Foreign Imports Making Little Impact in the NBA

Before the first major wave of Eastern European basketball players invaded the NBA last season, they had developed a cult following. These guys, admirers suggested, were going to be something special. The Soviets, after all, had won the 1988 Olympic gold medal and the Yugoslavians had won the silver.

What no one realized is that, despite generous publicity, the foreign players actually were underrated.

For instance, Laker center Vlade Divac was quoted this week as saying he planned to fulfill his Laker contract, then return to Yugoslavia after next season. After the story appeared, Divac resorted to an old trick employed by his American peers. He claimed he was misquoted.

Interestingly, the Divac story originated in Yugoslavia, where a reporter apparently called Divac for an interview. Therefore, Divac was misquoted not by an American journalist, but by someone interviewing him in his native language.

“A man who has the ability to be misquoted in two languages,” marveled Atlanta executive Stan Kasten, who aggressively pursued signing players from the Soviet Union. “Now that’s versatility.”

And then there is Drazen Petrovic, Divac’s teammate on the Yugoslavian National Team. Wednesday night, Petrovic shocked journalists -- not to mention team executives of the Portland Blazers, Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets -- by prematurely announcing a three-team trade that had him going to the Nets.

That was the first time anyone could remember a Yugoslavian player scooping American journalists.

Unfortunately, the Yugoslavians have not demonstrated the same skills as players as they have as reporters, or in explaining their conversations with reporters.

Divac has been the most successful, averaging 11.2 points and 8.0 rebounds as the Lakers’ starting center. There is no doubt that he has NBA skills. But let’s not forget he also plays on the same team as Magic Johnson, who makes average players look great. If Divac played for the Clippers, he’d be Benoit Benjamin’s backup.

Petrovic, cult followers will tell you, once scored 112 points in a Yugoslavian league game. In 18 games with the Blazers this year, he totaled 80 points. It seems safe to surmise that there is quite a difference between the two leagues. If Michael Jordan played in Yugoslavia, he would average a triple-triple.

So it is understandable that Jordan and his Bulls teammates, who played the Petrovic-less Nets Wednesday night (Drazen will be in uniform Friday against the Lakers) is slightly offended when he reads that all the Chicago Bulls need to win a title is Toni Kukoc.

Kukoc is the latest greatest European basketball player, and it has become the Bulls’ obsession to sign him, even though he could not join the team until next season. The Bulls want him so badly that reports in Chicago have indicated they have offered $2.5 million a year for five years. That could be considered a little outrageous since Scottie Pippen, who was an All-Star last year, is currently making less than $800,000.

“None of those guys came in and dominated this league,” Pippen said. “They say this guy is supposed to be totally different, but they say the same thing every time one of the guys comes over. If he comes over and deserves all the publicity, it’s a great job on the front office’s part. But if not, then they have to eat their words.”

Kukoc apparently can’t decide whether he wants to play in the NBA. He can make millions in Europe, and he won’t be subjected to Rick Mahorn’s elbows. To attempt to persuade him to come over, the Bulls asked Jordan to call him. Jordan refused.

“I don’t speak Yugoslavian,” Jordan said, “and I don’t like to make choices for other people. ... I have my own questions about it. We drafted him. The other teams didn’t take a chance on him. I’m (not) holding my breath in terms of him taking us over the hill.”

Which is probably the best approach. The Warriors had high hopes for Lithuanian guard Sarunas Marciulionis but, like Petrovic, he is at best a third guard. Marciulionis averages 11.4 points, which is better than his former Soviet teammate Alexander Volkov, who hasn’t played this season because of two broken wrists.

It’s a wonder that some NBA GM’s haven’t suffered the same fate as Volkov. The foreign players are good basketball players, and they deserve to be in the NBA. But, in terms of winning titles, no one should turn cartwheels. You may get broken wrists before you get a championship.