Ranking the 10 Best European NBA Players of All Time: Dirk Nowitzki, Giannis Antetokounmpo and More

European NBA Players have made a huge impact on the NBA league over the past few decades. Europe has given some of the best players, which include skilled shooters, to big, dominant men. These stars have brought global recognition to the NBA. Many of them have influenced the game style with their own unique basketball background. The journey of European basketball players in NBA history is filled with milestones and memorable performances.

Some of the best European NBA players have won championships, MVPs, and other major awards. Stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, and Pau Gasol have proven that European players can compete at the highest level. Their contributions to the league have inspired many fans and young athletes from their home country to play impressively and be like them.

Ranking Factors

It is not easy to rank so many players and decide who is the best, so to rank the best European NBA players of all time, we have looked at the following factors:

• Career achievements: If the player has won MVPs, made appearances in the All-Star game, or has been rewarded with big titles.
• Career points and stats: What was their overall performance like, scoring, assists, rebounds, etc.
• Longevity and consistency: How many years they have spent in the league, and how their overall performance has affected the game.
• Team impact: How much they helped their teams win matches, and their importance in the teams they played for.
• Individual skills: How good of a player were they in shooting, passing, defense, leadership, etc.

The best European players are a combination of these factors to stand out among other players.

Ranking the 10 Best European NBA Players of All Time

European players in the NBA are a key part of the league as they have contributed a lot to the growth of the NBA overseas, especially in Europe. Their impact goes beyond their stats, and they have proved that they are nothing less than any American athlete. These are the top European basketball players in NBA history, and they have shown what it means to be great. Many are still active and adding to the legacies of European NBA players. The best European players are mentioned in the table below:

#10: Kristaps Porzingis (Boston Celtics)

Kristaps Porzingis, also called the “Unicorn”, is a Latvian NBA player with a special mix of height, shooting and shot-blocking. Porzingis is 7-foot-2 and was selected fourth overall by the New York Knicks in the 2015 NBA draft. Porzingis has quickly developed as an NBA player in all aspects of the game, specifically scoring the ball. He has also played for the Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards before playing for the Boston Celtics. Porzingis has scored over 9,000 points and was a NBA All-Star in 2018. His versatility allows him to play like a big on the floor and he has done so successfully in the NBA with all teams he played for. Porzingis combines shot-blocking, three-point shooting and finishing the ball at the basket perfectly.

Comparing Kristaps Porzingis with the best NBA players from Europe, he deserves recognition for his overall talent and production and contributes to the next generation of European NBA players. He is a wonderfully gifted player and based on his talent, what he can do on the basketball court, and his growth and productivity with the Boston Celtics make him clearly one of the best European NBA players overall.

#9: Peja Stojakovic (Retired)

Peja Stojakovic is one of the most prolific shooters in NBA history. Peja is from Serbia and flourished with the Sacramento Kings, establishing himself as a star player in the early 2000's. He also played for the New Orleans Hornets, Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks. Peja's career total is over 13,600 points and won an NBA Championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. He is a three-time All-Star, and finished his career shooting better than 40 percent from three point range.

Peja is one of the first European players who proved they can be quality scoring players in the NBA. Peja's ranking is based on the length of his scoring career, shooting prowess, and championship ring.

#8: Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Rudy Gobert is a French center known as the "Stifle Tower." He is one of the greatest European defenders in NBA history. He is also a member of the Timberwolves. Rudy has developed into an elite shot blocker and rebounder. Gobert was the 27th pick of the 2013 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets and was traded, minutes after draft night, to the Utah Jazz along with the first-round pick. He is also a 4-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and has received multiple All-NBA and All-Defensive Team honors.

Gobert has over 10,000 points scored in his career with double-digit rebounds for his career and over 2 blocks a game which means he averages a double-double for his career. The numbers show Gobert's effect, but we see Gobert affect games by more than numbers, opponents specifically plan with him being a factor. Often, we see Gobert running the defense for both teams he has played for.

Without the NBA success, Rudy Gobert is one of the best Europeans to play the game of basketball mostly for his defense and ability to change the game without many points. His contributions to France's champion role in international basketball can solidify Gobert.

#7: Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)

Nikola Jokic comes from Serbia and is one of the greatest and unique European players ever in the NBA. He is known for his creative passing styles, an extremely high basketball IQ, and unselfish play. Drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 2014 as the 41st pick, Jokic has achieved three NBA MVP awards and led his team to an NBA Championship in 2023, also winning Finals MVP. Teams and scouts could not see his early potential, however, Jokic proved to be amongst the best Europeans to play in the NBA.

Jokic's career point total is over 16,000, which is a lot for a center at that time on the court, and he is noted for his center position triple double average which is not seen often in NBA history. Jokic is one of the best Europeans to play basketball in the NBA because of his individual awards, his impact as a player, and game-changing style of play. Jokic brought a level of respect to European players playing in the NBA. He will rank high in the European NBA players' legacy due to his excellence and unique style of play.

#6: Marc Gasol (Retired)

Marc Gasol is from Spain, and is considered one of the top respect European NBA players because of his toughness, intelligence, and leadership on the basketball court. Marc spent most of his NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies and he won an NBA Championship in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors. He has been recognized for his defensive capabilities and passing ability.

Marc Gasol has scored more than 12,000 points during games in his career. He has also been selected to three All Star Games. Marc won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.

Marc Gasol is one of the best European basketball players in NBA history for his consistency, championships, and leadership. Because of his basketball IQ & unselfish play, Marc was the ultimate teammate, as well as a great example for the next generation of NBA players. Along with his brother Pau Gasol, Marc continued to develop and subsequently show the world what Spanish basketball could become. They have inspired previous and future generations of young European players to be successful at the highest level.

#5: Luka Doncic (Los Angeles Lakers)

Luka Doncic hails from Slovenia. He is one of the best European NBA players of all-time even though he is still playing. He signed with Real Madrid as a professional player at the age of sixteen and joined the NBA in 2018. He was the face of the Dallas Mavericks. It was big news when they traded Luka to the Los Angeles Lakers. It goes without saying, as part of the Luka Doncic package is that he is a great scorer and passer, and player. Luka has already made his mark even in a breath of a short time.

Doncic has already scored over 12,000 career points at a respectable rate and has made multiple All-Star games and All-NBA First Teams. Luka Doncic has made a name for himself, at such a young age and immense talent, as one of the best, and most talented, European basketball players in NBA history. His early success only shows that he has so much more to give. Luka is a part of a new breed of NBA players who play with skill and talent, but most importantly, confidence.

#4: Pau Gasol (Retired)

Pau Gasol is among the most successful European NBA players in the history of the league and one of the most respected. He was born in Spain and drafted 3rd overall in the 2001 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. He was the first non-American player to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Gasol played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, and Milwaukee Bucks over the span of his (almost) 20,000 career points and 18 years of playing.

Gasol was a 6X NBA All-Star and a crucial member of the Lakers who won back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010. Gasol was also a huge contributor to his national team Spain and brought tons of medals home including an Olympic silver medal and a EuroBasket gold medal.

Pau Gasol is considered one of the best all-time NBA players due to his lasting impact on the league, as well as his team success. He cleared the path for other players from Spain and proved that European NBA players could and can become true superstars in the league, just like himself.

#3: Tony Parker (Retired)

Tony Parker was born in Belgium and raised in France. He appeared in the NBA for 18 seasons, most notably with the San Antonio Spurs where he helped win 4 NBA titles. Parker's contributions, along with his teammates, made him one of the most decorated players in NBA history.

Parker scored over 19,000 points in his career, he was a 6x NBA All Star, and the first European born player to win the NBA Finals MVP in 2007, and he entertained the crowd with his playing style and skill level.

Parker is one of the best European players in NBA history. When you consider winning, skill level and impact on the game, he is one of the best players in NBA history. Parker gave an entire generation of European players the confidence to believe they could come to the NBA and be a team leader and championship winner.

#2: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)

Giannis Antetokounmpo, often referred to as the "Greek Freak", is one of the most persuasive NBA players from Europe in history. Born in Greece to Nigerian parental roots, Giannis entered the NBA in 2013 as the 15th overall pick. He has since won 2x NBA MVPs, an NBA Championship, and Finals MVP. He has also been selected to multiple All-Star games and multiple All-NBA teams. Giannis has scored over 17000 points in his career, and simply put, he isn't done yet. In 2021, he led the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA championship. He is also one of the only three players to win the MVP award, along with the Defensive Player of the Year and the Finals MVP all in the same year.

Giannis is considered one of the greatest European basketball players in NBA history based on his MVPs, Championship success, and overall impact. He is a true modern day European NBA player in which he is athletic, skillful, and a hard worker. He is on course to being one of the greatest NBA players of all time in general; not only from Europe, but worldwide.

#1: Dirk Nowitzki (Retired)

Dirk Nowitzki is the greatest European NBA player of all time. He was born in Germany, and he has spent his entire career of 21 years with the Dallas Mavericks, where he was the 9th overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft. He has scored 31,560 career points, making him the highest-scoring European in NBA history and the sixth-highest overall. For the opponents, Dirk was the stumbling block on the court; he made it impossible to win against him.

He was a 14x NBA All-Star, a 12x All-NBA team member, and he won the MVP title in 2007. His greatest achievement came in 2011 when he helped the Mavericks to an NBA Championship; his remarkable performance earned him Finals MVP.

Dirk has earned his spot as the top European NBA player because of his hard work and talent.