Nearly 25 percent of NBA players are international — let’s take a look at some of the top international prospects for the 2020 NBA Draft.
Despite Adrian Wojnarowski reporting that the NBA Draft is likely to pushed back from its scheduled date on June 25 the hiatus gives us time to look at the draft’s top prospects. Unlike the NCAA, foreign leagues such as the EuroLeague and Liga ACB decided to suspend their play rather than cancelling it. This means that while the top college prospects are left preparing for the draft international players will be able to showcase their skills in more a competitive environment.
Giannis. Luka. Gobert. Jokic. International players are taking the league by storm and none of these guys played college basketball nor grew up in the United States — this type of player is becoming more and more common. Nearly a quarter of the league is made up of international players and so is nearly half of the Sixers roster.
This years draft class features a plethora of international prospects. Some are near sure things and others are considered risks. Some experts have said this is one of the deepest international player pools in years.
(NOTE: This list includes the top players that were both born and played internationally — U.S. born players like LaMelo Ball and R.J. Hampton are not included — to highlight lesser known players. All stats included represent per 36 minutes.)