25 Best Canadian Basketball Players Of All Time

Canadian basketball player Steve Nash. photo by Keith Allison – Wikimedia commons

25 Best Canadian Basketball Players Of All Time

Basketball has long been a popular sport among the general public in Canada. The nation boasts some of the best basketball players in the world thanks to the system and implementations put in the country that has contributed to the growth of the sport. The players have carved their mark in the game and their achievements have been instrumental in shaping the sport in the nation and around the globe.

These players are notable for their skill, impact on the court, determination, aesthetics, and overall talent. Their movement on the court is exceptional, and they have served as an inspiration for the future generation. These players are diverse, with generational talents playing and leaving their accomplishments for adoration, ranging from exceptional point guards to hyper centres and point guards with razor-sharp vision. Despite some flaws, their careers have been nothing short of spectacular, and their influence is still felt in the current sports world. Let us take a look at 25 of the best Canadian basketball players of all time.

1. Steve Nash

Canadian basketball player Steve Nash, in a drive to the basket against the Washington Wizards. photo by Keith Allison – Wikimedia commons

Stephen Nash is a former professional basketball player from Canada. He played 18 seasons in the NBA and was selected to the All-NBA team seven times and as an All-Star eight times. While playing for the Phoenix Suns, Nash won the NBA Most Valuable Player award twice. He received recognition for his ability to create plays, handle the ball, and shoot. He averaged 11.5 assists per game from 2004 to 2005, 10.5 assists from 2005 to 2006, 11.6 assists from 2006 to 2007, 11.0 assists from 2009 to 2010, and 11.4 assists from 2010 to 2011. He also won the NBA Skills Challenge in 2005 and 2010. 

In 2004, when Nash returned to Phoenix, he assisted the Suns in going from a 29-53 record in 2003–04 to a 62–20 record in 2004–05, reaching the Conference Finals for the first time in 11 years, where he managed to win his first MVP title.

Related: 35 Best White Basketball Players of All Time

2. Andrew Wiggins

Andrew Wiggins photo by Erik Drost – Wikimedia commons

Canadian professional basketball player Andrew Wiggins plays for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. Following one season of collegiate basketball with the Kansas Jayhawks, he was picked by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the first overall choice in the 2014 NBA Draft. He became just the second Canuck to go first overall in an NBA draft.

Wiggins won NBA Rookie of the Year honours for the 2014–15 season following a preseason trade to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was traded to Golden State in 2020 after spending five and a half seasons with Minnesota. In 2022, Wiggins won his first NBA title, was picked for his first NBA All-Star game and was given the starting nod for the Western Conference. He also represents the Canadian national basketball team.

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Oklahoma City Thunder at Washington Wizards on January 11, 2022 photo by All-Pro Reels – Wikimedia commons

Canadian professional basketball player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, often known by his initials SGA, plays for the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. Also, he spent a season playing college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.

The Charlotte Hornets picked Gilgeous-Alexander with the 11th overall choice in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft, and that same night, they traded him to the Los Angeles Clippers. Before being moved to the Thunder in July 2019, he spent his rookie season with the Clippers and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

4. R.J. Barrett

R. J. Barrett at the Free Throw Line for the Blue Devils at Cassell Coliseum photo by SneakinDeacon – Wikimedia commons

RJ Barrett is a professional basketball player from Canada who plays for the NBA’s New York Knicks. He spent one season with the Duke Blue Devils before the New York Knicks selected him third overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. Barrett won the 2017 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup MVP award while playing for the Canadian national under-19 team, which won the gold medal. During the 2019 FIBA World Cup qualification process, he made his senior squad debut.

5. Jamal Murray

Jamal Murray free throw photo by All-Pro Reels- Wikimedia commons

Jamal Murray is a professional basketball player from Canada who plays for the NBA’s Denver Nuggets. He also represents the national team of Canada. Before being selected by the Denver Nuggets as the seventh overall choice in the 2016 NBA Draft, he played one season of collegiate basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.

6. Rick Fox

Rick Fox photo by Greg2600 – Wikimedia commons

Actor and former basketball player Ulrich Alexander Fox hails from Canada. He played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels as well as NBA basketball with the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. In the first round of the 1991 NBA Draft, Fox was selected by the Boston Celtics as the number 24 overall pick. Fox made the 1992 NBA All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 8 points per game while playing for the Celtics, becoming the first rookie starter on opening night since Larry Bird in 1979. He was the owner of the eSports franchise Echo Fox until he departed from the franchise in October 2019.

7. Jamaal Magloire

Jamaal Magloire playing with the w: Miami Heat photo by Keith Allison – Wikimedia commons

Former Canadian basketball player Jamaal Magloire now works for the Toronto Raptors as a community ambassador and consultant for basketball development. His 12-year NBA career included stints with the Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers, New Jersey Nets, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, and Toronto Raptors.

After pulling his name out of the 1999 draft, the Charlotte Hornets selected the centre out of the University of Kentucky with the 19th overall pick in the 2000 NBA draft. He became just the only second Canadian All-Star in NBA history to be voted into the NBA All-Star Game in 2004.

8. Chris Boucher

Chris Boucher of the Raptors photo by All-Pro Reels – Wikimedia commons

 Currently playing with the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association is professional basketball player Christopher Boucher, a Canadian-Saint Lucia. Born in Saint Lucia, he was an Oregon Ducks basketball player in college. Boucher’s injury prevented him from participating in team workouts before the 2017 NBA Draft. In the end, he was not picked by any team, but the Golden State Warriors, who had acquired Jordan Bell’s draft pick from the Chicago Bulls, signed him to a two-way contract.

9. Luguentz Dort

Luguentz Dort photo by All-Pro Reels – Wikimedia commons

Luguentz Dort is a professional basketball player from Canada who plays for the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. He represented the Arizona State Sun Devils in collegiate basketball.

Dort finished his high school career at the Athlete Institute in Mono, Ontario, where he was one of the best high school athletes in Canada and was ranked as high as a five-star recruit. Dort joined the Oklahoma City Thunder on a two-way deal after going undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft. On December 6, 2019, he made his NBA debut, participating for 7 minutes and snagging 1 rebound in a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in overtime.

10. Dillon Brooks

Dillon Brooks’s photo sourced from Wikimedia commons

Canadian professional basketball player Dillon Brooks plays for the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies. He was a college basketball player for the Oregon Ducks, where he was recognized as a conference player of the year in the Pac-12 and a second-team All-American. He competes for Canada’s national team. In the 2017 NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets selected Brooks with the 45th overall choice, and he was then traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies signed Brooks to his rookie scale contract on July 21, 2017. Brooks scored 19 points in the Grizzlies’ season opener on October 18, 2017, setting a record for most points scored by an NBA rookie who is of Canadian descent. 

11. Bill Wennington

Bill Wennington photo by Jauerback – Wikimedia commons

William Wennington (known as Bill Wennington) is a retired professional basketball player from Canada who played for the Chicago Bulls and won three NBA titles. He was a centre who competed for Canada in the 1983 World University Games and the 1984 Olympics, where the team won gold. Moreover, he was a member of the Canadian squad that slightly missed qualifying for the 1992 Olympics. Both the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame and the Quebec Basketball Hall of Fame have Wennington inducted. 

12. Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Nickel Alexander Walker on the floor for the Hokies at Cassell Coliseum photo by SneakinDeacon – Wikimedia commons

Canadian professional basketball player Nickeil Alexander-Walker plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association. He was a Virginia Tech Hokies basketball player in college. He was selected by the Brooklyn Nets as the 17th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft as a shooting guard and point guard but was later traded to the New Orleans Pelicans.

13. Bennedict Mathurin

Bennedict Mathurin Photo by Marc-Grégor Campredon – Wikimedia commons

Canadian professional basketball player Bennedict Mathurin plays for the NBA’s Indiana Pacers. He was an Arizona Wildcats basketball player in college. After his sophomore campaign, Mathurin was recognized as the Pac-12 Player of the Year and a consensus second-team All-American. In the NBA draft of 2022, the Pacers selected him as the sixth overall pick.

Read more: 30 Best High School Basketball Players of all time

14. Dwight Powell

Dwight Powell is a Canadian professional basketball player who competes professionally for the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA. Powell was a player for IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida in his high school basketball career after spending his freshman year at Earl Haig Secondary School in Toronto, Ontario. He got a rating as a three-star recruit and was ranked the 32nd-best power forward and the 102nd-best player in the country and for the class of 2010. He had a senior season scoring average of 23.2, 11.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.3 blocks.

15. Brandon Clarke

Brandon Clarke photo by Mogami Kariya – Wikimedia commons

 Brandon Clarke is a Canadian-American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA. He participated in collegiate basketball for the San Jose State Spartans and Gonzaga Bulldogs teams. He was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the 21st overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, and he was then traded to the Grizzlies. In 2020, he was selected for the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

16. Tristan Thompson

Tristan Thompson photo by Erik Drost – Wikimedia commons

Tristan Thompson is a Canadian-American who most recently played for the NBA’s Chicago Bulls. He has also played in the NBA for the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, and Indiana Pacers. He won the 2016 NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Before being selected by the Cavaliers as the fourth overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Thompson played one season of collegiate basketball for the Texas Longhorns. He has also represented Canada’s national team on the squad. 

17. Shaedon Sharpe

Shaedon Sharpe photo by Frenchieinportland – Wikimedia commons

Shaedon Sharpe is a professional basketball player from Canada who plays for the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. At Dream City Christian School in Glendale, Arizona, he was regarded as one of the best players in his class and a unanimous five-star recruit. Before leaving for the NBA, Sharpe joined Kentucky but did not play in a single collegiate match. In the NBA draft of 2022, he was chosen as the seventh overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers.

18. Kelly Olynyk

Kelly Olynyk photo by All-Pro Reels – Wikimedia commons

Canadian professional basketball player Kelly Olynyk plays for the NBA’s Utah Jazz. He competed for the Gonzaga Bulldogs in college basketball, where he was named an All-American in 2013. Olynyk, who skipped his final season of college basketball, was taken by the Dallas Mavericks with the 13th overall choice in the 2013 NBA Draft before being immediately traded to the Boston Celtics.

He joined the Miami Heat in July 2017 and played for them until the NBA Finals in 2020. Olynyk was dealt to the Houston Rockets in March 2021. In August 2021, he agreed to join the Pistons. He competes for the national team of Canada.

19. Cory Joseph

Cory playing for Team Canada in 2018 during the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers photo by ReubenPol – Wikimedia commons

Canadian professional basketball player Cory Joseph plays for the NBA’s Detroit Pistons. The San Antonio Spurs selected Joseph with the 29th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft on June 23, 2011. He plays in the point guard position for the Canadian national team and serves as the team’s captain.

20. Trey Lyles

Trey Lyles driving photo by TonyTheTiger – Wikimedia commons

Canadian professional basketball player Trey Lyles plays for the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. Lyles and Josh Jackson were acquired by the Sacramento Kings on February 10, 2022, as part of a four-team transaction that also sent Marvin Bagley III to the Pistons. The Utah Jazz selected him in the first round of the draft after his first year at the University of Kentucky. Lyles and Tyler Lydon’s draft rights were transferred to the Denver Nuggets on June 22, 2017, along with the draft rights to Donovan Mitchell.

21. Samuel Dalembert

Samuel Dalembert dunking against the Golden State Warriors. photo by Kevin Burkett – Wikimedia commons

Samuel Dalembert, a former professional basketball player of Haitian and Canadian descent, spent 13 seasons in the NBA. He represented Seton Hall University in college basketball. Dalembert was well-known for both his abilities to block shots and to rebound during his active NBA career.

22. Todd MacCulloch

Former NBA player Todd MacCulloch is a Canadian who played four seasons of professional basketball. After playing for the University of Washington in collegiate basketball, he was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers as the 47th overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft. Before being forced to retire early due to a genetic neuromuscular ailment that affected his feet, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, MacCulloch played centre for the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Nets.

23. Khem Birch

Khem Birch is a professional basketball player from Canada who plays for the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs. He participated in collegiate basketball with the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels and the Pittsburgh Panthers. He forfeited his last year of college eligibility when he declared for the NBA draft in April 2014. Birch joined the Washington Wizards for the 2014 NBA Summer League after going undrafted in the NBA draft that year.

24. Dalano Banton

Dalano Banton photo by All-Pro Reels – Wikimedia commons

Canadian basketball player Dalano Banton plays for the NBA’s Toronto Raptors. He represented the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the Nebraska Cornhuskers in college basketball. The Raptors selected Banton with the 46th overall choice in the 2021 NBA Draft, making him the first player from Canada to be selected by a Canadian team.

25. Oshae Brissett

Oshae Brissett photo by All-Pro Reels – Wikimedia commons

Canadian professional basketball player Oshae Brissett plays for the National Basketball Association’s Indiana Pacers. He was a Syracuse Orange basketball player in college. He waived his two remaining years of collegiate eligibility after the season and declared himself eligible for the NBA Draft. Brissett wasn’t selected, though. Brissett joined the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association on July 23, 2019. Brissett agreed to a three-year contract to compete for the Canadian senior men’s national team on May 24, 2022.

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