Over the years, the Chicago Bulls have excelled in acquiring overseas players.
The game has become increasingly diverse, with the last six MVPs awarded to players born outside of the United States.
With Victor Wembanyama emerging as the next superstar and the first round of the 2024 draft featuring six international players, it’s safe to assume that trend will continue.
The Bulls are hoping such is the case with Lithuanian-American Matas Buzelis, who was born and raised in Chicago, thus he technically does not count.
He would continue the Bulls’ lengthy history with an international flavour, which includes many former and even current players.
In a recent post, HoopsHype ranked the 78 greatest foreign players of all time, and the Bulls were well-represented.
Chicago Bulls dominate list of best international players of all time.
There is plenty to debate at the top of this list, but I would put Hakeem Olajuwon and Dirk Nowitzki at the top. You can discuss Giannis vs. Jokic, or players like Steve Nash, Tony Parker, and Pau Gasol, but it’s safe to assume that everyone should be included.
The Bulls begin appearing later and more frequently in the list, with five current or former players:
#22: Toni Kukoc
#24 – Nikola Vucevic
#25: Joakim Noah
#32 – Luol Deng
#66 – Lauri Markkanen
This is an interesting group, and some argue that the positions should be rearranged.
Was Kukoc truly superior than the rest of these players, or was he simply the benefactor of playing on one of the best teams of all time alongside the NBA’s greatest player?
I’d probably place Noah and Deng ahead of Vucevic. Both players were significantly superior defenders and more versatile offensively.
Markkanen, who currently plays for the Jazz after the Bulls’ poor asset management, has a good chance of moving up this list if he can remain healthy for 5-6 more seasons, but that is a big if.
The skill from the rest of the world has caught up to the US, and it won’t be long until NBA Africa begins to make a bigger effect as well, so perhaps the Bulls can continue their tradition of discovering talented players from outside the United States.
