The passing of legendary Dallas Mavericks figure Don Nelson has many Mavs fans who are old enough to connect with "Nellie's" innovation reminiscing on the impact he's made on basketball, especially as it relates to international players.

Nelson was instrumental in Dirk Nowitzki's development from a lanky, awkward 7-footer from Germany into one of the sport's most prolific scorers, with a jumper that was historically good for players of his size.

The Mavericks are not what they are today without Nelson's influence. Even after Nowitzki's Hall-of-Fame career, Nelson had his hands on other memorable players that impacted the organization. Those, too, were often foreign-born players, who are typically cast off by other teams that find their skillsets difficult to mold into the NBA game.

HoopsHype's ranking of the 80 best international players ever demonstrates the Mavs' excellent history in this global strategy, and it starts at the top of the list with more stars that Nellie helped bring to Dallas.

Our honest review would be omitted, of course, if we didn't start with the Tall Baller from the G.

The greatest player in Mavericks history falls one spot short of the greatest international player honor behind Nigeria's Hakeem Olajuwon, who won two titles and was among the best defenders his league history for the Houston Rockets.

"Nellie... You didn't just draft me. You believed in me," Nowitzki said following news of Nelson's passing at the age of 86.

"You saw things in my game before I ever realized I could do them. I've said it a million times and I will always say it: I don't think my career could have turned out how it did without you being my first coach and giving me the freedom to play my game. I can only say THANK YOU. For everything."

And what a career it was. Seventh all-time in scoring, 14 All-Star nods, 12 All-NBA selections, an MVP award, and the oh-so iconic 2011 NBA Championship and Finals MVP. Nowitzki's legacy, like Nelson's as a coach, now rests immortality in Springfield, Mass. at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Nash, a Canadian, joined Nelson in Dallas in the same 1998 draft as Nowitzki. The two immediately formed a bond that still holds strong today, with the former stars regularly playing tennis with one another in Dallas.

Originally born in South Africa, Nash took home two MVPs with the Phoenix Suns after his time with the Mavs came to an end.

He's among the most skilled point guards in league history, now also holding a place in the Hall of Fame by sitting No. 6 in the all-time assists list and appearing on seven All-NBA teams.

The Mavs' former Wonderkid was also a product of the Nelson family legacy in Dallas.

Nellie's son, Donnie Nelson, was the Mavs general manager for many years and was in the war room when Dallas traded for the star Slovenian near the top of the 2018 draft. What followed was a passing of the torch from Nowitzki to Doncic in their one season as teammates.

Luka now already ranks as a top international player ever with six All-NBA First Team selections, a Rookie of the Year award, and international stardom as a teenager (Euroleague MVP and championship, and Eurobasket gold medal).

His infamous, ill-fated trade away from the Mavs will not be forgotten, but neither will his excellence in Dallas. And for Doncic himself, he has Nelson to thank.

"It’s a sad day for basketball with the passing of Don Nelson," Doncic said. "I have so much respect for him and everything he did for the game, especially the way he believed in international players. I’m grateful for the time I spent with him."

The list of international stars continues with the Serbian sharpshooter and member of Dallas' 2011 title team.

Stojakovic is remembered during that playoff run for his hot shooting to close out the Western Conference Semifinals sweep of the defending-champion Los Angeles Lakers. Peja (6-6) teamed with Jason Terry (9-10) to knock down 15 of 16 3-pointers and advance to the conference finals.

Stojakovic's prime came with the Sacramento Kings, where he began a career in which he shot over 40 percent from distance in its entirety.

The first Mav to ever have his jersey retired (and yes, the representative on stage when Dallas won the draft rights to Cooper Flagg), Blackman is of Panama descent.

He averaged over 19 points per game seven times in the 1980s, becoming Dallas' first star player in the franchise's early years.

Blackman remains an integral part of the organization, often helping lead in community service initiatives and providing strategic consultation for the front office as the Vice President for Corporate Relations.

The "Unicorn" is a 7-foot-plus sharpshooter similar to the early physique of Nowitzki, which piqued the interest of the Mavericks in their attempt to pair Doncic and Porzingis.

With injuries and overall poor play hampering the vision, the Latvian Porzingis remains a valuable role piece in the league today, currently on the Golden State Warriors.

Bogut was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. Never fully healthy enough to form into the traditional stardom of a top pick, the Australian big man was still a key contributor to a championship team (2015 Warriors) and was regularly voted near the top of Defensive Player of the Year ballots.

He spent one season in Dallas, averaging 3.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in 26 appearances during the first half of the 2016-17 season.

The crafty point guard won two Olympic silver medals for his native Spain, along with World Championship and Eurobasket gold medals.

Calderon played spent 14 seasons in the NBA, including the 2013-14 season in Dallas. He started 81 of the 82 games for the Mavs that year.

Last, but certainly not least, is the mighty Puerto Rican who was a fan-favorite across his 11 total seasons with the Mavericks.

Barea, another member of the Mavs' lone championship team, was a constant off-the-bench sparkplug for Rick Carlisle. His role was instrumental in the 2011 Finals against LeBron James and the Miami Heat - so much so that Barea was moved into the starting lineup for his hounding defense.

Barea ranks sixth in Mavericks history in games played and ninth in assists.