Although it's called the National Basketball Association, the NBA actually has a global appeal. In fact, there are players from all over the world in the league, including Africa.
1. Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon was born in Nigeria and is widely considered one of the greatest players in NBA history. He was a dominant force in the post, using his signature “Dream Shake” to score over defenders. Olajuwon won two NBA championships and was named the NBA Finals MVP in both years. He was also a 12-time All-Star and was named the NBA MVP in 1994.
2. Dikembe Mutombo
Dikembe Mutombo was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and is another player who is considered one of the greatest of all time. He was an elite shot-blocker, averaging 2.8 blocks per game over his career. Mutombo was a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and was named to eight All-Star teams. He also won an NBA championship in 2000 with the Lakers.
3. Pascal Siakam
Pascal Siakam was born in Cameroon and is currently a member of the Toronto Raptors. He played college basketball for the New Mexico State Aggies and was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2016. Siakam was drafted by the Raptors in 2016 and has since become one of the best players on the team. He was named the NBA's Most Improved Player in 2019 and was also a member of the Raptors' championship-winning team the same year. In the 2019-20 season, Siakam was named an NBA All-Star for the first time and was also selected to an All-NBA Team for the first time. Despite some injuries, he's continued to make an impact and is having a great season in 2022, which is very much reflected in NBA betting markets offered by licensed sportsbooks.
4. Luol Deng
Luol Deng was born in Sudan but was forced to flee the country’s Civil War as a child. He eventually settled in the United Kingdom, where he remained until his teenage years. After a move to the United States, Deng became one of the top high school players in the country. He then had a successful 15-year NBA career, with two All-Star appearances among his many accomplishments. After retiring from the NBA, Deng became president of the South Sudan Basketball Federation and coached the South Sudan national team.
5. Hidayet Turkoglu
Hidayet Turkoglu was born in Turkey but grew up in Africa. He had a long and successful NBA career, playing for several teams, including the Raptors, Magic, and Suns. Turkoglu was a versatile player who could score, rebound, and pass. He was named the NBA's Most Improved Player in 2008 and also won an Olympic gold medal with Turkey in 2010.
6. Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid was born in Cameroon and is currently one of the best players in the NBA. He’s a versatile player who can score, rebound, and block shots. Embiid was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2017 and has since been named to five All-Star teams. He’s also a three-time NBA All-Defensive team member and a three-time All-NBA team member.
So there you have it, the greatest African-born NBA players of all time. These five players have all had incredible careers and have made a lasting impact on the game of basketball.
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