NBA Rosters Break Record with 135 International Players Featuring 23 Talents from Canada
The NBA is becoming increasingly international as the new season kicks off. The league’s opening night rosters feature an unprecedented 135 players born outside the United States. This includes a record 23 players hailing from Canada, representing the largest Canadian presence in the league’s history.
Global Representation in the NBA
The total number of international players ties the record and spans 43 different countries. Notably, 71 of these players are from Europe, marking the highest number from that continent in NBA history.
Opportunities for European Expansion
The NBA is exploring the establishment of a new league in Europe, in collaboration with FIBA. This initiative could materialize as soon as 2027. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver highlighted the impressive growth of basketball in Europe, emphasizing the potential for an NBA-style league on the continent.
Spotlight on Canadian Players
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, leads the Canadian group.
- Other notable players include:
- Luguentz Dort (Oklahoma City Thunder)
- RJ Barrett (Toronto Raptors)
- Andrew Wiggins (Miami Heat)
- Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard (Indiana Pacers)
This year marks the 12th consecutive season Canada has produced the largest group of international players in the NBA.
All-Star Game Format Changes
All 30 NBA teams have at least one international player on their rosters. A new All-Star Game format is anticipated, featuring a matchup between U.S. players and international players.
Record-Breaking Milestones This Season
- LeBron James is poised to set multiple records:
- He begins his 23rd NBA season, breaking a tie with Vince Carter for the longest career.
- A potential milestone includes surpassing Robert Parish’s record of 1,611 regular-season games, provided he plays in 50 games.
- James is also close to breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career field goals record.
Other players on track for significant achievements include:
- James Harden, needing 603 points to surpass Carmelo Anthony on the all-time scoring list.
- Russell Westbrook, with 75 assists needed to hit 10,000 career assists.
- Indiana coach Rick Carlisle, who is seven wins away from his 1,000th win.
Upcoming Franchise Milestones
- A number of franchises have significant games approaching:
- Denver and Brooklyn will each play their 4,000th game on January 29.
- Indiana’s milestone game is scheduled for February 2.
- Atlanta is 33 wins away from its 3,000th regular-season victory.
- Indiana needs 20 more wins to reach 2,000 wins.
NBA Scoring Milestone on the Horizon
This season, the league is nearing the 14 millionth total point scored in NBA history. Based on last year’s scoring average, the milestone is expected to be reached around November 17.
Roster Highlights
- There are several players sharing notable names, including:
- Seven players named Jordan
- Five players named Nikola
- Five players named James
The Brooklyn Nets possess a particularly youthful roster, lacking any players among the top 100 active scorers, indicating a significant turnover in player experience.
With the season unfolding, these dynamics promise to shape the future of basketball in ways that extend beyond geographic boundaries, reinforcing the league’s commitment to global growth and representation.
