Comparing a ballplayer to someone in the NBA can be either the highest form of flattery or the greatest insult. Consider: if you're called Mark Madsen, what are the chances that someone is saying you've got a beautiful jumper and tight handle? But it's obviously not all bad. Since first coming to the U.S. at age 18, Niko Klansek has been compared to Dirk - not just because of his floppy blond hair, but because he can let it fly just like the Big German.

At 6-5, Niko could play on the block, but just like Dirk that would be a waste of his skill set. He's much better off where he can put the ball on the floor, and stretch the D with his accurate long-distance dialing.

But the nickname "Dirk" didn't start off at NRF. When Niko first came to the U.S. at age 18 from Slovenia, where he played on the national team alongside Sasha Vujacic and other NBA talents, he was playing pickup against a trash talking guard in New York. And as Niko pulled the ball into triple threat, his man goaded him, "Let's go Dirk..."

"I was like, this guy is not a good trash talker," says Niko. "I mean I almost said thank you - it was more of a compliment than an insult."

Though there are some major differences in their styles of play - Niko is a southpaw and doesn't have that fadeaway jumper in his repertoire - both of these guys play the quintessential European style. They can shoot, they know how to share the ball (maybe Niko's a bit better than the trigger-happy Nowitzki at that...), and they're both efficient.