Five of the Best European Players in NBA

By Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer Updated: 25 March 2024

Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer

Amelia Walker is a Senior Content Writer at Betting.US. She has a law degree and deep knowledge of the gambling laws in the United States. Her mission is to keep players informed about responsible gambling, while her passion for sports helps her create useful guides. Amelia has over a decade of experience in betting, which has positioned her as a trusted voice among our readers.

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Best European Players in NBA

• Best European NBA Players
• How an NBA Player From Europe Reaches the NBA
• Nikola Jokic: A Serbian Success
• Giannis Antetokounmpo: The Greek Freak
• Luka Doncic: The Slovenian Sensation
• Domantas Sabonis: Lithuanian Star
• Lauri Markkanen: Finnish Talent
• Frequently Asked Questions

European players in NBA teams are nothing new, but there are still far fewer European NBA players than most people think there should be. In today’s blog, we look at some of the best European NBA players of all time, who have made a huge impact on the league.

Best European NBA Players

When watching or betting on the NBA you will notice commentators sometimes mention how players are from Europe. As a result, this blog aims to show you the best European NBA players, looking at how they impacted the game and their journey from European leagues to the US.

As the NBA becomes more international, these European players in the NBA are not just making a name for themselves but are also inspiring a new generation of players across continents – which is something that the league has been keen to do.

How an NBA Player From Europe Reaches the NBA

The journey for a European basketball player to reach the NBA is long and challenging. It often starts at a young age when talented players are identified by youth coaches and recruited to join club teams or sports academies. From a young teen age, athletes start competing at high levels within Europe, and, if they’re lucky, might get invited to national youth teams.

As they progress into their late teens, the best players may start getting minutes for professional club teams in domestic leagues or even the EuroLeague. Scouts from NBA franchises will be monitoring their development. To get drafted, they must show that they’re not only the best in their league – but also that they can play at NBA-level standards.

Once a player is selected for the NBA draft, they go through workouts and interviews with various NBA teams. Teams assess their skills and abilities, and leading up to the draft, some players may get feedback that they will be lottery picks, guaranteeing an NBA contract. Others may go undrafted but get invited to summer camps and preseason camps to compete for a roster spot.

If all goes as planned, the player hears their name called at the draft, signs a rookie contract, and heads over to their new team in the NBA. It’s still an ongoing battle to actually get sent out onto the court, but this is pretty much the best result possible – and once they’re in the US, they stand a solid chance of at least playing a bit – and if they make an impact, they may well be signed to a lucrative contract.

Nikola Jokic: A Serbian Success

Nikola Jokic has emerged as one of the most important NBA players from Europe in recent years, captivating fans with his unorthodox style of play and all-around brilliance. However, Jokic took an unconventional path from his hometown of Sombor, Serbia to NBA stardom.

As a teenager, Jokic played in the Serbian youth league but went mostly unnoticed by major clubs in Europe. He was overweight, slow, and lacked the fitness displayed by most prospects. Jokic was drafted by Mega Leks in the Serbian draft when he was 18. Over the next few years, he slowly transformed his body and game. Though lacking star potential in the eyes of most scouts, the Denver Nuggets saw something in Jokic. They selected him 41st overall in the 2014 NBA draft.

After being drafted, Jokic continued to steadily refine his game. He finally joined the Nuggets in 2015 and slowly earned a regular role as a versatile, playmaking player. With an unusual style built on skill and creativity rather than explosiveness, he learned how to leverage his unique techniques. Over the years, Jokic has completely transformed from an out-of-shape Serbian teen to the 2022 back-to-back NBA MVP.

For many, Jokic’s journey highlights the difficulty European players can face in reaching the NBA game. But with hard work, determination, and a bit of luck, a determined player like Jokic can transform into one of the league’s most dominant players – and today, he’s regarded as one of the best European NBA players ever!

Giannis Antetokounmpo: The Greek Freak

Giannis Antetokounmpo has risen from pretty much nowhere in Greece to become one of the most dominant players in the NBA today. His path to fame began in his hometown of Athens, where his parents had moved to from Nigeria. Growing up, his family struggled with poverty, and he often had to sell items on the street to get by.

At just 18 years old, Giannis began playing professional basketball for Filathlitikos in the Greek second division. There, his talent caught the eyes of NBA scouts. In 2013, despite having never played against top European competition, he decided to enter the NBA draft. The Milwaukee Bucks took a chance on Giannis, selecting him 15th overall.

When Giannis first entered the league, he struggled to adapt his lanky frame and unrefined skills against top-level competition. Many critics doubted if he could ever develop the necessary skills – but Giannis possessed an incredible work ethic and spent countless hours in the gym working tirelessly to get in shape and polish his skills on the court.

Gradually, Giannis’s transformation began to take shape on the court. He earned more minutes and became one of the league’s toughest players to defend against. Within a few seasons, he had transformed into an All-Star, All-NBA talent. Then in 2021, after leading Milwaukee to a championship, Giannis managed to win his first NBA Finals MVP.

Luka Doncic: The Slovenian Sensation

Luka Doncic’s rise in the NBA is an incredible story. Born in Slovenia, Doncic began playing basketball at an early age, showing tremendous talent. He joined Real Madrid’s basketball team at age 13 and quickly rose through the ranks, making his professional debut at 16. In Real Madrid, Doncic refined his skills, winning the EuroLeague title and MVP in 2018.

In 2018, the Atlanta Hawks drafted him as the third overall pick, before, later, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. Almost instantly, Doncic made an impact in his rookie season. His basketball skills – exceptional passing, and his scoring ability, for example – quickly made him a fan favorite and one of the most exciting young players to watch.

In just a few seasons, Doncic amassed awards and records that put him right up there with the NBA’s best. He has been named an All-Star multiple times and has received All-NBA First Team honors, cementing his status as one of the league’s top talents. Here’s a breakdown of some of his notable achievements:

Domantas Sabonis: Lithuanian Star

Unlike most second-generation NBA players, Domantas Sabonis did not grow up in the United States. Rather, he spent his childhood in Spain where his father, Arvydas Sabonis, played during the tail end of his career. Basketball was incredibly important to young Domantas’ upbringing, as he followed his father’s games closely. By age 13, he too showed a high level of talent, going on to represent youth Spanish national teams.

Domantas continued performing well in the Spanish league. He joined the prestigious Unicaja Malaga academy and chose to skip the NCAA, instead playing professionally in Spain. In 2016, on the heels of productive stints in the ACB and EuroCup leagues, Sabonis declared for the NBA draft.

Projected as a lottery pick, the Oklahoma City Thunder selected Sabonis 11th overall in 2016. He joined another player, Steven Adams, and became a crucial bench player. After a few seasons establishing himself in the league, Oklahoma City Thunder traded Sabonis to the Indiana Pacers where he really began to shine.

He demonstrated exceptional playmaking abilities, and his advanced post game was said by many to closely resemble that of his father’s. In 2020, just his second season with the Pacers, Sabonis earned his first All-Star award.

Lauri Markkanen: Finnish Talent

As the son of a former NBA player, Lauri Markkanen was exposed to basketball from an early age while growing up in Finland. He quickly stood out for his rare combination of size and shooting ability. Markkanen joined the junior program of a top Finnish club team as a teenager before making his professional debut at age 17.

While playing domestically with Jyväskylä, Markkanen started to dominate the league, and he entered the 2017 NBA draft after just one full pro season in Finland. His potential as a sharpshooting stretch catapulted him into the top 10 picks. The Chicago Bulls selected him 7th overall.

Markkanen’s rookie campaign showed promise instantly, despite Chicago’s struggles. He established himself as an elite catch-and-shoot threat while flashing the ability to attack closeouts. Through multiple coaching changes and an inconsistent role, Markkanen still demonstrated fantastic progress over four seasons with the Bulls.

Before the 2021-22 season, Chicago traded him to Cleveland as part of a sign-and-trade. Given a fresh start with the Cavaliers, Markkanen continued to thrive, and became one of the team’s top scorers. At just 25 years old, he remains one of the NBA’s top talents, and looks set to continue his journey in the NBA.