LAS VEGAS – In the ongoing FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, which started on August 25th and will run until September 10th, a record 55 current NBA players grace the national team rosters.
This figure surpasses the previous record 54 players seen in 2019. This is in part of an unprecedented combined assembly of 107 current NBA players, NBA draftees, and players with NBA experience, up from 103 in 2019.
An impressive 27 out of the 32 participating national teams include at least one presence of a current NBA player, NBA draftee, or an individual with NBA experience. Among these distinguished athletes are ten former NBA All-Stars:
– Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves; representing USA),
– Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder; representing Canada),
– Luka Dončić (Dallas Mavericks; representing Slovenia),
– Rudy Gobert (Timberwolves; representing France)
– Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers; representing USA)
– Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans; representing USA)
– Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies; representing USA)
– Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz; representing Finland)
– Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves; representing the Dominican Republic)
– Nikola Vučević (Chicago Bulls; representing Montenegro).
Beyond the United States, which boasts the highest count of 12 NBA players in the tournament, Australia emerges as a contender with nine current NBA players, followed by Canada with seven and Germany with four.
