The Utah Jazz have actually had quite a bit of international representation over the years. In fact, some of their best players ever, like Rudy Gobert, came from overseas. In fact, four Jazz players - two current and two former - were called the best players to come out of their respective countries by HoopsHype's Frank Urbina.
These players were named on this list for more reasons than how they fared in the NBA. It also extends to their performance in international tournaments.
Let's start with the most obvious one because he is also the Jazz's current best player: Lauri Markkanen. Urbina noted that because there are only two Finnish players who have been in the NBA besides Markkanen - Petteri Koponen and Hanno Mottola, neither of whom were in the NBA long - Markkanen got the nod as the best basketball player to come out of Finland.
However, he also noted Markkanen's dominant EuroBasket play.
"The 7-0 stretch PF has delivered stellar performances for his National Team, too. In the 2022 Eurobasket, Finland achieved its best ranking since 1967, finishing 7th, largely due to Markkanen’s impressive play," Urbina wrote.
The other current Jazz player who got named was Jusuf Nurkic for Bosnia-Herzegovina. Nurkic's Jazz legacy likely won't amount to much, but that doesn't negate the player he was in his prime.
"Jusuf Nurkic, though not frequently playing for the National Team, is the most notable Bosnian player. With decent touch around the rim, nice passing and mean screens, he was a starter in Portland for many years," Urbina wrote.
As for Jazz alumni, well, we'll start with the most recent player to get that label: Jordan Clarkson. Clarkson is half-Filipino, who didn't grow up in the Philippines, but he honorably chose to represent the country overseas. Urbina noted how Clarkson showcased himself.
"The former NBA Sixth Man of the Year, who has Filipino heritage from his mother’s side, was the standout name for the Philippines in the 2023 World Cup, where he averaged 26.0 points on 21.4 attempts per game. Safe to say he had green light to shoot," Urbina wrote.
Last but not least is esteemed Jazz icon Andrei Kirilenko. Kirilenko is still remembered pretty fondly by Jazz fans and NBA junkies alike for being a player ahead of his time. Urbina not only noted how easy it was to pick him, but also talked about his reputation overseas.
"With Russia, AK-47 was also the leader during its most successful post-Soviet years, winning the 2007 EuroBasket and the bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics," Urbina wrote.
Even if none of those Jazz players or alumni exactly had the stiffest competition among their country's players, it is still cool to see that they left the legacies that they did. For all the Jazz players and alumni who made the list, there was one surprising omission.
Rudy Gobert was a runner-up for France
The biggest twist is that Gobert was not considered the best player to ever come out of France on Urbina's list, as the one player who beat him in that regard was Tony Parker. Obviously, comparing Parker and Gobert is apples and oranges, but it's certainly an interesting debate.
Of all international players that have played for the Jazz in franchise history, it doesn't seem all too debatable that Gobert is the best one of them all. Parker beating him shows that France definitely has had its fair number of successes in the NBA. Plus, even if Gobert got the pick, it wouldn't be long before Victor Wembanyama takes that mantle.
He wasn't the only Jazz alum who was mentioned among the runner-ups. Other notable players like Mehmet Okur (Turkey), Enes Freedom (Turkey), Ricky Rubio (Spain), Ersan Ilyasova (Turkey), and Thabo Sefolosha (Switzerland) were also mentioned.
The Jazz may not have any championships, but they have a pretty rich history. Seeing how many players who were or are tied to them mentioned on Urbina's list is good proof of that.