Immigrants Are Taking Over The NBA
You know what they say, “if it ain’t foreign, it’s borin'.” Being from another country adds extra flare, whether it’s fresh clothes, a fast car, or a hot partner. The same concept applies to the NBA, which is currently seeing a renaissance of international players. They’re entering the league and becoming the faces behind entire franchises.
The National Basketball Association has earned the “national” part of its name for its continued influence on a global scale. The NBA has a total of 140 international players on a roster, representing 40 countries. That’s a bit under one-third of the entire league’s active players. People from around the world tune into games just to support the players representing their country. How lucky are American fans that the NBA gets to house all the best international talent?
Working and living in a country where immigrants don’t truly feel welcome can be difficult. This country has run entire presidential administrations on the idea that immigrants are criminals and “taking jobs.” However, international players of the NBA have taken the fallacious idea of “The American Dream” and turned it into a reality. Some of the most extraordinary talents the NBA has ever seen have come from overseas, taking the status of immigrant and wearing it on their sleeves as they did what all U.S. immigrants seek to do: make a living and support their families. International NBA players are changing the narrative on what it means to be an immigrant, and they’re doing it by taking over the league with their elite play.
Last year in the 2021-2022 season, three immigrant players earned their spot on the All-NBA First Team (the NBA’s highest honor for the five best players in their respective positions), top 4 in voting for Most Valuable Player were all immigrant players (with a non-American player winning MVP since 2019). Six immigrant players were named all-stars (this year making it eight). This representation of international players in these high honors displays that they aren’t just role players or above-average talents; they’re running the damn show.
Here is a highlight of a few of the immigrant NBA players that are putting on for the international basketball community.
Giannis Antetounkounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks’ franchise player from Greece whose name barely fits on the back of his jersey. Also known as “The Greek Freak,” Giannis is a man who comes from humble beginnings. His parents illegally immigrated to Greece in 1992 from Nigeria in search of a better life. Growing up with undocumented parents and three brothers, the family struggled. It was a natural talent that got Giannis drafted with the 15th overall pick in the 2013 draft, but hard work and dedication made him rise to stardom. Weighing a measly 190 pounds his rookie year, Giannis would grow into a 240-pound player with the physique of a real greek god. With two MVP awards, a Defensive Player of the Year trophy, an NBA championship, and one hell of an emotional MVP speech, Giannis has already solidified himself as a Hall of Famer at 28.
Nikola Jokić, the Denver Nuggets star center from Serbia, who we wish we could all be because he has no social media presence whatsoever. Being an immigrant from Serbia, “The Joker” doesn’t talk much to the media and often remains out of the spotlight; A simple man who likes to ride horses and put up generational numbers. At 27, he’s currently the reigning back-to-back MVP and now ranks third in triple-doubles on the all-time list for the NBA. Unlike his international buddy Giannis, Jokić relies less on athleticism and more on pure skill to impact winning. Whether it be his patented “Sombor Shuffle” jump shot or his crazy no-look passes, Jokić will be the face of the Denver Nuggets for the rest of his career.
Luka Dončić, the 23-year-old Dallas Maverick superstar from Slovenia, had taken the league by storm by the time he was 19. Signing a five-year contract at 13 years old to play basketball for Real Madrid, Luka had already become a Hall of Fame player for his Euroleague accolades by the end of his tenure. Looking for his next challenge, he got drafted 3rd overall in the 2018 draft. Since then, Luka has been performing straight magic on the court, becoming the new generation’s premier player. Video-game statistics, incredible passes, and saucy handles have people ready to name Luka the next Lebron James.
Strike Out,
JD Delcastillo
Boca Raton
JD Delcastillo is a Content Writer for Strike Magazine. He loves consuming media and thinking critically. A major know-it-all, anything related to pop culture, music, and sports, he has knowledge in. Reach out to him on instagram @jd.delcastillo or email @ jd.delcastillo954@gmail.com
