Thursday, October 29, 2015

NBA Rosters Feature 100 International Players for Second Consecutive Year


The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced today that 100 international players from 37 countries and territories are on opening night rosters for the 2015-16 season, marking the second consecutive year that opening night rosters feature at least 100 international players.

There are a record 10 African and a record nine Brazilian players on opening night rosters.  Canada has the most of any country for the second straight year with a record-tying 12 NBA players.  France comes in second for the second consecutive year with 10 NBA players.  Australia features a record-tying eight players, while Croatia and Spain round out the top five with four NBA players each. 



For the second consecutive year, all 30 NBA teams feature at least one international player.  The Toronto Raptors lead the league with seven international players, while the Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz each feature six.  The Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets field five each, while the rosters of the Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks and Orlando Magic each include four. 

The NBA’s 70th season begins tonight with a doubleheader on TNT as part of Kia NBA Tip-Off 2015.  In the first game, the Cavaliers visit the Bulls at 8 p.m. ET.  The NBA Champion Golden State Warriors (three international players) then host the New Orleans Pelicans (two international players) at 10:30 p.m. ET.  The Detroit Pistons (three international players) visit the Hawks at 8 p.m. ET on NBA LEAGUE PASS.

A number of high-profile international players will make their NBA debut during opening week, including:
  • Mario Hezonja (Croatia) and the Magic hosting the Washington Wizards, Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. ET on NBA LEAGUE PASS.
  • Emmanuel Mudiay (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and the Nuggets visiting the Houston Rockets, Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. ET on NBA LEAGUE PASS.
  • Kristaps Porzingis (Latvia) and the Knicks taking on the Bucks in Milwaukee, Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. ET on NBA LEAGUE PASS.


NBA rosters at the start of the 2014-15 season featured a record 101 international players from 37 countries and territories.  The league has established a major international presence, with games and programming available in 215 countries and territories and 47 languages and NBA merchandise for sale in more than 125,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents. 



Below please find the full list of international players on 2015-16 opening night rosters (active and inactive):

Country
Full Name
Team
Argentina
Los Angeles Clippers
Argentina
San Antonio Spurs
Argentina
Toronto Raptors
Australia
Chicago Bulls
Australia
Cleveland Cavaliers
Australia
Cleveland Cavaliers
Australia
Detroit Pistons
Australia
Golden State Warriors
Australia
San Antonio Spurs
Australia
Utah Jazz
Australia
Utah Jazz
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Denver Nuggets
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Phoenix Suns
Brazil
Atlanta Hawks
Brazil
Chicago Bulls
Brazil
Cleveland Cavaliers
Brazil
Golden State Warriors
Brazil
Los Angeles Lakers
Brazil
Toronto Raptors
Brazil
Toronto Raptors
Brazil
Utah Jazz
Brazil
Washington Wizards
Cameroon
Los Angeles Clippers
Cameroon
Philadelphia 76ers
Canada
Boston Celtics
Canada
Cleveland Cavaliers
Canada
Dallas Mavericks
Canada
Detroit Pistons
Canada
Los Angeles Lakers
Canada
Milwaukee Bucks
Canada
Minnesota Timberwolves
Canada
Orlando Magic
Canada
Philadelphia 76ers
Canada
Toronto Raptors
Canada
Toronto Raptors
Canada
Utah Jazz
Cape Verde
Atlanta Hawks
Congo
Oklahoma City Thunder
Croatia
Brooklyn Nets
Croatia
Minnesota Timberwolves
Croatia
Orlando Magic
Croatia
Sacramento Kings
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Denver Nuggets
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Toronto Raptors
Dominican Republic
Atlanta Hawks
Dominican Republic
Portland Trail Blazers
France
Charlotte Hornets
France
Denver Nuggets
France
Indiana Pacers
France
Milwaukee Bucks
France
New Orleans Pelicans
France
New York Knicks
France
Orlando Magic
France
San Antonio Spurs
France
San Antonio Spurs
France
Utah Jazz
Georgia
Dallas Mavericks
Germany
Atlanta Hawks
Germany
Dallas Mavericks
Germany
Utah Jazz
Greece
Milwaukee Bucks
Israel
Sacramento Kings
Italy
Brooklyn Nets
Italy
Denver Nuggets
Italy
Sacramento Kings
Latvia
New York Knicks
Lithuania
Houston Rockets
Lithuania
Toronto Raptors
Montenegro
Chicago Bulls
Montenegro
Minnesota Timberwolves
Montenegro
Orlando Magic
New Zealand
Oklahoma City Thunder
Nigeria
Golden State Warriors
Poland
Washington Wizards
Puerto Rico
Dallas Mavericks
Russia
Brooklyn Nets
Russia
Cleveland Cavaliers
Russia
Cleveland Cavaliers
Senegal

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