, 2021.  (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Croatia (runner-up)- Dino Radja

31 Jan 1996: Forward Dino Radja of the Celtics tries to pass the ball as forward Joe Wolf of the Magic guards him during a game in Orlando. The Magic won the game 104 – 99. (Getty Images)

Czech Republic (runner-up) - Jiri Welsch

Warriors’ Derek Fisher, left, tries to dribble past Boston Celtics’ Jiri Welsch, of the Czech Republic, in the first half in Oakland, Calif., Monday, Dec. 6, 2004. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Dominican Republic - Al Horford

Al Horford of the Boston Celtics grabs a rebound over Nic Claxton and Royce O’Neale (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Egypt - Alaa Abdelnaby

David Robinson (50) of the San Antonio Spurs gets hammered on his way to the basket by Alaa Abdelnaby of the Celtics at Boston Garden, March 3, 1993. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Egypt (runner-up) - Abdel Nader

Oct 9, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Celtics forward Abdel Nader (28) dunks the ball against the 76ers during the first half at the TD Garden. Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

Germany (runner-up) - Dennis Schroder

Jan 12, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Boston Celtics guard Dennis Schroder (71) dribbles the ball in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Italy - Danilo Gallinari

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Latvia - Kristaps Porzingis

Feb 13, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; Kristaps Porzingis shoots during warm-ups before the game against the Warriors at Chase Center. Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

Ukraine (runner-up) - Vitaly Potapenko

The New York Knicks Marcus Camby (R) defends against Boston Celtics Vitaly Potapenko (L) at the Fleet Center 12 November 1999 in Boston. AFP PHOTO/John MOTTERN (Photo by JOHN MOTTERN / AFP)  

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