Four Non-USA Players Noticeably Dominating In the 2014 FIBA World Cup

Photo Credit: interaksyon

Photo Credit: interaksyon

The 2014 FIBA World Cup is well under way with the number of countries – and even more players – competing at a high level.  If you haven’t been paying attention closely (don’t worry most people haven’t), there are plenty of players playing really well that don’t have USA written across their chest. Here is a list of players from other countries that are dominating and translate their game to the NBA.

1. Pau Gasol (Spain)

Most people have written off Pau Gasol over the past few years, but most people don’t see that he is still one of the most talented big men in the game. Last year, on a depleted Lakers roster, Gasol put up a nice stat-line of 17.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. During the FIBA World Cup, Gasol has averaged around 20 points per game with a 21.7 Player Efficiency Rate (PER) on a dominant Spanish team.  If Gasol can keep up his current efficient play, he will be a very valuable piece for Chicago’s championship run.

2. Andray Blatche (Philippines)

Andray Blatche has been on an absolute tear during this World Cup. At a ridiculous 22.4 PER (average is 15) and posting a double-double of 21.2 points and 13.8 rebounds per game, Blatche has been a player who has improved his game every year. Blatche is currently not on a NBA roster, but he has shown he can produce when given the opportunity. These stats maybe be a little skewed due to the team that he is on, but the Player Efficiency doesn’t lie. Blatche deserves to be on a roster opening night.

3. Bojan Bogdanovic (Croatia)

The new Brooklyn Net is proving that the the team has made a great decision acquiring him.  The 6’7″ shooting guard is averaging 21 points per game, shooting 50% from the field and putting more pressure on defenses by getting to the line a solid seven times a game. Bogdanovic seems like he can be a shooting threat from behind the line, where he has attempted 36 shots from beyond the arc. The Nets are hoping he can bring that 36.1 shooting percentage from three-point land to a team in desperate need of scoring.

4. Gorgui Dieng (Senegal)

For most people who don’t know Gorgui Dieng, he is a 6’11” center who plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves after winning a NCAA Championship with the Louisville Cardinals. Dieng has played well with the small minutes he got last year. Per 36 minutes, Dieng averaged 12 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks per game. His recent play for Senegal has shown that the T’imberwolves coaching staff made a mistake by not giving him enough minutes last year. In FIBA play, Dieng has averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists per game. This is all on a Senegalese team that isn’t filled with much talent to highly compete.  The opening game against Greece, Dieng put up a a surprising stat line of 21 points, 14 rebound, three steals, and a block. He has dominated for Senegal and his play could very well carry over this upcoming season.