TORONTO (Oct. 20, 2026) – The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced that 125 international players from a record-tying 43 countries across six continents are on opening-night rosters for the 2026-27 season.

Canada Basketball boasts 17 international players heading into the 2026-27 NBA season, tying France for the league high.

Last season marked another historic milestone for Canada as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) was named the Kia NBA Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season. He became the second Canadian in NBA history to win the award in consecutive seasons, following Steve Nash, who earned the honour in 2005 and 2006 — exactly 20 years before Gilgeous-Alexander’s achievement. 

The 2025-26 season also marked the fifth consecutive season in which three international players finished top three in MVP voting: Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets; Serbia) and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs; France).  

Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Atlanta Hawks) was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player for the 2025-26 season, becoming the first Canadian in NBA history to receive the award. In his first season with Atlanta, he averaged a career-high 20.8 points per game.

A record 19 international players on opening-night rosters have been named NBA All-Stars, including Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets) and Andrew Wiggins (Miami Heat). Murray earned his first NBA All-Star and All-NBA (Third Team) selection last season, averaging 25.4 points, seven assists and four rebounds per game. 

Gilgeous-Alexander, Dort, Wiggins and Murray, are the only active Canadians to have captured the Larry O’Brien NBA Championship trophy.

Gilgeous-Alexander will be the only Canadian available on opening night of the NBA season. The Oklahoma City Thunder face the San Antonio Spurs in a 2026 Western Conference Finals rematch at 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT.

The full list of Canadian players on 2026-2027 opening night rosters are:

‍Nickeil Alexander-Walker – Atlanta Hawks

R.J. Barrett – Toronto Raptors

Dillon Brooks – Phoenix Suns

Luguentz Dort – Atlanta Hawks

Zach Edey – Memphis Grizzlies

Kyshawn George – Washington Wizards

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder

Trey Lyles – Minnesota Timberwolves

Bennedict Mathurin – New Orleans Pelicans

Leonard Miller – Chicago Bulls

Jamal Murray – Denver Nuggets

Andrew Nembhard – Indiana Pacers

Ryan Nembhard – Denver Nuggets

Olivier-Maxence Prosper – Memphis Grizzlies

Will Riley – Washington Wizards

Shaedon Sharpe – Portland Trail Blazers

Andrew Wiggins – Miami Heat