Only Europe could possibly go toe-to-toe with South America is soccer heritage. Yet, that hasn’t stopped Latin Americans from taking that leap into the NBA. The league’s reach is more global now than it’s ever been. Fans from every continent tune it, night after night, to watch the best hoppers battle it out on an NBA court.
More viewers are often drawn to the sport if a fellow native is taking the court. And some players making their way into the NBA from South America have really helped to boost the league’s profile, standing proudly among the most impactful NBA players from overseas.
So, today, we celebrate the best of these icons. Here are the best South American NBA players to light up the court.
Manu Ginóbili
NBA Ranking: #200
Manu Ginóbili’s greatness and achievements means no one has to even think for long about who the greatest from the continent is. Ginóbili goes beyond being the best South American to ever lace them up; he singlehandedly redefined the role of the NBA’s “Sixth Man.”
Manu comes from a basketballing family, so he spent his early years dunking on the court. When he eventually went pro, young Manu was a force to be reckoned with. His little time in Italy with Kinder Bologna saw him lift two Italian League MVP awards, the EuroLeague Finals MVP, the 2001 EuroLeague championship and the Triple Crown.
He was already used to winning big when he joined San Antonio, so he continued doing just that in the NBA. Ginóbili was named an All-Star in 2005 and 2011 and was selected to the All-NBA Third Team twice. His career pinnacle is marked by four NBA championships, and a run of making the playoffs in every single season he spent in the league.
Manu’s impact is etched in the 14,043 points and 4,001 assists he recorded, along with the retired No. 20 jersey hanging in the San Antonio rafters.
Achievements/Resumé
- 4× NBA Champion (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014).
- 2× NBA All-Star (2005, 2011).
- NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2008).
- Olympic Gold Medalist (2004).
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (Class of 2022).
Luis Scola
NBA Ranking: #492
Not everyone gets to enjoy the NBA from a young age. Luis Scola’s NBA journey started later than most, but that didn’t stop him from making the most of that opportunity. The Argentine spent 10 years on the NBA roster, mostly with the Rockets.
Scola spent his earlier years in Argentina and Spain. In Spain, he played for Saski Baskonia for 7 successful seasons. San Antonio drafted Scola in 2002, but he didn’t get the chance to light up an NBA court until five years later.
On July 12, 2007, San Antonio traded the rights to Scola to the Rockets. In Houston, Scola became a fan favorite, placing third in the NBA 2007–08 Rookie of the Year Award voting and getting named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
Over 734 career games, Scola averaged 12.0 points, 1.6 assists, and 6.7 rebounds. Unfortunately, the Argentine could never reach the pinnacle of the NBA and capture a ring, but his consistency solidifies his status as one of the most reliable NBA South American players.
Achievements/Resumé
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (2008).
- Olympic Gold Medalist (2004).
- 4× FIBA AmeriCup MVP.
- 2× All-EuroLeague First Team (2006, 2007).
- All-EuroLeague Second Team (2005).
- Liga ACB champion (2002).
- 3× Spanish Cup winner (2002, 2004, 2006).
Nenê Hilário
NBA Ranking: #342
Longevity and physical dominance defined Nenê’s 17-year NBA career. Nenê spent a decade as the Nuggets’ defensive anchor before also producing successful stints with the Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets.
Nenê, like any other Brazilian kid, dreamed of becoming Pelé rather than Micheal Jordan. So, he grew up playing more football than basketball. In the mid-1990s, he began playing basketball at Escola de Basquete Meneghelli in his hometown.
The switch worked out just great because the big man was selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft. It was a record-shattering draft pick, too. Nenê became the first Brazilian player ever selected in the first round of the NBA draft. Many people, including Nenê himself, expected the worse to be over, but that wasn’t the case. He faced significant health challenges that kept him from reaching his physical peak, including a torn ACL and a battle with cancer early on.
However, Nenê just never stopped going. In response to all that missed time, the Brazilian had a career-best year in 2008–09, when he averaged career-highs of 14.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.31 blocks in 32.6 minutes per game.
Nenê’ finished his career with 10,909 points, 1,719 assists, and 5,828 rebounds. His health battles alone make him one of the best South American NBA players.
Achievements/Resumé
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (2003).
- First Brazilian first-round draft pick.
- 10,000+ Career Points.
Leandro Barbosa
NBA Ranking: #482
Few players in NBA history could match the speed of Leandro “The Brazilian Blur” Barbosa. He had this ability to go from one end of the court to the other like that. His speed alone made him a dangerous weapon in the NBA and secured his spot on the “Seven Seconds or Less” Phoenix Suns. Can you remember that version of the Suns?
After an impressive stint in Brazil, the NBA finally bit, when Barbosa was selected 28th overall in the 2003 NBA draft by San Antonio, but his rights were acquired by the Suns in a trade. Spurs regretted that decision quickly because he wasted no time in announcing himself to the league.
On January 5, 2004, Barbosa notched up 27 points against the Bulls, and still holds the record for points scored in a game by a rookie as a first-time starter. He bounced from club to club for a while, and just when the NBA world thought he was done, he won an NBA ring with that 2015 Warriors side.
14 seasons, an NBA ring, and a career average of 10.6 points per game puts The Brazilian Blur among the greatest South American players in the NBA.
Achievements/Resumé
- NBA Champion (2015 with Golden State Warriors).
- NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2007).
- FIBA AmeriCup Top Scorer (2007).
Tiago Splitter
NBA Ranking: #1475
Fun fact: The Brazilian Blur isn’t the only Brazilian with an NBA ring on his finger. He isn’t the first, either. Do you remember Tiago Splitter? His legacy will forever be linked to that historic first. Just a year before Barbosa won his NBA ring, Tiago Splitter had already reached that peak.
The Argentine’s career began in 1999. Just a year later, he was making dunks in Spain’s top-level league. He dominated in Spain up until 2010, when he signed a contract with the San Antonio Spurs. Splitter put up his best numbers in the 2012-13 season, when he was averaging 10.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
A year after, Splitter won his first and only NBA, with the whole of Brazil and South America behind him. Everyone can remember the 2014 NBA Finals, with San Antonio defeating Miami 4 games to 1. The following season wasn’t nearly as rosy, as the Brazilian suffered from injuries. He was eventually traded to the Hawks, then the 76ers, before choosing to retire.
Achievements/Resumé
- NBA Champion (2014 with San Antonio Spurs).
- First Brazilian NBA Champion.
- Career 55.5% Field Goal Percentage.
- 3× All-EuroLeague selection.
Conclusion
You’ve got the flashy playmaking of Argentina and the athleticism of Brazil. This is the influence of South American NBA players. These five big men represent a solid bridge between two worlds. If you’ve ever doubted that the Latin American flair just can’t thrive under the bright lights of the NBA, these icons prove you wrong.
FAQs
Who is the most famous South American NBA player of all time
Based on his global impact, Argentina’s Manu Ginóbili is generally considered as the most popular South American NBA player of all time.
Have any South American players won an NBA championship?
Four South American players have gone home with an NBA ring. Manu Ginóbili leads this group by a wide margin with four rings. While Fabricio Oberto, Leandro Barbosa, and Anderson Varejão have all won just one.
