List of NBA players born outside the United States

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 and the U.S. Virgin Islands, are considered international players even if they are U.S. citizens. Players whose nationality is listed as 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 American parents and players who became naturalized U.S. citizens are also included in that section. 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, and Charlie Hoefer, Biasatti's German teammate, were the first international players 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 the 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. The record number of international players was broken again in , with a total of 120 players from 40 countries on opening night rosters.

Including the United States, 94 countries have produced at least one NBA player in total. As of the , Canada has produced the most foreign NBA players, with 68. From European countries, France has produced 58 players, Serbia has produced 33, Croatia has produced 24, and Germany and Spain have produced 21. From Oceania, Australia has produced 37 players while New Zealand has produced 3 players. From African countries, Nigeria and Senegal have produced 30 and 14 players respectively. From Latin America, Puerto Rico has produced 21 players, Brazil has produced 20, and Argentina has produced 16. From Asian countries, China has produced 9 players, while Japan and Lebanon have produced 6. Among transcontinental countries, Turkey, Russia, and Georgia have produced 16, 15 and 11 players respectively.

Summary

Africa RegionPlayers Notes 30 Including 17 foreign-born Nigerians 14 Including 1 U.S.-born Senegalese 10 Including 5 foreign-born South Sudanese 8 Including 3 foreign-born Cameroonians 6 4 3 3 Including 3 U.S.-born Ivorians 2 2 2 2 Including 2 U.S.-born Libyans 2 Including 2 U.S.-born Ugandans 1 1 1 Including 1 U.S.-born Liberian 1 1 1 Africa 94 Including 34 foreign or U.S.-born naturalized players

Americas RegionPlayers Notes 68 Including 11 foreign-born Canadians 21 Including 13 U.S.-born Puerto Ricans 20 Including 1 U.S.-born Brazilian 16 15 Including 5 U.S.-born Dominicans 12 Including 6 U.S.-born Jamaicans 9 Including 2 U.S.-born Bahamians 7 Including 3 U.S.-born Mexicans 6 Including 4 foreign-born Venezuelans 4 Including 2 U.S.-born Panamanians 4 Including 2 U.S.-born Virgin Islanders 3 Including 3 U.S.-born Belizeans 3 2 2 2 Including 1 U.S.-born Trinidadian 1 Including 1 U.S.-born Antiguan 1 Including 1 U.S.-born Bolivian 1 1 1 1 1 America 201 Including 54 foreign or U.S.-born naturalized players

Asia RegionPlayers Notes 9 Including 1 U.S.-born Chinese 6 Including 2 U.S.-born Japanese 6 Including 5 foreign-born Lebanese 3 Including 3 U.S.-born Filipinos 2 Including 2 U.S.-born Qataris 1 Including 1 U.S.-born Indonesian 1 1 Including 1 U.S.-born Jordanian 1 Asia 30 Including 15 foreign or U.S.-born naturalized players

Europe RegionPlayers Notes 59 Including 8 foreign-born French 34 Including 10 foreign-born Serbs 24 Including 9 foreign-born Croats 21 Including 2 U.S.-born Germans 21 Including 4 foreign-born Spaniards 17 Including 2 U.S.-born Lithuanians 16 Including 5 foreign-born Greeks 16 Including 6 foreign-born Turks 15 Including 4 foreign-born Russians 14 Including 3 foreign-born Britons 14 Including 5 U.S.-born Italians 13 Including 2 foreign-born Slovenes 11 Including 6 U.S.-born Georgians 11 Including 2 foreign-born Ukrainians 10 Including 5 foreign-born Montenegrins 9 8 Including 4 foreign-born Israelis 7 Including 3 foreign-born Bosnians 7 6 Including 3 U.S.-born Polish 5 5 Including 4 U.S.-born Macedonians 2 Including 1 foreign-born Bulgarian 4 3 Including 1 foreign-born Belgian 3 Including 1 foreign-born Finn 3 Including 2 U.S.-born Irishmen 3 2 1 1 Including 1 U.S.-born Azerbaijani 1 Including 1 U.S.-born Belarusian 1 Including 1 U.S.-born Cypriot 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 370 Including 96 foreign or U.S.-born naturalized players

Oceania RegionPlayers Notes 39 Including 6 foreign-born Australians 3 42 Including 6 foreign-born naturalized players

List Note: This list is correct through the beginning of the .

Pos G Guard F Forward C CenterYrs Players of seasons played in the NBA ^ Denotes player who has been elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame * Denotes player who is still active in the NBA