Arvydas Romas Sabonis is a Lithuanian former professional basketball player and businessman. Recognized as one of the best European players of all time and one of the best big-man passers in the history of the game, he won the Euroscar six times and the Mr. Europa Award twice. He played in a variety of leagues, including the Spanish ACB League, and spent seven seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Playing the center position, Sabonis won a gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics, in South Korea, for the Soviet Union, and later earned bronze medals at the 1992 Olympic Games and 1996 Olympic Games representing Lithuania. He retired from professional basketball in 2005. Sabonis was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the 1986 NBA draft, but he did not play his first NBA game until 1995, at the age of 30.
Anthony Lee Bowie is an American former professional basketball player. He is a former NBA shooting guard, most renowned for his stint with the Orlando Magic. With the Magic, Bowie became one of the top bench players, often stepping in to provide a spark and energy, timely baskets, and defensive stops. He is currently an Elementary School P.E coach.
Qyntel Deon Woods is an American former professional basketball player. He played mainly at the small forward position, but he also played at the shooting guard position, on occasion.
Willie Lloyd Anderson Jr. is an American former professional basketball player. During his professional career, Anderson played nine seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and three seasons in the EuroLeague. He was named to the 1988–89 NBA season's All-Rookie First Team. While he was a member of the Greek Basket League club AEK Athens, he played in the 1998 EuroLeague Final. Anderson won an Olympic bronze medal as a member of the United States national team in 1988.
Ime Sunday Udoka is a Nigerian-American professional basketball coach and former player, who is the head coach for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born in the United States, he represented the Nigeria national team during his playing career. After retiring as a player, Udoka served as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, and Brooklyn Nets before becoming the head coach of the Boston Celtics, whom he led to the 2022 NBA Finals. After being suspended for the 2022–23 season, Udoka was hired by the Rockets in April 2023.
Panagiotis "Panos" Fasoulas is a Greek politician and former professional basketball player. He was selected in the second round by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1986 NBA draft, but never decided to play in the NBA. Considered to be one of the best big men ever in European basketball, Fasoulas became a FIBA Hall of Fame player in 2016. In 2022, he was inducted into the Greek Basket League Hall of Fame.
Michael James Batiste is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is currently an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A two-time All-EuroLeague selection, Batiste won three EuroLeague championships in 2007, 2009, and 2011 with the Greek Basket League club Panathinaikos. He was inducted into the Greek Basket League Hall of Fame in 2022.
Charles Edward Shackleford was an American professional basketball player who played several seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Goran Dragić is a Slovenian former professional basketball player. Nicknamed "the Dragon", he played professional basketball in Slovenia and Spain before entering the NBA in 2008. Dragić also played for the Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks. He was an All-NBA Third Team selection and the NBA Most Improved Player with the Suns in 2014. He was named an NBA All-Star for the first time in 2018 with Miami. He led the senior Slovenian national team to its first FIBA EuroBasket title in 2017, while being named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
Aron John Baynes is an Australian professional basketball player who last played for the Brisbane Bullets of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for Washington State University before starting his professional career in Europe. In 2013, he joined the San Antonio Spurs, and a year later, won an NBA championship with the Spurs. He has also played with the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, and Toronto Raptors. Baynes also plays for the Australian national team.
Elliot Jerell Williams is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Duke and Memphis. He was selected with the 22nd overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Armon Deshawn Johnson is an American former professional basketball player who played two seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Nevada.
Georgios Papagiannis is a Greek professional basketball player for Fenerbahçe of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) and the EuroLeague. Born in Marousi, Attica, Greece, he is a 7 ft 2 3⁄4 in tall center, with a 7 ft 6 in wingspan. His nicknames are "PeeG", "Big Papa" and "Big Doofus". He is also a member of the senior National Team of Greece. He was selected 13th overall in the 2016 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns, before having his draft rights traded to the Sacramento Kings.
Michael Perry James is an American professional basketball player for AS Monaco Basket of the French LNB Pro A and the EuroLeague.
The 1988–89 New Jersey Nets season was the Nets' 13th season in the NBA. The Nets had the fourth overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, and selected Chris Morris from the University of Auburn. During the off-season, the Nets acquired Walter Berry from the San Antonio Spurs, and acquired Mike McGee from the Sacramento Kings. Before the start of the season, the team acquired Joe Barry Carroll and Lester Conner from the Houston Rockets, while Berry was later on released to free agency midway through the season. The Nets held an 18–29 record at the All-Star break, but struggled for the remainder of the season, posting an 8–27 record, and finishing fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 26–56 record.
Khem Xavier Birch is a Canadian professional basketball player for Bàsquet Girona of the Spanish Liga ACB. He played college basketball for the Pittsburgh Panthers and the UNLV Runnin' Rebels.
Okaro White is an American professional basketball player for Lokomotiv Kuban of the VTB United League. He played college basketball for Florida State.
Konstantinos Ndubuisi "Kostas" Antetokounmpo is a Greek-Nigerian professional basketball player for Panathinaikos of the Greek Basket League and the EuroLeague.
Devontae Calvin Cacok is an American professional basketball player for Virtus Bologna of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the UNC Wilmington Seahawks, where in the 2017–18 season he led the nation in rebounding.
Norvel Pelle Jr. is an Lebanese-Antiguan professional basketball player for Shahrdari Gorgan of the Iranian Basketball Super League (IBSL). A 6-foot-10-inch (2.08 m), 231-pound (105 kg) center, he played at three different high schools in the Los Angeles area and was ranked as one of the top recruits in his class. He was prohibited from competing in college after failing to meet academic requirements, choosing to immediately turn professional in 2013.
