Best Basketball Players of our Times

[Johnny Karp]

This topic is about the greatest basketball players that are STILL PLAYING, we have this topic for the legends of the past. OK, let's start with...

Pau Gasol

He is one of the few European players that have made a big impact in the NBA. He started his career in his homeland, Spain, where he played for FC Barcelona before being drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2001 NBA Draft, but his rights were traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, with whom he won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He currently holds the Memphis Grizzlies franchise records for career games played, minutes played, field goals made and attempted, free throws made and attempted, offensive, defensive, and total rebounds, blocked shots, turnovers, and points. After seven seasons with the Grizzlies Pau Gasol was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2008. His career highlights and awards can give you a picture of just how good a player he is:

- 2ื NBA Champion (2009–2010)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (2002)
- 4ื NBA All-Star (2006, 2009–2011)
- All-NBA Second Team (2011)
- 2ื All-NBA Third Team (2009–2010)
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (2002)
- FIBA World Championship MVP (2006)
- EuroBasket MVP (2009)
- Spanish King's Cup MVP (2001)
- Spanish League Finals MVP (2001)
- All-Euroleague Second Team (2001)
- 7ื European Player of the Year
- 2ื FIBA Europe Player of the Year (2008–2009)
- 2ื Mister Europa Player of the Year (2004, 2009)
- 3ื Euroscar Player of the Year (2008–2010)



I'm looking forward to reading about your favourites

[Johnny Karp]

Dirk Nowitzki

He is the leader of the reigning NBA champions, no doubt about that. Nowitzki, born in Germany, was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1998 NBA Draft but was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks, where he has played ever since. He has led the Mavericks to 11 consecutive NBA Playoffs, including an NBA Finals appearance in 2006 and the franchise's first championship in 2011, making him one of only 5 players in NBA history to win a championship while being the only NBA All-Star on the team. He is a 10-time All-Star and 11-time member of the All-NBA Teams, and the first European-born player in NBA history to receive the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. He also is the only player in NBA history to get 100 blocks and 150 three-pointers in a single season.

Career Highlights
NBA Champion (2011)
NBA Finals MVP (2011)
NBA Most Valuable Player (2007)
10ื NBA All-Star (2002–2011)
4ื All-NBA First Team (2005–2007, 2009)
5ื All-NBA Second Team (2002–2003, 2008, 2010–2011)
2ื All-NBA Third Team (2001, 2004)
NBA Three-Point Shootout Champion (2006)
FIBA World Championship MVP (2002)
EuroBasket MVP (2005)
8x European Player of the Year:
6ื Euroscar Award Winner (2002–2006, 2011)
Mister Europa Player of the Year (2005)
FIBA Europe Player of the Year (2005)
Best NBA Player ESPY Award (2011)
Best Male Athlete ESPY Award (2011)
Basketball Bundesliga MVP (1999)
Silbernes Lorbeerblatt (2011)
German Sportspersonality of the year (2011)

[blueday]

I would have added one to your thread Johnny but the one I was thinking of doesn't play any more. I don't know any others    I guess your thread will certainly help in that direction!

blue

[Johnny Karp]

I would have added one to your thread Johnny but the one I was thinking of doesn't play any more. I don't know any others    I guess your thread will certainly help in that direction!

blue

There's always the "icons" topic for that

@Lips
I intended this topic to be only about players that are still active, I'm sure you can find quite a few of the current Chicago Bulls players to praise

[lipstick_xoxos]

Oopppps my bad and you did mention it in CAPS. 

[lipstick_xoxos]

I have removed my post again sorry about that.