NBA Feels Impact Of International Players Heading Into 2022-23 Kia Tip-Off Week
Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at 07:19PM NYSJ Sports-Entertainment Business News Service
October 18, 2022: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokić are not only NBA All-Stars, they also are all-impact players when it comes to the influence of international players in the league.
The NBA said that 120 international players from 40 countries and six continents are scheduled to be on opening-night rosters for the 2022-23 season.
All 30 NBA teams feature at least one international player.
This marks the first time that opening-night rosters have at least 120 international players in consecutive seasons and the ninth straight season that opening-night rosters feature at least 100 international players.
That includes a record and league-leading 22 players from Canada, a record ten from Australia and a record-tying five players from Nigeria.
For the ninth consecutive year, Canada is the most-represented country outside of the U.S., followed by Australia, France (9) and Germany (6).
In addition to Nigeria, Serbia and Spain each have five players.
The Toronto Raptors feature eight international players, marking the second consecutive season the Raptors lead the league.
They are followed by the Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings with seven international players each.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz each have six.
There are three sets of international brothers in the NBA:
• Giannis, Thanasis and Kostas Antetokounmpo (Greece; ties to Nigeria; Bucks, Bucks and Chicago Bulls, respectively)
• Juancho and Willy Hernangómez (Spain; Raptors and Pelicans, respectively)
• Franz and Moritz Wagner (Germany; Magic).
Two international players have won the last four Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Awards: reigning back-to-back MVP Jokić (Denver Nuggets 2021-22 and 2020-21) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (2019-20 and 2018-19).
The 2022-23 season will feature the return of NBA Global Games with two regular-season games outside the U.S. and Canada, both televised by NBA TV.
The NBA Mexico City Game 2022 will see the Miami Heat face the Spurs on Dec. 17 in the Arena CDMX in Mexico City.
The NBA Paris Game 2023 will feature a matchup between the Chicago Bulls and the Detroit Pistons on Jan. 19 in the Accor Arena in Paris.
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