With each passing year, basketball becomes a more global sport. Accessibility to the sport continues to increase while the visibility of elite NBA players has never been greater.

As part of celebrations surrounding the NBA’s 75th anniversary, the league is holding a series of votes to determine the greatest players, teams and moments in history – and the vote to determine Europe’s first and second team of all time of the NBA is next.

While European stars like Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo dominate the NBA landscape today, it wasn’t always like this. Europe and the rest of the world are now aware of basketball – and three-time NBA champion BJ Armstrong thinks it all comes down to one moment: the 1992 Olympics.

“If there’s anything that was a phenomenal event in the world of basketball, I think we’re all going to go back to the 1992 Olympics, because all those foreign players – especially those from Europe – took advantage of the ‘opportunity to see the Dream team come to Barcelona and play,’ Armstrong said exclusively The mirror . “I think it had a lot of impact on those players today because the confidence that those young men have is so amazing to me.

“At one point the top players were coming from America and it was a very national game, and then you started to see this influx of foreign players coming into the game periodically, but now it’s really a global game. Watch Giannis, Jokic, [Joel] Embiid and so many other foreign born players who have made an impact and played the game at the highest level have been phenomenal to watch.

“International players have now reached the elite level of the NBA: they are world champions, MVPs and defensive players of the year.”

The four main contenders for the 2021-22 NBA MVP award are international, with three of them – Giannis, Jokic and Doncic – hailing from Europe. Back when he played in the 1990s, Armstrong, with framed jerseys of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird hanging on the wall behind him, suggested international players often didn’t feel like they belonged to the league due to their different styles. and mentality merged with the bright lights of the NBA.

However, Armstrong’s enthusiasm when talking about the next generation of European basketball talent is palpable. He is particularly impressed with their confidence and appreciation of the fundamentals of the sport.

“The one common denominator or style that all great players have is a high understanding of the fundamentals of the game,” Armstrong explained animatedly as he analyzed the differences in style between European and American players. “Jokic’s fundamentals and his understanding of the game are at a very high elite level – so much so that we’ve never seen a player in his position being able to pass the run and the movement like he does. That’s very unusual to see a guard do that, let alone a center.

“Giannis is amazing because he’s a kind of hybrid winger who meets a point guard and a center. He’s an amazing talent and an amazing athlete who has combined it all.

“You can tell they’ve studied the game, but they understand what its strengths and weaknesses are; they never allow their weakness to get in the way of their strengths and what they bring to the team. I tend to have a big appreciation for people who really take their game to that level because you can tell these young men are spending time in the gym – it’s no accident.

Armstrong pointed out that European players used to come into the league with a team mentality – a trait that was clearly ingrained in them as they learned the game. He cited how the greats could fire from the perimeter, which differed greatly from the operation of the national centers.

He is impressed with the way European players have closed the gap to American stars in terms of athleticism – but stressed the different interpretations of the best way to play basketball were what intrigued him most. Armstrong added: “Growing up here in the United States, you understand that different regions play the game in a different way – and that’s the best thing about it.

“You can see you know how the game is played in places like Serbia or Croatia, or when you’ve watched Marc or Pau Gasol you can see how it was taught in Spain. I like that everyone brings his own unique perspective to the game, and it all comes together in the NBA.

When asked which European player impressed him the most, Armstrong thought about his answer for a moment. He praised fellow Chicago Bull Toni Kukoc for his ability to persevere and adapt to NBA basketball, but he had a different answer – Arvydas Sabonis.

Armstrong is adamant that the Lithuanian center was ‘without a doubt’ one of the top 50 basketball players in history. Sabonis, who played for the Portland Trail Blazers after playing for his native Zalgiris as well as Real Madrid in Spain, had a remarkable range of passing while also possessing a fine scoring ability – including the three-point shot on his own. standing 7’3.

“Arvydas Sabonis was as unique a player as I have seen to date,” Armstrong revealed, with his admiration and respect for Sabonis clear. “First of all, he was huge – big and tall – and had incredible skills as well as being a terrific athlete. He could do anything. He was a dominant player on both sides of the pitch.

“I would have loved to see him when he was at his peak to see how he would have fared against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Patrick Ewing and the big players – I think it would have been a treat for the world. I just had very lucky to see him at his peak before injuries.

“Even to this day, I’ve never seen such an impactful player. Maybe in the end, Giannis has a chance to overtake him – but right now, if you ask me, Arvydas Sabonis is the most great foreign-born player I’ve seen.

The NBA’s proposed vote will see fans vote for their first and second teams from a pool of historic and current European players to leave their mark on the league. However, the question had to be asked: Who is on Armstrong’s European All-Time NBA First Team?

While the former point guard paid tribute to Kukoc, Detlef Schrempf, Peja Stojakovic, Hedo Türkoğlu, the ‘great’ Vlade Divac and Drazen Petrovic, the first team could only include five names. After a few angst-ridden moments, Armstrong delivered his superstar-laden lineup.

“The best player I’ve seen so far is Arvydas Sabonis. Whoever becomes the best, they have to give him credit because he’s part of the elite,” Armstrong insisted. “His game was transferred from the FIBA to NBA, and he could play the game wonderfully due to his size and athleticism.

“For me, Giannis is – without a doubt – the sporting best foreign player of all time. In the end, he could be the best player to play. Dagger [Nowitzki] perfected an aspect of the game as well as anyone who has ever played in the NBA.

Who do you think is the greatest European player in NBA history? Let us know in the comments section.

“I consider Jokic the most charming player in the NBA. He’s like the dancing bear; he does his thing and it’s so effective. I love watching him play.

“Even though he’s only 22, Luka Doncic. He has everything. I know I miss players, there have been so many great ones – I know Tony Parker is going to be angry if he hear that!”

It’s a testament to the development of European basketball that three current stars – Antetokounmpo, Jokic and Doncic – have made it into Armstrong’s five alongside greats like Nowitzki and Sabonis. Who knows, maybe the shirt of one of the European stars that will light up the league will end up alongside the legends of Jordan, Johnson and Bird on Armstrong’s wall.

Head to the NBA 75 Euro Vote website to vote for your all-time best European players, with the top 10 being honored in the league’s all-time European teams. Polls close on April 6. #NBA75EuroVote