The
National Basketball Association (NBA) has become a growingly diverse league over the last two decades.
While this has increased its popularity across the globe, the international stars have helped transform basketball at its highest level with several players from abroad now forming the cornerstone of their respective franchises.
The 2019-20 NBA roster features a whopping 108 international players from 38 countries and territories. Compare that to the 24 foreign players on opening-night rosters for the 1994-95 season 25 years ago.
Africa has been a huge contributor to basketball becoming a global game and that has never been more prevalent than it is today with several of the continent's biggest stars now considered as the marquee player on their respective teams.
In celebration of Africa's growing success in basketball's premier league, Betway takes a look at the top 5 African players currently plying their trade in the NBA:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
The reigning Kia NBA Most Valuable Player was born in Greece to Nigeria immigrants and while he represents the country of his birth at international level, the 'Greek Freak' has never shied away from his Nigerian roots.
At 25, Antetokounmpo is already one of the Milwaukee Bucks' best ever players and on course for a second MVP title.
The Bucks forward has been integral to their 53-12 record in the NBA this season and while the league has been put on hold due to the Coronavirus pandemic, there is no doubt they will be overriding favourites to win the Eastern Conference on the NBA's return.
Antetokounmpo leads the NBA in points per 100 team possessions, field goals per 100 team possessions and averages 29.6 points (third in the league) on just 30.9 minutes a game.
Pascal Siakam
Last season's Kia NBA Most Improved Player is the Toronto Raptors' primary scorer in the absence of Kawhi Leonard who joined the LA Clippers following the Canadian franchise's run to the NBA title last season.
The Douala-born Cameroon international has almost doubled his points per game average to 23.6 this season and despite losing Leonard, the Raptors are second in the Eastern Conference and on course for another deep playoff run.
Siakam has also seen an increase in his assists, rebounds and steals averages this season and at 25 years of age, he too is establishing himself as a cornerstone of a franchise.
Joel Embiid
The Yaounde-born Cameroon international is already one of the best scorers the NBA has seen over his first 200 career games and the Philadelphia 76ers center shows no signs of slowing down.
Embiid, Siakam and Antetokounmpo were all born in 1994, and all look on course to dominate for their respective teams for years to come.
While the 76ers have flattered to deceive this season and currently occupy sixth place in the East, Embiid has averaged 23.4 points on 47.4 field goal percentage and while this is slightly below his career average, he has seen an improvement on his three points percentage, rebounds and steals this season.
Serge Ibaka
One of the key contributors to the Toronto Raptors' success last season, Ibaka is another who has enjoyed an upturn in proficiency since Leonard's departure.
The Brazzaville-born power forward has averaged 16 points on 51.8 field goal percentage this season while he also shoots 39.8 percent from behind the arc.
Dennis Schröder
Born in Germany to a Gambian mother and German father, Schröder was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 2013. He was traded to the Thunder in 2018 and has played a huge part in the team's surprise run in the Western Conference.
The Thunder were expected to tank following Russel Westbrook's trade to the Houston Rockets, but that hasn't been the case with the team from Oklahoma currently the fifth seed in the west.
Schröder has averaged 19 points and a career high 38 percent from beyond the arc this season.
Notable mention: Clint Capela
Born in Switzerland to parents from Angola and Congo, Capela has been playing in the NBA since 2014.
He ended his six year association with the Houston Rockets last month as he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. Capela is fourth in field goal percentage this season while he has averaged 13.9 points a night.
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