Ten players, who compete in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia, participated in the NBA All-Star Game: Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks, Slovenia), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves, USA), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder, Canada), Rudy Gobert (Timberwolves, France), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers, USA), Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans, USA), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies, USA), Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz, Finland), Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves, Dominican Republic) and Nikola Vucevic (Chicago Bulls, Montenegro).
Excluding the 12 representing the United States, Australia has the most NBA basketball players – nine, followed by Canada – seven, Germany – four, and France and Serbia – three each .
SEE ALSO: France beaten at the Basketball World Cup
Among NBA clubs, the most players (including Americans) at the World Cup can boast of four teams: Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves.
NBA representatives have exotic countries – participants in the World Cup, such as Angola (Bruno Fernando, Atlanta Hawks), South Sudan (Carlik Jones, Chicago Bulls) and the Philippines (Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz) .
China is also among the teams with an NBA player, thanks to the naturalization of New York-born Kyle Anderson, who plays for the “Middle Empire” national team under the name Li Kaier. The American has Chinese roots, however, as his grandfather (his mother’s father) was born in Shenzhen.
87 players from 32 World Cup teams are former participants of the NBA and FIBA’s “Basketball Without Borders” program, whose 20th jubilee edition is taking place in Wrocław, including the participation of the only Pole in the NBA , Jeremy Sochana (San Antonio Spurs).
KN, PAP
