Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA: 30 greatest international players in league history

By Daniel Lubofsky

SAN ANTONIO - MAY 09: Guard Steve Nash #13 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball past Tony Parker #9 of the San Antonio Spurs in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center on May 9, 2010 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO - MAY 09: Guard Steve Nash #13 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball past Tony Parker #9 of the San Antonio Spurs in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center on May 9, 2010 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
19 of 30
Next
Detlef Schrempf
Detlef Schrempf (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Greatest international NBA players of all time: 12. Detlef Schrempf

For the first three seasons of his NBA career, Detlef Schrempf wasn’t given many chances to show what he could do on the basketball court. Despite having been selected eighth overall, the Dallas Mavericks gave him less than 20 minutes per night, not exactly the number required to make a statement in the league.

It was clear with guys like Sam Perkins, Mark Aguire and Adrian Dantley, Schrempf wouldn’t find much success in Dallas. It was an unfortunate turn of events for someone who no-doubt wanted to make it work, but sometimes a trade is necessary in order for a player to find a better fit, even top-10 picks.

That place for Schrempf wound up being the Indiana Pacers, who acquired the German forward midway through the 1988-89 season. Throughout his tenure in Indiana, what the Mavs failed to see in Schrempf so obviously cost them.

He would average 17.0 points per game along with 8.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists as a super-sub that won consecutive Sixth Man trophies in 1991-92. He was a do-everything forward and was named an All-Star during the 1992-93 season before being traded to the Seattle SuperSonics later that summer.

Upon becoming a member of the now dissipated franchise, Schrempf would continue his level of play, only this time more as a starter complimenting the duo of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. He would be selected to two more All-Star Games and even average a career-high 19.2 points per game in 1994-95.

Seattle managed to get all the way to the NBA Finals in 1995-96. Like most teams of that era, however, a potential title would be halted by the mighty Chicago Bulls during their historic 72-win campaign.

Most organizations tend to expect a certain level of production by year three of a player’s career. Failure to comply usually says something about their talent or lack thereof. If that were the case, though, Schrempf should’ve never carved out an accomplished 16-year career. It just goes to show what a little patience can do in bringing along the perfect opportunity.