NEW YORK, United States of America, October 20, 2026/APO Group/ --
**–** **_Opening-Night Rosters Feature 125 International Players from Record-Tying 43 Countries Across Six Continents_** **–**
**–** **_Sixth Consecutive Season with at Least 120 International Players and_** **_13th Straight Season with at Least 100 International Players_** **–**
**–** **_Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat and Washington Wizards Have League-High Seven Each_** **–**
The National Basketball Association (NBA) ([www.NBA.com](https://apo-opa.co/4yBAcO7)) today announced that a record of more than 60 players who were either born in Africa or have at least one parent born on the continent are on opening-night rosters for the 2026-27 season. Overall, opening-night rosters feature 125 international players from a record-tying 43 countries across six continents, including 70 European players, marking the second consecutive season and second time ever with at least that many.
The more than 60 players who were either born in Africa or have at least one parent born on the continent include more than 25 from or with at least one parent from Nigeria. Among the more than 60 players are three-time NBA All-Star Bam Adebayo (Heat; ties to Nigeria), Antetokounmpo, two-time NBA champion OG Anunoby (New York Knicks; UK; ties to Nigeria), 2026 No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa (Wizards; ties to the Republic of the Congo), 2022-23 Kia NBA MVP and seven-time NBA All-Star Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers; Cameroon), and 2019 NBA champion and four-time NBA All-Star Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers; Cameroon).
France has a league-high 17 international players, marking the first time in 13 seasons that a country other than Canada has led the NBA in international players. The group is headlined by two-time NBA All-Star and 2025-26 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs). Canada ranks second with 16, headlined by 2025 NBA champion and reigning back-to-back Kia NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder), followed by Australia (nine), Germany (seven), Nigeria (a record six) and Serbia (six).
This is the sixth consecutive season that opening-night rosters feature at least 120 international players and the 13th straight season with at least 100 international players. All 30 NBA teams feature at least one international player. The Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat and Washington Wizards feature a league-high seven each.
The record for international players (135) and the record for countries and territories represented (43) were set at the start of the 2025-26 and 2017-18 seasons, respectively.
The 70 European players include 2021 NBA champion and two-time Kia NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (Heat; Greece; ties to Nigeria), 2023 NBA champion and three-time Kia NBA MVP Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets; Serbia), six-time NBA All-Star and Kia All-NBA First Team member Luka Dončić (Los Angeles Lakers; Slovenia), and Wembanyama.
Below are additional international player milestones and storylines for the upcoming season:
* Four international players have won the last eight Kia NBA MVP Awards: Gilgeous-Alexander (2025-26 and 2024-25), Jokić (2023-24, 2021-22 and 2020-21), Embiid (2022-23) and Antetokounmpo (2019-20 and 2018-19). Last season also marked the fifth consecutive season that three international players finished top three in MVP voting: Gilgeous-Alexander (No. 1), Jokić (No. 2) and Wembanyama (No. 3).
* There are a record 19 international players on opening-night rosters who have been NBA All-Stars: Antetokounmpo, Deni Avdija (Portland Trail Blazers; Israel), Dončić, Embiid, Gilgeous-Alexander, Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves; France), Al Horford (Golden State Warriors; Dominican Republic), Kyrie Irving (Mavericks; Australia), Jokić, Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz; Finland), Jamal Murray (Nuggets; Canada), Kristaps Porziņģis (Warriors; Latvia), Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings; Lithuania), Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets; Türkiye), Siakam, Ben Simmons (Kings; Australia), Nikola Vučević (Orlando Magic; Montenegro), Wembanyama and Andrew Wiggins (Heat; Canada).
* At least three international players have made the Kia All-NBA Team each season since 2018-19.
* In the 2026-27 NBA GM Survey ([https://apo-opa.co/4yBQSoL](https://apo-opa.co/4yBQSoL)), Wembanyama (No. 1) and Jokić (No. 2) were voted the players most likely to win the 2026-27 Kia NBA MVP Award (77% and 10% of votes, respectively). Wembanyama was also voted as the player GMs would most want to sign if they were starting a franchise today (93% of votes).
* Opening-night rosters feature more than 45 players who participated in Basketball Without Borders, the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program.
* There are also several American players with parents from other countries, including Jalen Green (Phoenix Suns; ties to the Philippines), Norman Powell (Chicago Bulls; ties to Jamaica), Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks; ties to the Dominican Republic) and Jaylin Williams (Thunder; ties to Vietnam).
The 81st NBA regular season tips off today with a tripleheader on beIN Sports, Canal+ and SuperSport as the Boston Celtics visit the Detroit Pistons (9 p.m. CAT), the defending NBA champion Knicks host the 76ers (1 a.m. CAT) and the Spurs meet the Thunder in San Antonio (3:30 a.m. CAT). The 2026-27 season will reach fans in 214 countries and territories in more than 50 languages through the league’s broadcast partners around the world and NBA League Pass, the league’s premium live game subscription service available via the NBA App.
Below is the full list of international players on 2026-27 opening-night NBA rosters (active and inactive):
**Country**
**Name**
**Team**
**Ties**
**Australia**
Dyson Daniels
Atlanta Hawks
**Australia**
Jock Landale
Atlanta Hawks
**Australia**
Josh Giddey
Chicago Bulls
**Australia**
Tyrese Proctor
Cleveland Cavaliers
**Australia**
Kyrie Irving
Dallas Mavericks
**Australia**
Johnny Furphy
Indiana Pacers
Ties to Papua New Guinea
**Australia**
Rocco Zikarsky\*
Minnesota Timberwolves
**Australia**
Ben Simmons
Sacramento Kings
**Australia**
Josh Green
Utah Jazz
**Austria**
Jakob Poeltl
Toronto Raptors
**Bahamas**
Buddy Hield
Chicago Bulls
**Bahamas**
VJ Edgecombe
Philadelphia 76ers
**Bahamas**
Deandre Ayton
Washington Wizards
Ties to Nigeria
**Belgium**
Ajay Mitchell
Oklahoma City Thunder
**Belgium**
Toumani Camara
Portland Trail Blazers
Ties to Mali
**Bosnia and Herzegovina**
Jusuf Nurkić
Utah Jazz
**Brazil**
Gui Santos
Golden State Warriors
**Cameroon**
Pascal Siakam
Indiana Pacers
**Cameroon**
Yves Missi
New Orleans Pelicans
**Cameroon**
Joel Embiid
Philadelphia 76ers
**Canada**
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Atlanta Hawks
**Canada**
Luguentz Dort
Atlanta Hawks
**Canada**
Leonard Miller
Chicago Bulls
**Canada**
Jamal Murray
Denver Nuggets
**Canada**
Ryan Nembhard\*
Denver Nuggets
**Canada**
Andrew Nembhard
Indiana Pacers
**Canada**
Zach Edey
Memphis Grizzlies
**Canada**
Olivier-Maxence Prosper
Memphis Grizzlies
Ties to Haiti
**Canada**
Andrew Wiggins
Miami Heat
**Canada**
Trey Lyles
Minnesota Timberwolves
**Canada**
Bennedict Mathurin
New Orleans Pelicans
Ties to Haiti
**Canada**
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Oklahoma City Thunder
**Canada**
Dillon Brooks
Phoenix Suns
**Canada**
Shaedon Sharpe
Portland Trail Blazers
**Canada**
RJ Barrett
Toronto Raptors
**Canada**
Will Riley
Washington Wizards
**China**
Yang Hansen
Portland Trail Blazers
**Croatia**
Mario Hezonja
Cleveland Cavaliers
**Croatia**
Ivica Zubac
Indiana Pacers
**Croatia**
Karlo Matković
New Orleans Pelicans
**Czech Republic**
Vít Krejčí
Portland Trail Blazers
**Democratic Republic of the Congo**
Oscar Tshiebwe\*
Houston Rockets
**Democratic Republic of the Congo**
Jonathan Kuminga
Minnesota Timberwolves
**Dominican Republic**
Al Horford
Golden State Warriors
**Dominican Republic**
David Jones Garcia\*
San Antonio Spurs
**Estonia**
Henri Veesaar
Atlanta Hawks
**Finland**
Lauri Markkanen
Utah Jazz
**France**
Nolan Traoré
Brooklyn Nets
**France**
Moussa Diabaté
Charlotte Hornets
Ties to Guinea and Mali
**France**
Tidjane Salaün
Charlotte Hornets
**France**
Noa Essengue
Chicago Bulls
Ties to Cameroon
**France**
Zaccharie Risacher
Dallas Mavericks
**France**
Ousmane Dieng
Milwaukee Bucks
Ties to Senegal
**France**
Joan Beringer
Minnesota Timberwolves
Ties to Benin
**France**
Rudy Gobert
Minnesota Timberwolves
**France**
Pacôme Dadiet
New York Knicks
Ties to Ivory Coast
**France**
Mohamed Diawara
New York Knicks
Ties to Mali
**France**
Noah Penda
Orlando Magic
Ties to Cameroon and Martinique
**France**
Rayan Rupert\*
Philadelphia 76ers
Ties to Morocco
**France**
Sidy Cissoko
Portland Trail Blazers
Ties to Senegal
**France**
Maxime Raynaud
Sacramento Kings
**France**
Victor Wembanyama
San Antonio Spurs
**France**
Bilal Coulibaly
Washington Wizards
Ties to Mali
**France**
Alex Sarr
Washington Wizards
Ties to Senegal
**Georgia**
Sandro Mamukelashvili
Los Angeles Lakers
**Georgia**
Goga Bitadze
Orlando Magic
**Germany**
Moritz Wagner
Brooklyn Nets
**Germany**
Dennis Schröder
Charlotte Hornets
Ties to The Gambia
**Germany**
Hannes Steinbach
Charlotte Hornets
**Germany**
Isaiah Hartenstein
Oklahoma City Thunder
**Germany**
Tristan da Silva
Orlando Magic
Ties to Brazil
**Germany**
Franz Wagner
Orlando Magic
**Germany**
Ariel Hukporti
Philadelphia 76ers
Ties to Togo
**Greece**
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Miami Heat
Ties to Nigeria
**Guinea**
Moussa Cissé
Dallas Mavericks
**Israel**
Ben Saraf
Brooklyn Nets
**Israel**
Deni Avdija
Portland Trail Blazers
**Italy**
Simone Fontecchio
Miami Heat
**Jamaica**
Nick Richards
Miami Heat
**Japan**
Rui Hachimura
LA Clippers
Ties to Benin
**Latvia**
Kristaps Porziņģis
Golden State Warriors
**Lithuania**
Kasparas Jakučionis
Milwaukee Bucks
**Lithuania**
Domantas Sabonis
Sacramento Kings
**Mexico**
Karim López
Memphis Grizzlies
Ties to Spain
**Montenegro**
Nikola Vučević
Orlando Magic
**Netherlands**
Tristan Enaruna\*
Cleveland Cavaliers
Ties to Nigeria
**Netherlands**
Malevy Leons\*
Golden State Warriors
**Netherlands**
Quinten Post
Memphis Grizzlies
**New Zealand**
Steven Adams
Houston Rockets
**Nigeria**
Ugonna Onyenso\*
Detroit Pistons
**Nigeria**
Charles Bassey
Golden State Warriors
**Nigeria**
Adem Bona
Philadelphia 76ers
Ties to Türkiye
**Nigeria**
Precious Achiuwa
Sacramento Kings
**Nigeria**
Josh Okogie
Utah Jazz
**Nigeria**
Felix Okpara\*
Washington Wizards
**Portugal**
Neemias Queta
Boston Celtics
Ties to Guinea-Bissau
**Russia**
Egor Dёmin
Brooklyn Nets
**Russia**
Vladislav Goldin\*
Miami Heat
**Senegal**
Mouhamed Gueye
Atlanta Hawks
**Senegal**
Khalifa Diop
Cleveland Cavaliers
**Senegal**
Tacko Fall\*
Philadelphia 76ers
**Serbia**
Nikola Jokić
Denver Nuggets
**Serbia**
Bogdan Bogdanović
Houston Rockets
**Serbia**
Nikola Jović
Miami Heat
**Serbia**
Bogoljub Marković
Milwaukee Bucks
**Serbia**
Nikola Topić
Oklahoma City Thunder
**Serbia**
Tristan Vukčević
Washington Wizards
Ties to Sweden
**Slovenia**
Luka Dončić
Los Angeles Lakers
**South Sudan**
Khaman Maluach
Phoenix Suns
Ties to Uganda
**South Sudan**
Duop Reath\*
Phoenix Suns
Ties to Australia
**Spain**
Hugo González
Boston Celtics
**Spain**
Santi Aldama
Dallas Mavericks
**Spain**
Sergio De Larrea
Dallas Mavericks
**Spain**
Baba Miller
LA Clippers
**Spain**
Aday Mara
Oklahoma City Thunder
**Sweden**
Pelle Larsson
Miami Heat
**Switzerland**
Clint Capela
Houston Rockets
Ties to Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
**Switzerland**
Yanic Konan Niederhäuser
LA Clippers
Ties to Ivory Coast
**Switzerland**
Kyshawn George
Washington Wizards
Ties to Canada and France
**Türkiye**
Tarik Biberović
Dallas Mavericks
Ties to Bosnia and Herzegovina
**Türkiye**
Alperen Sengun
Houston Rockets
**Ukraine**
Svi Mykhailiuk
Utah Jazz
**United Kingdom**
Amari Williams\*
Boston Celtics
**United Kingdom**
Tobi Lawal\*
Dallas Mavericks
Ties to Nigeria
**United Kingdom**
OG Anunoby
New York Knicks
Ties to Nigeria
_Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA)._