SPAIN MAKING A NAME AS RICH BASKETBALL TALENT SOURCE.

It used to be that 99.9% NBA players came from the US, with a token European for every 10 teams or so.

Now, after countries like Canada, Yugoslavia and Argentina have proven themselves as countries rich in basketball talent, we can add to that mix the football-crazy country of  Spain, with the likes of the Gasol brothers, Jose Calderon, Rudy Fernandez and the surprising Sergio Rodriguez.

Sergio "Spanish Chocolate" Rodriguez is a 3rd string PG for the Sacramento Kings and used to be part of the Spanish National Team. He was a benchwarmer  for the Portland Trailblazers (where he was barely used) before being traded to the Kings and was left off the Spanish National Team to create a roster spot for rising Spanish PG sensation Ricky Rubio.

In the past few games, Rodriguez has been showcasing his mad passing skills for the Kings and was even the key to a recent Kings victory over the Hornets. Rodriguez scored 24 points (a career high), had 5 assists and no turnovers in that game.

Rodriguez now has the opportunity to grab even more playing time as the Kings' leading options as SG, Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia, have yet to return to the Kings.

Here are his highlights from Hornets game.