It is never an easy task to pick the all-time best players in any sport, but I feel the need to write about my favorite European basketball players of all time. I even have a feeling that the all-time European team would be able to compete (not to win) against the all-time American team. Yes, I understand that the American team would have MJ, LeBron, Duncan, Magic, Kobe and other great players, but believe me, there are many great European players to choose from as well. 

Starting Five

C - Arvydas Sabonis

Img Source (Only if Sabonis could wear this jersey in his prime)

Arvydas Sabonis joined the NBA at 31 after his body was already weary from injuries. He still managed to become one of the best Centers of his generation and probably the only guy who could go toe to toe against Shaq. Arvydas Sabonis had the passing ability of a point guard and his basketball IQ was above genius. Sabonis even managed to become EuroLeague MVP in 2004, at the age of 40 with his legs barely moving. Yup, it was always Sabonis' intelligence on the court that helped him stay on the top. However, his hook shots and other signature moves also destroyed many of his opponents' careers. 

I wish I had a chance to see Sabonis playing at his prime at Real Madrid when he dominated Europe. Sadly, I was yet to be born. It does not make any sense listing Sabonis' trophies as he has just too many of them. I only know that Sabonis is the greatest Lithuanian basketball player ever. If not for that tragical Achilles' tendon injury and the Cold War which kept him away from the NBA, Sabonis would be compared to Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 

Oh yes, Sabonis was one of the first big guys who could shoot from beyond the arc, so he would definitely fit in today's NBA as well.

PF - Dirk Nowitzki

This is how you do it, baby!

I guess it is a pretty obvious choice. Dirk Nowitzki is the greatest European basketball player of all time in my eyes and his game on the basketball court proves me right. I grew up watching Dirk Nowitzki playing, and I must say that I have never seen anything sexier than Dirk's one-legged fadeaway jumper. It still gives me thrills. Also, the fact that Nowitzki single-handedly destroyed the big 3 of the Miami Heat in 2011 swings the debate for the greatest European basketball player in his favor. I would be happy to argue with anyone who has different ideas.

I could even argue that Dirk Nowitzki is among the top 4 ever PFs alongside with Garnet, Duncan, and Malone. I am not sure who I would pick to my team, but I would consider Nowitzki even though his game is not always the most attractive. I mean, he used to look bad in those All-Star games where everyone is dunking and making crazy passes, but when it comes to stability and execution, Nowitzki is my number one pick.

SF - Dejan Bodiroga

Img Source (Greatest player to never play in the NBA?)

Well, you might not know Dejan Bodiroga if you are only following NBA, so let me introduce you to one the best players who never played in the USA. Of course, I would not dare to argue that Oscar Shmidt is the best player to never play in the NBA, but Dejan Bodiroga is a strong second for me. Bodiroga dominated Europe at the beginning of the 21st century, and in my eyes, Bodiroga is the greatest EuroLeague player of all time alongside with Sarunas Jasikevicius and Dimitris Diamantidis. 

Of course, Small Forward position is the weakest on this team, and there is no denying that. However, Dejan Bodiroga was a great team player and had a lot of tricks up his sleeve, so even though he could never outshine Nowitzki or Sabonis, he would still do justice. I mean, Dejan has won 5 gold medals with Yugoslavia and was always one the leaders of his team. 

SG - Drazen Petrovic

Does it get better than that?

Drazen Petrovic is one of the biggest what-ifs in the basketball history. Back in the day when European players had a hard time coming to the NBA, Drazen Petrovic was already averaging over 20 points per game for New Jersey. His shooting ability was probably greater than Stephen Curry's, and I am not joking here. For example, he once scored 112 points in a single game when he had an agreement with his coach to break Radivoj Korac's previous record of 74 points. No one could stop Drazen Petrovic on the court, but sadly, it was a terrible car accident that stopped Drazen off the court. He died in 1993, at his prime, at the age of 29. We can only guess today if Drazen Petrovic could have achieved even more on the court, but let's agree - he will forever be remembered as one of the greatest shooters ever to play the game of basketball. To be honest, I would probably pick him over Reggie Miller or Stephen Curry.

PG - Tony Parker

Img Source (Everyone became 10x better with Parker on the same team)

Tony Parker has this position locked even though there are some other great PGs from Europe as well. What Tony Parker did with the Spurs organization is beyond magical. I remember rooting for Detroit Pistons back in the day, so I couldn't stand the brilliance of Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Tim Duncan on the same court. I guess I did not like Spurs because they were not showing-off on the court and chose to be efficient. And, oh boy, Tony Parker did know how to be efficient. His basketball IQ was at the highest, and his ability to drive under the basket could make anyone crazy. Even when Tony Parker got older and couldn't score points himself, his passes and playmaking remained world class. 

I think it would be hard to find a better PG for this European team as Tony Parker was the type of player who could easily sacrifice his own stats if it helped his team. Also, Tony Parker's passing abilities would never be lost in a team with Drazen Petrovic and Arvydas Sabonis.

Substitutes

Img Source (He has all the potential to become the greatest ever European player)

Big guys: Pau Gasol, Vlade Divac, Dino Radja

The problem I had while making this team was finding the balance between big and small guys. There are just way too many good big guys coming from Europe, so players like Ilgauskas or Marc Gasol had to be left out. However, there is definitely a place for another Gasol. In my eyes, Pau Gasol is among the top 5 European players if we ignore the position. At the age of 38, Pau Gasol still manages to win titles with the Spanish team and dominate other European centers like Valanciunas. 

Small guys: Sarunas Marciulionis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Predrag Stojakovic, Dimitris Diamantidis

Sarunas Marciulionis is the guy who brought the euro step to the NBA so next time you see Harden doing it, remember that the move comes from Lithuania. Marciulionis was also the first player from the Soviet Union to play in the NBA, and he left a huge impact. If not for the brilliance of Tony Parker, Marciulionis would do just great as the starting PG as well.

I would also love to see Giannis Antetokounmpo on my team even though he is still so young. Yup, that's how good I think he is. Giannis can cover all 5 positions, and that is the prime reason why I think he deserves a spot on the team already. Too soon?

Guys, let me know if I have missed someone you think should be on this team. Also, do you think all the players I've listed are worthy to be called the best ever European players?