Over the past decade, the NBA has started to expand its drafting and free agent signing horizons outside of North America in ways it never had before. Much of the league?s international population has come from the European leagues, and many of those players have flourished and gained immense popularity. Countries like France, Spain and Serbia-Montenegro have seen injections of basketball life highlighted by superstars like Tony Parker, Pau Gasol and Peja Stojakovic; many consider Dirk Nowitzki to be the NBA?s premiere international player. Players like these and the many others who have been part of the NBA?s massive Euro influx have brought what many claim to be a newfound stress on fundamental skills and an appreciation for the team game. This is especially evident in the big men who come over and often have ball-handling and passing skills not typically found in American seven-footers.

A chief criticism of most frontcourt players who have played in major European leagues is that they lack the toughness to thrive in the American system. While Nowitzki and Gasol have taken concerted efforts to become more physical and aggressive, with Nowitzki becoming a top MVP candidate and leading his team to the 2006 NBA Finals, most players imported from the European leagues still carry the stigma of being soft. Many will never shed that stigma, and many others reinforce it through abandoning post play and rebounding in favour of camping on the perimeter and jump-shooting.

Recently, though, a few players have come from abroad who are changing that notion. They?re just as team-oriented and fundamentally sound as their often contact-shy predecessors but they have grittiness, edge and the willingness to do whatever is necessary to pull out a win. Furthermore, there?s evidence of this added spark at each frontcourt position.

Andres Nocioni ? Small Forward ? Chicago Bulls

Nocioni was an integral part of Argentina?s 2004 Olympic gold medal run and a player who had amassed significant European experience with TAU Ceramica. Teams took notice, and the Bulls managed to pick him up for a paltry three-year deal that came out to less than the mid-level exception. He responded by becoming one of head coach Scott Skiles?s favourite players, and for all the right reasons; he works hard, plays for the team and will man up on anyone in the league.

For a small forward, Nocioni is a great rebounder. His numbers aren?t overwhelming (5.6 per game on his career) but he comes up with rebounds when they?re needed the most. Probably the most obvious example of this is his career best of 18 rebounds accompanying 25 points in the 2005 playoffs against the Washington Wizards.

Like other players who have excelled in European competition, Nocioni has a smooth shooting stroke that extends past the NBA three-point line and solid passing skills even if he isn?t known for accumulating assists. Unlike many who came before him, though, he?s not afraid to blow by his defender for the rim or even play a little post-up ball, and he?ll never sacrifice his physicality or his intensity.

Jorge Garbajosa ? Power Forward ? Toronto Raptors

Garbajosa is a player who was heralded throughout Europe, earning All-Euroleague accolades while with Unicaja and earning the nickname ?Porno Player?. His all-around fundamental game featuring a deft touch, crafty passing, superb rebounding technique and tough man-to-man defence drew the attention of many NBA scouts and general managers, among them Bryan Colangelo.

When Colangelo arrived in Toronto, he set out to invert the losing atmosphere surrounding the team. For two of his most pivotal free agent signings, he looked to Garbajosa and fellow Euroleague star (and MVP) Anthony Parker. What Colangelo saw in Garbajosa is evident; since joining the Raptors, Garbajosa has provided the team with energy and smart play, and he?s leading the team in steals.

Where Garbajosa truly shines, though, is in his willingness to adjust to how he?s playing. Many NBA players lose confidence or heart when their shots don?t fall, but Garbajosa takes the opportunity to become more active on the glass or to get his teammates involved (averaging almost two assists per turnover). Winning the NBA?s Rookie of the Month award in December, a feat accomplished by barely any undrafted players if any at all, Garbajosa?s showing the NBA and the world that the European influence isn?t lacking drive.

Andris Biedrins ? Centre ? Golden State Warriors

With Erick Dampier off to Dallas in hope of a ring, the Warriors found their centre position with only the defensively adept but offensively challenged Adonal Foyle and an 18-year old project from Latvia. Given Foyle?s typical issues with foul trouble, stamina and anything requiring the ball to go toward the net, Biedrins found that he had to grow up fast.

After a mildly impressive rookie season and a statistically similar sophomore season that saw his confidence rise a little, he?s exploded. Averaging almost a double-double to go along with 1.9 blocked shots per contest, he?s become one of the NBA?s top interior defenders in an uncannily short period of time. Never one to avoid contact, he also makes almost three trips to the free-throw line as a virtual non-option in Golden State?s backcourt-centred offence.

What?s most interesting is his efficiency. Biedrins has taken advantage of Nellieball with his speed, athleticism and skills around the basket, and it?s translated to quality shots (a startling 62.1FG%, which is also his career average). He?s also averaging a mere 1.56 turnovers per game. If that isn?t enough, he?s also eighth in the NBA in rebounds per 48 minutes, with all of the players ahead of him being either designated rebounding specialists or players who are known to sacrifice their offensive games. Biedrins is everything that can be expected of a true pivot though ? he?s scoring, rebounding, blocking shots and playing defence, all with a European pedigree.

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Are the days of Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Vladimir Radmanovic and other Euro softies gone? The next few seasons should be very telling, with plenty of top international prospects streaming in from the European leagues. The development of recent number-one pick Andrea Bargnani, who?s shown considerable talent on the defensive end but is struggling mightily on the glass, could also be a factor. There are a lot of players from this rapidly expanding group who are playing physically and showcasing their toughness but until a little more time passes, it?ll be impossible to tell. Well, unless you ask a Nocioni, Garbajosa or Biedrins type ? they?ll have you convinced that toughness resides outside the States and that the soft stereotype is done.