With each passing year, basketball becomes a more global sport. Accessibility to the sport is continuously increasing while visibility of the elite players in the NBA has never been greater.
As part of the celebrations surrounding the NBA’s 75th anniversary, the league is running a series of votes to determine the the greatest players, teams and moments in history - and the vote to determine the All-Time NBA European First and Second Team is next.
While European stars like Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo are dominating the NBA landscape today, it was not always this way. Europe and the wider world are now conscious of basketball - and three-time NBA champion BJ Armstrong believes it all comes back to one moment: the 1992 Olympics.
“If there's anything that was a phenomenal event in the world of basketball, I think we'll all point back to the ’92 Olympics, because all of these foreign players - especially those in Europe - benefited from having the opportunity to see the Dream Team come to Barcelona and play,” Armstrong exclusively told The Mirror . “I think that was very impactful on these players today, because the confidence that these young men have is just so amazing to me.
“At one point, the best players were from America and it was a very domestic game, and then you started to see this influx of foreign players periodically coming into the game, but now it’s truly a global game. Watching Giannis, Jokic, [Joel] Embiid and so many other foreign-born players making the impact and playing the game at the highest level has been phenomenal to watch.
“International players have now ascended to the elite level of the NBA: they are world champions, MVPs, and defensive players of the year.”
The four leading contenders for the 2021-22 NBA MVP award are international, with three - Giannis, Jokic and Doncic - hailing from Europe. Back in his playing days of the 1990s, Armstrong, with framed jerseys of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird hanging on the wall behind him, suggested that international players often didn’t feel as though they belonged in the league as their different styles and mentality merged with the bright lights of the NBA.
However, Armstrong’s excitement when speaking of the new generation of European basketball talent is palpable. He is particularly impressed by their confidence and appreciation for the fundamentals of the sport.
“The one common denominator or style that all great players have is a high understanding of the fundamentals of the game,” Armstrong animatedly explained as he analysed the differences in style between European and American players. “Jokic’s fundamentals and understanding of the game is at a very high, elite level - so much so that we've never seen a player at his position be able to pass on the run and the move like he's doing. It’s highly unusual to see a guard do that, let alone a centre.
“Giannis is amazing because he’s some type of hybrid wing player meets a point guard meets a centre. He’s an unusual talent and an unusual athlete who has been able to combine it all.
“You can tell they've studied the game, but they understand what their strengths and weaknesses are; they never allow their weakness to impede their strengths and what they bring to the team. I tend to have a great appreciation for the people who really take their game to that level because you can tell that these young men put in time in the gym - this isn't an accident.”
Armstrong pointed out that European players used to enter the league with a team-orientated mentality - a trait which had clearly been embedded within them as they learned the game. He cited how bigs could shoot from the perimeter, which differed immensely to how domestic centres operated.
He is impressed with how European players have closed the gap on American stars in terms of athleticism - but stressed the different interpretations of how to best play basketball was what intrigued him the most. Armstrong added: “Growing up here in the States, you understand that different regions play the game a different way - and that’s the most beautiful thing about it.
“You can see you know how the game is played in places like Serbia or Croatia, or when you watched Marc or Pau Gasol, you could see how it was taught in Spain. I love the fact that everyone kind of brings their own unique perspective to the game, and it all meets up in the NBA.”
When posed with the question of which European player has left the greatest impression on him, Armstrong contemplated his answer for a moment. He praised fellow Chicago Bull Toni Kukoc for his ability to persevere and adjust to NBA basketball, but he had a different answer - Arvydas Sabonis.
Armstrong is adamant that the Lithuanian centre was ‘without question’ a top 50 basketball player in history. Sabonis, who played for the Portland Trail Blazers after starring for his native Zalgiris as well as Real Madrid in Spain, had a remarkable range of passing while also possessed a fine scoring ability - including the three-point shot while standing 7’3.
“Arvydas Sabonis was as unique of a player I've seen even to this day,” Armstrong revealed, with his admiration and respect for Sabonis clear. “First of all, he was huge - tall and big - and had incredible skill while being a terrific athlete. He could just do it all. He was a dominant player on both ends of the court.
“I would have loved to have seen him when he was in his prime to see how he would have fared against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Patrick Ewing and the great players - I think it would have been a treat for the world. I was just very fortunate I saw him in his prime prior to the injuries.
“Even to this day, I've never seen a player that impactful. Maybe when it’s all said and done, Giannis has a chance to overtake that him - but right now, if you ask me, Arvydas Sabonis is the greatest foreign-born player that I've seen.”
The vote proposed by the NBA will see fans vote for their First and Second Teams from a pool of historic and current European players to leave their mark on the league. However, the question had to be asked: who is in Armstrong’s All-Time NBA European First Team?
While the former point guard paid homage to the likes of Kukoc, Detlef Schrempf, Peja Stojakovic, Hedo Türkoğlu, the ‘terrific’ Vlade Divac and Drazen Petrovic, the First Team could only include five names. After a few moments agonising, Armstrong delivered his superstar-laden lineup.
“The best player I’ve seen thus far is Arvydas Sabonis. Whoever becomes the best, they have got to pay homage to him because he is the elite,” Armstrong insisted. “His game transferred from FIBA to the NBA, and he could play the game beautifully because of his size and athleticism.
“To me, Giannis is - without question - athletically the best all-round foreign player ever. In the end, he might be the greatest player to play. Dirk [Nowitzki] perfected one aspect of the game as well as anyone who’s ever played in the NBA.
Who do you think is the greatest European player in NBA history? Let us know in the comments section.
“I refer to Jokic as the most charming player ever in the NBA. He’s like the dancing bear; he’s doing his thing and it is so effective. I love watching him play.
“Even though he’s only 22, Luka Doncic. He’s got everything. I know I’m missing players, there’s just been so many great ones - I know Tony Parker is going to be mad if he hears this!”
It’s a testament to the development of European basketball that three current stars - Antetokounmpo, Jokic and Doncic - made it into Armstrong’s five alongside greats like Nowitzki and Sabonis. Who knows, perhaps the jersey of one of the European stars lighting up the league will end up alongside the legends of Jordan, Johnson and Bird on Armstrong’s wall.
Head over to the NBA 75 Euro Vote website to vote for your top European players of all time, with the top 10 being honoured in the league’s All-Time European teams. Polls close on April 6. #NBA75EuroVote
