The NBA is the United States’ basketball league, reputed as the most competitive and lucrative basketball championship in the world.
According to a statement by the NBA, Canada has the highest number of players with 18, while Germany has seven and the Bahamas three. The Toronto Raptors lead the league with a record-tying 10 international players from a record nine countries on opening-night rosters.
The 2021-22 season tipped off on Tuesday with defending champion, Milwaukee Bucks, hosting the Brooklyn Nets.
This season marks the eighth consecutive season that opening-night rosters feature at least 100 international players.
“The number of international players in the NBA has grown from five in the league’s first season in 1946/47 to a record 113 at the start of the 2016-17 season,” the statement said, adding, “For the eighth consecutive year, Canada is the most-represented country outside of the U.S., followed by Australia, France and Germany (seven players each). Nigeria, Serbia, Spain and Turkey each have five players.
“The Raptors lead the league with 10 international players, followed by the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder with seven international players each. The Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets and New Orleans Pelicans each have five.”
The NBA said a record of 35 players on opening night rosters participated in Basketball Without Borders (BWB) prior to their NBA careers. These include Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers, Cameroun; BWB Africa 2011), Deandre Ayton (Phoenix Suns; Bahamas; BWB Global 2016), Rui Hachimura (Washington Wizards; Japan; BWB Global 2016) and Pascal Siakam (Raptors; Cameroun; BWB Africa 2012).
BWB is the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach programme that has seen 90 former campers drafted into the NBA or signed as free agents since 2001.
“In addition to the 109 international players on 2021-22 opening-night rosters, there are a record 12 international players from seven countries on “two-way” contracts, including six players who participated in BWB. There are also a number of American players with ties to other countries, including more than 30 players with at least one parent from an African country.
“Among the American players with ties to other countries are Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat; Nigeria), Jordan Clarkson (Utah Jazz; Philippines), Matisse Thybulle (76ers; Australia and Haiti), Juan Toscano-Anderson (Golden State Warriors; Mexico), Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves; Dominican Republic) and Kemba Walker (New York Knicks; Antigua).”
Other players with ties to Nigeria listed in the rosters are Bahamas’ Deandre Ayton, who plays for Phoenix Suns, Greece’s Antetokounmpo brothers, Giannis and Thanasis, who play for Milwaukee Bucks, Spain’s Usman Garuba, who plays for Houston Rockets, Britain’s OG Anunoby (Toronto Raptors) and Canada’s Eugene Omoruyi (Dallas Mavericks).
Meanwhile, Hakeem Olajuwon, who spent his career at Houston Rockets, is among 25 players listed on the 75th anniversary team Day One released on Tuesday.
The others listed are such NBA greats as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nate Archibald, Charles Barkley, Bob Cousy, Kevin Durant, Julius Erwing, George Gervin, Hal Greer, James Harden and Elvin Hayes.
Also in the list are Jerry Lucas, Moses Malone, Kevin McHale, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Bob Pettit, Willis Reed, Oscar Robinson, David Robinson, Bill Russell and John Stockton.
