NBA Draft: Best international players ever taken

8. Vlade Divac, C, Yugoslavia

1989 Draft: No. 26 pick by the Los Angeles Lakers

Over 16 NBA seasons, Divac was a reliable NBA center, averaging 11.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game for the Lakers, Hornets, and Kings. A durable big who could rebound, pass out of the post, and protect the rim, Divac was a pioneer for international basketball, becoming the first player born and developed outside of the U.S. to log 1,000 games, and helping the former Yugoslavia to Eurobasket titles in 1989, 1991, and 1995, and silver medals in the 1988 and 1996 Summer Olympics. He paired this international success with being a steady presence on teams that made deep playoff runs, making a Finals appearance with the 1991 Lakers, starting at center for the best teams of the old Charlotte Hornets era (105 wins in 96-97 and 97-98), and of course, earning an All-Star appearance and providing the defensive anchor to the early-2000’s Kings.

In terms of the draft, Divac was an incredible value, as the Lakers grabbed him with the second-to-last pick of the 1st round, and he helped the Magic Johnson-led Lakers not miss a beat after the retirement of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Not only was Divac a surprise as an international success, he also represented a huge steal late in the draft, regardless of his background. Only six players have been drafted later than Divac and played more than his 13,398 minutes. Divac belongs on this list simply because of his status as an international pioneer, but he was one of the earliest examples of an international player providing late-first round value, as well.

Next: 7. Arvydas Sabonis