Often hailed as one of the most prestigious basketball leagues in the world, the National Basketball Association (NBA) is religiously followed by millions of basketball aficionados from every nook and corner of the world. While the glorious history of the National Basketball Association (NBA) has been a witness to numerous legendary American basketball players, it has also been witness to some of the most iconic non-American and international basketball players who have dominated the league and have left the fans absolutely stunned by their unmatched exploits on the court.
From Nikola Jokić to Kristaps Porziņģis, the National Basketball Association has been dominated and influenced to a great extent by some of the most iconic and trailblazing international basketball players. Have you ever wondered about the top four non-American NBA players? Well, let’s find out.
In this article we will take a look at the top four greatest international NBA players of all-time.
NBA Titans: 4 International Players Who Dominated The League
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Joel Embiid, Cameroon
Often hailed as one of the most influential centres of all-time, Joel Embiid is at the first spot in our list of the top four international NBA players who have dominated the league. Throughout his glorious career so far, Joel Embiid has been a part of the Philadelphia 76ers since 2014 and has successfully established himself as a seven-time NBA All-Star, a five-time member of the All-NBA Team, a three-time member of the All-Defensive Team, and a two-time NBA scoring champion.
Additionally, Joel Embiid was also honoured as the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2023. Furthermore, Joel Embiid has also been a crucial part of the 2024 U.S. Olympic team that clinched a gold medal. Although Joel Embiid was born in Cameroon, he undoubtedly dominated the NBA arena with his unmatched exploits on the court.
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Rudy Gobert, France
At the second spot in our list of the top four greatest international NBA players of all-time, we have the French professional basketball player Rudy Gobert, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest centers of his generation. Often popularly referred to as ‘the Stifle Tower’ by millions of his fans from all over the world, Rudy Gobert currently plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association.
Throughout his star-studded NBA career so far, Rudy Gobert has been named as an NBA All-Star thrice and has been honoured as the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for a record total of four times in the years 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2024. As of January 2026, Rudy Gobert continues to be one of the most successful non-Americans in the history of the National Basketball Association.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo
Next, at the third spot on our list of the top four international NBA players who have dominated the league, we have the Greek professional basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo. Often popularly referred to as ‘Greek Freak’ by millions of his hardcore fans from all over the world, Giannis Antetokounmpo is currently a player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association and is widely hailed as one of the greatest power forwards of all-time.
Throughout his star-studded NBA career so far, Giannis Antetokounmpo has been named as the NBA All-Star for a record total of ten times, has clinched the coveted championship title in 2021 and has been named as the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2020.
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Nikola Jokić
Finally, at the fourth spot in our list of the top four greatest international NBA players of all-time, we have the trailblazing Serbian professional tennis player Nikola Jokić, who is often hailed as one of the greatest centers in the history of the National Basketball Association. Often popularly referred to as ‘Joker’ by millions of his fans from all over the world, Nikola Jokić is an eight-time NBA All-Star and has been named to the All-NBA Team on seven occasions.
Additionally, Nikola Jokić has also clinched the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for the 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2023–24 seasons. Moreover, the Serbian basketball sensation Nikola Jokić has also won a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, and a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics, establishing himself as one of the most successful basketball players in the world.
