The era when the United States dominated the world of basketball is a thing of the past. Five of the last seven NBA MVPs are European, and Team USA has not won a world championship in over a decade.

The Old Continent is brimming with talent. Today, we rank the best European players based on five criteria, listed in order of importance: impact on the game, presence in big moments, intrinsic talent, leadership, and statistics.

10) Sergio Lull : The only player in this ranking never to have played in the NBA, Sergio Lull is undoubtedly the face of FIBA’s top competition. Named MVP in 2017 and a member of the EuroLeague All-Decade Team, no other player has enjoyed such longevity while maintaining such a high level of competitiveness in the competition. But beyond these three European titles, Sergio Lull also has nine Liga titles, three World Cups, three EuroBasket titles, and three Olympic medals to his name. The greatest player from the greatest FIBA club, this walking brain has a style based on reading the game and putting his enormous talent to good use. While his career is not yet over, his legacy is already well established. Nevertheless, it is difficult to rank him higher given his lack of achievements in the Major League.

9) Rudy Gobert : The best European defender of all time is in 9th place… and he’s French? With four NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards to his name, Rudy Gobert ranks among the greatest defenders of all time. His combination of size, mobility, timing, and anticipation gives him exceptional off-ball defense. Far from being one-dimensional, his ability to set screens and play pick and roll has earned him four All-NBA Team selections. On the international stage, he has won two silver medals at the Olympics, one at EuroBasket, and two World Cup podium finishes. The center wins games, but no completion for now. Add to that his shortcomings in attack, and Rudy Gobert cannot hope to achieve a better position in this ranking.

8) Dražen Petrović : The “Mozart of the Balkans,” one of the biggest “what ifs,” and undoubtedly the best European player of the 20th century… Dražen Petrović paved the way for all the players in this ranking. At a time when it was unimaginable for a player from the Old Continent to become an NBA star, the Yugoslavian will forever be remembered as the first European to make the All-NBA Team… as a guard! His scoring ability (averaging 22.3 points in his last season), his clinical accuracy (two seasons with 45% from 3-point range) and, above all, his creativity made him an iconic figure across the Atlantic. And on the European stage, he won two EuroLeague titles, three Olympic medals, one European Championship title and one World Championship title. Without his tragic car accident at the age of 28, the Nets star would probably have ranked higher in this list.

7) Marc Gasol : The first Gasol in this Top 10 was the leader of the best version of the Memphis Grizzlies. After winning the FIBA Cup with FC Barcelona, the Spanish giant arrived in the NBA. There, his vision of the game combined with a technical finesse rare for a center elevated him to the top. The three-time All-Star and member of the 2015 All-NBA First Team also stood out without the ball. His ability to rely not on his physicality but on his reading of rotations earned him an NBA DPOY title. A leader at heart, Marc Gasol was a key player in La Roja’s two Olympic silver medals, two European championships, and two world championships. His formidable career was crowned with an NBA title in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors. If he can’t aim any higher, it’s only because there are some real giants ahead of him.

6) Luka Dončić : At just 26 years old, Luka Dončić is close to breaking into the Top 5. But then again, age is not really a factor when it comes to him. Already in Europe, he established himself as a leader of the world’s biggest club at just… 18 years old. The two-time Rising Star took advantage of his three seasons at Real Madrid to become the youngest MVP of the regular season and Final Four in EuroLeague history. All this while bringing La Décima to the Casa Blanca. In the wake of this, he won the EuroBasket and then landed in the NBA. Copy and paste his European interlude, and you get his current adventure in the Big League. He holds numerous records for precocity, has been named to the All-NBA First Team five times, is a Western Conference MVP, and has played in one NBA Finals. Only the ultimate title and MVP award are missing from his already impressive list of achievements. Now with the Lakers, it’s not impossible that in a few years, the most talented point guard the Old Continent has ever known will rise to the top of this ranking.

5) Pau Gasol : With 11 international medals and numerous MVP titles in FIBA tournaments, Pau Gasol probably has the most impressive international career. The center had a similar profile to his brother Marc, with slightly less defensive strength but more offensive talent. ROY for his first steps in the NBA, it was alongside the late Kobe Bryant that the center left an indelible mark. Playing for the Lakers, he achieved back-to-back championships before seeing his jersey retired. Rightly so, because according to many experts, the Spaniard was THE most important player in those epic seasons. Symbolizing his extraordinary longevity, Pau Gasol ended his career with a second Spanish league title with FC Barcelona, 20 years after his first. But now we’re getting into NBA MVP territory.

4) Tony Parker : From the 21st pick in the NBA Draft, Tony Parker became the leader of one of the greatest dynasties the world of basketball has ever known. TP knew how to turn his 6’2″ frame into strength. With his lightning-fast game, our Frenchie drove to the basket and scored among the greats thanks to his signature jump shot. The six-time All-Star has four NBA titles to his name over 11 years, including one Finals MVP in 2007. He has had an outstanding career both at club and national team level. After two bronze medals and one silver, Tony Parker led France to the top of Europe for the first time in its history. MVP of EuroBasket 2013 after an unforgettable run, the point guard led the way for this new wave of French talent sweeping through the big leagues. But he is more of a playmaker than a franchise player, unlike the members of our podium.

3) Giannis Antetokounmpo : The youngest of the Antetokounmpo siblings has long held second place in this ranking. His nickname, “The Greek Freak,” didn’t come out of nowhere. Beyond Europe, Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the most physically dominant players in NBA history. It doesn’t matter if there are one, two, or even three players guarding him! He will always find a way to score. And once he gets going, the power forward becomes simply unstoppable. Following his NBA MIP award in 2017, the Greek player won two MVP awards in a row, along with one DPOY trophy. His rise to prominence was crowned by the Bucks’ second NBA title in history, with the added bonus of one of the greatest individual performances of all time in the finals. In addition to the NBA Cup, Giannis added to his long list of achievements this summer by winning a bronze medal at EuroBasket. While his shooting still needs work, he still has many years ahead of him to climb the rankings.

2) Nikola Jokic : At 30 years old, Jokic has already revolutionized basketball. Having appeared behind a Taco Bell commercial during his draft, Nikola Jokic is now a serious contender in the race for GOAT center. While he was at the bottom of the podium until the 2023 season, his NBA title has propelled him into a whole new sphere. No one disputed his extraordinary talent, as evidenced by his three MVP titles—a first for a non-American player. But now, no one doubts his ability to lead his team to victory. His dominance is also reflected in FIBA play, with two Olympic medals. The Serbian has chosen to completely change the rules of basketball. Why shouldn’t a center be allowed to shoot from the parking lot or deliver caviar passes? Nikola Jokic has answered that question, making him virtually unstoppable. It’s scary, especially since his style of play is unlikely to fade with age. A few more seasons at the highest level and the top spot in this ranking will be his for the taking.

1) Dirk Nowitzki : One-legged fadeaway. This move alone identifies the GOAT in this ranking. Dirk Nowitzki will forever remain the first European to win an NBA MVP title. The first to become the top scorer for an NBA franchise, the first to have his own signature move, and above all, the first to carry a team to the ultimate title. He is one of the best forwards in the history of the Major League. In his prime, no one could match his ability to score from any angle and at any distance. These great achievements were complemented by superb performances for the national team. It is no exaggeration to say that the power forward put Germany on the world basketball map. In addition to his medals at EuroBasket and the World Cup, the Wunderkid inspired an entire generation that is now the reigning European and world champion. A 14-time NBA All-Star, Dirk Nowitzki is a model of longevity at the highest level.