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Canada basketball

Record 16 Canadians on NBA Rosters as Season Begins Tonight

NBA

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Oct 22, 2019

TORONTO, Ont. (October 22, 2019) – For a sixth consecutive season, Canada once again features the most international-born players with a record 16 Canadians on opening-night rosters, the most players from a non-U.S. country ever.

For a second consecutive season, there are 108 international players.  These players hail from 38 different countries and territories, including the 16 Canadians.

In addition, there are a record 11 international players from eight countries on "two-way" contracts, including four Canadians. These contracts allow two-way players to be with their NBA parent team for up to 45 days, spending most of the season in the NBA G League.

Six Canadians were selected in the 2019 NBA Draft, not only surpassing the previous record of four Canadians picked in the 2014 NBA Draft but also setting the record for most draftees from a non-U.S. country in one draft. In addition, the four Canadian first-round selections also established a new record for the country.

RJ Barrett (New York Knicks; Canada; BWB Global 2017) is just one of a record 30 former Basketball Without Borders (BWB) campers on opening-night rosters.  BWB is the NBA and FIBA's global basketball development and community outreach program that has seen 69 former campers drafted into the NBA or signed as free agents since 2001.

Several Canadians will be in new threads when the season gets started this week. After spending the past two seasons in Indiana, Cory Joseph inked a three-year contract with the Sacramento Kings this past summer, while Trey Lyles, who played with the Denver Nuggets a season ago, signed with the San Antonio Spurs in the offseason. Naz Mitrou-Long, who was on a two-way deal with the Utah Jazz the last two seasons, has signed another two-way contract with the Indiana Pacers for the upcoming season.

For a second straight year, Dwight Powell’s Dallas Mavericks have an NBA-high seven international players.

CANADIAN NBA PLAYERS

<table border="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><p>&nbsp;</p></td><td><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>NAME</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>AGE</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2018-19&nbsp;TEAM / STATS</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>CURRENT TEAM</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><img alt="" style="width: 120px; height: 87px;" src="/files/2019-10/i_17.png"></p></td><td><p><strong>NICKEIL ALEXANDER-WALKER</strong></p></td><td><p>21</p></td><td><p>Virginia Tech Hokies (NCAA)</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>34 GP, 16.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 34.3 MPG</p></td><td><p>New Orleans Pelicans</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><img alt="" style="width: 120px; height: 87px;" src="http://basketball.ca/files/2019-10/i.png"></p></td><td><p><strong>RJ BARRETT</strong></p></td><td><p>19</p></td><td><p>Duke Blue Devils (NCAA)</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>38 GP, 22.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 35.3 MPG</p></td><td><p>New York Knicks</p></td></tr><tr><td><img alt="" style="width: 120px; height: 87px;" src="/files/2019-10/i_4.png"></td><td><p><strong>KHEM BIRCH</strong></p></td><td><p>27</p></td><td><p>Orlando Magic</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>50 GP, 4.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 12.9 MPG</p></td><td><p>Orlando<br>Magic</p></td></tr><tr><td><img alt="" style="width: 120px; height: 87px;" src="/files/2019-10/i_3.png"></td><td><p><strong>CHRIS BOUCHER</strong></p></td><td><p>26</p></td><td><p>Toronto Raptors</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>28 GP, 3.3&nbsp;PPG, 2.0&nbsp;RPG, 5.8&nbsp;MPG</p></td><td><p>Toronto Raptors</p></td></tr><tr><td><img alt="" style="width: 120px; height: 87px;" src="/files/2019-10/i_2.png"></td><td><strong>IGNAS BRAZDEIKIS</strong></td><td>20</td><td><p>Michigan Wolverines (NCAA)</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>37 GP, 14.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 29.6 MPG</p></td><td>New York Knicks</td></tr><tr><td><img alt="" style="width: 120px; height: 87px;" src="/files/2019-10/i_20.png"></td><td><strong>OSHAE BRISSETT*</strong></td><td>21</td><td><p>Syracuse Orange (NCAA)</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>34 GP, 12.4&nbsp;PPG, 7.5&nbsp;RPG, 33.0&nbsp;MPG</p></td><td>Toronto Raptors</td></tr><tr><td><img alt="" style="width: 120px; height: 87px;" src="http://basketball.ca/files/2019-10/i_5.png"></td><td><p><strong>DILLON BROOKS</strong></p></td><td><p>23</p></td><td><p>Memphis Grizzlies</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>18 GP, 7.5 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 18.3 MPG</p></td><td><p>Memphis&nbsp;<br>Grizzlies</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><img alt="" style="width: 120px; height: 87px;" src="http://basketball.ca/files/2019-10/i_6.png"></p></td><td><p><strong>BRANDON CLARKE</strong></p></td><td><p>23</p></td><td><p>Gonzaga Bulldogs (NCAA)</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>37 GP, 16.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 28.1 MPG</p></td><td><p>Memphis Grizzlies</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><img alt="" style="width: 120px; height: 87px;" src="http://basketball.ca/files/2019-10/i_7.png"></p></td><td><p><strong>LUGUENTZ DORT*</strong></p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>Arizona State Sun Devils (NCAA)</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>34 GP, 16.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 31.5 MPG</p></td><td><p>Oklahoma City Thunder</p></td></tr><tr><td><img alt="" style="width: 120px; height: 87px;" src="http://basketball.ca/files/2019-10/i_8.png"></td><td><p><strong>SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER</strong></p></td><td><p>21</p></td><td><p>Los Angeles Clippers</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>82 GP, 10.8 PPG, 3.3 APG, 26.5 MPG</p></td><td><p>Oklahoma City Thunder</p></td></tr><tr><td><img alt="" style="width: 120px; height: 87px;" src="/files/2019-10/i_18.png"></td><td><p><strong>CORY JOSEPH</strong></p></td><td><p>28</p></td><td><p>Indiana Pacers</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>82 GP, 6.5 PPG, 3.9 APG, 25.2 MPG</p></td><td><p>Sacramento Kings</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><img alt="" style="width: 120px; height: 87px;" src="http://basketball.ca/files/2019-10/i_9.png"></p></td><td><p><strong>MFIONDU KABENGELE</strong></p></td><td><p>22</p></td><td><p>Florida State Seminoles (NCAA)</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>37 GP, 13.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 21.6 MPG</p></td><td><p>Los Angeles Clippers</p></td></tr><tr><td><img alt="" style="width: 120px; height: 87px;" src="/files/2019-10/i_10.png"></td><td><p><strong>TREY LYLES</strong></p></td><td><p>23</p></td><td><p>Denver Nuggets</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>64 GP, 8.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 17.5 MPG</p></td><td><p>San Antonio Spurs</p></td></tr><tr><td><img alt="" style="width: 120px; height: 87px;" src="/files/2019-10/i_11.png"></td><td><p><strong>NAZ MITROU-LONG*</strong></p></td><td><p>26</p></td><td><p>Utah Jazz</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>14 GP, 1.1 PPG, 1.1 APG,&nbsp;6.0 MPG</p></td><td><p>Indiana Pacers</p></td></tr><tr><td><img alt="" style="width: 120px; height: 87px;" src="/files/2019-10/i_12.png"></td><td><p><strong>JAMAL MURRAY</strong></p></td><td><p>22</p></td><td><p>Denver Nuggets</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>75 GP, 18.2 PPG, 4.8 APG, 32.6 MPG</p></td><td><p>Denver Nuggets</p></td></tr><tr><td><img alt="" style="width: 120px; height: 87px;" src="http://basketball.ca/files/2019-10/i_13.png"></td><td><p><strong>KELLY OLYNYK</strong></p></td><td><p>28</p></td><td><p>Miami Heat</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>79 GP, 10.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 22.9 MPG</p></td><td><p>Miami Heat</p></td></tr><tr><td><img alt="" style="width: 120px; height: 87px;" src="http://basketball.ca/files/2019-10/i_14.png"></td><td><p><strong>DWIGHT POWELL</strong></p></td><td><p>28</p></td><td><p>Dallas Mavericks</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>77 GP, 10.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 21.6 MPG</p></td><td><p>Dallas Mavericks</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><img alt="" style="width: 120px; height: 87px;" src="/files/2019-10/i_16.png"></p></td><td><p><strong>MARIAL SHAYOK*</strong></p></td><td><p>24</p></td><td><p>Iowa State Cyclones (NCAA)</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>34 GP, 18.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 32.9 MPG</p></td><td><p>Philadelphia 76ers</p></td></tr><tr><td><img alt="" style="width: 120px; height: 87px;" src="http://basketball.ca/files/2019-10/i_19.png"></td><td><p><strong>TRISTAN THOMPSON</strong></p></td><td><p>28</p></td><td><p>Cleveland Cavaliers</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>43 GP, 10.9 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 27.9 MPG</p></td><td><p>Cleveland&nbsp;<br>Cavaliers</p></td></tr><tr><td><img alt="" style="width: 120px; height: 87px;" src="http://basketball.ca/files/2019-10/i_15.png"></td><td><p><strong>ANDREW WIGGINS</strong></p></td><td><p>24</p></td><td><p>Minnesota Timberwolves</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>73 GP, 18.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 34.8 MPG</p></td><td><p>Minnesota&nbsp;<br>Timberwolves</p></td></tr></tbody></table>

* Two-way contract

CANADIAN PLAYERS' SCHEDULE

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="623"><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Date</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Visiting Team</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Canadian Player</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Tuesday&nbsp;October 22</p></td><td><p>New Orleans Pelicans</p></td><td><p>Nickeil Alexander-Walker</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Monday&nbsp;October 28&nbsp;</p></td><td><p>Orlando Magic</p></td><td><p>Khem Birch</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wednesday&nbsp;November 6</p></td><td><p>Sacramento Kings</p></td><td><p>Cory Joseph</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wednesday&nbsp;November 20&nbsp;</p></td><td><p>Orlando Magic</p></td><td><p>Khem Birch</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Monday&nbsp;November 25</p></td><td><p>Philadelphia 76ers</p></td><td><p>Marial Shayok*</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wednesday&nbsp;November 27</p></td><td><p>New York Knicks</p></td><td><p>R.J. Barrett, Ignas Brazdeikis</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Tuesday&nbsp;December 3</p></td><td><p>Miami Heat</p></td><td><p>Kelly Olynyk</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wednesday&nbsp;December 11</p></td><td><p>LA Clippers</p></td><td><p>Mfiondu Kabengele</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Monday&nbsp;December 16</p></td><td><p>Cleveland Cavaliers</p></td><td><p>Tristan Thompson</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sunday&nbsp;December 22</p></td><td><p>Dallas Mavericks</p></td><td><p>Dwight Powell</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sunday&nbsp;December 29</p></td><td><p>Oklahoma City Thunder</p></td><td><p>Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort*</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Tuesday&nbsp;December 31</p></td><td><p>Cleveland Cavaliers</p></td><td><p>Tristan Thompson</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sunday&nbsp;January 12</p></td><td><p>San Antonio Spurs</p></td><td><p>Trey Lyles</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wednesday&nbsp;January 22</p></td><td><p>Philadelphia 76ers</p></td><td><p>Marial Shayok*</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wednesday&nbsp;February 5</p></td><td><p>Indiana Pacers</p></td><td><p>Naz Mitrou-Long*</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Monday&nbsp;February 10</p></td><td><p>Minnesota Timberwolves</p></td><td><p>Andrew Wiggins</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sunday&nbsp;February 23</p></td><td><p>Indiana Pacers</p></td><td><p>Naz Mitrou-Long*</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sunday&nbsp;March 22</p></td><td><p>Denver Nuggets</p></td><td><p>Jamal Murray</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Monday&nbsp;March 30</p></td><td><p>Memphis Grizzlies</p></td><td><p>Dillon Brooks, Brandon Clarke</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sunday&nbsp;April 12</p></td><td><p>New York Knicks</p></td><td><p>R.J. Barrett, Ignas Brazdeikis</p></td></tr></tbody></table>

With files from NBA