Canadian NBA Players

I could find 36 Canadian players who have been drafted into the NBA, 37 times with Lars Hansen re-entering the NBA draft in 1977 and being selected a second time. Not every player to play in the NBA that’s Canadian was drafted either, Center Joel Anthony found his way into the league after being passed over in the 2007 NBA draft. Probably the most notable Canadian Basketball player ever is South African born and Victoria, British Columbia raised Point Guard Steve Nash who took home the League MVP award twice in 2005 and 2006, the only Canadian to do so. Nash is also an 8 time NBA All Star. The only current Canadian member of the NBA Hall of Fame is Vancouver, British Columbia born Center and Power Forward Bob Houbregs who played in the NBA during the 1950’s and entered the Hall in 1987. The next most notable player after that has to be Toronto, Ontario born Small Forward Rick Fox who retired in 2004. Fox brought home 3 NBA championships with the Lakers and finished his career with 8,966 points. The changing of the guard is looking pretty bright for Canadian basketball with the likes of Andrew Wiggins, Tristan Thompson, Kelly Olynyk and others making strong NBA contributions. The 2013 NBA draft saw Canadian Forward Anthony Bennett become the first Canadian to go first overall in an NBA draft and then Andrew Wiggins made it back to back first overalls for Canada at the 2014 NBA draft. While Bennett has been considered a draft bust, Wiggins did not disappoint becoming the first Canadian born player to win Rookie of the Year in 2015. The following drafts saw Trey Lyles going 12th overall in 2015 and Jamal Murray going seventh overall in 2016.

2019 NBA Entry Draft

Round 1 – Pick 3 – SG/SF R.J. Barrett – New York Knicks – Duke (Fr.) – (Currently with New York Knicks)

Round 1 – Pick 17 – SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker – Brooklyn Nets – Virginia Tech (So.) – (Currently with New Orleans Pelicans)

Round 1 – Pick 21 – PF Brandon Clarke – Oklahoma City Thunder – Gonzaga (Jr.) – (Currently with Memphis Grizzlies)

Round 1 – Pick 27 – C Mfiondu Kabengele – Brooklyn Nets – Florida State (So.) – (Currently with Los Angeles Clippers)

Round 2 – Pick 57 – SF Iggy Brazdeikis – Sacramento Kings – Michigan (Fr.) – (Currently with New York Knicks)

Round 2 – Pick 54 – SG Marial Shayok – Philadelphia 76ers – Iowa State (Sr.) – (Currently with Philadelphia 76ers)

2018 NBA Entry Draft

Round 1 – Pick 11 – PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Charlotte Hornets (Traded to LA Clippers) – Kentucky (Freshman) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Currently with Oklahoma City Thunder)

Round 2 – Pick 43 – SF/PF Justin Jackson – Denver Nuggets (Traded to Orlando Magic) – Maryland (Sophomore) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Currently with Orlando Magic / Lakeland Magic of G League)

2017 NBA Entry Draft

Round 2 – Pick 45 – SF Dillon Brooks – Houston Rockets – Oregon (Junior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Currently with Memphis Grizzlies)

2016 NBA Entry Draft

Round 1 – Pick 7 – SG/PG Jamal Murray – Denver Nuggets – Kentucky (Freshman) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Currently with Denver Nuggets)

2015 NBA Entry Draft
Round 1 – Pick 12 – PF Trey Lyles – Utah Jazz – Kentucky (Freshman) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Currently with Denver Nuggets)

Round 2 – Pick 42 – PG Olivier Hanlan – Utah Jazz – Boston College (Junior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Telekom Baskets Bonn – Basketball Budesliga – Germany)

2014 NBA Entry Draft
Round 1 – Pick 1 – SF Andrew Wiggins – Cleveland Cavaliers – Kansas (Freshman) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Currently with Minnesota Timberwolves, Son of former American NBA player Mitchell Wiggins and Canadian Olympic Running Medallist Marita Payne-Wiggins)

Round 1 – Pick 8 – SG Nik Stauskas – Sacramento Kings – Michigan (Sophemore) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Currently with Cleveland Cavaliers)

Round 1 – Pick 18 – PG Tyler Ennis – Phoenix Suns – Syracuse (Freshman) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Last Played for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, Was with Fenerbache – Turkish Basketball Super League, now a Free Agent)

Round 2 – Pick 45 – PF Dwight Powell – Charlotte Bobcats – Stanford (Senior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Currently with Dallas Mavericks)

2013 NBA Entry Draft
Round 1 – Pick 1 – PF/SF Anthony Bennett – Cleveland Cavaliers – UNLV (Freshman) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Last played for Brooklyn Nets 2017, Currently with Agua Caliente Clippers – NBA G League)

Round 1 – Pick 13 – C Kelly Olynyk – Dallas Mavericks – Gonzaga (Junior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Currently with Miami Heat)

2012 NBA Entry Draft
Round 1 – Pick 19 – PF Andew Nicholson – Orlando Magic – St. Bonaventure (Senior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Last played for Brooklyn Nets 2017, Currently with Fujian Sturgeons  – Chinese Basketball Association)

Round 2 – Pick 51 – SF Kris Joseph – Boston Celtics – Syracuse (Junior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Last played for Brooklyn Net 2013, Last played Pro for the Niagara River Lions of NBL Canada in 2018)

Round 2 – Pick 60 – C Robert Sacre – Los Angeles Lakers – Gonzaga (Senior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Last played for Los Angeles Lakers 2016, Currently playing Pro in Japan for Sun Rockers Shibuya)

2011 NBA Entry Draft
Round 1 – Pick 4 – PF/SF Tristan Thompson – Cleveland Cavaliers – Texas (Freshman) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Currently with Cleveland Cavaliers)

Round 1 – Pick 29 – PG Cory Joseph – San Antonio Spurs – Texas (Freshman) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Currently with Sacramento Kings)

2010 NBA Entry Draft
Round 2 – Pick 38 – PG/SG Andy Rautins – New York Knicks – Syracuse (Junior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Last played for New York Knicks 2011, Currently playing Pro in Turkey for Bahçeşehir Koleji)

2006 NBA Entry Draft
Round 2 – Pick 40 – G Denham Brown – Seattle Supersonics – Connecticut (Senior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Last played Pro in Romania in 2014)

2001 NBA Entry Draft
Round 1 – Pick 26 – C Samuel Dalembert – Philadelphia 76ers – Seton Hall (Sophemore) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Last played for New York Knicks 2015, currently Free Agent, last play pro in 2017 in China)

2000 NBA Entry Draft
Round 1 – Pick 19 – C Jamaal Magloire – Charlotte Hornets – Kentucky (Senior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Currently a Basketball Development Consultant with the Toronto Raptors, last played for the Raptors in 2012)

1999 NBA Entry Draft
Round 2 – Pick 47 – C Todd MacCulloch – Philadelphia 76ers – Washington – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Retired as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers in 2003)

1996 NBA Entry Draft
Round 1 – Pick 15 – G Steve Nash – Phoenix Suns – Santa Clara (Senior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Retired as a member of the Los Angeles Lakes on March 21, 2015 due to injury. General Manager of Canada’s National Team since May 8, 2012. 2 Time NBA MVP in 2005 and 2006. 8 Time NBA All Star. 3 Time Lionel Conacher Award winner as Canadian Athlete of the Year in 2002, 2005 and 2006.)

1994 NBA Entry Draft
Round 2 – Pick 41 – PF William Njoku – Indiana Pacers – St. Mary’s (Canada) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Retired – Never played a game in NBA)

1991 NBA Entry Draft
Round 1 – Pick 24 – SF Rick Fox – Boston Celtics – North Carolina (Senior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Retired as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004)

1985 NBA Entry Draft
Round 1 – Pick 16 – C Bill Wennington – Dallas Mavericks – St. John’s (Senior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Retired as a member of the Sacramento Kings in 2000, 3 time NBA Champion)

Round 2 – Pick 25 – C Mike Smrek – Portland Trailblazers – Canisius (Senior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Last Played for Golden State Warriors in 1992,  2 time NBA Champion)

1984 NBA Entry Draft
Round 2 – Pick 43 – C Greg Wiltjer – Chicago Bulls – Victoria (Canada)(Senior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Retired – Never played a game in NBA)

1983 NBA Entry Draft
Round 1 – Pick 17 – SF Leo Rautins – Philadelphia 76ers – Syracuse (Senior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Retired – Last played in NBA with Atlanta Hawks in 1984, Father of Andy Rautins)

Round 1 – Pick 24 – PG Stewart Granger – Cleveland Cavaliers – Villanova (Senior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Retired – Last played in NBA with New York Knicks in 1987)

Round 4 – Pick 75 – C Ron Crevier – Chicago Bulls – Boston College (Senior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Retired – Last Played in NBA for Detroit Pistons 1985)

1977 NBA Entry Draft
Round 7 – Pick 151 – C Lars Hansen – Los Angeles Lakers – Washington (Senior) – (Re-Entry) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Retired – Last Played in NBA for Seattle Supersonics in 1979)

1976 NBA Entry Draft
Round 3 – Pick 37 – C Lars Hansen – Chicago Bulls – Washington (Senior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Retired – Last Played in NBA for Seattle Supersonics in 1979)

1970 NBA Entry Draft

Round 8 – Pick 123 – C Bobby Croft – Boston Celtics – Tennessee – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Retired – Last Played in ABA for in 1971)

1969 NBA Entry Draft
Round 19 – Pick 215 – G Brian Heaney – Baltimore Bullets – Acadia (Canada) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Retired – Last Played in the NBA for Baltimore Bullets in 1970)

1953 NBA Entry Draft

Round 1 – Pick 2 – C-PF Bob Houbregs – Milwaukee Hawks – Washington (Senior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Retired – Last Played in NBA for Detroit Pistons in 1958) Only Current Canadian in NBA hall of fame.

1949 NBA Entry Draft

Round 3 – G-SF Ernie Vandeweghe – New York Knicks – Lakehead University (Senior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Retired – Last Played in NBA for New York Knicks in 1956, His son is former NBA All Star and current NBA executive Kiki VanDeWeghe, who was born in Germany but is only an American Citizen and it appears his only Canadian ties are his father.)

Notable Non Drafted Players

Passed over in 2017 NBA Entry Draft – SG-PG Naz Mitrou-Long (Utah Jazz 2017-Present) – Iowa State – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Currently splitting time with Utah Jazz – NBA and Salt Lake City Stars – NBA G League)

Passed over in 2016 NBA Entry Draft – PF Kyle Wiltjer (Houston Rockets 2017) – Kentucky Wildcats – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Currently Playing in Greek League – Dual Canadian-American Citizen)

Passsed over in 2014 NBA Entry Draft – PF-C Khem Birch (Orlando Magic 2017-Present) – UNLV – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Currently splitting time with Orlando Magic – NBA and Lakeland Magic – NBA G League)

Passed over in 2014 NBA Entry Draft – C Sim Bhullar (Sacramento Kings 2015) – New Mexico State – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Played 3 Games near end of 2014-15 Season – Currently playing Pro in Taiwan)

Passed over in 2007 NBA Entry Draft – C Joel Anthony (Miami Heat 2007-2014, Boston Celtics 2014, Detroit Pistons 2014-2016, San Antonio Spurs 2017) – UNLV – Player Page on Wikipedia.org  – (Currently a Free Agent)

Passed over in 2003 NBA Entry Draft – SG Carl English (2 NBA Tryouts) – Hawaii Rainbow Warriors – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (No NBA Games – Currently playing for NBL Canada – St. John’s Edge)

Passed over in 1978 NBA Entry Draft – C Jim Zoet (Detroit Pistons 1982) – Lakehead (Senior) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Retired – Last played in 1982)

One of the first known Canadians to play in the NBA in 1946 – G Hank Biasatti (Toronto Huskies 1946) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Retired – Dual Sport Athlete, only Canadian to play in both the NBA and MLB)

One of the first known Canadians to play in the NBA in 1946 – G-F Gino Sovran (Toronto Huskies 1946) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Retired – Played only 1 NBA Season in 1946)

One of the first known Canadians to play in the NBA in 1946 – G Norm Baker (Chicago Stags 1946) – Player Page on Wikipedia.org (Retired – Played only 1 NBA Season in 1946)

 

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