What other athletes in the world who have NBA strength but have not joined the NBA

There are indeed many players around the world who have NBA-level talents but have failed to enter the NBA for various reasons. These reasons include: age/time, injury, personal choice (more value for high salary or team status in Europe), cultural adaptation concerns, cognitive bias of NBA teams (underestimating the level of the international league), political/visa factors, etc.

The following are some representative players who are recognized as having NBA strength but failing to join the NBA (mainly focusing on the past 20-30 years):

Legends and Beads of European Basketball (European League is the highest level except the NBA)

Dimitris Diamantidis:

Country/Position: Greece/Point Guard-Point Guard.

Achievements: 3 times Europa League MVP (one of the most history), 4 times Europa League Best Defensive Player (the most history), 8 times Europa League Best Team One Team (the most history). In 2007, he led Panasinaikos to win the UEFA Champions League and won the MVP of the Final Four.

NBA Relations: In 2004, the second round was selected by the Pistons, but they were never signed. Considered one of the greatest defenders in European history, his comprehensive offensive and defensive capabilities (especially defense and organization) are considered to be fully adaptable to the NBA. Choose to stay in Europe and become a legend.

Theo Papalucas:

Country/Position: Greece/Point Guard.

Achievement: The best team in the 2006 World Championships, leading Greece to defeat the American "Dream Seven" in the semi-finals (that American team has James, Wade, Anthony, etc.). 2007 Europa League MVP, selected for the Best Team of the European League many times.

NBA Relations: Was out of the election in 2003 and received an NBA offer (such as the Jazz), but chose to stay in Europe (mainly in Olympiacos and CSKA) to enjoy high salaries and core status. Its tall point guard (1.98 meters) play, organizational ability and big heart at critical moments are considered very suitable for the NBA.

Milos Teodosic:

Country/Position: Serbia/Point Guard.

Achievement: Runner-up core of the 2010 World Championships, Runner-up core of the 2016 Rio Olympics (beat the United States), 2016 Euro League MVP, and was selected into the Best Team of the European League many times. Passing master, stadium commander.

NBA Relations: I was selected in the second round in 2010, but I didn’t join the Clippers at the age of 30 until 2017. The Clippers showed their organizational talent, but failed to fully exert their dominance in Europe due to age, injuries and defensive issues. It is generally believed that if he enters the NBA around the age of 25, he will become a top point guard.

Vasirier Mysino:

Country/Position: Serbia/Point Guard.

Achievements: He was selected into the Best Team of the European League many times, the 2021 European League MVP, and led Effith to win the UEFA Champions League in 2021 and won the MVP of the semi-finals. Comprehensive technology, strong scoring ability, and outstanding key ball ability.

NBA Relations: I have been close to joining the NBA many times (such as the Jazz and the Mavericks once intended), but eventually chose to stay in Europe (mainly in Effith) as the absolute core and enjoy a high salary. Its scoring explosiveness and field control ability are considered to be fully at NBA level.

Sergio Ruer:

Country/Position: Spain/Point Guard.

Achievements: Captain of Real Madrid Legend, 2 European League Champions (2015, 2018), MVP of the 2015 European League Final Four, and was selected for the Best Team of the European League many times. Known for shooting at a critical moment big heart ("Ruer Moment").

NBA Relations: The Nuggets were drafted in the second round in 2009 (draft trade to the Rockets). The Rockets have tried to introduce him for many years and have issued guaranteed contracts, but he always chose to stay in Real Madrid as a banner figure. Its scoring ability and key ball attributes are considered NBA-level.

Nick Carrasses:

National/Position: Greece/Point Guard.

Achievement: He has been selected into the Best Team of the European League many times, has a very comprehensive skilled tall point guard (1.98 meters), excellent in organization, scoring and rebounding.

NBA Relationship: In 2009, the second round was selected by the Mavericks. He signed a contract with the Grizzlies in 2015, but failed to make a deal due to the buyout fee. Since then, he has always been the core of the top European teams (Panasinaikos, CSKA, Barcelona). His all-round skills are considered competent in the NBA.

Boyan Bogdanovic (this Bojan is not the NBA):

Country/Position: Montenegro (Former Yugoslavia)/Point Guard.

Achievement: Legendary point guard of European basketball, one of the best European players in the 1990s, led several clubs (such as Panasinaikos) to win the UEFA Champions League (MVP of the 1996 Final Four).

NBA Relations: I received invitations from NBA teams in the 1990s, but I did not go there due to the international player environment and personal choices (he was already a superstar in Europe) and other reasons. Its technology and leadership are considered absolutely capable of gaining a foothold in the NBA.

Top representatives of other regions

Marcelinho Huertas:

Country/Position: Brazil/Point Guard.

Achievements: Legendary core of Brazil's national team, MVP of the Copa America, MVP of the Spanish League. Passing master, top stadium vision and creativity.

NBA Relations: Joined the Lakers at the age of 32 in 2015, showing excellent organizational skills, but due to age, athletic ability and defense, he failed to gain a foothold for a long time. It is generally believed that he has the NBA starting point guard strength at his peak (European period).

Andrew Gates:

Country/Position: Australia/Shotback-small forward.

Achievement: Australian basketball legend, NBL historical scoring champion (multiple MVP). Comprehensive technology and diverse scoring methods.

NBA Relationship: He played for the Washington Bullets (the predecessor of the Wizards) in the 1990s, but failed to adapt. He then dominated the Australian League for a long time. His scoring ability and basketball IQ are considered to have the opportunity to play a more important role in the NBA if he is in today's more open international environment.

Waldemar "Vini" Helschevsky ("Ole"):

Country/Position: Brazil/Center.

Achievement: South American basketball legend center, delicate skills (steps, feel), won the South American club league championship and MVP many times.

NBA Relations: I received invitations from NBA teams in the 1980s, but I did not go there due to the international player environment and personal choices (a superstar in Brazil). He is one of Olajuwon's idols and his technical skills are considered to be enough to gain a foothold in the NBA inside.

Vasiris Spanoris:

National/Position: Greece/Shooting Guard.

Achievement: European League historical scoring champion! He has been in the European League MVP, scoring and assisting champion many times, leading many teams to win the championship. Nicknamed "Killer", he has extremely strong scoring ability.

NBA Relationship: He was selected by the Mavericks in the second round in 2004 and played for the Rockets in the 2006-07 season. After the Rockets failed to adapt to the system (coaching Van Gundy) and role (substitute point guard), returning to Europe after a season became an absolute legend. It is recognized that his peak strength is far beyond the NBA's short experience, and is one of the greatest scorers in European history.

Normander Powell (non-NBA player of the same name) / Lionel Chalmers:

Country/Position: Canada/Defender.

Note: Canada has experienced a surge in talent in recent years, but outside the NBA, some players who perform well in the NCAA or have a net worth in the European/Asian league (such as the above two) are also considered to have the NBA edge or rotation strength, but have not been able to obtain stable opportunities due to fierce competition and overlapping positions.

"passing bye" type worth mentioning

Sarunas Jassicovichs: The King of Europe in the early 2000s, led Lithuania to defeat the Dream Team in the 2002 World Championships. He was 29 years old when he joined the Pacers in 2005 and failed to fully adapt to the NBA rhythm and role, but his strength in Europe at his peak was definitely the NBA All-Star level.

Anthony Parker: After becoming a superstar in Europe (Macabee) (2 Europa League MVP), he returned to the NBA (Raptors) and achieved success in 2006. He proved the strength of the top European stars.

LaShaun McCaleb: He played dominant performance in Israel Maccabi (European League Scoring King, MVP), but never got substantial NBA opportunities (only played briefly in the early 2000s). Its scoring explosiveness is considered to be at the NBA level.

Important considerations

Definition of "NBA strength": This includes players who can play rotations in the NBA (8th-10th man) to start and even All-Star potential. The above list is more inclined to players who can rotate stably in the NBA or even serve as the starter.

Era Differences: The degree of internationalization of the NBA has only increased significantly in the past 20 years. Many European/South American superstars in the 90s or earlier, if born in today's era, would almost certainly enter the NBA and be successful.

League level differences: The NBA is still unique in physical confrontation, athleticism, game rhythm and season length. Some players who are calling for the wind and rain in Europe or the Asian league may be discounted under the high-intensity confrontation and fast pace of the NBA.

Character adaptation: Many international stars are absolute core in Europe and have unlimited fire rights. In the NBA, it may be necessary to accept role player positioning, which is a huge challenge for their performance and psychology (as in the example of Span Norris).

Continuously emerge: With the improvement of the scouting system and the NBA paying more attention to international talents, the channels for top international players to enter the NBA have been greatly unobstructed. Now European stars like Doncic, Jokic, and Antetokounmpo will hardly miss the NBA. But geniuses at the second-level, especially those who are slightly older or who play in non-top European Leagues, may still become "leftovers".

Conclusion: The world outside the NBA is full of basketball talents, especially in the European top league (EuroLeague), there are always a considerable number of players with competitive rotation and even starting positions in the NBA. Personal choice, timing, adaptation issues and the limitations of NBA team cognition have jointly created the existence of these "left beads". Diamantidis, Papalucas, Misino, Ruhr and others are the most commonly mentioned names in recent years, and their strength has been widely recognized by the international basketball community.