The NBA is increasingly looking for space outside the United States. The internationalization of the brand includes friendly and regular season matches outside the home country and it is already possible to see a reflection of the actions. The 2023/24 season will feature 125 foreign athletes, the highest number in NBA history.

Canada is the country with the largest number of registered foreigners. According to the NBA itself, there will be 26 Canadians distributed among the league’s teams. France, home of sensation Victor Wembanyama, has 14 athletes and is the second country with the most representatives.

Brazil is excluded from the NBA’s roster of international athletes for the first time in 21 years. The sequence, started with Nenê in 2002, ended with Raulzinho, in 2024. Players can be recruited throughout the current season.

The Brazilian representation is off the field. Leandrinho Barbosa (former player) is an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings. Tiago Splitter (former player) is part of the technical staff of the Houston Rockets. Felipe Eichenberger is a physical trainer for the Denver Nuggets, current champions.

Current foreign stars

Nikola Jokic (Serbia), Luka Doncic (Slovenia) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) are three of the best athletes around. Joël Embiid, Cameroonian center of French origin, was named best player of last season.

Current World Cup champions Germany had four athletes on their team to win the title. Dennis Schröder (Raptors), Daniel Theis (Pacers) and brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner (Orlando Magic) were champions and will be in the current NBA season. A total of 55 NBA athletes participated in the World Cup.

Ancient effort

The NBA’s internationalization effort began in 1992 by allowing the league’s players to participate in the Olympic Games. In Barcelona, ​​the team led by Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson dominated their opponents, won gold and became known as the “Dream Team”.

In 2001, the NBA launched, in collaboration with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the “Basketball Without Borders” program. The initiative organizes training and games around the world.

Since the original year, 23 cities in 20 different countries have benefited from an activity. The NBA estimates there are 2,300 participants from 120 different countries.

Since then, the presence of foreigners in the league has been constant. Dirk Nowitzki, played for the Dallas Mavericks from 1998 to 2019 and is one of the most important players in league and franchise history. In the 2000s, the presence of foreigners was more and more constant in championship teams.

The San Antonio Spurs have long had a “foreign” trio. Tim Duncan (Virgin Islands, US territory in the Caribbean), Manu Ginóbili (Argentina) and Tony Parker (France) led a five-time championship team (2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014).

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