The NBA has seen several international players over the years. Most of the international players have had their origins in either Europe or Africa. With a total of 321 players from Europe, the number of players who have won a championship isn’t too big. Most fans regard Toni Kukoc to be the first-ever European player in the NBA to win a championship. Though he wasn’t even the first Croatian player to own a championship ring.
Some of the current European players who have established themselves as one of the best in the league include Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, and Nikola Jokic. Butch Lee was the first international player in the NBA to win a championship, in 1980. Here we’ll look at every European player who has a ring under his name. 4
Who was the first European to win an NBA championship?
Going back to the 1994 NBA Finals, the Houston Rockets faced the New York Knicks, and they prevailed in the Finals after seven games of action. Richard Petruska became the first European player to win an NBA championship. The same Rockets would win a championship the following year, where Zan Tabak would add himself to the list of European players with a ring. Toni Kukoc won three straight championships and was also the third player on the list. So far there have been a total of 35 European players who have won a championship.
- Manu Ginobili (4x NBA Champ)
- Toni Kukoc (3X NBA Champ)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Tony Parker (4x NBA Champ)
- Dirk Nowitzki
- Zan Tabak
- Rodrigue Beaubois
- Boris Diaw
- Ian Mahinmi
- Stanislav Medvedenko
- Darko Milicic
- Zelijko Rebraca
- Rasho Nesterovic
- Beno Udrih
- Fabricio Oberto
- Pau Gasol (2x NBA Champ)
- Vladimir Radmanovic
- Sasha Vujacic
- Alexis Ajinca
- Ronny Turiaf
- Marco Belinelli
- Nando De Colo
- Ognjen Kuzmic
- Sasha Kaun
- Timofey Mozgov
- Zaza Pachulia
- Chris Boucher (2x NBA Champ)
- Marc Gasol
- OG Anunoby
- Kostas Antetokounmpo
- Thanasis Antetokounmpo
- Rodions Kurucs
- Axel Toupane
- Nemanja Bjelica
- Richard Petruska
Out of all, Manu Ginobili has earned the most rings, with four under his name. The most recent European player to have won a ring is Giannis Antetkounmpo who has already proved to be the best European player of all time to play in the league. Whereas Dirk Nowitzki is regarded as one of the most iconic players to have played in the league. Nowitzki is ranked sixth in all-time scoring, with 31,560 points scored in his 21-season career.
The NBA had more European players come in after Toni Kukoc’s run with the Bulls. Today, almost every team in the league has a European player on the roster. Players from Europe bring a different energy to the game, and the talent from the region is yet to make a bigger statement in the league.