The BLUEDUDE'S TOP TEN European NBA PLAYERS of All-Time........RUSSIA, SERBIA, CROATIA, GERMANY, ARGENTINA, SPAIN, and FRANCE represented...

I remember when the first impact player from EUROPE in the NBA that the BLUEDUDE saw was the great RUSSIAN ARVYDAS SABONIS in the OLYMPICS one year. The guy was so dominant in the OLYMPICS had he come straight over after the Olympics he would've been in the NBA'S TOP 50 of All-Time.......HANDS Down

The BLUEDUDE'S TOP TEN EUROPEAN PLAYERS of ALL-TIME consist of mostly BIGS as European Guards lack the foot speed and agility needed to play at the NBA Level. The International Game is just a different game especially from a PHYSICALITY Standpoint.

My list goes from the early 80's into the current game today as the EUROPEAN PLAYERS are becoming much more ATHLETIC and PRO -READY as the US GAME is getting hurt by some ill-advised early defections from high school and college. Not saying all of them were bad just a few that had no business turning Professional at the time.

Now the BLUEDUDE'S TOP 10 EUROPEAN NBA PLAYERS OF ALL-TIME:

10. VLADE DIVAC: the SERBIAN -BORN Center was one of the best and really shined for the LAKERS and the KINGS. One of the best passing BIGS you will ever see at the NBA level. A lot of people know VLADE from being the shipped to the CHARLOTTE HORNETS in 1996 NBA DRAFT from the LAKERS for one KOBE BRYANT......how 'bout that trade.

9. TONI KUKOC aka the WAITER aka the SPIDER from SPLIT: the CRAOTIAN -BORN player was sensational and about as good as advertised from European scouts and one BULLS GM then JERRY "CRUMBS" KRAUSE who was salivating over TONI to join the BULLS with MIKE and SCOTTIE. A rare 7' in height with a passing ability and court-awareness of a true NBA PG. One of the KEY COGS in the 1995-1998 CHICAGO BULLS Title Runs.

8. SARUNAS MARCIULIONIS: THE LITHUANIAN BORN was a beast a played with the RUN TMC in the BAY....aka GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS. Tim Hardaway, MITCH Richmond, and Chris MULLIN were All-Stars but this guy could attack the rim with the best of them. Part of that great USSR team that had him and ARVYDAS on it. One of the first European players to get real run in the Association.

7. ARVYDAS SABONIS: USSR-BORN...I will say this first...maybe one of the best BIGS ever to play in the WORLD. The then Communist Country of Russian delayed the arrival of SABONIS for about 8-9 years. he was a over 30 year old rookie when he started with the PORTLAND Trailblazers and still was rather productive for very good PORTLAND TEAMS. If SABONIS had come over early th sky was the limit for him.

6. PEJA STOJAKOVIC aka my PEJA keep blowin' up: SERBIAN -BORN maybe the best shooter the NBA has seen from Europe outside of another EUROPEAN SHOOTER we have yet to get to. A marksman that was cold-blooded and had his beat years with the SACRAMENTO KINGS in the early 2000's. WHEN hot nearly unstoppable...really...very good size for a guard as well. part of the YUGOSLAVIAN connection of PEJA, DINO RADJA, KUKOC, PETROVIC, and DIVAC. One of the World's best when they competed as one.

5. MANU GINOBLI aka NU NU: ARGENTINA - Born star and the best player maybe ever from there...has helped the SPURS to 3 championships with he, TONY PARKER and one TIM Duncan as the NUCLEUS. Just one of the more clever guards you will see play on the NBA Level...always thinking a play ahead and very crafty. Still an important cog in the SPURS hope for another title run this year. Key part of the ARGENTINIAN NATIONAL Team of MANU, TIAGO SPLITTER, CARLOS DELFINO, LUIS SCOLA, ADRES NOCIONI, and FABRICIO OBERTO.

4. DETLEF SCHREMPF: Germany was a stand-out player at the UNIVERSITY of WASHINGTON HUSKIES in SEATTLE. An even more impact at the NBA Level with his best years in SEATTLE but also played in INDIANA and drafted by DALLAS........360 degrees.....WHAT OTHER GERMAN PLAYER DID THE MAVS DRAFT?.....THE DIGGLER Dirk Nowitzki. Detlef was a throwback.....he could take you off the bounce, defend his position with the best of them, and had a consistent 3pt shot. He is a definite top 5 in any of these lists.

3. TONY PARKER: FRANCE...the man the SPURS have slowly built their franchise around and it has paid off big dividends for those who drafted him including Greg "POP" Popovich once GM and coach now just coach of the SPURS. A lightning quick guard who came from good blood lines. DAD, Tony Parker Sr., was a pretty good player himself in chi-city. PARKER and GINOBLI make up the SPURS Back court that has given them a couple of championships. The best ever NBA player from FRANCE....hands down

2. PAU GASOL aka the SPANIARD: SPAIN ...becoming one of the best players in the NBA and already one of the best in the world. So gifted offensively, can shoot with either hand, very creative in getting his shot off around the rim, and has range when needed......The SPAIN NATIONAL Team is anchored around the BIG FELLA....an ever since joining the LAKESHOW....he has been lights out...literally....Younger Bro MARC GASOL plays for the GRIZZLIES......SPAIN NATIONAL Team consists of PAU and MARC Gasol, RUDY FERNANDEZ, RICKY RUBIO, and JOSE CALDERON.

1B. DRAZEN PETROVIC aka PETRO: CROATIAN BORN perhaps the best SHOOTER ever from EUROPE and Mr. CLUTCH. Was the leading scorer of that great YUGOSLAVIAN NATIONAL TEAM. Drafted a played for the PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS and later traded to the NEW JERSEY NETS where he flourished under the tutelage of the LATE GREAT CHUCK DALY. THE NETS also had a fabulous trio of players with PETRO, KENNY ANDERSON from ARCHBISHOP MALLOY HS JAMIACA NY and GEORGIA TECH, and the GREAT DERRICK "DC" COLEMAN of DETROIT NORTHERN HS and SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY. PETRO'S Career ended abruptly after a tragic car crash in GERMANY. The NBA will never forget the man DRAZEN PETROVIC.

1. DIRK NOWITZKI aka DIRTY aka the DIGGLER aka DEUTSCHE MARKS: GERMANY....MAMA there goes that man from ABC NBA Commentator MARK "ACTION" JACKSON. Just a beast from almost anywhere on the floor. The Signature Fade away falling from anywhere. DIRK has improved his game to heights that EUROPEAN PLAYERS who play in the league never get to. And that's not a knock on European Players just calling it like I see it. Look at these credential......8 all star game appearances, 1 NBA MVP Trophy, numerous All-NBA accolades, and perhaps the best EURO of -all-time. The Closest thing to LARRY LEGEND as far as being a CLOSER.......now Rebounding with the best of them......the scary thing is DIRK is not even close to being finished.....WOW

BEST OF THE REST

YAO MING CHINA easy top 10 if it wasn't for injuries
LUIS SCOLA ARGENTINA not enough on NBA Resume'
DINO RADJA CROATIAN good player for the CELTICS and one of yugoslavia's best
RIK SMITS HOLLAND aka the FLYING DUTCHMAN one of the best PACERS ever easy top 15 of all time euros
ANDREI KIRILENKO RUSSIA aka AK47 maybe the best euro defensive player ever and shot blocker
ZYDRUNAS ILGAUSKAS LITHUANIA aka BIG Z very good NBA CENTER underrated SHOOTER definite top 20

There you have it the BLUEDUDE covers SPORTS like you never see it.......1 minute TALKING MLB WINTER MEETINGS...the NEXT BCS HOPES....then NCAA MEN'S HOOPS....I bring it all day.....please check out in my NOVEMBER ARCHIVE the BLUEDUDE BLACK FRIDAY XMAS LIST for SPORTS GIFTS.......APPAREL......NOVELTIES ETC .............