The NBA continues to expand its reach across the globe, with 107 international players from 41 countries on opening night rosters at the start of the 2020-21 season.
In 2019, international players dominated the end-of-season awards, taking home MVP, Most Improved, Rookie of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year. A year later, Greek national Giannis Antetokounmpo was named the MVP and DPOY.
So, with international players taking the league by storm, it comes as no surprise that the 2021 NBA All-Star game will feature a record eight international players from eight different countries.
Take a look back at the growth of international All-Stars since the year 2000.
2021 - 8 players
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece)
- Luka Doncic (Slovenia)
- Ben Simmons (Australia)
- Joel Embiid (Cameroon)
- Nikola Jokic (Serbia)
- Rudy Gobert (France)
- Domantas Sabonis (Lithuania)
- Nikola Vucevic (Montenegro)
2020 - 8 players
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece)
- Luka Doncic (Slovenia)
- Ben Simmons (Australia)
- Joel Embiid (Cameroon)
- Pascal Siakam (Cameroon)
- Nikola Jokic (Serbia)
- Rudy Gobert (France)
- Domantas Sabonis (Lithuania)
The 2020 #NBAAllStar #TeamLeBron & #TeamGiannis rosters as drafted by @KingJames and @Giannis_An34! pic.twitter.com/zV0w37TgDN
— NBA (@NBA) February 7, 2020
2019 - 6 players
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece)
- Nikola Vucevic (Montenegro)
- Nikola Jokic (Serbia)
- Joel Embiid (Cameroon)
- Ben Simmons (Australia)
- Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
2018 - 4 players
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece)
- Goran Dragic (Slovenia)
- Al Horford (Dominican Republic)
- Joel Embiid (Cameroon)
2017 - 2 players
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece)
- Marc Gasol (Spain)
2016 - 2 players
- Al Horford (Dominican Republic)
- Pau Gasol (Spain)
2015 - 4 players
- Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
- Pau Gasol (Spain)
- Marc Gasol (Spain)
- Al Horford (Dominican Republic)
2014 - 2 players
- Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
- Tony Parker (France)
2013 - 2 players
- Luol Deng (South Sudan)
- Tony Parker (France)
2012 - 4 players
- Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
- Tony Parker (France)
- Luol Deng (South Sudan)
- Marc Gasol (Spain)
2011 - 4 players
- Al Horford (Dominican Republic)
- Manu Ginobili (Argentina)
- Pau Gasol (Spain)
- Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
- Yao Ming (China)
2010 - 3 players
- Al Horford (Dominican Republic)
- Pau Gasol (Spain)
- Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
2009 - 3 players
- Pau Gasol (Spain)
- Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
- Yao Ming (China)
2008 - 2 players
- Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
- Yao Ming (China)
2007 - 3 players
- Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
- Yao Ming (China)
- Mehmet Okur (Tukey)
2006 - 4 players
- Pau Gasol (Spain)
- Tony Parker (France)
- Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
- Yao Ming (China)
2005 - 4 players
- Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
- Yao Ming (China)
- Manu Ginobili (Argentina)
- Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Lithuania)
2004 - 4 players
- Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
- Yao Ming (China)
- Andrei Kirilenko (Russia)
- Peja Stojakovic (Serbia)
2003 - 4 players
- Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Lithuania)
- Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
- Yao Ming (China)
- Peja Stojakovic (Serbia)
2002 - 2 players
- Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
- Peja Stojakovic (Serbia)
2001 - 1 player
- Vlade Divac (Serbia)
2000 - 0 players
