Who was the first European player in the NBA?
916241
There were four Europeans in the NBA (or the BAA as it was called then) during its first year of existence in 1947:\n\nFrido Frey - Germany\nLee Knorek - Poland\nHank Beenders - Netherlands\nHank Biasatti - Italy\n\nThe Bulgarian player you're thinking of might be Georgi Glouchkov, who played in 1986, which was also the first year for Germany's Detlef Schrempf and Uwe Blab.
528313
Dirk Nowitzki of the Mavericks easily.\n\nBy the way.... Ginobelli from Argentina, which is in SOUTH AMERICA not europe.
550363
I can't believe nobody has mentioned Wilt Chamberlain or Kareem Abdul Jabbar.  Those guys could play . . but i'm going to have to go with Michael Jordan.  He dominated the sport, tried his hand at baseball THEN came back and dominated again!  Just think of the career stats he would've had if he played straight through . . wow.\n\nHonourable mention to Robertson, Chamberlain, Kareem, Magic, Russell . . .\n\n*ALSO - according to espn.com (they have a Top 10 Point Guards in History of NBA list) Robertson averaged a triple double during his first 5 seasons*
107192
He played basketball. He played at Kansas University and was one of the first to break the Big 7 color line.
1008250
1984- Career high 17 assists in a win against the Golden State Warriors; wins NBA championship; named Finals MVP; named league MVP for the first time
1685
The answer is Jackie Robinson.  In 1947, he became the first African-American player in Major League Baseball.  He was honored as Rookie of the YEar (then only awarded to one player).  Two years later, he was given the National League MVP for a stellar season.\n\nJackie Robinson was a pioneer in the MLB and his memory is still kept alive becuase is his number is retired league-wide.
892736
The first to go directly to the NBA from high school are Bill Willoughby and Darryl Dawkins in 1975 who both played in the "NBA" during the 1975-76 season.   \n\nMoses Malone was the first high schooler to play "professional baskeball" but his first "NBA" season season was played during the 1976-1977 season, a year after than both Willoughby and Dawkins had played in the NBA.
1086536
Oleksiy Pecherov\n\nAthletic European with inside/outside game, Pecherov is the type of player the Knicks need.  This type of player has worked out well in Dallas (Dirk Nowitzki)\n\nThis small team needs a big man that can score to compliment the team's nucleus, Jamal Crawford and Channing Frye and vet point guard Stephon Marbury.  At 6-10 and a strong inside and outside game, he can be groomed at the small forward position and join the 6-11 Eddy Curry at center, the 6-11 Frye at power forward, as a small forward and help turn the smallish Knicks to a competitive team with an imposing front line.
20171
Wilton Chamberlain.\nWilt was the most dominating player of all-times. I don't think no one will ever score 100 points in a single game again. He was without a doubt the most talented tall man in the game. He played guard with the Harlem Globetrotters before he became an NBA superstar. They widen the free throw lane in hopes of diminishes his impact on offense and defense. The modern day tall players are considered outstanding if they can block shots and dunk the basketball.
101691
Give this link a try:\n\nhttp://www.nba.com/history/records/
266452
No it wasn't.  Aside from his obvious flaws and divisive personality, his style of play will not flow with the european basketball that the US will have to play to win.  He is a slasher/driver, shoot first, maybe pass later type.  His passing skills are suspect and he isn't really effective in a half-court offense (no, driving to the basket does not count).\n\nThe reason why the last few Olympic teams have faltered is because they got the best players from the NBA, not the best players who would be suited to play the European game.  This time, it seems that they are trying to use more role-players, rather than just stocking talent.  Any successful team has stars and role-players.  I think it will work with this team.
453723
First person to dunk it was wilt chamberlain.
997846
Well, if you want to be technical, it was the Orlando Magic, who picked him with the #1 pick that year.   But then Golden State drafted Anfernee Hardaway at #3, and then they traded with each other just minutes later.  So Webber was an Orlando player for all of about 15 minutes, but first suited up for Golden State.
1030849
Wilt Chamberlain was. He could do what he wanted against any player in his prime. Even as an old man, he dominated Kareem Abdul-Jabaar in 1972. Just to prove he was not one dimensional, he even went out one year and won the assist title. Bill Russell is the greatest as far as teams go. He won 11 out of 13 world championships. Earl Manigault would have been the greatest ever but drugs got to him. He was a playground legend in NYC for years.
198151
The first pro basketball team in Miami were the Miami Heat which entered the league in the 1988-89 season and remain to this day.
33967
While Wilt Chamberlain did score 100 points in a game, and players such as Dr. J, Magic, Kareem, and a host of others are all historical great, only one player is the legend:\n\nMichael Jordan
1187070
Basketball wasn't invented until after they were dead.