The National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the world’s top sports leagues, and it has produced some of the most talented players in history. Canada has been home to a number of these skilled athletes, who have achieved remarkable success on the court and made their mark on the game.
The 10 Best Canadian Basketball Players in the NBA
Contents
Top Canadian NBA players
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the world’s top sports leagues, and it has produced some of the most talented players in history. Canada has been home to a number of these skilled athletes, who have achieved remarkable success on the court and made their mark on the game.
As Canada grows as an international powerhouse in basketball, let’s take a look at some of its best players currently gracing courts around the world in the NBA.
10. Kelly Olynyk
Kelly Olynyk is one of Canada’s famous basketball players in the NBA. The 7-foot power forward was drafted 13th overall in the 2013 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics and has since become a major contributor for many franchises throughout the league. He started his career off with a bang, averaging 8 points and 5 rebounds per game on 50% shooting from the field during his rookie season. Olynyk then went on to become an integral part of Boston’s run to the 2015 Eastern Conference Finals. His contributions did not go unnoticed as he was awarded Most Improved Player honors at the end of that year.
Olynyk then made his way to Miami via free agency and immediately stepped into a starting role, playing alongside stars like Goran Dragic, Hassan Whiteside, and Dwyane Wade. Once again, he impressed with averages of 11 points and 6 rebounds per game while shooting over 40% from three-point range on his way to becoming one of Miami’s most effective offensive players. He also showed great defensive versatility when called upon, often switching onto smaller players and still managing to contain them effectively.
In 2020, Kelly Olynyk found himself being traded to the Houston Rockets where he quickly fit right into their fast-paced style of play as a stretch four who can space the floor while still providing physicality at both ends of the floor. With averages of 11 points and 5 rebounds per game on 42% shooting from beyond the arc, Kelly has been an important piece for Houston despite only playing limited minutes due to injuries throughout this season.
9. Dwight Powell
Dwight Powell was born in Toronto and quickly developed a passion for basketball. As a young player, he attended IMG Academy in Florida before heading to Stanford University where he played college basketball for four seasons. At Stanford, Powell became an All-Pac-10 honouree and the Pac-12 Most Improved Player. In 2014, he was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets but soon after traded to the Dallas Mavericks where he’s been playing ever since.
Powell’s career progression has been steady and impressive. During his first season with the Mavericks, he averaged 8 points per game while playing 21 minutes per night. His second season saw him bump that up to 10 points per game while increasing his minutes played to 28 per night. By 2017-18 he had become a full-time starter and put up career highs in scoring (11 points) and rebounds (6), as well as shooting percentages (45% from the field). This past season Powell continued his gradual improvement, averaging 11 points on 57% shooting from the field over 24 minutes per game—while playing 81 out of 82 possible games—and making his first playoff appearance since joining Dallas. Those numbers earned him a four year contract extension worth $32 million with the Mavericks in July 2019.
In addition to being a reliable presence on offence for Dallas, Powell is also regarded as a defensive standout who frequently guards some of the most talented players in all of basketball including LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Despite giving away inches and pounds to these giants, Powell’s footwork, timing, strength and dedication allow him to compete with them at an elite level—as evidenced by his 2 steals per game average last season which placed him among some of the league’s best defenders such as Jrue Holiday and Marcus Smart.
At 6 feet 11 inch tall, Dwight Powell is an imposing figure on both ends of the court who has cemented himself as one of Canada’s premier NBA players throughout his 6 year long career thus far. His record speaks for itself: Averaging double digits while playing on both ends of the court successfully against some of the world’s best players? That’s nothing short of extraordinary no matter what country you come from!
8. Brandon Clarke
Born in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Brandon Clarke was drafted 21st overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2019. A 6-foot-8 forward, Clarke has had an impressive start to his professional career, displaying athleticism and a sharp shooting ability that have been remarkable for a rookie.
Clarke’s first season with the Grizzlies was particularly successful. He achieved averages of 12 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per game on .583 shooting from the field, both good enough for second best among rookies at his position. He also excelled defensively, finishing as one of just three rookies with at least one block and one steal per game. His energy and hustle off the bench helped lead the Grizzlies to their first playoff berth since 2017.
Offensively, Brandon Clarke possesses excellent athleticism and agility for a player his size. He can finish around the rim with ease and is an elite finisher in transition, often making highlight reel plays that have caught national attention. His jump shot has shown quick improvements over the course of his rookie season; he now shoots above 40% from beyond the arc while displaying an impressive touch from midrange as well.
On defense, Brandon Clarke is a menace both on-ball and off-ball alike due to his length and anticipation skills. He uses great timing and positioning to close out shooters without fouling or yielding easy baskets inside. The Grizzlies were significantly better when Clarke was on the floor defensively, posting a defensive rating of 105 points allowed per 100 possessions with him compared to 114 points allowed without him in 2019–20 season (per NBA stats).
7. Chris Boucher
Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on January 11th, 1993, Chris Boucher started playing basketball at an early age and has been making a name for himself ever since.
Standing 6ft 9in tall and weighing 210lbs, Boucher has played for multiple teams throughout his professional career. After playing with the Oregon Ducks from 2014-2017 and leading them to their first Final Four appearance since 1939, Boucher declared for the 2017 NBA Draft. He was initially undrafted but eventually signed with the Golden State Warriors as a Two-Way player split between their G League affiliate Santa Cruz Warriors and their main team. Although limited to just 8 games with the Warriors in 2018 due to injuries, he was still able to make an impression on coaches and teammates alike.
He went on to sign a two-year deal with the Toronto Raptors in 2019 where he won his first NBA Championship title. During his tenure with the Raptors, Boucher averaged 16 minutes per game while shooting 45% from three-point range during regular season matches and 37% from three-point range during playoff matches. In addition to showing off his offensive skillset by scoring double digits in many games throughout his time with Raptors, Boucher also proved to be an invaluable asset on defence as well due to his impressive blocking ability which earned him over 1 block per game throughout both postseasons.
6. Luguentz Dort
Luguentz Dort is one of the best Canadian NBA players and is quickly becoming a critical part of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s lineup. Hailing from Montreal, Quebec, he was selected in the 2019 draft and has since been playing his way up to stardom. His speed, athleticism, and defensive prowess have earned him praise from coaches and fans alike. He is one of the most promising prospects in the league and his potential seems limitless.
Growing up, Dort began playing basketball at a young age as he developed a passion for the game. Throughout his amateur career, he became increasingly well known for his ability to score points while being an excellent defender. He honed these skills while playing in Canada’s National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) before entering college in 2018. During his time at Arizona State University, he continued to develop his craft as he became one of the top players in the NCAA Division I ranks and earned several awards including Pac-12 Freshman Player of the Year for 2018–19 season.
His impressive performances caught the attention of many NBA scouts and eventually led to him being drafted 21st overall by Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019 draft. Since then, Dort has become an integral part of their team averaging 8 points per game over 48 games played this season. Such an accomplishment was made even more remarkable due to Dort not having any prior professional experience with no other teams giving him a chance before Oklahoma City took notice.
At just 21 years old, Luguentz Dort is already proving himself as one of Canada’s top NBA players with each passing game. His progress shows that if given enough opportunity and support, there is no limit on what he can achieve on court – which makes him even more exciting to watch in future seasons! With further development of his playstyle and mentorship from experienced players such as Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, it looks like Luguentz Dort can become one of Canada’s best NBA stars yet!
5. RJ Barrett
RJ Barrett is one of the top current Canadian NBA players, coming out of Mississauga, Ontario. Ever since he was a kid, he’s had a passion for basketball and has worked hard to make it to the highest level. He was named Mr. Basketball USA in 2018 while playing his high school basketball at Montverde Academy in Florida. From there he went on to play a single season at Duke University where he averaged 22.6 points per game and earned ACC Rookie of the Year honors.
The 2019 NBA Draft saw Barrett selected with the third overall pick by the New York Knicks, making him only the third Canadian-born player ever drafted in that position after Andrew Wiggins and Steve Nash. Since entering the league, RJ has impressed many with his scoring ability as well as his commitment to improving on defense and making plays for his teammates. In just his second season in 2020-21, Barrett led the Knicks to their first playoff appearance since 2013, averaging 17.6 points per game while shooting over 40% from deep for good measure.
Off the court, RJ maintains an active presence within Canada’s national team program and regularly participates in different community initiatives through Kids Help Phone and charity events such as Hoops For Hope which he co-founded alongside fellow NBA player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Toronto. Through these activities he works to inspire young people across Canada to follow their dreams no matter how difficult they may seem.
4. Dillon Brooks
Dillon Brooks was born in Mississauga, Ontario and attended University of Oregon from 2015-2017 before declaring for the 2017 NBA draft. He was selected with the 45th overall pick to the Memphis Grizzlies and has since gone on to become one of Canada’s brightest basketball stars.
At Oregon, Dillon was a star player for the Ducks, leading them to an Elite Eight appearance during his sophomore year. He averaged 16 points per game and 4 rebounds over two seasons there and was named Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2016-2017. After being drafted he continued his impressive play, averaging 11 points per game as a rookie while shooting 41% from 3-point range. The following season he earned himself a starting position on the Grizzlies squad and had strong averages of 15 points per game while shooting 37% from beyond the arc.
During his three years in Memphis he showed versatility in his offensive game by showing off his scoring prowess as well as improving each season with his passing ability. His 2019-2020 season saw him break out even more as he led the team that eventually made it all the way to Western Conference Finals with averages of 16 points per game on good shooting splits (45/36/83). This earned him a spot on Canada’s National Basketball Team for FIBA 2019 World Cup where he averaged 13 points per game helping lead Canada to fourth place overall.
Dillon Brooks is truly one of Canada’s greatest basketball stars, showing off his scoring capabilities both at Oregon and now in the professional ranks. His style of play is versatile yet effective, consistently looking to score or create plays for others around him. As Dillon continues through this current 2020-2021 campaign, all eyes will be on him as he looks to bring success not only to himself but also Canadians everywhere!
3. Jamal Murray
Jamal Murray is one of the most recognizable names among Canadian basketball players in NBA. He is a 6’4” guard from Kitchener, Ontario and was drafted seventh overall by the Denver Nuggets in 2016. Since then, he has blossomed into a star on the hardwood, earning two All-Star selections in 2020 and 2021 along with various other accolades.
Murray first gained attention as a freshman at the University of Kentucky in 2015-2016. During his single season there, he led the Wildcats to an Elite Eight appearance while averaging 20 points per game on 44% shooting from beyond the arc. His ability to put up big numbers against top competition earned him recognition as one of college basketball’s brightest stars and prompted his early jump to the NBA draft where he was selected seventh overall by Denver.
Since joining the Nuggets in 2016, Murray has become an elite scorer and playmaker at both ends of the court. In 2019-2020, he averaged 18.5 points per game while shooting 46% from three-point range and dishing out over four assists per contest. He also showed a knack for coming through when it mattered most, scoring 40 points in Game 7 against Utah during Denver’s second round playoff series that year. The following season, Murray continued to excel, averaging 21 points and 4.8 assists per game while helping lead Denver to its first ever Western Conference Finals appearance since 2009.
Off-court, Jamal is well known for his charity work and advocacy for mental health awareness among young people throughout Canada and beyond. He was recently named the NBA Players Association Mental Health Ambassador alongside Chris Paul and DeMar DeRozan due to his commitment to this cause. Beyond his charitable efforts, Murray has also become a popular figure within both Canadian basketball culture and pop culture more broadly thanks to his infectious enthusiasm for playing basketball at its highest level each night out on the court.
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the most promising young players to come out of Canada in recent years. The Toronto native has captured the attention of NBA fans around the world with his impressive skill set and impressive play. At 6’6, he is a versatile guard who can score from all three levels of the court and play both on and off ball.
In his rookie year with the Los Angeles Clippers, Gilgeous-Alexander was named to the All-Rookie second team while averaging 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. He proved that he could be an offensive force as his scoring numbers increased throughout the season along with his overall confidence in himself as a player. His shooting percentages also increased across the board ending with him shooting 47% from the field and 38% from beyond the arc.
Throughout his first two seasons in Los Angeles, Gilgeous-Alexander was able to establish himself as an integral part of their playoff teams while continuing to improve each aspect of his game both offensively and defensively. His ability to adapt quickly to different roles allowed him to remain effective no matter how head coach Doc Rivers chose to use him in lineups throughout each game or series.
In 2020, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was traded to Oklahoma City where he has been able to take on more responsibility as a leader for their young team. In 2021 alone he’s already averaged 22 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists per game while shooting an impressive 50% from the field making him one of Canada’s top players in recent years and definitely one to watch for many years to come.
1. Andrew Wiggins
Andrew Wiggins is a Canadian professional basketball player who currently plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born in Toronto and attended college at the University of Kansas. Wiggins is considered one of the best Canadian players in NBA history and is often referred to as “Maple Jordan” due to his similar playing style to Michael Jordan.
Wiggins began his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who selected him with the first overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft. He then went on to be traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves before ever playing a game for Cleveland. He quickly made an impact with Minnesota, being named to both the NBA All-Rookie First Team and winning Rookie of the Year in 2015. Since then, he has become an integral part of their team as well as one of top Canadian players in basketball.
In 2017-18, Wiggins had a career season, averaging 23 points per game while shooting 45 percent from three-point range. He was also able to improve his overall defense which earned him respect from coaches and fans alike. He became just one of five players in NBA history to record over 2,000 points and 500 rebounds in a season joining greats such as Oscar Robertson and Kobe Bryant on that list. His success earned him an extension with Minnesota worth $148 million dollars making it one of the biggest contracts ever given out by an NBA franchise.
In addition to his individual play, Andrew Wiggins is also known for representing Canada on international stages at FIBA tournaments such as the 2019 World Cup where he led Team Canada into the quarterfinals against France before eventually losing by just four points. As well as being a standout player on court, off court he has been active in charitable causes through various organizations such as Make-A-Wish Foundation and has grown into a role model for young Canadians aspiring to make it professionally in basketball.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Canadian basketball talent has been thriving for many years. From the days of Steve Nash leading the Phoenix Suns to their most successful season in franchise history, to the current era of the best Canadian NBA players that include Jamal Murray, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and RJ Barrett, there is no shortage of talented athletes from north of the border making an impact at the highest level.
Canadian players have provided valuable contributions to teams across the Canadian basketball leagues and NBA and have won numerous individual awards and accolades. These players are helping grow the game in Canada, inspiring young athletes with their hard work and dedication while also giving a platform to feature other aspects of Canadian culture like music and fashion. With several former Canadians now working as coaches or executives in the NBA, it is clear that Canada’s influence on the world’s greatest basketball stage will only continue to increase in years to come.
Noah Belanger is a seasoned sports bettor with a decade of experience in the industry. He is the driving force behind the test reports and strategies on the LoonieBet Blog. With a unique perspective, Noah writes from the player's point of view, offering firsthand insights and expertise to help readers make informed decisions.
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