The international movement in the NBA is apparent in this era as superstars like Giannis Antetounmpo, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid are leading their respective teams to title contention which makes NBA odds more exciting. One of the continents that have produced the most international players is Europe.
Europe's style of play is continuously evolving, allowing them to develop more NBA-ready prospects who can immediately impact the league. But before the current European players were thriving and making headlines today, some icons paved the way for them. Here's a list of the top four European players who played in the NBA.
Toni Kukoc – Croatia
Coming out of Croatia, Toni Kukoc was drafted by the Chicago Bulls as a second-round draft pick in the 1990 NBA Draft. Kukoc played his first NBA game two years after getting selected in 1993 and became an instant contributor for the team, where he averaged over 10 points per game coming off the bench.
The 6'11 big man was also one of the pioneers of a stretch big where a center can shoot perimeter jumpers and even three-point shots. With his style of play, the Croatian Sensation collected the Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1996 and was part of the All-Rookie Second Team in 1994. Additionally, he won three titles with the Bulls.