In the not too distant past, there was an influx of talented, highly-skilled, foreign NBA ready big men arriving on American shores ready to prove themselves in the best league in the world. The likes of Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Yao Ming, Nene, and Andrew Bogut have become proven commodities for their respective teams, if not the face of their franchise. The combination of a lack of NBA ready big men born within our own borders, and the tantalizing prospect of finding the next Dirk Nowitzki or Pau Gasol, has seen NBA scouts scour foreign gymnasiums and playgrounds in search of the next international superstar.
The successful careers of Arvydas Sabonis and Vlade Divac gave hope, and helped pave the way for the importation of the next class of foreign players ready to make an impact for NBA frontlines. The only problem is that it is a crapshoot, a high-risk, high-reward game with improbable outcomes. While Nowitzki, Gasol, and Yao have elevated their games to repeat All-NBA and All-Star status, there are countless others who fail to meet expectations and are sent a one way ticket back to their country of origin.
Two foreign centers have been drafted ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Jon Darbee
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