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    Thursday, October 21, 2021

    NBA Rosters Feature 109 International Players From 39 Countries

    The 2021-22 season tipping off tonight marks the eighth consecutive season that opening-night rosters feature at least 100 international players

    Landmark 75th Anniversary Season Marks Eighth Consecutive Year With at Least 100 International Players; Toronto Raptors Feature Record-Tying 10 International Players, Followed by the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder with Seven Each; 13 African Players on Opening-Night Rosters.

    The National Basketball Association (NBA) (www.NBA.com) announced that 109 international players from 39 countries are on opening-night rosters for its landmark 75th Anniversary Season, including a record number of players from Canada (18), Germany (seven) and the Bahamas (three), and a record-tying number of players from Nigeria (five).  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 tipping off tonight 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.

    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.

    A record 35 players on opening-night rosters participated in Basketball Without Borders (BWB) prior to their NBA careers, including Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2011), Deandre Ayton (Phoenix Suns; Bahamas; BWB Global 2016), Rui Hachimura (Washington Wizards; Japan; BWB Global 2016) and Pascal Siakam (Raptors; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2012).  BWB is the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program 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; ties to Nigeria), Jordan Clarkson (Utah Jazz; ties to the Philippines), Matisse Thybulle (76ers; ties to Australia and Haiti), Juan Toscano-Anderson (Golden State Warriors; Mexico), Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves; ties to the Dominican Republic) and Kemba Walker (New York Knicks; Antigua).

    The 2021-22 NBA season tips off tonight with the defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks hosting the Brooklyn Nets at 1:30 a.m. CAT on ESPN and Canal+.  In the second game, the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Warriors at 4 a.m. CAT on Canal+.

    Below please find international player milestones and storylines for the upcoming season:

    • A record-tying six international players were named to the 2020-21 All-NBA Team: 2021 Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks; Greece; ties to Nigeria; All-NBA First Team); Luka Dončić (Mavericks; Slovenia; All-NBA First Team); 2020-21 Kia NBA MVP Nikola Jokić (Nuggets; Serbia; All-NBA First Team); Embiid (All-NBA Second Team); Rudy Gobert (Jazz; France; All-NBA Third Team); and Kyrie Irving (Nets; Australia; All-NBA Third Team).
    • As part of the NBA.com 2021-22 GM Survey (https://on.nba.com/3lXfdTM), Dončić and Antetokounmpo were voted the No. 1 and No. 2 players with whom general managers would most want to start a franchise (43% and 40%, respectively), and the No. 2 and No. 3 players most likely to win the 2021-22 Kia NBA MVP Award (33% and 13% of votes, respectively).
    • Josh Giddey (Thunder; Australia) is poised to become the first NBA Academy graduate to play in the NBA when Oklahoma City visits Utah tomorrow, Oct. 20 at 9 p.m. ET on NBA League Pass.  Giddey became the first NBA Academy graduate to be drafted into the NBA when he was selected sixth overall by the Thunder in the 2021 NBA Draft.
    • There are 13 international players on opening-night rosters who have been NBA All-Stars: Antetokounmpo, Dončić, Goran Dragić (Raptors; Slovenia), Embiid, Al Horford (Boston Celtics; Dominican Republic), Gobert, Irving, Jokić, Kristaps Porzingis (Mavericks; Latvia), Domantas Sabonis (Indiana Pacers; Lithuania), Siakam, Ben Simmons (76ers; Australia) and Nikola Vučević (Chicago Bulls; Montenegro).
    • Neemias Queta (two-way player for the Sacramento Kings) is poised to become the first player from Portugal to play in the NBA.
    • A record 10 former BWB campers were selected in the 2021 NBA Draft, surpassing the previous record of eight set in 2019. 


    Below please find the full list of international players on 2021-22 opening-night rosters (active and inactive):

    Country
     
    Name
     
    NBA Team
     
    Ties
     
    Angola
     
    Bruno Fernando
     
    Boston Celtics
     
     
    Argentina
     
    Facundo Campazzo*
     
    Denver Nuggets
     
     
    Argentina
     
    Gabriel Deck*
     
    Oklahoma City Thunder
     
     
    Argentina
     
    Leandro Bolmaro*
     
    Minnesota Timberwolves
     
     
    Australia
     
    Ben Simmons
     
    Philadelphia 76ers
     
     
    Australia
     
    Jock Landale
     
    San Antonio Spurs
     
     
    Australia
     
    Joe Ingles
     
    Utah Jazz
     
     
    Australia
     
    Josh Giddey*
     
    Oklahoma City Thunder
     
     
    Australia
     
    Josh Green*
     
    Dallas Mavericks
     
     
    Australia
     
    Kyrie Irving
     
    Brooklyn Nets
     
     
    Australia
     
    Patty Mills
     
    Brooklyn Nets
     
     
    Austria
     
    Jakob Poeltl
     
    San Antonio Spurs
     
     
    Bahamas
     
    Buddy Hield
     
    Sacramento Kings
     
     
    Bahamas
     
    Kai Jones*
     
    Charlotte Hornets
     
     
    Bahamas
     
    Deandre Ayton*
     
    Phoenix Suns
     
    Ties to Nigeria
     
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
     
    Jusuf Nurkić
     
    Portland Trail Blazers
     
     
    Brazil
     
    Didi Louzada
     
    New Orleans Pelicans
     
     
    Brazil
     
    Raul Neto
     
    Washington Wizards
     
     
    Cameroon
     
    Joel Embiid*
     
    Philadelphia 76ers
     
     
    Cameroon
     
    Pascal Siakam*
     
    Toronto Raptors
     
     
    Canada
     
    Andrew Wiggins
     
    Golden State Warriors
     
     
    Canada
     
    Brandon Clarke
     
    Memphis Grizzlies
     
     
    Canada
     
    Cory Joseph
     
    Detroit Pistons
     
    Ties to Trinidad and Tobago
     
    Canada
     
    Dalano Banton
     
    Toronto Raptors
     
     
    Canada
     
    Dillon Brooks
     
    Memphis Grizzlies
     
     
    Canada
     
    Dwight Powell
     
    Dallas Mavericks
     
     
    Canada
     
    Jamal Murray*
     
    Denver Nuggets
     
     
    Canada
     
    Josh Primo*
     
    San Antonio Spurs
     
     
    Canada
     
    Kelly Olynyk*
     
    Detroit Pistons
     
     
    Canada
     
    Kevin Pangos
     
    Cleveland Cavaliers
     
     
    Canada
     
    Khem Birch
     
    Toronto Raptors
     
     
    Canada
     
    Luguentz Dort*
     
    Oklahoma City Thunder
     
     
    Canada
     
    Nickeil Alexander-Walker
     
    New Orleans Pelicans
     
     
    Canada
     
    Oshae Brissett
     
    Indiana Pacers
     
     
    Canada
     
    RJ Barrett*
     
    New York Knicks
     
     
    Canada
     
    Trey Lyles
     
    Detroit Pistons
     
     
    Canada
     
    Tristan Thompson
     
    Sacramento Kings
     
    Ties to Jamaica
     
    Canada
     
    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander*
     
    Oklahoma City Thunder
     
     
    Croatia
     
    Bojan Bogdanović
     
    Utah Jazz
     
     
    Croatia
     
    Dario Šarić*
     
    Phoenix Suns
     
     
    Croatia
     
    Ivica Zubac
     
    LA Clippers
     
     
    Czech Republic
     
    Tomáš Satoranský*
     
    New Orleans Pelicans
     
     
    Czech Republic
     
    Vít Krejčí*
     
    Oklahoma City Thunder
     
     
    Democratic Republic of the Congo
     
    Jonathan Kuminga
     
    Golden State Warriors
     
     
    Dominican Republic
     
    Al Horford
     
    Boston Celtics
     
     
    Dominican Republic
     
    Chris Duarte
     
    Indiana Pacers
     
     
    Egypt
     
    Abdel Nader
     
    Phoenix Suns
     
     
    Finland
     
    Lauri Markkanen*
     
    Cleveland Cavaliers
     
     
    France
     
    Evan Fournier
     
    New York Knicks
     
    Ties to Algeria
     
    France
     
    Frank Ntilikina*
     
    Dallas Mavericks
     
    Ties to Belgium and Rwanda
     
    France
     
    Killian Hayes*
     
    Detroit Pistons
     
     
    France
     
    Nicolas Batum*
     
    LA Clippers
     
    Ties to Cameroon
     
    France
     
    Rudy Gobert
     
    Utah Jazz
     
     
    France
     
    Théo Maledon
     
    Oklahoma City Thunder
     
     
    France
     
    Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot
     
    Atlanta Hawks
     
    Ties to Democratic Republic of the Congo
     
    Georgia
     
    Goga Bitadze*
     
    Indiana Pacers
     
     
    Germany
     
    Daniel Theis
     
    Houston Rockets
     
     
    Germany
     
    Dennis Schröder
     
    Boston Celtics
     
    Ties to The Gambia
     
    Germany
     
    Isaac Bonga*
     
    Toronto Raptors
     
     
    Germany
     
    Isaiah Hartenstein*
     
    LA Clippers
     
     
    Germany
     
    Maxi Kleber
     
    Dallas Mavericks
     
     
    Germany
     
    Franz Wagner
     
    Orlando Magic
     
     
    Germany
     
    Moritz Wagner
     
    Orlando Magic
     
     
    Greece
     
    Georgios Kalaitzakis
     
    Milwaukee Bucks
     
     
    Greece
     
    Giannis Antetokounmpo
     
    Milwaukee Bucks
     
    Ties to Nigeria
     
    Greece
     
    Thanasis Antetokounmpo
     
    Milwaukee Bucks
     
    Ties to Nigeria
     
    Israel
     
    Deni Avdija*
     
    Washington Wizards
     
     
    Italy
     
    Danilo Gallinari*
     
    Atlanta Hawks
     
     
    Jamaica
     
    Nick Richards
     
    Charlotte Hornets
     
     
    Japan
     
    Rui Hachimura*
     
    Washington Wizards
     
     Ties to Benin
     
    Japan
     
    Yuta Watanabe
     
    Toronto Raptors
     
     
    Latvia
     
    Davis Bertans
     
    Washington Wizards
     
     
    Latvia
     
    Kristaps Porziņģis
     
    Dallas Mavericks
     
     
    Lithuania
     
    Domantas Sabonis
     
    Indiana Pacers
     
     
    Lithuania
     
    Jonas Valančiūnas*
     
    New Orleans Pelicans
     
     
    Montenegro
     
    Marko Simonović
     
    Chicago Bulls
     
     
    Montenegro
     
    Nikola Vučević
     
    Chicago Bulls
     
     
    New Zealand
     
    Steven Adams
     
    Memphis Grizzlies
     
     
    Nigeria
     
    Charles Bassey*
     
    Philadelphia 76ers
     
     
    Nigeria
     
    Josh Okogie
     
    Minnesota Timberwolves
     
     
    Nigeria
     
    Precious Achiuwa
     
    Toronto Raptors
     
     
    Nigeria
     
    Udoka Azubuike
     
    Utah Jazz
     
     
    Nigeria
     
    Chimezie Metu
     
    Sacramento Kings
     
     
    Republic of the Congo
     
    Serge Ibaka
     
    LA Clippers
     
    Ties to Spain
     
    Senegal
     
    Gorgui Dieng*
     
    Atlanta Hawks
     
     
    Serbia
     
    Aleksej Pokuševski*
     
    Oklahoma City Thunder
     
     
    Serbia
     
    Boban Marjanović
     
    Dallas Mavericks
     
     
    Serbia
     
    Bogdan Bogdanović
     
    Atlanta Hawks
     
     
    Serbia
     
    Nemanja Bjelica
     
    Golden State Warriors
     
     
    Serbia
     
    Nikola Jokić
     
    Denver Nuggets
     
     
    Slovenia
     
    Goran Dragić
     
    Toronto Raptors
     
     
    Slovenia
     
    Vlatko Čančar 
     
    Denver Nuggets
     
     
    Slovenia
     
    Luka Dončić
     
    Dallas Mavericks
     
     
    Spain
     
    Juancho Hernangómez
     
    Boston Celtics
     
     
    Spain
     
    Ricky Rubio
     
    Cleveland Cavaliers
     
     
    Spain
     
    Santi Aldama*
     
    Memphis Grizzlies
     
     
    Spain
     
    Usman Garuba
     
    Houston Rockets
     
    Ties to Nigeria
     
    Spain
     
    Willy Hernangómez*
     
    New Orleans Pelicans
     
     
    St. Lucia
     
    Chris Boucher
     
    Toronto Raptors
     
    Ties to Canada
     
    Sudan
     
    Bol Bol
     
    Denver Nuggets
     
     
    Switzerland
     
    Clint Capela
     
    Atlanta Hawks
     
    Ties to Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo
     
    Turkey
     
    Alperen Sengun
     
    Houston Rockets
     
     
    Turkey
     
    Cedi Osman
     
    Cleveland Cavaliers
     
     
    Turkey
     
    Enes Kanter*
     
    Boston Celtics
     
     
    Turkey
     
    Furkan Korkmaz
     
    Philadelphia 76ers
     
     
    Turkey
     
    Omer Yurtseven
     
    Miami Heat
     
     
    Ukraine
     
    Alex Len
     
    Sacramento Kings
     
     
    Ukraine
     
    Svi Mykhailiuk
     
    Toronto Raptors
     
     
    United Kingdom
     
    OG Anunoby
     
    Toronto Raptors
     
    Ties to Nigeria
     
     
    Below please find the full list of international two-way players:

    Country
     
    First Name
     
    NBA Team
     
    Ties
     
    Canada
     
    Eugene Omoruyi
     
    Dallas Mavericks
     
    Ties to Nigeria
     
    Canada
     
    Ignas Brazdeikis*
     
    Orlando Magic
     
    Ties to Lithuania
     
    Croatia
     
    Luka Šamanić*
     
    New York Knicks
     
     
    France
     
    Petr Cornelie
     
    Denver Nuggets
     
     
    France
     
    Sekou Doumbouya*
     
    Los Angeles Lakers
     
    Ties to Guinea
     
    France
     
    Killian Tillie
     
    Memphis Grizzlies
     
     
    France
     
    Yves Pons
     
    Memphis Grizzlies
     
    Ties to Haiti
     
    France
     
    Joel Ayayi*
     
    Washington Wizards
     
    Ties to Benin
     
    Georgia
     
    Sandro Mamukelashvili*
     
    Milwaukee Bucks
     
     
    Lithuania
     
    Arnoldas Kulboka*
     
    Charlotte Hornets
     
     
    Portugal
     
    Neemias Queta
     
    Sacramento Kings
     
    Ties to Guinea-Bissau
     
    Senegal
     
    Tacko Fall
     
    Cleveland Cavaliers
     
     
     
    *Participated in Basketball Without Borders (BWB), the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach
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