Who are the 10 best Canadian NBA players ever to play the game?

Canada is one of the best countries for producing excellent basketball talent. It is also home to great NBA teams, such as the Toronto Raptors. Who are the best Canadian NBA players?

The top athletes in basketball are characterised by skill, athleticism and swiftness. Achievements also play an important role in ranking the best Canadian NBA players of all time. Which NBA players are from Canada? Unveil more about the talented stars right here.

Who are the top 10 best Canadian NBA players ever?

Are there any Canadian NBA players? More than 62 Canadian NBA players have been in the league’s history. These names are highly regarded as some of the all-time best Canadian NBA players:

10. Kelly Olynyk

The Utah Jazz power forward was born in Toronto, Ontario 1991. He was the 13th pick of the first round in the 2013 draft for the Dallas Mavericks. Kelly went on to play for the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, and Detroit Pistons and finally ended up in the Utah Jazz.

The star went to college in Gonzaga. In the 2022/2023 season, Kelly has averaged 12.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and a 49.9 field goals percentage.

9. Luguentz Dort

The guard has averaged 13.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and a 38.8 field goal percentage in the 2022/2023 season. He went to Arizona State University before he joined the Oklahoma City Thunders in 2019. The star was born in Montreal, Quebec. Dort is also one of the few players to have never been drafted.

8. Dillon Brooks

Dillion has played for the Memphis Grizzlies since 2017. He was drafted as the 45th pick of the 2nd round for the Houston Rockets 2017. The 6’7” forward was born in Mississauga, Ontario.

The star was featured in the All-Defensive second team. In the 2022/2023 season, Brooks averaged 14.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and a 39.6 field goals percentage.

7. R. J. Barrett

The New York Knicks star is one of the best Canadian-born NBA players in the league. He was the third pick in the first round of the 2019 draft for the New York Knicks, where he plays as a shooting guard.

The star went to college at Duke before debuting his career in the NBA. In the 2022/2023 season, Barrett has averaged 19.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and a 43.4 field goals percentage.

6. Jamaal Magloire

The star was the 19th pick of the first round in the 2000 draft for the Charlotte Hornets. The centre played for great teams such as the Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets, Miami Heat and the Toronto Raptors before retiring in 2012.

Jamaal went to college in Kentucky and was born in Toronto, Ontario. Magloire averaged 7.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 0.6 assists and a 48 field goal percentage in his career.

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5. Andrew Wiggins

The 6’7” small forward was drafted in the first round and was the first pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014 after his stint at Kansas State University. He plays for the Golden State Warriors, which he joined in 2019 after playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The highlight of his career was winning the Rookie of the Year in 2015 and being included in the All-Rookie first team in the same year.

Andrew has averaged 17.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and a 47.3 field goal shooting percentage in the 2022/2023 season. He is often mentioned as one of the best Canadian NBA players in 2023.

4. Jamal Murray

The point guard was the 7th pick in the first round of the 2016 draft for the Denver Nuggets. He is still in the team in 2023. The star was born in Kitchener, Ontario and went to college in Kentucky.

One of his significant achievements is being included in the All-Rookie 2nd team in 2017. In the 2022/2023 season, Jamal has averaged 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.2 assists and a 45.4 field goal percentage. He is one of the most famous Canadian NBA players.

3. Rick Fox

The small forward was the 24th pick in the first round for the Boston Celtics in the 1991 draft. He was born in Toronto, Ontario and went to college in North Carolina. The star played for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, his peak achievement being included in the 1992 All-Roookie second team.

Fox averaged 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and a 45.0 field goal percentage in his career. The forward is one of the top Canadian basketball players of all time.

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The 6’6” famous point guard was the first-round 11th pick for the Charlotte Hornets in the 2018 draft. Since then, Shai has played for the LA Clippers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he is as of June 2023. The Toronto-born star went to college in Kentucky.

He was included in the All-Rookie second team in 2019 and the all-NBA first team in 2023. In the 2022/2023 season, Shai has averaged 31.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists and a 51 field goals percentage.

1. Steve Nash

Who is the best Canadian basketball player of all time? It has to be Steve Nash. The former star was born in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Widely known for his handling skills and precision in passing enabled him to win two MVP Awards and appeared in the all-star eight times. Nash was the 15th pick of the first round in the 1996 NBA draft for the Phoenix Suns.

He played for teams such as the LA Lakers, Phoenix Suns and the Dalla Mavericks, averaging 14.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 8.5 assists and a 49% field goal percentage. Steve is widely regarded the best when it comes to the greatest Canadian NBA players.

Has a Canadian ever won the NBA?

Up to nine Canadians have won the NBA. The list includes Steve Nash, Chris Boucher, Bill Wellington, Andrew Wiggins and Jamal Murray.

What is the most popular team sport in Canada?

Ice hockey is the most popular sport in Canada. It was also named the official national sport of the country. The National Hockey League is widely supported and has teams from both Canada and the United States of America.

Canada is a sport-rich country and has some of the best basketballers in the game. Their teams also participate in the NBA, competing with their American counterparts. Steve Nash takes the top sport as the best Canadian NBA player ever.

Sports Brief explained what a Hack-a-Shaq is in basketball. Despite being a physical sport, the game has psychological aspects that help teams gain an advantage over their competitors. The strategy has been around for some time and has helped coaches tame opposing free-throw shooters. What is a Hack-a-Shaq? Check out the link above to learn more about the strategy.