Record number of Aussies to play in NBA season
AUSTRALIA’S position as an emerging world basketball power will be on show when a record eight players headed by Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova and Patty Mills suit up for NBA teams this season.
The NBA announced a record 113 international players from 41 countries and territo- ries are on rosters the 2016-17 regular season, with Australia one of the biggest contributors.
The NBA season tipped off yesterday with the clash between Cleveland and the New York Knicks in Cleveland.
Canada has the most of any non-US country with 11 NBA players, while France comes second with 10, Brazil third with nine and Australia’s eight placing it fourth.
Australia’s contingent is: Bogut (Dallas Mavericks), Dellavedova and Maker (Milwaukee Bucks), Mills (San Antonio Spurs), Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers), Aron Baynes (Detroit Pistons), Joe Ingles and Dante Exum (Utah Jazz).
Ingles and Exum helped the Jazz to lead the league with seven international players, while the Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors each feature six.