NBA All-Star 2023 will have record-breaking number of international players / News - Basketnews.com

A record 25 international players from a record 17 countries will participate in NBA All-Star 2023 in Salt Lake City.

Credit: AP, USA Sports Today-Scanpix Credit AP, USA Sports Today-Scanpix

The 72nd All-Star Weekend will have a lot of international accents.

Domantas Sabonis

MIN:34.6PTS:18.8 (66.03%)REB:12.24As:6.89ST:0.82BL:0.45TO:2.87GM:55ProfileNBA2022/2023

A record 25 international players from a record 17 countries will participate in NBA All-Star 2023 in Salt Lake City, including a record six international All-Star Game starters and a record-tying nine international All-Stars overall. In comparison, 15 international players from 12 countries highlighted the NBA All-Star 2022.

For the first time, the NBA All-Star Draft will take place right before the 72nd NBA All-Star Game, which will tip off on Sunday, Feb. 19. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks; Greece; ties to Nigeria) and LeBron James will serve as team captains after receiving the most fan votes in their respective conferences.

International starters joining Antetokounmpo are Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks; Slovenia), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers; Cameroon), Kyrie Irving (Mavericks; Australia), Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets; Serbia) and Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz; Finland).

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder; Canada), Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings; Lithuania), and Pascal Siakam (Toronto Raptors; Cameroon) make up the international All-Star reserves. Markkanen is poised to become the first player from Finland to play in an NBA All-Star Game.

Jordan Rising Stars, which will take place on Feb. 17 will feature nine international players: Sidy Cissoko (NBA G League Ignite; France), Josh Giddey (Thunder; Australia), Mojave King (NBA G League Ignite; Australia), Bennedict Mathurin (Indiana Pacers; Canada; ties to Haiti), Leonard Miller (NBA G League Ignite; Canada), Andrew Nembhard (Pacers; Canada), Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets; Turkey), Jeremy Sochan (San Antonio Spurs; United Kingdom; ties to Poland) and Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic; Germany).

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Team:Milwaukee BucksPosition:PFAge:28Height:211 cmWeight:98 kgBirth place:Athens, GreeceProfileNewsStatistics

Giddey (NBA Global Academy), King (NBA Global Academy), and Mathurin (NBA Academy Latin America) are all graduates of the NBA Academy program.

The 3-Point Contest, which is part of All-Star Saturday Night on Feb. 18, will feature Markkanen and Buddy Hield (Pacers; Bahamas).

The Skills Challenge, also part of All-Star Saturday Night, will feature one team composed of three Antetokounmpo brothers: Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo (Bucks; Greece; ties to Nigeria) and Alex Antetokounmpo (Wisconsin Herd; Greece; ties to Nigeria).

The NBA G League Next Up Game will take place on Feb. 19.

The 24-player field features seven international players: Charles Bassey (Austin Spurs; Nigeria), Cissoko, King, Miller, Neemias Queta (Stockton Kings; Portugal), Babacar Sane (NBA G League Ignite; Senegal), and Gui Santos (Santa Cruz Warriors; Brazil).

In addition to King, Sane is a graduate of the NBA Academy program, having previously attended NBA Academy Africa and participated in the 2022 Basketball Africa League season as part of the BAL Elevate program.

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