France has overtaken Canada as the NBA’s top international talent pipeline. A league-high 17 French players were on opening-night rosters, led by San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.

The NBA announced the milestone on opening night, marking the first time in 13 seasons that a country other than Canada has led in international players. Canada was second with 16, and the league counted 125 international players from 43 countries.

France, Canada and Europe Dominate NBA International Rosters

Canada’s 16 players were headlined by Oklahoma City Thunder standout Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the 2025 NBA champion and reigning back-to-back Kia NBA Most Valuable Player. Australia had nine, Germany seven, Nigeria a record six and Serbia six.

Europe supplied 70 players, marking the second straight season and the second time ever with at least that many. Denver’s Nikola Jokić, the Lakers’ Luka Dončić, the Heat’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Wembanyama headlined the group.

The league also reported a record of more than 60 players who were born in Africa or have at least one parent born there. Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers and Pascal Siakam of the Indiana Pacers, both from Cameroon, were among them.

All 30 teams had at least one international player. The Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat and Washington Wizards led the league with seven each.

The 125 international players fell short of the record of 135 set at the start of 2025-26. The 43 countries and territories, however, tied the record set at the start of 2017-18.

Wembanyama, Jokić and Gilgeous-Alexander Shape the NBA MVP Race

International players have won the last eight Kia NBA MVP awards. Gilgeous-Alexander has won two, Jokić three, Antetokounmpo two and Embiid one.

Last season, Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokić and Wembanyama finished first, second and third in MVP voting. It was the fifth straight season that three international players made the top three.

In the NBA’s 2026-27 general manager survey, Wembanyama received 77% of votes as the player most likely to win MVP, ahead of Jokić at 10%. He also drew 93% as the player GMs would most want to sign to start a franchise.

A record 19 international All-Stars were on opening-night rosters. More than 45 players also took part in Basketball Without Borders, the NBA and FIBA’s global development program.

The announcement came as the NBA’s 81st season opened with an NBC/Peacock tripleheader. The Celtics visited the Pistons, the champion Knicks hosted the 76ers, and Wembanyama’s Spurs hosted Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder.