The NBA is not only a pinnacle of professional athletics but also an equally impressive global organization, with many players – including those playing in the NBA Finals – having dual citizenship or multiple residencies.
Originally established as two separate leagues, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL), they merged in 1949 to become the National Basketball Association or the NBA.
The NBA has showcased the world’s best basketball talent and has become a beacon of inspiration for youth worldwide.
Today, virtually every young basketball player around the world dreams of making it to the NBA – and many do.
The NBA welcomes players from all over the world. After all, the NBA prioritizes skill above everything else.
And, as natural-born skill and talent know no boundaries, neither does the NBA.
NBA players with multiple citizenship or residency
In the 2022-2023 season alone, 120 international athletes from 40 countries spanning six continents took to the hardwood on the league’s opening night.
At least 30 NBA teams had a player on their active roster who either had alternative citizenship or residency or was at least born outside the United States.
Interestingly, Canada is the number one international home for most of the NBA’s international players, but Europe, the Caribbean, Asia, Latin America, and Africa are also well represented.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Nationalities: Greek and Nigerian
- Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Nicknamed “The Greek Freak and The Alphabet,” Giannis Antetokounmpo is a dominant power forward, point guard, and shooter for the Milwaukee Bucks.
In 1994, he was born in Athens, Greece, to Nigerian parents, thus giving him Greek-Nigerian dual citizenship.
At 19, he joined the Milwaukee Bucks for the 2013-2014 season as the Bucks’ 15th overall pick in the first round of the NBA Draft and has played with them since.
Today, Giannis Antetokounmp is renowned for his speed, size, and all-around game.
In 2019 and 2020, he consecutively earned the NBA Most Valuable Player award. He even won the NBA Finals MVP award for his outstanding playoff performance and led the Bucks to their 2021 NBA title, their first in fifty years.
He has earned over 30 awards and recognitions throughout his career, including the Michael Jordan Trophy and the Kobe Bryant Trophy.
His dominance and success on the NBA hardwood have inspired young players from all corners of the Earth.
Al Horford
- Nationalities: Dominican and American
- Team: Boston Celtics
Alfred Joel Horford Reynoso – or simply Al Horford – is currently playing in the NBA finals for the Boston Celtics.
Horfold holds dual citizenship, as he is both Dominican [born in the Dominican Republic] and American.
He was born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and relocated to the United States as a teen. He played high school and college ball before joining the NBA.
Horford played for the Florida Gators during their NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007.
Horford’s NBA career spans over 15 years and five NBA teams:
- Atlanta Hawks — 2007–2016
- Boston Celtics — 2016–2019
- Philadelphia 76ers — 2019–2020
- Oklahoma City Thunder — 2020–2021
- Boston Celtics — 2021–present
Horford plays center for the Boston Celtics, currently in the 2023-2024 NBA Finals.
Neemias Queta
- Nationalities: Portugal and US residency
- Team: Boston Celtics
Neemias can claim a unique status in the NBA. He is the first-ever Portuguese-born player to wear an NBA jersey. And he was only the second Utah State player to be taken in the NBA Draft since 1986.
Neemias was born in Lisbon, Portugal, and was playing in Europe when he caught the eye of a college recruiter and signed with Utah State University in 2018.
During his freshman year at Utah, he first tried his luck in the NBA Combine but returned to college ball after struggling to compete.
Nevertheless, the Sacramento Kings took Neemias in the 2021 NBA Draft as their 9th pick in the second round and 39th overall.
Neemis made his hardwood debut in December 2021 and played two seasons with the Kings before signing a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics for the 2022-2023 NBA season.
A choice that proved his best move, Neemis is currently the Celtics’ center in the 2023-2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.
Enes Freedom
- Nationalities: Turkish and American
- Team: Former Boston Celtic – currently an Unrestricted Free Agent
Nicknamed “Enes the Menace” and born Enes Kanter, Enes Freedom is more than a typical award-winning NBA player—his active human rights posture has also made him a Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
He last played for the Boston Celtics during the 2021-2022 season.
Enes was born in Switzerland to Turkish parents and grew up in Turkey. Enes does not possess Swiss citizenship, as Swiss citizenship can only be passed on through Swiss parents.
He later relocated to America as a teenager and became a naturalized US citizen in 2021, when he legally changed his last name to Freedom.
He attended the University of Kentucky but did not play college ball.
The Utah Jazz selected him as their third overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
He has since played for multiple teams, including:
- New York Knicks
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Boston Celtics
Throughout his career, Freedom made 11 NBA postseason appearances. However, he was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2022, who later waived him, leaving him as an unrestricted free agent.
Rui Hachimura
- Nationalities: Japan and US residency
- Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Even though being a six-eight power forward with the nickname the “Black Samurai” speaks volumes, it is still not close to what Rui’s game does.
Born in Toyama, Japan, in 1998, Rui played high school ball in Japan until he was discovered by a college talent shark in 2015 and signed a National Letter of Intent to play for Gonzaga.
At the time, ESPN called Rui one of the best international players available.
Eligibility disputes between Rui and Gonzaga with the NCAA would delay Rui’s college debut, but he made his Bulldog debut in 2016.
In 2019, Rui was taken in the NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards in the first round as the 9th overall pick – making his NBA debut in October 2019.
He played for the Wizards into the 2022-2023 season, when he was traded to the LA Lakers in January 2023.
Sasha Vezenkov
- Nationalities: Bulgarian, Cypriot, and Greek
- Team: Sacramento Kings
Born Aleksandar Vezenkov, Sasha is an NBA rookie playing his first season in the league with the Sacramento Kings.
Sasha is a six-foot-nine power forward who, at the age of 28, is one of the oldest NBA rookies in history. However, he was originally drafted by the Brooklyn Nets as the 57th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Sasha was born in Nicosia, Cyprus, in 1995 to Bulgarian parents, so he holds triple nationality: Bulgarian, Cypriot, and Greek. Should he acquire US citizenship, Sasha will join the ranks of elite global citizens – quadruple citizenship.
After a successful basketball career in Europe and officially being drafted into the NBA in 2017, Sasha finally joined the NBA for the 2023–2024 season, making his debut in October 2023.
Today, he is known for his amazing versatility, playing both center and power forward positions.
Tyler Dorsey
- Nationalities: American and Greek
- Team: Dallas Mavericks (2022-2023)
Also known as “Mr. March,” Tyler Dorsey was a small forward and shooting guard for the Dallas Mavericks.
Born in Pasadena, California, he holds American citizenship by birthright.
In addition, Tyler Dorsey holds Greek citizenship by descent – as his mother was a Greek citizen.
Interestingly, Dorsey may also have a right to Israeli citizenship by descent, as his mother was born in Jerusalem to a Greek father and an Israeli mother.
The Atlanta Hawks selected Dorsey in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft and played the next two seasons with them and with Memphis.
In 2022–2023, he played for the Dallas Mavericks after not playing in the NBA since the 2018-2019 season.
In February 2023, Dorsey signed a contract to play in the Turkish Basketball Super League instead of with the NBA.
Chris Boucher
- Nationalities: Canada, St. Lucia, & US residency
- Team: Toronto Raptors
Yes, in case you forgot, Canada is the NBA’s number one source of international talent, and the league also has a Canadian team: the Toronto Raptors.
A small power forward and center, Boucher was born in St. Lucia, acquired Canadian citizenship through his father, played college ball in Oregon, was signed by the Golden State Warriors, and now plays for the Toronto Raptors.
A genuine global citizen story of success.
Boucher was born in Castries, St. Lucia, in 1993. His mother is St. Lucian, and his father is Canadian; thus, Boucher was born a dual citizen.
Unlike most NBA stars, Boucher’s life did not traverse the standard narrative of high school ball, which led to college recruitment and the NBA Draft.
Raised by a single mom, Boucher dropped out of high school to get a job and help the family. He spent many years as a cook and dishwasher in a Montreal restaurant.
At age 19, Boucher decided to play in a tournament in which he scored 44 points in the final. Following this, he was offered enrollment in an academy for young and rising athletes.
He accepted the offer, and after a game against a New Jersey team, Division 1 scouts took notice.
Eventually, Boucher ended up at Oregon State and, in 2017, accepted an Exhibit 10 contract to play for Golden State, making his NBA debut in March 2018.
Following the end of the 2018 NBA season, the Warriors waived Boucher, who then signed with Toronto.
In the 2019 NBA Finals, Boucher and the Raptors defeated the Warriors, winning the NBA Championship against his former team and becoming the first Canadian citizen to win an NBA title playing on the NBA’s only Canadian team.
Joel Embiid
- Nationalities: Cameroonian, French and American
- Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Known by a string of nicknames, including:
- JoJo
- The Process
- Do-a-180
- Troel
- The Phantom of the Process
Joel Hans Embiid has played center for the Philadelphia 76ers since making his debut in October 2016. He was the third overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Embiid was born in Cameroon, and after being discovered as a teen playing in French leagues, Embiid moved to the United States and attended high schools in California and Florida.
He would go on to play college ball for Kansas and become a naturalized US citizen.
Though Joel Hans Embiid never reached the NBA finals, he has played in several NBA All-Star games, including being named MVP of the NBA All-Star Game.
He is famous for his defensive prowess and shot-blocking ability; however, when playing time became questionable in the NBA, Embiid opened up his global prospects and applied to become a naturalized citizen of France.
Though one of the most difficult citizenships in the world to acquire, in 2022, France approved his naturalization request based on three findings:
1: Embiid dedicated significant parts of his life to France
2: He spoke fluent, near-native, French
3: His NBA-grade talent would be of “exceptional interest” to the French National Team
Embiid – now a French citizen – went on to play for France’s National Team.
Duane Washington Jr.
- Nationalities: German and American
- Team: New York Knicks
A shooting guard and point guard, Washington made his NBA debut in October 2021 with the Indiana Pacers. He had bypassed the NBA Draft and went straight onto the Pacers’ roster after playing at Ohio State.
Duane Eddy Washington Jr. was born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 2000, while his father – Duane Washington [also born in Germany] -who once played in the NBA, was then playing for Skyliners Frankfurt.
Thus, he acquired both US and German citizenship by birthright.
Washington Jr. grew up in Michigan, attended several high schools, and finally played college ball at Ohio State.
Washington Jr. played the 2022-2023 NBA season with the Phoenix Suns, who waived him at the close of their season. In January 2024, Washington Jr. signed a contract to play with the Knicks.
Washington Jr.’s skill set includes perimeter shooting, scoring ability, and versatility.
He won various awards for his excellent performance, which included All-Big Ten recognition.
Astons – A community of global citizens
For 35 years, Astons has been a team of experts skilled and seasoned in the realm of global citizenship and the Plan B strategies that alternative residencies and backup passports provide.
When you are ready to join the league, schedule your Free Confidential & Comprehensive Consultation with Astons.
