In addition to the recurring classification of people related to the NBA in which the best European players in history are named, debate again at the top after the retirement of Dirk Nowitzki’s jersey in Dallas Mavericks, there are more variants. In First Take There has been talk of the best non-born in the United States, for them foreigners, who have passed through the league of their country. Kendrick Perkins, a one-time champion and NBA player from 2003 to 2018, has given his personal opinion on this helpful topic of this League.
For Perkins the number 1 is Hakeem Olajuwon. The pivot who brought the Rockets closer to their 94 and 95 titles with anthological exhibitions is American because he has dual citizenship, winning with them even an Olympic gold in Atlanta 1996, but in reality he is Nigerian. There is little doubt about the quality of what is one of the five best interiors ever. Perkins ranks German Dirk Nowitzki, also a champion and now a consultant in the franchise to which he dedicated two decades, at number 2. At number 3 it already puts Giannis Antetokounmpo, NBA MVP both in the regular phase and in a finals and one of the most groundbreaking players today. In number 4 is placed Steve Nash, Canadian, who is the only one on his list who, although he was MVP on two occasions, does not have any championship won for his record. The number 5 is given to the French Tony Parker, without which the fifteen-year dynasty that was created in San Antonio by Gregg Popovich would not have been possible.
In addition to the absences of Balkans such as Nikola Jokic or Drazen Petrovic, the incipient Luka Doncic or a South American who carries a huge legacy, Manu Ginobili, the analyst of ESPN has left out Pau Gasol, who many would put in that quintet. For context, Pau and Kendrick faced each other in the NBA zones during two Finals: the 2008 one, including Garnett’s review, was taken by Perkins for the Celtics; that of 2010, with a fundamental role helping Kobe by the Barcelona player, went to the Lakers with Pau.
This is how Kendrick Perkins explains this opinion:
