Foreign stars, club legends. These 13 players helped their clubs reach new heights on the court and inspired devotion among the fans. Read on to learn about the greatest foreign players to suit up at each of the VTB United League’s 13 clubs.
Avtodor: Courtney Fortson
Country: USA
Seasons at Avtodor: 2014-15
Stats: 32 games, 19.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.4 steals
Saratov found its biggest star one year before joining the VTB United League. The American started his pro career in Romania and played 10 games in the NBA for the Clippers and Rockets. Across the ocean, Fortson made an impression with his impressive flowing dreadlocks, but in 2013 he decided to take his game to Russia and join the Superleague, not the typical story for someone who was on the court with Kobe Bryant only a few months earlier.
Fortson went on to win Superleague MVP, leading Avtodor to a 3-0 sweep of Universitet-Yugra in the finals. The following autumn, big-time basketball returned to Saratov as Avtodor joined the VTB United League.
Once again, Fortson surprised many by re-signing with the club, and took the VTB League by storm. He nearly won the regular-season MVP, finishing second in the League in points (19.1) and assists (8.2) per game, not to mention tons of airtime on the weekly highlights.
Years later, Saratov fans still have fond feelings for the electric playmaker and Avtodor’s magical debut season.
Honorable mention: Nick Minnerath, Paul Stoll, Travis Peterson
Astana: Jerry Johnson
Country: USA
Seasons at Avtodor: 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16
Stats: 102 games, 13.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 0.8 steals
Foreigners typically don’t stick around for very long on non-championship contenders. Jerry Johnson was an exception. The American point guard joined Astana in 2011 and stayed for five seasons, receiving Kazakh citizenship and making his mark on the VTB United League record books in the process.
Until Milos Teodosic passed him up midway through last season, Johnson was the all-time assists leader in the League. He still ranks among the top 10 in scoring.
35-year-old Jerry Johnson could have returned to Astana last summer, but the two sides couldn’t agree to terms on a contract.
Honorable mention: Rawle Marshall, David Simon, Pat Calathes
VEF: E.J. Rowland
Country: USA
Seasons at VEF: 2012-13
Stats: 23 games, 16.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.9 steals
During the 2011-12 season, the American guard tried to earn a spot on Unicaja’s roster. One of the top teams in the Spanish league and a EuroLeague member, Rowland wasn’t able to get much playing time at the Spanish club. As a result, he decided to join the Latvian champions over the summer of 2012.
Rowland wasn’t at VEF for very long, but he made a huge impact during his one season. Despite his modest size (191 cm), Rowland stunned fans with his versatility, storming to the regular-season MVP crown by averaging 16 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game. VEF also enjoyed its best season in club history, posting an 11-7 record and advancing to the quarterfinals.
Honorable mention: Gerald Robinson, Francisco Cruz, Antanas Kavaliauskas
Enisey: Tony Taylor
Country: USA
Seasons at Enisey: 2015-16, 2016-17
Stats: 57 games, 11.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.8 steals
New York point guard Tony Taylor played for Turow during the 2013-14 season, but he’s best known for two seasons with Enisey from 2015-17. Taylor helped define Oleg Okulov’s system and led the Siberian club to a record 13 wins in 2016-17 and a spot in the postseason.
He was also the team’s most popular foreign player, winning the fan vote over Frank Elegar and Suleiman Braimoh prior to the All-Star Game.
Honorable mention: Suleiman Braimoh, Anthony Fisher, Gregory Renfroe
Zenit: Ryan Toolson
Country: USA
Seasons at Zenit: 2015-16, 2016-17
Stats: 64 games, 15.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steals
The American was known as a perimeter threat, but little else when he joined Zenit. He turned out to be a natural leader and fan favorite in St. Petersburg. Toolson was an example on and off the court, never leaving the arena until everyone got an autograph. On the court, his explosive scoring and competitive drive made him an invaluable member of the team.
The club enjoyed two very successful seasons with Toolson, advancing to the League semifinals both times. He also left his mark on the record books, averaging 2.4 3-pointers per game and shooting 97.3% from the line over two seasons, an unbelievable achievement.
Honorable mention: Janis Timma, Kyle Landry, Walter Hodge
Kalev: Frank Elegar
Country: USA
Seasons at Kalev: 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15
Stats: 50 games, 11.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.1 blocks
The Brooklyn native had played for six different teams by age 26, before signing with Kalev in 2012. The American center showed remarkable progress in the Estonian capital, averaging a double-double in his final season with Kalev (14.9 points and 11.3 rebounds) with the club barely missing out on a 1st-ever postseason appearance.
Elegar was rewarded with an offer from EuroLeague club Milan, leaving Kalev after three excellent seasons.
Honorable mention: Bamba Fall, Scott Machado, Tyshawn Abbott
Lokomotiv-Kuban: Derrick Brown
Country: USA
Seasons at Lokomotiv-Kuban: 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15
Stats: 80 games, 13.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.6 blocks
While Malcolm Delaney and Anthony Randolph gave Krasnodar an unbelievable season in the EuroLeague, another American, Derrick Brown, played a key role for the club over three seasons in the VTB United League.
With Brown leading the way, the Railwaymen almost took down CSKA in the 2014 playoff quarterfinals. The team did advance to the playoff finals in 2013, to go with a 3rd-place finish in 2015, and Brown ranks as the club’s all-time leading foreign scorer.
Honorable mention: Anthony Randolph, Malcolm Delaney, Mantas Kalnietis
Nizhny Novgorod: Taylor Rochestie
Country: USA
Seasons at Nizhny Novgorod: 2013-14, 2014-15
Stats: 48 games, 14.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.7 steals
Nizhny Novgorod had a long journey to reach the top of Russian basketball. The peak came during the 2013-14 season, when the club advanced to the VTB United League finals. Nizhny was led by an American point guard with Montenegrin citizenship, Taylor Rochestie, who left sun-drenched Spain and the EuroLeague to play for Zoran Lukic’s gutsy band of over-achievers. Rochestie led the team in points and assists, received one MVP of the Month award, and helped Nizhny take 2nd place in the League in 2013-14.
Honorable mention: Trey Thompkins, Dijon Thompson, Victor Rudd
Parma: Danilo Andjusic
Country: Serbia
Seasons at Parma: 2016-17
Stats: 15 games, 19.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.2 steals
Parma began its debut season in the VTB United League with only one foreigner, Danilo Andjusic. He lived up to expectations, averaging nearly 20 points per game, including a 40-point outburst at home against UNICS, the 3rd-highest scoring game in VTB United League history. Andjusic was even named to the World All-Star team in Sochi.
He made such an impression that UNICS offered him a contract mid-season, which he accepted, trading Perm for a chance to compete in the EuroLeague. The fans couldn’t begrudge him the opportunity and wished Andjusic the best at his new team.
Honorable mention: Sasa Zagorac, Yanick Moreira, Codi Miller-McIntyre
UNICS: Keith Langford
Country: USA
Seasons at UNICS: 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17
Stats: 90 games, 18.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals
Kazan has signed plenty of foreign stars over the years, but Keith Langford is the easy pick here. The American guard joined UNICS from Milan in 2014 and quickly became the leader on the team. Over three seasons, he led UNICS to a 2nd and 3rd-place finish in the League, led the League in scoring in 2015-16 and earned an invite to the 2017 All-Star Game.
Honorable mention: Marko Popovic, Kostas Kaimakoglou, Andrew Goudelock
Khimki: Tyrese Rice
Country: USA
Seasons at Khimki: 2014-15, 2015-16
Stats: 74 games, 15.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.3 steals
Khimki has also seen its fair share of elite talent, but Tyrese Rice leads the pack. Before Alexey Shved’s arrival, he ran the show in Moscow Region, leading the team in points and assists. Rice was a talented playmaker, dishing out assists and knocking down big shots.
Rice was also quite popular off the court, even beyond the basketball world. His appearance on Above The Rim garnered more than 200,000 views.
Honorable mention: Kresimir Loncar, Petteri Koponen, Zoran Planinic
Tsmoki-Minsk: Branko Mirkovic
Country: Serbia
Seasons at Tsmoki-Minsk: 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16
Stats: 74 games, 11.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.1 steals
Minsk executives plucked the Serbian playmaker from the Bulgarian league in 2013. He turned out be a terrific find. Mirkovic played three seasons in Minsk under two coaches and with wildly different big men–Ivan Maras and Keith Benson–but was always among the team leaders in efficiency rating and impact.
It’s also impressive to note that Minsk improved its winning percentage from 16% to 30%, a nearly two-fold increase, during Mirkovic’s tenure in Belarus.
Honorable mention: Justin Gray, Ivan Maras, Keith Benson
CSKA: Milos Teodosic
Country: Serbia
Seasons at CSKA: 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17
Stats: 144 games, 11.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 0.9 steals
Milos Teodosic could have joined the NBA at age 24, but CSKA was able to persuade him to continue his career in Russia. In the end, the talented point guard became a superstar in Moscow and the face of not only the VTB United League’s top club, but European basketball as a whole.
His list of accomplishments in six seasons with CSKA are mind-boggling: 6-time League champion, 2-time playoff MVP, all-time assists leader, all-time CSKA scoring leader and most 3-pointers among foreign players.
Honorable mention: Nando De Colo, J.R. Holden, Kyle Hines
