Author Topic: Favorite International Guy that never got his shot  (Read 9043 times)

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Re: Favorite International Guy that never got his shot
« Reply #15 on: August 24, 2008, 02:59:44 PM »

Offline Schupac

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Wasn't Sabonis supposed to be one of the best players in the world before he made his way to the NBA?

I remember watching Sabonis at the tail end of his career when he was playing for Portland.  The guy was amazing.  The softest touch I think I've ever seen on a center.

I remember twice in the same game he literally shot from his hip and the ball swished right through the net.  It was crazy.

Re: Favorite International Guy that never got his shot
« Reply #16 on: August 24, 2008, 03:26:39 PM »

Offline jdportn

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My only memory from his European days is some grainy footage that seemed like it was smuggled out of some Soviet basketball league.

Re: Favorite International Guy that never got his shot
« Reply #17 on: August 24, 2008, 04:56:20 PM »

Offline Redz

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What was the guys name from Brazil who played on a bunch of Olympic teams for them back in the 8-'s & 90's. The guy had World B Free range!
Yup

Re: Favorite International Guy that never got his shot
« Reply #18 on: August 24, 2008, 05:49:45 PM »

Offline cordobes

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What was the guys name from Brazil who played on a bunch of Olympic teams for them back in the 8-'s & 90's. The guy had World B Free range!

Oscar "Holy Hand" Schmidt?

Yes he was. If he wasn`t so seriously injured he could the best non NBA player of all time IMHO

Who was the best non NBA player of all time if not Sabonis? When healthy, he was the best center of his era, IMO.

If we also include retired players i`d say
Zdovc. He is the blend of Papaloukas kai Diamantidis you we re talking about. About 6.7 , excellent defender, excellent passer, decent long range and completely unselfish. The best team mate you could ever dream of!

Good call, but I do believe that Zdovc was probably too slow-footed to make an impact in the NBA. But this reminded me of Paspalj - his heavy smoking didn't help, but he could have done better with a different coach than Larry Brown.

Yeah, I think I blended the two into one super-player. ;)  Still, Papaloukas has had plenty of opportunities to join the NBA, and has repeatedly declined.  The "sniper from outside" part was in reference to Diamantidis' attributes, though.  (I think both players are pretty good defenders from what I've seen, but draftexpress seems to agree with your take.)

The reason why Papaloukas declined those invitations was because GMs never offered him a big contract. And rightly so, I think (for the record, I believe that DX overrates Papaloukas and underrates Diamantidis  - not exactly them, but their NBA potential).

Re: Favorite International Guy that never got his shot
« Reply #19 on: August 24, 2008, 06:52:09 PM »

Offline greg683x

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Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Well I have very little knowledge of international players, and even less knowledge of international players that never got a shot.

So Im gonna go with the first name that comes to mind.  Josip Sesar(sp?).  I cant remember what country he was from.  But I read SO much about him on the internet on celtic boards ever since we got the rights to him from Seattle I believe, that I really wanted to see us bring him in.

So since Josip never got a chance, hes got my vote.
Greg

Re: Favorite International Guy that never got his shot
« Reply #20 on: August 24, 2008, 07:51:32 PM »

Offline Sketch

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Despite having two cups of coffee with the wizards (or maybe they were still the bullets then) and the spurs, Andrew Gaze would have to be up there. Dominated in the national league for 10+ years, clearly held his own in international competition over 4 olympics, he really deserved to be more than a spot up shooter coming off the bench. THe only thing that he lacked was explosive athleticism, but he was definitely smart enough to make up for his short comings (sound like any one we know?).

Oscar Schmidt probably falls into the same category.

Also, Eddie Palubinskas, look him up
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Re: Favorite International Guy that never got his shot
« Reply #21 on: August 24, 2008, 07:58:11 PM »

Offline cordobes

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Sesar is a mediocre player. His fellow countryman and former teammate Danilovic is also a good answer to the OP question, btw.

It's curious nobody mentioned the ex-future-Celtics Nikos Galis. Would we have won more, less or the same number of titles during the 80s had he joined the team?

Also, I'd like to point out some Americans who never had a fair chance in the NBA - Clarence Kea, a very physical SF, with excellent rebounding skills and post up game; Michael Young, a Celtics draft pick and a tall guard with amazing outside shooting and very clutch; Kevin Macgee, a shooting undersized PF that had the bad luck of playing in a time where shooting and undersized PFs were not common; Audie Norris, another undersized post player, though as nails; Johnny Rogers, another shooting PF; Derrick Sharp, a shooting specialist who wouldn't do worse than the Houses of this world; Anthony Parker - he got his chance but too late, he was an elite perimeter defender during his prime; Johnny Rogers, an awkward but very productive player; JR Holden, a fast and skilled point. I predict Marcus Haislip to be the next one to make this list.

Re: Favorite International Guy that never got his shot
« Reply #22 on: August 24, 2008, 08:48:20 PM »

Offline kw10

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Howabout Tiago Splitter? I never really saw him play, but this Brazilian big has pretty big reps, he was drafted by the Spurs in the 07 Draft but I think is still with his Euro team.

Now it's time to bring up another Australian names, you all know about Paddy Mills, Joe Ingles and AJ Ogilvy.
Howabout DAVID BARLOW? The 6'9 small forward for the boomers has great size (height and strength) for the 3 even in the NBA, and he has skills to play some 2 and the occasional Scottie Pippen-esque point. He is a great defender. Can knock down the international 3 with ease (so a good midrange in NBA) and can get to the basket a little too. Now I know he didn't play great against USA in the quarters nor will he be a starter in the league, but for everyone else who's seen him play other times, do you think he deserves a chance too? Or does everyone else already know he'll make the NBA and I'm just not up-to-date again?
Anything is possible!!!

Re: Favorite International Guy that never got his shot
« Reply #23 on: August 25, 2008, 01:58:44 AM »

Offline jdub1660

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I feel like a bad fan by not being able to spell his last name, but I'll join the crowd by using his first. Sarunas J. A few bloggers before have said he can't play here, and he's only decent over seas. Even Sarunas himself recently said(dude was just being humble/modest IMHO) in an interview that he's only a decent player, but could've been even better had he not been on the teams he's been on. He also said Stephen Jackson was his best team mate, which says alot since Capt Jack comes off(and is)a bad dude. Either way, last year at this time Hoopshype one day had a rumor that Sarunas was looking at Boston. I guess Ainge didn't see the fit, but no hate towards Pruitt, but I'd rather see Sarunas at the point since he has the ability to spread the floor more(and great passer too). I'll still give props to Navarro b/c that guy can play, and it sucks that Gasol fought to get him to come here, and he gets stuck in rebuilding mode in Memphis! It's like a really bad first impression. Once you get that bad taste in your mouth...it's over
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Re: Favorite International Guy that never got his shot
« Reply #24 on: August 25, 2008, 03:20:48 AM »

Offline ederson

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Who was the best non NBA player of all time if not Sabonis? When healthy, he was the best center of his era, IMO.

I don`t like this kind of questions cause there isn`t a single right answer.
Drazen for example was 3rd league scorer when it was unbelievably difficult for a european to get a place on the bench.
Kresimir Cosic was a huge player. Belov, Radivoj Korac even Galis.

But i think that a healthy Sabonis could be the only way of having one right answer on this one.

Good call, but I do believe that Zdovc was probably too slow-footed to make an impact in the NBA. But this reminded me of Paspalj - his heavy smoking didn't help, but he could have done better with a different coach than Larry Brown.

About Zdovc you are right. Generaly he wasn`t very athletic guy. To be honest i`m happy he didn`t cross the atlantic. I had the pleasure to watch his best 2 seasons of his carrier during his stay in Greece
Paspalij had a very strange of play. I don`t think he would be effective in NBA


Since Americans have come into the discussion Walter Berry is the first (and only) name it comes to mind.

Re: Favorite International Guy that never got his shot
« Reply #25 on: August 25, 2008, 05:13:02 AM »

Offline Bent

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Great thread.

How about Toni Kukoc?  Some feel he wasted his athletic prime by playing third banana on that Bulls team.

If you're going to debate best non-NBA player (regardless of nationality), how about Earl Manigault or...Len Bias?

And from the not so much file: Ben Pepper, Albert Miralles and Lenny Cooke.

Re: Favorite International Guy that never got his shot
« Reply #26 on: August 25, 2008, 05:51:12 AM »

Offline ederson

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I disagree about Kukoc. His was 3rd banana (i prefer key player) in one of the most succesful teams ever. It`s NOT like he backed up JR Ryder. Would you say the same about McHale?
« Last Edit: August 25, 2008, 07:29:42 AM by ederson »

Re: Favorite International Guy that never got his shot
« Reply #27 on: August 25, 2008, 09:09:31 AM »

Offline Sweet17

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Sarunas got his shot and sucked. Outside of Sabonis those international players would never have been good in the NBA..