By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
It’s no longer a secret, European players are more than able to compete in the highest level, at the NBA Playoffs. Eleven of them have displayed their postseason touch more than others launching themselves to the top of the list of the European players with the most points in the NBA Playoffs. Eurohoops takes a look back on their achievements.
Tony Parker
Playoffs campaigns: 17
Points: 4,045 (17.9 ppg)
The only European player over the 4,000-points mark in the NBA Playoffs is Tony Parker. He retired this year flourished with 17 postseason runs, all with the San Antonio Spurs between 2002 and 2018. He played a total of 226 Playoffs matches and averaged over 20 points in six seasons. However, he will gladly put his impressive scoring stats aside to remember his four trips to the very top of the NBA in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014. There is no direct threat for his first place in our list.
Dirk Nowitzki
Playoffs campaigns: 15
Points: 3,663 (25.3 ppg)
Similar to Parker, Dirk Nowitzki played in the NBA Playoffs for one single team, based in Texas as well, not the Spurs but the Dallas Mavericks. He led his side to the postseason fifteen times always averaging at least 19 points per contest. Nowitzki wrapped up his career with 145 Playoffs games under his belt including his 21 appearances in 2011 with 27,7 points per match, good enough for his lone NBA Championship.
Pau Gasol
Playoffs campaigns: 12
Points: 2,098 (15.4 ppg)
Third place belongs to Pau Gasol. He played in the Playoffs with four different teams, but six out of his 12 runs were with the Los Angeles Lakers including the back-to-back NBA Championships in 2009 and 2010. He debuted with the Memphis Grizzlies and after the Lakers added postseason experience with the Chicago Bulls and the San Antonio Spurs. He is the top active player of our list, but well behind Parker’s and Nowitzki’s scoring totals.
Rik Smits
Playoffs campaigns: 10
Points: 1,537 (14.8 ppg)
The Dunking Dutchman, Rik Smits, played in the NBA Playoffs with the Indiana Pacers from 1990 to 2000. He only made past the opening round five times, but four of those runs went up to the Eastern Conference Finals and his last up the 2000 NBA Finals. Smits marked his final postseason run with 22 out of his 104 Playoffs appearances averaging 11 points per contest, but his side succumbed to the Los Angeles Lakers, 4-2, in the best-of-seven series.
Vlade Divac
Playoffs campaigns: 14
Points: 1,468 (12.1 ppg)
Six Playoffs runs with the Los Angeles Lakers and six more with the Sacramento Kings with two postseason appearances with the Charlotte Hornets in between was the case for Vlade Divac. The current GM of the Kings took part in a career-high 19 Playoffs matches with the Lakers in 1991, but his side’s run was terminated in the Finals by the Chicago Bulls in five games. Eleven years later his Kings were eliminated by the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. He never won the NBA Championship, but definitely had many strong Playoffs showings to his name.
Serge Ibaka
Playoffs campaigns: 9
Points: 1,426 (10.7 ppg)
Serge Ibaka ranks sixth with 1,426 points in nine Playoffs runs between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Toronto Raptors. In 2011, 2014 and 2016 he made it the Western Conference Finals with the Thunder, took part in the 2012 Finals as well, but found even larger success with his third NBA team following the Thunder and the Orlando Magic, as the Raptors went all the way in 2019 with him pouring 9.4 points per contest.
Peja Stojakovic
Playoffs campaigns: 11
Points: 1,367 (14.4 ppg)
Seven playoffs runs with the Sacramento Kings and four more with the New Orleans Hornets, the Indiana Pacers and the Dallas Mavericks were enough to land Peja Stojakovic seventh place. Up to 2011 and his final postseason appearance, he never played over 12 Playoffs matches in a single season, but held his best for last with the Mavs marching through the competition and winning the NBA Championship.
Marc Gasol
Playoffs campaigns: 7
Points: 1,239 (14,9 ppg)
The second 2019 NBA Champion of our list is Marc Gasol. He also ranks second in his family trailing third-place Pau. He made it to the absolute top with the Toronto Raptors after six postseason runs with the Memphis Grizzlies between 2011 and 2017. His 9.4 points per game in 2019 were a career-low, he was not as productive with the Canadian side, but certainly played a large role in the Raptors first NBA Championship.
Boris Diaw
Playoffs campaigns: 10
Points: 1,097 (9.2 ppg)
In 2006, Boris Diaw introduced himself to the NBA Playoffs averaging 18.7 points in twenty appearances. The Phoenix Suns were eliminated in the Conference Finals and he never again scored so much points per match, but made his way to the San Antonio Spurs for his lone NBA Championship in 2014 and the Western Conference title in 2013. He also played for the Charlotte Hornets and the Utah Jazz in the Playoffs.
Toni Kukoc
Playoffs campaigns: 9
Points: 1,064 (10,7 ppg)
Toni Kukoc sits in tenth place in our list, only needed nine postseason runs to go over 1,000 points and secure his position. In 1996, 1997 and 1998 he was crowned Champion with the Chicago Bulls notching over ten points per game in two out of the occasions. Afterwards added four more postseason campaigns including his career-high 14.8 points per contest with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2003.
Hedo Turkoglu
Playoffs campaigns: 10
Points: 1,059 (10.7 ppg)
Hedo Turkoglu completes the list with 1,059 postseason points to his name. He was part of the NBA Playoffs action with the Orlando Magic, the Sacramento Kings, the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers, four out of his six NBA teams. He never went all the way, but poured 15.8 points per contest in 2009 helping the Magic make it to the Finals.