The FIBA Effect: Ranking The NBA's Top 20 European Players
- Joel Piton
- Sep 23
- 8 min read
The conclusion of FIBA EuroBasket was more than just the end of a tournament—it concluded the summer's primary source of men's basketball entertainment and was a reminder of how far basketball has stretched beyond American borders. From packed arenas in Europe to rising stars in other parts of the globe, the NBA has become the ultimate stage for international talent. Today, the league isn’t just sprinkled with European players—it’s defined by them. From MVPs to Finals heroes, many of the game’s brightest stars carry passports from different corners of the globe. With the EuroBasket tournament wrapped up, let’s take a closer look at the top 20 European players shaping the league right now.
Alexandre Sarr (France) — Washington Wizards
Height: 7'0" Position: C Age: 20
2024-25 Stats : 13.0 PPG | 6.5 RPG | 2.4 APG | 39.4 FG%
The #2 overall pick out of France with sky-high two-way upside, Sarr's future in Washington could be tremendous if he continues to put in the work.. Sarr’s length, mobility, and timing already pop out to even. the average viewer—projectable rim protection with budding face-up skill makes him one of Europe’s next big things. As a seven-footer however, his field goal percentage is a red flag. If he can get his shot falling consistently, it's a wrap.
Jonas Valanciunas (Lithuania) — Denver Nuggets
Height: 6'11" Position: C Age: 33
2024-25 Stats : 10.4 PPG | 7.7 RPG | 2.0 APG | 55.0 FG%
Jonas Valanciunas has been a steady interior threat for multiple NBA teams at this point. What's more, he's worked on his shooting and has become a reliable stretch big if necessary. Evolution has been what's kept in in this league, and I don't think he's going anywhere. Few players bring old-school physicality like Valanciunas. A bruising rebounder and interior scorer, he embodies Lithuania’s basketball tradition.
Toumani Camara (Belgium) — Portland Trail Blazers
Height: 6'7" Position: SF Age: 25
2024-25 Stats : 11.3 PPG | 5.8 RPG | 2.2 APG | 45.6 FG%
Camara isn't a household name yet but make no mistake, he's another premier example of just how much basketball talent is lurking in France. An All-Defensive Second Team selection who plays with edge and discipline. Camara’s switchability, motor, and rebounding translate on any roster, and his corner three is coming along quickly.
Jakob Poeltl (Austria) — Toronto Raptors
Height: 7'0" Position: C Age: 29
2024-25 Stats : 14.5 PPG | 9.6 RPG | 2.8 APG | 62.7 FG%
Poeltl's game went to new heights this season, so much so that he legitimately found himself in Most Improved Player talks. As the sole basketball representative of Austria in the NBA, Poeltl has been making waves. A quietly elite screen-setter and paint anchor. Poeltl’s touch around the rim, offensive rebounding, and sturdy positional defense make him a reliable starting center night after night.
Dennis Schröder (Germany) — Sacramento
Height: 6'3" Position: PG Age: 32
2024-25 Stats : 13.1 PPG | 2.6 RPG | 5.4 APG | 40.6 FG%
Fresh off his FIBA World Cup MVP, Schröder continues to prove himself as a fearless competitor. Following a well-deserved performance, Schröder didn't put up the biggest statlines in the tournament but it was clear that without him, Germany would have had a different story to tell. His speed and playmaking give him value as both a starter and leader. Schröder suited up for three NBA teams last season alone, and here's hoping Sacramento understands his worth.
Isaiah Hartenstein (Germany) — Oklahoma City Thunder
Height: 7'0" Position: PF/C Age: 27
2024-25 Stats : 11.2 PPG | 10.7 RPG | 3.8 APG | 58.1 FG%
A champion whose impact shows up in winning plays. Hartenstein blends rim protection, short-roll playmaking, and relentless effort on the glass—glue-guy skills at starting-center size. Hartenstein has legitimately evolved from a bench player struggling to get minutes in Houston to someone you want on the glass when it matters most.
Deni Avdija (Israel) — Portland Trail Blazers
Height: 6'9" Position: F Age: 24
2024-25 Stats : 16.9 PPG | 7.2 RPG | 3.9 APG | 47.6 FG%
One of the league’s rising young wings, Avdija is making strides as a versatile defender and playmaker. Stepping into a larger role for a struggling Portland squad, Avdija's game ascended to new heights after putting on the black and crimson. His growth signals a bright future for Israeli basketball.
Nikola Vucevic (Montenegro) — Chicago Bulls
Height: 7'0" Position: C Age: 34
2024-25 Stats : 18.5 PPG | 10.1 RPG | 3.5 APG | 53.0 FG%
A double-double machine, Vucevic remains Chicago’s steadying force in the frontcourt. With a career average of 17 points per game, Vucevic has been finding ways to put the ball in the basket for well over a decade now. The 2x All-Star has played for just three franchises, and has been the Bull's premier dependable big man for four years now. His ability to stretch the floor sets him apart from traditional big men as well.
Rudy Gobert (France) — Minnesota Timberwolves
Height: 7'1" Position: C Age: 33
2024-25 Stats : 12.0 PPG | 10.9 RPG | 1.8 APG | 66.9 FG%
A three-time Defensive Player of the Year, Gobert is synonymous with rim protection. Despite his limited offensive game, he's still capable of putting the ball in the basket at the rim. The 33-year-old opted to skip this year's EuroBasket tournament for recovery, but make no mistake, Gobert never backs down from a challenge. His size and defensive instincts make him one of Europe’s most decorated NBA defenders.
O.G. Anunoby (England) — New York Knicks
Height: 6'7" Position: SF Age: 28
2024-25 Stats : 18.0 PPG | 4.8 RPG | 2.2 APG | 47.6 FG%
Consistently hailed as one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, Anunoby is a constant matchup nightmare. Ranked an NBA ready defender on day one, Anunoby has since added NBA champion, NBA steals leader and All-Defensive Team selections to his resume. His growing offensive game only adds to his value on both sides of the ball.
Lauri Markkanen (Finland) — Utah Jazz
Height: 7'0" Position: F/C Age: 28
2024-25 Stats : 19.0 PPG | 5.9 RPG | 1.5 APG | 42.3 FG%
Despite Markkanen's shakiness last season, his performance for Team Finland was proof that he still has the potential to slip into yet another All-Star game. The former Most Improved Player Award recipient has blossomed into a legitimate three-level-threat—a 7'0" force legitimately capable of playing the small forward position and creating space for his own shot. Markkanen’s blend of size and shooting has made him Utah’s centerpiece.
Ivica Zubac (Croatia) — Los Angeles Clippers
Height: 7'0" Position: C Age: 28
2024-25 Stats : 16.8 PPG | 12.6 RPG | 2.7 APG | 62.8 FG%
Zubac has become one of the more pleasant surprises in the NBA recently at the center position. A relentless double-double threat, Zubac found himself in Most Improved Player conversations last season. A steady interior presence for the Clippers, Zubac does the dirty work. His defense, rebounding, and rim protection give him powerful advantager in today’s NBA.
Kristaps Porzingis (Latvia) — Atlanta Hawks
Height: 7'2" Position: F/C Age: 30
2024-25 Stats : 19.5 PPG | 6.8 RPG | 2.1 APG | 48.3 FG%
When healthy, Kristaps Porzingis remains one of the league’s most versatile bigs. His ability to shoot from deep and protect the rim keeps him a rare weapon. Unfortunately, the question has always been whether or not he can stay on the floor. With injuries sidelining him for most of his tenures in Boston, the Hawks may be receiving a question mark.
Franz Wagner (Germany) — Orlando Magic
Height: 6'10" Position: SF Age: 24
2024-25 Stats : 24.2 PPG | 5.7 RPG | 4.7 APG | 46.3 FG%
Fresh off a FIBA World Cup title, Wagner has emerged as a two-way star. Wagner was a legitimate standout with the Orlando Magic this season, bumping up his scoring average to 24 points and at 6'10", there's not much the defense can do to stop him. With size, skill, and steady improvement, he’s the future standout for both the Magic and German basketball.
Alperen Sengun (Turkey) — Houston Rockets
Height: 6'11" Position: C Age: 23
2024-25 Stats : 19.1 PPG |10.3 RPG | 4.9 APG | 49.6 FG%
Sengun looked unguardable in this year's EuroBasket tournament. His passing continues to rise, giving him legitimate comaparisons to Nikola Jokic. Sengün has quickly become Houston’s offensive hub, finishing with creativity and vision from the post. At just 23, he represents the next wave of great Turkish basketball minds.
Domantas Sabonis (Lithuania) — Sacramento Kings
Height: 6'10" Position: F/C Age: 29
2024-25 Stats : 19.1 PPG | 13.9 RPG | 6.0 APG | 59.0 FG%
A nightly double-double, Sabonis is the best rebounder in the NBA by FAR and the anchor of Sacramento’s offense. His passing and interior scoring continue a proud Lithuanian big man tradition. Son of Arvydas, Sabonis has already surpassed his father's accolades, at least in America.
Victor Wembanyama (France) — San Antonio Spurs
Height: 7'3" Position: F/C Age: 21
2024-25 Stats : 24.3 PPG | 11.0 RPG | 3.7 APG | 47.6 FG%
The most hyped prospect in modern-day NBA history has lived up to every ounce of it. Wemby’s size, skill, and versatility are unlike anything the league has ever seen, making him a face to watch closely over the next two decades even. The reigning blocks leader, he can punish you from both outside and inside without breaking a sweat.
Luka Doncic (Slovenia) — Los Angeles Lakers
Height: 6'6" Position: G/F Age: 26
2024-25 Stats : 28.2 PPG | 8.2 RPG | 7.7 APG | 45.0 FG%
A generational talent, Doncic entered the NBA as a prodigy and has only grown more unstoppable with time. Luka's slimmed down in the offseason, and it paid visible dividends in the EuroBasket tournament. With elite scoring, playmaking, and flair, he’s already etched his place among Europe’s greatest exports.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) — Milwaukee Bucks
Height: 6'11" Position: F Age: 30
2024-25 Stats : 30.4 PPG | 11.9 RPG | 6.5 APG | 60.1 FG%
A two-time MVP and NBA champion, Giannis has become a relentless force on both sides of the ball, capable of forcing his way inside or sending your shot flying. Giannis blends weight-room power with relentless energy, carrying both Milwaukee and Greece as one of the game’s ultimate forces.
Nikola Jokic (Serbia) — Denver Nuggets
Height: 7'0" Position: C Age: 30
2024-25 Stats : 29.6 PPG | 12.7 RPG | 10.2 APG | 57.6 FG%
A consensus MVP candidate every year, Jokic is the premier product of European basketball. The greatest draft steal of all time, he’s redefined what it means to be a center in today’s NBA, and somehow seems to be getting better each season.
As this list shows, the NBA is no longer just America’s sport—it belongs to the world, and Europe has some serious competition. When the last seven MVP trophies have all gone to international stars, and when the consensus top three players in the league are from other parts of the globe, it tells you everything about where the sport is heading. The spread of talent across continents has raised the level of competition and reshaped the league’s identity. What does that say about the NBA’s future? How is this global takeover redefining the league we love?
And of course, this is only the beginning of the conversation. Stay tuned to Sportz Nation for your daily dose of hoops coverage, from rankings and analysis to the stories that connect the NBA to every corner of the world.
Thanks for reading!
Joel Piton
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