NBA 2018-19: The top 10 international players 

#6 Al Horford

Cleveland Cavaliers v Boston Celtics - Game One

Al Horford is the best two-way player on the Celtics roster, despite Kyrie Irving's significantly improved defense last season under Brad Stevens. Last season, he owned the highest net rating among all starters on the Celtics at 7.2, primarily because of his defensive attributes.

His defensive rating was a stingy 101.1 points per 100 possessions - 6th among all frontcourt players. He ranked 8th in defensive win shares per game among starters, and his defensive rebounding percentage of 20.1% led all Celtics at the end of the season.

These statistics are also borne out in live evidence. Despite fouling infrequently, Horford contests all shots and makes them that much tougher for the offensive player to score off. He is very good at covering perimeter players on switches, and he averages over a block per game.

In addition, Horford is second only to Jokic as a passing big man, and a more reliable scorer and shooter from long range. Horford is the do-it-all player who has raised the floor of the Celtics ever since signing in 2016, and at the age of 33, still looks in the best form of his career.