NBA rosters feature record number of international players
By JAMES MADDEN
NBA rosters are set to feature a record number of international players to start the 2025-26 NBA season, per release.
There will be a record 135 international players, coming from a record-tying 43 countries across six continents. The countries that are represented the most are Canada (23), France, Australia and Germany (7) and Serbia (6).
With the NBA’s brand continuing to grow around the world, the league has seen four of its last seven MVP Award winners come from outside the United States. That includes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada), Nikola Jokic (Serbia), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) and Joel Embiid (Cameroon).
In addition to the MVP numbers, there will be 16 international players on opening-night that have been named to at least one NBA All-Star team during their career.
There are also a handful of players with parents born in different countries around the world like Jalen Green (Philippines), Jaylin Williams (Vietnam) and Karl-Anthony Towns (Dominican Republic).
With basketball being as global as it’s ever been. the NBA will see a record nine NBA Academy alumni and over 50 Basketball Without Borders alumni take the floor this season.
This is an international growth American basketball has seen, not only professionally, but across the NCAA too.
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