“Dirk, up until Joker, he was the greatest foreign player ever” – Charles Barkley declares Nikola Jokic to be the best foreign player in NBA history

Dirk Nowitzki , the Dallas Mavericks legend, undoubtedly had a remarkable career. With a list of accolades that includes being the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Finals MVP and earning a spot on the All-NBA team an impressive 12 times, the German forward has a strong claim to the title of the best foreign-born player in NBA history.

However, former NBA star and current analyst Charles Barkley believes that the torch has been passed to a new contender, Denver Nuggets ' superstar Nikola Jokic . Joker has been making waves with his triple-double prowess and consistent brilliance, leading Barkley to declare him the best foreign player in the NBA.

The greatest foreign player ever

The title of “the greatest” will always be a touchy point of discussion. From debating who the “Greatest of All Time” is between LeBron James and Michael Jordan to arguing who the best foreign player is, every sports fan has their own opinion. However, when it comes to international players making an impact in the NBA, Dirk often gets the nod as he revolutionized the game for European players. However, Barkley argues that the Joker’s skillset and recent dominance make him stand out.

“Dirk, up until Joker, he was the greatest foreign player ever,” the former league MVP said on Shannon Sharpe’s “Club Shay Shay.”

Barkley’s sentiments are undoubtedly high praise for the eight-year center, especially considering what Dirk achieved in his decorated career that spanned two decades. From opening opportunities for the European players to get noticed by NBA scouts to toppling the Miami Heat’s vaunted “Big 3” of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh in the 2011 NBA Finals, the Mavericks legend’s status as an all-time great is secure.

When it comes to the title of the best foreign player of all time, Jokic is undeniably building a strong case. The Serbian big man is a triple-double machine, consistently delivering impressive numbers since he became a full-time starter in his second season. His unique blend of size, intelligence, and pinpoint passing ability, which borders on the extraordinary, sets him apart. Nikola has proven that defending him is a serious challenge, not a laughing matter.

“Jokic is the best foreign player. Yes, it's over, he passed Dirk, it's over,” Shannon stressed.

“I've followed his career since I obviously played in Denver, and I've been following him, and I watched him in the bubble in 2020, and I watched Anthony Davis give it to him, yeah, but now it's over, he's on a different level,” the former NFL great added.

Quiet dominance

Unlike other NBA superstars who hog the spotlight wherever they go, the two-time MVP prefers to stay away from the limelight when the game ends. As he showed in his comments immediately following their title win last season, he would rather go back home to Serbia and tend to his horses than participate in the championship parade. The same things can be said of his multi-faceted skill set in that he’d rather let his game do all the talking. Chuck had the perfect example in Game 3 of Denver’s first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers.

“We were making a big deal because Aaron Gordon played fantastic. Jamal Murray played great, and then we were looking at the stats last night, we're like, ‘Yo man, The Joker had 24, 15, and 9.’ That's the easiest 24, 15, and 9, and we didn't mention him. We did not even mention him,” Chuck stated. “It was so quiet, we didn't even talk about it.”

Jokic may never become this game’s GOAT, but between today and the seasons to come, unless Dallas’ Luka Doncic has something to say about it, “The Joker” has a firm grip on the title of the best foreign-born player in the Association.

Related: Gilbert Arenas on why he dislikes Charles Barkley: “I hate when you get to a certain stage and start throwing shots”