Prior to the 2026-27 NBA season, HoopsHype is evaluating international talent, ranking the best basketball players outside of the NBA. Their list, which fluctuates from game to game, contains a handful of former NBA players, including Nikola Mirotic, Sasha Vezenkov, Ante Zizic and Talen Horton-Tucker. The ranking also consists of two former Charlotte Hornets players, one of whom is currently listed as the second-best international player.

Beginning with Wendell Moore Jr., the former Hornets guard ranks 20th overall, having averaged 13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and one assist in his first six games with Virtus Bologna. Moore Jr. spent 16 games with Charlotte during the 2024-25 season. He's played 96 NBA games throughout his career and made a Western Conference Finals appearance with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The No. 2 ranked international player, Dwayne Bacon, spent three seasons with the Hornets after being selected in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft. In 135 appearances for the Hornets, Bacon averaged 5.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, one assist and 0.4 steals. During his last NBA campaign (2020-21) with the Orlando Magic, Bacon averaged double digits in scoring (10.9 points). Now playing in Dubai, Bacon is averaging 17.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists through his first six contests.