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The National Basketball Association (NBA) used to be a field only played by American athletes. However, with the NBA’s increase in awareness and further reach, players from all across the world have been able to get their moments of fame on the NBA court. The NBA is one of the longest and most successful sports associations in the world and international players are truly making their mark.
Have you ever watched a game and thought “Wow, Giannis Antetokounmpo” is such a great player”? You have? That’s great because he is one of the best players on the grid now and he’s an international player. The nice thing about the NBA is that they don’t care where you come from, as long as you can play ball. That’s been made clear countless times and this article aims to shed light on some of the biggest international Basketball names out there.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
As a Greek Nigerian, Giannis counts as one of the most influential NBA players in the game. Giannis plays for the famous Milwaukee Bucks as their power forward or center forward, depending on the team they’re playing. He started with that team and continues to play for them now, even after all his years of success. The reason he has conquered the NBA is because he holds many different titles and accomplishments. He was the defensive player of the season in 2020, the NBA Champion in 2021 and is an NBA all-star. He is also known as one of the kindest players. If you watch any of his videos, you’ll see how spirited this young athlete is. This is why is also has as many fans as he does, being one of the most beloved players in the franchise. This is why many people probably spend as much as they do on betting on him on bonus.ca, as he speaks confidently and honestly. A real champion and one that influences many of the new players in the game today.
Nikola Jovic
An NBA player that almost needs no introduction. One of the greatest, if not the greatest Serbian basketball players in the world, this athlete has been making his mark on the NBA since his first very draft pick in 2024. He currently plays for the Denver Nuggets and is considered one of the best centers in history. If you do not believe this, all you need to do is look at his many accolades. In 2016 he was voted NBA rookie of the season. Do you know how hard that is? There are typically 60 new rookie drafts per season and these are all exceptional players, the best 60 in the world, so to be voted at the top of that list is something truly special. He didn’t just stop there, he went on to be the NBA’s most valuable player for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 (the seasons). He is exceptional and the way that he carries himself both on and outside of the court is perfection. Much like Giannis, he holds no arrogance, no more than he needs. Although he could come into every interview cheeky, he stays with business and is known for not sharing any personal information or causing a fuss, as playing basketball is a job for him and not his life.
Luka Doncic
A Slovenia player who is taking names! Another International player who is not afraid of entering the NBA and showing them what the Slovenians are made of. Luka Doncic currently plays for the Dallas Mavericks as their points guard/shooting guard. He was first drafted by the Atlanta Hawks but then traded to the Mavericks which is where he has stayed and thrived. With the nickname “Luka Magic” you can just imagine the goodness this player and athlete is capable of. Again, this is a player with name titles to his name. He won the Rookie of the Year in the 2018 – 2019 season and has been selected to play in five consecutive NBA All-Star games, which is a true feat. He also led the NBA scoring chart in the 2023-2024 season, becoming the first European to ever do this.
Global Appeal and Apparel
As you can see from the above, there is a lot of international blood in the NBA today. This is a great thing, not only for the players and their chances of playing for such an esteemed association but for the franchise itself. By having more players from different countries, the NBA has opened itself to many more fans. You can be sure that each of these individuals’ countries cheers them on happily from home.
Furthermore, this has given rise to the NBA as a business, as they have a foot in almost every country. If you ever travel, just take a look at the amount of people wearing NBA tops or even visiting NBA stores. There are many NBA stores all over the world now, ranging from South Africa and Australia in the south, to Austria and Norway in the north. The NBA is everywhere and so is their apparel and this is all thanks to their global players.
Now that you know all you need to know about the NBA, you see the versatility and diversity in the game, is time yet for you to become a keen fan?