Record 125 international players from 40 countries set to start new NBA season

DENVER, CO - MARCH 25: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks steals the ball from Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in the second half of a game at Ball Arena on March 25, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net

The 2023-24 NBA season kicks off with a record 125 international players from 40 countries across six continents.

This includes a high number of players from Canada (26) and France (14). It’s the third consecutive season with over 120 international players and the tenth straight season with at least 100.

Every NBA team has at least one international player, and there are 64 European players, including notable names like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, and Domantas Sabonis.

The two teams with the most internationals are the Mavericks and Thunder, with eight each, while the Raptors and Spurs are close behind with seven each. The Celtics and Suns follow, each having six international players.

The rising influence of international stars is also marked by the fact that three of them have won the last five MVP awards with Embiid (2022-23), Jokic (2021-22 and 2020-21), and Antetokounmpo (2019-20 and 2018-19). The mentioned trio also finished in the top three of the MVP voting for the last two seasons.

Related Post