List of foreign NBA players
Territory No . of Players Notes
France 33 Includes 5 foreign-born French
Serbia 31 Includes 10 foreign-born Serbians
Croatia 22 Includes 8 foreign-born Croatians
Germany 18 Includes 2 U.S.-born Germans
Spain 17 Includes 3 foreign-born Spaniards
Greece 13 Includes 4 foreign-born Greek
Russia 13 Includes 4 foreign-born Russians
Great Britain 12 Includes 3 foreign-born Britons
Lithuania 12 Includes 1 U.S.-born Lithuanian
Slovenia 12 Includes 1 foreign-born Slovenian
Turkey 12 Includes 4 foreign-born Turks
Italy 11 Includes 4 U.S.-born Italia
Georgia 10 Includes 5 U.S.-born Georgians
Ukraine 9 Includes 2 foreign-born Ukrainians
Montenegro 8 Includes 4 foreign-born Montenegrins
Latvia 7
Bosnia and Herzegovina 6 Includes 2 foreign-born Bosnians
Netherlands 5
Czech Republic 4
North Macedonia 5 Includes 3 U.S.-born Macedonians
Wikimedia list article  In the National Basketball Association , players born outside of the United States are often known as international players . Players who were born in U.S. overseas territories , such as Puerto Rico , U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam , are considered international players even if they are U.S . citizens . [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] In some borderline cases , the NBA takes into consideration whether a player desires to be identified as international . [ 1 ] Hank Biasatti , who was born in Italy and raised in Canada , was the first international player in the league in 1946 . [ 5 ] The number of international players in the league rose after the formation of the Dream Team when NBA players were allowed into Olympic play starting in 1992 . Global interest in basketball subsequently soared . On opening day of the 1991–92 season , NBA rosters included 23 international players from 18 countries . [ 6 ] At the start of the 2016–17 season , there was a record-high 113 international players from 41 countries and territories . [ 7 ] In the start of the 2017–18 season , there were 108 international players from a record-high 42 countries and territories , including five players signed up through the newly implemented two-way contract . [ 8 ] The number of players on opening-night rosters broke an all-time league record first set in 2010–11 and tied in 2012–13 , [ 9 ] and the number of countries represented surpassed the record set in 2010–11 . [ 10 ] In addition , the San Antonio Spurs set an all-time record for international players on an opening-night squad , with 10 during the 2013-14 season . [ 10 ] This list includes all international players who have played in the NBA and also includes all players who were born in the United States but have represented other countries in international basketball competition . Players listed under the United States were born outside of the country but have represented them in international basketball tournament . Players who were born outside the United States to U.S. parents and players who became naturalized U.S. citizens are also included in that section . As of the 2019–20 season , among foreign players , excluding those born in the United States : Canada has produced the most players , with 49 . From European countries , Serbia and France have produced 31 and 33 players , respectively . Among trans-continental countries , Russia and Turkey have produced 13 & 11 players respectively . From South American countries , Brazil has produced 16 players . From African countries , Senegal has produced 10 players and Nigeria has produced 20 players . Australia has produced 24 players , and China has produced six players . At least 78 players have come from the former Yugoslavia ( Bosnia and Herzegovina , Croatia , Montenegro , Serbia , Slovenia , and North Macedonia ) . Africa Americas Asia & the Pacific Europe
In the National Basketball Association, players born outside of the United States are often known as international players. Players who were born in U.S. overseas territories, such as Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam, are considered international players even if they are U.S. citizens. In some borderline cases, the NBA takes into consideration whether a player desires to be identified as international. Hank Biasatti, who was born in Italy and raised in Canada, was the first international player in the league in 1946. The number of international players in the league rose after the formation of the Dream Team when NBA players were allowed into Olympic play starting in 1992. Global interest in basketball subsequently soared. On opening day of the 1991-92 season, NBA rosters included 23 international players from 18 countries. At the start of the , there was a record-high 113 international players from 41 countries and territories. In the start of the , there were 108 international players from a record-high 42 countries and territories, including five players signed up through the newly implemented two-way contract. The number of players on opening-night rosters broke an all-time league record first set in and tied in , and the number of countries represented surpassed the record set in 2010-11. In addition, the San Antonio Spurs set an all-time record for international players on an opening-night squad, with 10 during the 2013-14 season. This list includes all international players who have played in the NBA and also includes all players who were born in the United States but have represented other countries in international basketball competition.