Just released last week was a survey of NBA general managers, with their thoughts on who was the best international player in the NBA, as well as outside of the league.  Some other questions included who would win the NBA Championship in 2008-09, best rookie, and many more.

Of course, here at Interbasket, we are going to scrutinize the international part of the survey.  The problem is the GMs seem to only know well the skills of the international player currently playing in the NBA and not the players out of it.

Who is the best international player in the NBA?
1. Dirk Nowitzki — 66.7%
2. Manu Ginobili — 18.5%
3. Steve Nash — 11.1%
4. Yao Ming — 3.7%

Dirk Nowitzki, Manu Ginobili, Steve Nash, and Yao Ming were the top four players listed in the survey and were the only four players to receive votes in the NBA GM survey and I believe the GMs got it right.  Though I think Pau Gasol should be recognized here.  Gasol is in his prime but his individual skills are overlooked because he has a great supporting cast in both the NBA and in FIBA play.  And Tony Parker should also get a nod here.

Which international player is most likely to have a breakout season in 2008-09?
1. Rudy Fernandez — 32.0%
2. Andrea Bargnani — 16.0%
3. Marco Belinelli — 12.0%
4. Jose Calderon — 8.0%
Others receiving votes: Andrew Bogut, Danilo Gallinari, Pau Gasol, Nenê, Thabo Sefolosha, Sasha Vujacic, Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian

Not much to say here about the survey.  Rudy Fernandez is definitely a player to watch this season.  After showing his mettle in the Olympics this past summer, the scrappy, good-looking, high-flying Spanaird is going to be a instant fan favorite up in Portland.  He and teammate Sergio Rodriguez have already hooked up on a couple patent alley-oop plays during the preseason.

Yi Jianlian and Jose Calderon are couple players that are in new situations that should get them a little more burn – Yi Jianlian was traded to New Jersey, and Calderon has the full-time starting point guard slot after Toronto traded TJ Ford away. Whenever a player has a breakout season, and they aren’t the main guy on the team, that player always seems to disappoint the next season – prove me wrong Sasha Vujacic.

Who is the best international player NOT in the NBA?
1. Ricky Rubio — 57.7%
2. Juan Carlos Navarro — 7.7%
3. Tiago Splitter — 7.7%
Others receiving votes: Dimitrios Diamantidis, Jorge Garbajosa, Nenad Krstic, Bostjan Nachbar, Theo Papaloukas, Fran Vazquez, Nikola Vujicic

This is where the NBA General Managers should improve their reading comprehension.  That, or they need to bone up on their knowledge of international players. The question isn’t “Which international NBA player not in the NBA has the best potential?” nor is it “Which non-NBA international player would you draft tomorrow?”

Judging by the answers, this seems to be the question that many GMs were answering.  Ricky Rubio is very promising, and certainly has the most upside, but so does Nikola Pekovic, but that certainly doesn’t make them the BEST international player not in the NBA.  And Jorge Garbajosa and Nenad Krstic receiving votes?  That’s just because they’ve played in the NBA, is it?

Rubio receiving nearly 60% of the votes with a player like Ramunas Siskauskas not making the list shows that the Managers have some things still to learn about basketball outside the NBA.

Check out last year’s NBA GM Survey.

Links and Resources: GM Survey: Top Rookies, International NBA Players in 2008-09 (NBA.com) NBA GMs: Rubio, Navarro, Splitter the best outside the NBA (Interbasket Forum), 2007-08 NBA GM Survey (NBA.com)