Around the World: International NBA Player Report

( www.interbasket.net ) -- With a week or so into the NBA season behind us, interbasket is here to report on the international players making news in the NBA.

Luis Scola hasn’t shown much with the Houston Rockets thus far (3.4ppg, 4.6rebs, 1ast in 18 min) and all the xenophobes are out.  I’ve already heard this sentence many times “Look at Luis Scola, he is supposed to the be the best player outside the NBA and…”  It is a little shocking to me that Scola hasn’t done more than he has, making the Spurs keeping Fabricio Oberto over Scola look genius, but I am very confident that his name will be in the rookie-of-the-year running by the end of the year.  And teams have better look out because when the 4-1 Houston Rockets mesh him into their offense (and figure out their point guard situation), they’ll be a very very tough team to beat.

Speaking of the Houston Rockets, one of the knocks against Rocket’s center is that Yao Ming has been his lack of toughness, and one can infer that the critics are looking at Yao’s size and then looking at his career rebounding (8.9) and blocked shot numbers (1.8) as evidence.  Now I understand that he isn’t the fastest nor most-atheletic person on the court, but admittedly Yao’s rebounding and blocked shot numbers should be much better than they are.  If the first four games are any indication (and they normally aren’t) Yao Ming is finally getting it; hitting the boards (11rpg) and blocking shots (2.6), it looks like Yao may average a double-double this year, and for only the second time in his six-year career,

Luis Scola isn’t the only international rookie struggling; he can take some solace in a a couple other foreign rookies that were expected to start off a little quicker this season. Spaniard Juan Carlos Navarro of the Memphis Grizzlies was supposed to come in and give familiarity and help to Pau Gasol, and thus far he has only given the former.  La Bomba is only averaging 4.0 on 23% shooting, all four of his field goals in his first three games have been three-pointers, c’mon Navarro, where’s the floater?

Marco Belinelli of the Golden State Warriors made waves, no shockwaves, during the NBA summer league with his smooth quick-release jumper and he surprised many with his ability to get to the basket on his way to a 37-point outing.  So far, Belinelli is struggling as much as the Warriors are (0-4).  Once the Warriors right the ship, Marco should have time to adjust and improve on the 13.7 minutes, 4.3 points and 33% from the field he’s shown early on.

Instead, the mystery of the 2007 draft, Chinese forward Yi Jianlian has taken the lead as far as international rookies performing.  After a rough first couple games — Yi is showing he can hit the jumpshot, block a few shots, and gather a lot of fouls in a short amount of time.  The latter can be worked on, but the Bucks love the potential that he has shown, particularly his ability to hit the long-range jumper.  He is currently third in rookie scoring, behind Kevin Durant and Daequan Cook, averaging 9.8ppg on 44% shooting as well as 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks (4 fouls) in 26 minutes.  Yi was #2 in Nba.com’s rookie report for the first week of the season.  Not bad!

Hey, anyone remember Peja Stojakovic?  Let me refresh your memory, Stojakovic was THE international player several years ago.  But now four years later, a couple injuries, and two teams removed from his glory days in Sacramento, Peja’s reputation has since suffered.  Though his stats arent’t bad, Peja is no longer mentioned in the top ten international NBA players, and maybe not even top-15.   How the three-time all-star is getting a fresh start and running small forward for the New Orlenas Hornets.  Peja has been inconsistent in his first five games, but his game against the Lakers deserves a mention, Peja went off for 36 points in their win.  With Chris Paul running the show and dishing, Peja hit 10-13 threes to set a Hornets franchise record and to let the league know that Peja is still around.  Peja is only 30 years old, I hope he finds his way back up the ladder to one of the elite international NBA players.

Manu Ginobili is playing like a man possessed.  Despite coming off the bench; everyone in the league knows that Ginobili will be there to finish the game.  In just under 30 minutes per game, Manu is putting up 20.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.6 steals.  He spent the summer resting instead of playing for his National Team and his performances this season is showing what a rested Ginobili brings to the table  “At this point, I can really tell the difference” Ginobili said about how rested his body has felt from taking the summer off.  --Stuart Leung