The international presence on the NBA rosters is nurtured

The NBA season that started Tuesday night has the participation of 107 international players, from 41 countries, and a mark of 17 Canadian baskets. The African mark was also tied with 14.

As reported by the league in a press release, this is the seventh campaign in a row that international basket ball signatures have exceeded 100, and that each of the 30 teams in the league has at least one player from abroad.

Following the departure of José Juan Barea from the Mavericks last week, Puerto Rico has no representation.

With its 17, Canada is the most represented country in the NBA after the United States, and is followed by France, which has nine players, Australia with eight and Serbia and Germany with six each.

The Washington Wizards include seven international players, the most in the NBA. The Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets each have six, while the New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto Raptors each have five.

There are also several American players with ties to other countries, including more than 30 players with at least one parent from Africa.

Among the US players with ties to other countries are Jordan Clarkson (Utah Jazz; Philippines); Victor Oladipo (Indiana Pacers; Nigeria), Matisse Thybulle (76ers; Australia and Haiti) and Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves; Dominican Republic).

In the 2019-20 season, a record six international players were named to the 2019-20 All-NBA team: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks; Greece; ties to Nigeria; All-NBA first team); Luka Doncic (Mavericks; Slovenia; NBA first team); Nikola Jokic (Nuggets; Serbia; NBA second team); Pascal Siakam (second team in the NBA); Rudy Gobert (Jazz; France; NBA third team); and Ben Simmons (76ers; Australia; NBA third team).

In addition, there were 14 international players who have been All-Stars in the NBA on the NBA Opening Night rosters: Antetokounmpo, Doncic, Goran Dragic (Miami Heat; Eslovenia), Embiid, Marc Gasol (Lakers; España), Gobert, Al Horford (Oklahoma City Thunder; República Dominicana), Kyrie Irving (Nets; Australia), Nikola Jokic (Denver; Serbia), Kristaps Porzingis (Mavericks; Letonia), Domantas Sabonis (Pacers; Lituania), Siakam, Simmons y Nikola Vucevic (Orlando Magic; Montenegro).

Deni Avdija, who became the Israeli player with the highest pick in the last NBA Draft, is due to make his debut on Wednesday, when the Washington Wizards, who selected him in ninth place in the Draft, meet the Sixers of Philadelphia.

Similarly, Killian Hayes, the best-selected Frenchman in an NBA draft, should make his debut on Wednesday when the Detroit Pistons, who claimed him with the seventh pick in the draft, collide with Minnesota’s Timberwolves.

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