By Jerry Mittleman

Since a fourth straight NBA title has already been conceded to the Lakers, the names of this year’s new foreign impact players, is one of the few remaining question of the upcoming season.

Of course, the Lakers are far from a lock for another championship but curiously, people have somehow forgotten that the Sacramento Kings came a hair breath away from beating the Lakers last year and probably were the better team.

Many are also overlooking the whooping that the U.S. squad, composed of NBA players, took in this summer’s World Basketball Championships but NBA scouts and general managers aren’t.

The X-factor this season is which relatively unknown foreigners will make a big difference for their new teams.

The obvious candidate is center Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets. Can the addition of Ming to the Rockets excellent young backcourt be the start of a Ming dynasty in Houston? Anything might be possible in the 21st Century NBA.

Can Kiki Vandewehge emulate what Geoff Petrie’s done at Sacramento and turn the Denver Nuggets into the NBA’s second “European” team? That could be a long way off since top prospect Nikoloz Tskitichvili seems far from ready, but Brazilian forward Nene Hilario could be one of the early favorites for Rookie of the Year.

Aside from the foreigners in this year’s draft, a number of Europeans from previous drafts are coming over. Anyone who had the stomach to watch this summer’s World Championships saw that there’s some serious talent is on the way.

Most notable is Argentinian combo guard Emanuel Ginobili, who most likely would have led his country to the title had he not gotten injured in the semi-finals. Ginobili could very well become the San Antonio Spurs’ starting two guard and form an all-foreign backcourt with Tony Parker. Ginobili would be an improvement over the aging Steve Smith and bolster the Spurs during Admiral Robinson’s farewell cruise around the NBA.

The Los Angeles Clippers have seriously upgraded themselves at point guard. Andre Miller is one of the five best playmakers in the league. His backup will be Yugoslavian Marko Jaric, who might be good enough to start for several NBA teams.

Crotian shooting guard Gordon Giricek is a nice additiion to the Memphis Grizzles. Who would argue with Jerry West’s eye for talent?

Czech guard Jiri Welsch is a solid pickup. The sixteenth pick of this year’s draft should bolster the Golden State Warriors’ depth.

Who will be this year’s Pau Gasol?

Will a team dependent on foreigners like the Kings are, and their European-style ball, overthrow the Lakers?

These are the questions of the 2002-03 NBA season.

Remember that NBA jingle of 5 years ago? "The NBA-IT’S AMERICA’S GAME." Well, that was from another century.