The NBA brings together the best players from around the globe. The doors of the championship have opened in different ways for the internationals, who have made a big impact at today’s level, even dominating a large number of individual awards and shining in the final phase: Playoffs.
From Tony Parker passes Manu Ginóbili and Dirk Nowitzkiwe are looking for it international players who have scored the most points in NBA Playoff history.
For this we will consider internationals such as Patrick Ewing, who was born outside the USA, although later in his career he represented this country. With that said, let’s go check out the top 5…
#5: Patrick Ewing
- Playoff point total: 2,813
- Playoff averages: 20.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 2.0 assists
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, he played in 14 postseasons, 13 with the New York Knicks and one with the Orlando Magic. On two occasions they were eliminated in the First Round, while in 1994 they reached the Finals against Hakeem Olajuwon’s Houston Rockets. Although they from the Big Apple had the Texans on the ropes in Game 6, the Rockets came back and claimed the championship.
#4: Manu Ginobili
- Playoff points total: 3,054
- Playoff Averages: 14.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists
The Argentine was simply wonderful. In his 16 years in the NBA, he always qualified for the postseason with the San Antonio Spurs (missing only one game due to injury, in 2009) and on four of those occasions they won the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The Playoffs in which he averaged the most points was in 2005 with 20.8. that time they defeated the Detroit Pistons in seven games in the Finals.
#3: Dirk Nowitzki
- Playoff point total: 3,663
- Playoff averages: 25.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists
He The German is the leading regular season international player in NBA history. During his first two years in the league, he did not qualify for the postseason, but starting in 2000 he strung together 12 consecutive Playoffs in which he reached two Finals, losing one and winning one in 2011.
#2: Hakeem Olajuwon
- Playoff points total: 3,755
- Playoff averages: 25.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.3 blocks and 3.2 assists
The Lagos, Nigeria native qualified for the postseason 15 times in his 18 years in the NBA, coming up short in 1992, 2000 and 2001 with the Houston Rockets. When Michael Jordan retired to play baseball, Olajuwon and the Rockets won championships in 1994 and 1995. In the 1988 playoffs, he averaged 37.5 points and 16.8 rebounds, but still lost in the First Round from the Rockets. Dallas Mavericks from sweep.
#1: Tony Parker
- Playoff point total: 4,045
- Playoff Averages: 17.9 points, 5.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds
From 2001 to 2019 that the Frenchman played in the NBA, only once did he not qualify for the Playoffs and that was the last year of his career, in which he played with the Charlotte Hornets. In 17 games with the San Antonio Spurs, he was an ever-present in the postseason, winning four titles and being a mainstay for Gregg Popovich’s team.
NBA Playoffs – Top International Scorers
| Position | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tony Parker | 4,045 |
| 2 | Hakeem Olajuwon | 3,755 |
| 3 | Dirk Nowitzki | 3,663 |
| 4 | Manu Ginobili | 3,054 |
| 5 | Pat Ewing | 2,813 |
| 6 | Pau Gasol | 2,098 |
| 7 | Steve Nash | 2,072 |
| 8 | John Antetokounmpo | 2,035 |
| 9 | Al Horford | 1,958 |
| 10 | Serge Ibaka | 1,608 |
Updated before the start of the 2023 Playoffs.
The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA or its organizations.
