Canada is a country where basketball has been played for years. In fact, it’s the 2nd most popular sport in Canada. With that said, many talented Canadians have made their mark on the NBA, and this list rounds up 10 of them. Readers will find out how they got to Canadian basketball players and their best games while playing in the league.
The post talks about the best Canadian NBA players, such as Nickeil Alexander-Walker, RJ Barrett, Khem Birch, and interesting stories, making an engaging read.
Contents
How many current NBA players are Canadian?
Canada was one of the first countries to get a national basketball team. Canadians now have their own professional league, and the National Basketball Association (NBA) has had players from Canada since 1947. There are currently 13 players in the NBA who have played basketball in Canada, including Tristan Thompson of the Cleveland Cavs, Kelly Olynyk of the Boston Celtics, Jamal Murray of Denver Nuggets, Cory Joseph with Toronto Raptors, etc. The following is a list of current NBA players from Canada:
- – Nickeil Alexander-Walker
- – RJ Barrett
- – Khem Birch
- – Chris Boucher
- – Ignas Brazdeikis
- – Oshae Brissett
- – Dillon Brooks
- – Brandon Clarke
- – Luguentz Dort
- – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
10, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
| Name | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
| Team | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Hometown | Hamilton, Ontario |
Canadian NBA players Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the best Canadian basketball player, and his unique style of play has garnered him a lot of attention. He had an incredible run during March Madness, and now he’s headed to Phoenix, where he’ll be paired with fellow top-5 pick Deandre Ayton.
Canadian basketball players Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came from Canada to play for the Lakers. One of the youngest players on the team, Shai, is bringing a fresh perspective to L.A. His hard work and dedication have allowed him to be one of the top rookies in his class. Become a Laker fan with this officially licensed jersey!
Best Canadian NBA players Shai is a member of the Los Angeles Clippers with prodigious skills and great promise. As one of the youngest players in NBA history, he has amazing potential. But his season-long averages show that there’s still a lot to be done before he reaches his full potential: 42% from behind the three-point line, 17 points per game per 6 rebounds, and 3 assists on average.
Shai loves running, so get ready for him to break down defences with his shooting range–he attempts more shots than five other teams do! The kid shoots like Steph Curry but is less likely to dribble off-balance into traffic.
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09, Luguentz Dort
| Name | Luguentz Dort |
| Team | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Hometown | Montreal, Quebec |
Canadian basketball players Luguentz Dort are not just the best Canadian NBA player of all time. He’s also a humanitarian. In this month alone, Mr. Dort has organized two clothing drives for people who are experiencing homelessness in Northern California and Louisville and donated his shoe royalties to Operation No Boundaries to send care packages to troops overseas.
Play like the 2018 NBA Champion, Detroit’s defensive powerhouse “The General.” Spiky fingers to snatch rebounds out of the air, big pogo sticks for blocking shots, and stalking opponents. Skills from an all-star who knows how to shut down Steph Curry when he needs a break.
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08, Brandon Clarke
| Name | Brandon Clarke |
| Team | Memphis Grizzlies |
| Hometown | Vancouver, British Columbia |
At 6’8”, Brandon Clarke is a lock and loads on the court. His signature fadeaway jumper has the oh-so-pretty swish every time, and his mobility allows him to defend all 5 positions at ease. With superior footwork, moves off the dribble, contact with NBA stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, Kyrie Irving, and more than any other 18-year-old basketball player in Canada, reason why people are saying Brandon Clarke is “a surefire star.”
Canadian NBA players Brandon Clarke is the best Canadian NBA player. His astounding playstyle, sense for the game, and leadership qualities have been a major part of making him one of the top players in his field. Every team knows how tough it is to win. Brandon Clarke excels on the court, and he’s also a great champion for off-the-court efforts like his 18 Minute Club.
Canadian basketball players Brandon Clarke entered the 2018-19 season fresh off a breakout sophomore campaign at Gonzaga, averaging 16.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while leading Coach Mark Few’s Bulldogs to a school-record 33 wins and their first #1 ranking in program history during that span.
Since joining the Canadian national team last summer, Clarke has racked up some spectacular highlights for Team Canada. Including scoring 27 points (a career-high) against Montenegro back in August 2018 to put an exclamation point on what was already an incredible outing by throwing.
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07, Dillon Brooks
| Name | Dillon Brooks |
| Team | Memphis Grizzlies |
| Hometown | Mississauga, Ontario |
The best Canadian NBA players all have one thing in common: they’re a liability at the free-throw line. Fortunately for them, the Dillon Brooks is here to save the day! This soft, furry ball will make sure that you land between those two striped lines every time.
Dillon Brooks managed to finish his degree at Oregon and play pro basketball in Europe while still battling against the world’s best with a persistent work ethic. His game is as intense as he is – dunking on all who dare stand before him.
Standing at 6 feet, 8 inches tall, with his wingspan at 7 foot 3 inches, Dillon Brooks is a talented Cauliflower Chef. He can make the best salmon dishes and sushi this side of the Rockies while dancing around screens to create rebounds for himself and his teammates.
As a long-limbed shot blocker, he will make sure any Canadian playing in National Basketball Association never misses shots near the rim again.
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06, Oshae Brissett
| Name | Oshae Brissett |
| Team | Indiana Pacers |
| Hometown | Mississauga, Ontario |
Oshae Brissett is the newest rookie to play in the Canadian NBA. At just 18 years old, he’s already making an impact on and off the court.
Canadian NBA players Oshae has a good head on his shoulders. He knows how to use it, dribbling across the opponent’s courts and blocking shots from grabbing rebounds. He sets up teammates with dazzling dishes through traffic effortlessly. You should have Oshae on your radar this year, as he will be impossible to miss!
Oshae Brissett has just made the Toronto Raptors one of Charles Barkley’s favorite teams to root against. The 2016 first-round pick from Syracuse is a 6 foot 9, 205 pounds forward who can score, rebound, and plays excellent defence.
You have the opportunity to grab your own Oshae Brissett jersey from NBA.com! Known as the best Canadian NBA player, this is a rare chance for fans. Ships fast and free within Canada and the USA. Canadian basketball players Oshae Brissett has various merchandise available from the NABA store, so don’t hesitate before this product sells out!”
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05, Ignas Brazdeikis
| Name | Ignas Brazdeikis |
| Team | Orlando Magic |
| Hometown | Oakville, Ontario |
Canadian NBA players Ignas Brazdeikis is a versatile forward for the Toronto Raptors that stands out on both ends. The Lithuanian native uses his length, athleticism, ball-handling skills, and soft-touch to create scoring opportunities.
Quick-off turnaround shots, pin-point passes from outside the arc, and sneaky interior cuts are all within his repertoire as he can play anywhere in Coach Nick Nurse’s lineup. He won Rookie of the Year last season with averages of 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal per game while shooting 41% from deep on 6 attempts per game!
Ignas Brazdeikis was drafted second overall, and ever since that moment, he has dominated the NBA. His hard work, determination, and ambition have paid off in ways he never could seem to imagine. He is a great player who deserves support now more than ever because of his recent foot injury.
Canadian basketball players Ignas Brazdeikis were drafted second overall, and ever since that moment, he has dominated the NBA. His hard work, determination, and ambition have paid off in ways he never could seem to imagine. He is a great player who deserves support now more than ever because of his recent foot injury.
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04, Chris Boucher
| Name | Chris Boucher |
| Team | Toronto Raptors |
| Hometown | Montreal, Quebec |
Canadian NBA players Chris Boucher is a professional Canadian NBA player. He won ECAC Tournament MVP in the 2015-16 season and was drafted in the second round of the 2016 draft by the Boston Celtics.
27-year-old Chris Boucher is often described as an emerging star in the NBA. He was a three-time CIS national champion and set the CIS championship game scoring record, just to name a few of his accomplishments.
With hands that have been called some of the fastest in basketball history, no defender can stay with him when he’s coming towards them. In addition to playing for Denver Nuggets now, Boucher also started with Raptors 905, part of the Toronto powerhouse team in Canada’s National Basketball League (NBL).
03, Khem Birch
| Name | Khem Birch |
| Team | Toronto Raptors |
| Hometown | Montreal, Quebec |
Birch is a high-energy power forward who was born and raised in the North of Montreal. Birch has had an illustrious career, nicknamed “The Canadian Bulldog” for his aggressive playing style with natural athleticism, making him tough to defend. Birch is the best all-around Canadian player in the league today, showing versatility at either forward spot while guarding multiple positions on defence.
Khem Birch is currently playing in the NBA for the Orlando Magic. You can find him in the paint. Blocking shots and rebounding keep action at a fast pace. Shop his iconic jersey here!
Canadian basketball players Khem Birch is the best Canadian NBA players. A standout for the Toronto Raptors and a veteran of Major League Baseball, Khem has proven himself to be an elite talent in both fields.
He is always willing to give back to his community when not playing basketball or baseball. He enjoys watching curling and eating boneless hotdogs. He built up a sizable following as a stylist on Instagram by posting ad-hoc pictures with captions like “Summer Daze Episode 10: Paprika Night Spice Eyes.”
02, RJ Barrett
| Name | RJ Barrett |
| Team | New York Knicks |
| Hometown | Mississauga, Ontario |
RJ Barrett is the next best Canadian NBA players. He has led Canada to 271 wins in his high school career, an average of 30 points, and 12 rebounds per game as a sophomore for Duke University, so get your hands on this collectable baller right now!
Drafted as the 6th pick in the 2019 Draft, RJ Barrett has already proven himself as a force to be reckoned with on any court. He showed off his trick shots at NBA Summer League and dazzled Toronto Raptors fans by scoring 34 points against UCLA.
We are proud to announce the signing of RJ Barrett, a highly talented Canadian player who can help the team reach new heights. He is one of the many chess pieces in James Dolan’s master plan for this franchise. Recently ranked as number 3 on ESPN’s top 100 ranking list, his pedigree shows how efficiently he operates on both ends of the floor and has elite level question marks to deplete defence with his exceptional skill set.
01, Nickeil Alexander-Walker
| Name | Nickeil Alexander-Walker |
| Team | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Hometown | Toronto, Ontario |
Nickeil Alexander-Walker is a professional best Canadian NBA players from Toronto, Canada. He had played for the Boston Celtics in his first NBA season. Nickeil has quickly established himself as one of the best Canadian playing the game and one to watch this coming season.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker is a dominant Canadian homegrown talent who has started to turn heads this past year in the NBA. He’s not only one of the youngest and most reckless players in the league, but he also possesses incredible natural ability and longevity on the court with his stellar play.
Known for his dunking prowess, Nickeil will impress audiences both young and old with these Canadian basketball players!
Conclusion
Canada has always been known for having some of the best Canadian NBA players. And with so many talented NBA Canadian players dominating today, it is no surprise that we are currently seeing more and more Canadians make a name for themselves on this global stage.
This list includes ten of our favourite current-day Canadian basketball players to watch out for! Out of these, who do you think is your favourite? Let us know by leaving comments below!