The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced a historic milestone with a record 135 international players from 43 countries featured on opening-night rosters for the 2025-26 season, reaffirming the league’s global footprint across six continents.

Among the 135 players, more than 55 were either born in Africa or have African heritage, including Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks; Greece/Nigeria), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers; Cameroon), Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers; Cameroon), and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs; France/DR Congo).

Global representation at an all-time high

This season marks the fifth consecutive year with at least 120 international players and the 12th straight season surpassing 100. All 30 NBA teams feature at least one international player.

Canada leads all countries outside the U.S. with 23 players—its 12th straight year at the top—headlined by 2025 NBA champion and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder. France, Australia, Germany (seven players each), and Serbia (six players) round out the top five.

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The Atlanta Hawks boast a record-tying 10 international players, followed by the Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors with seven each.

Four international players—Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, Embiid, and Antetokounmpo—have captured the last seven MVP awards, highlighting the international dominance in today’s NBA.

International stars shaping the modern NBA

The league also features a record 16 international All-Stars, including Luka Dončić, Rudy Gobert, Kristaps Porziņģis, Domantas Sabonis, Lauri Markkanen, and Nikola Vučević, among others.

At least three international players have been named to the All-NBA Team every season since 2018-19, while international talent continues to define the MVP race. In the 2025-26 NBA GM Survey, Jokić, Dončić, Gilgeous-Alexander, and Wembanyama were the top picks to win MVP, while Wembanyama was voted the player most GMs would build a franchise around (83% of votes).

Opening-night rosters also feature nine NBA Academy alumni and more than 50 graduates of Basketball Without Borders, reflecting the NBA’s developmental reach worldwide.

Several American players with international heritage also stand out, including Jalen Green (Philippines), Karl-Anthony Towns (Dominican Republic), and Jaylin Williams (Vietnam).

The NBA’s 80th regular season tips off with a global broadcast on NBA League Pass, featuring the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Houston Rockets, followed by the Golden State Warriors visiting the Los Angeles Lakers. Fans in 214 countries and territories can tune in through ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, ZAP TV, NTV, and the NBA App in over 50 languages.