Pau Gasol is one of the best European players to ever make his way over to the NBA. While many would decisively put Dirk Nowitzki as the best European player so far, there is a whole generation of players that are already knocking on Nowitzki’s door.
The first is Giannis Antetokounmpo, a player that can complete winning almost every award he can if he ends this season as the scoring champion. Giannis already has Nowitzki beat in total MVP awards and has a DPOY, while joining Nowitzki as winning the championship and Finals MVP with the team that drafted them.
The second is Nikola Jokic, who looks to be on pace to win his second consecutive MVP this season. Finally, we have Dirk’s former teammate and heir apparent, Luka Doncic, who is looking to be a future superstar in the league.
Gasol spoke on J.J. Redick’s podcast about the European talent in the league, with these aforementioned three in particular.
“It’s been great to see how all the European and international players have just established themselves not just in the league, but as some of the top players in the league. You say, Luka, Giannis, Jokic, I think they are in the top ten in the league. I don’t think you can take them out of the top 10. Giannis and Jokic have won MVPs the last three years, and that’s who the MVPs have been, European players, which is something quite extraordinary as well.
This year’s MVP race is also coming down to the wire with Giannis and Jokic in the mix again. The third player in the race is Joel Embiid, who is from Africa. The race atop the league is becoming tighter every season, with even more foreign players rising up to the plate and becoming the best in the league.
