Wembanyama, Giannis and Embiid lead a record 67 players of African heritage on NBA rosters

The NBA's new season tipped off with more players of African heritage than ever before.

A record 67 players born in Africa or with at least one African parent were on opening night rosters for the 2026-27 season. That is up from more than 55 at the start of last season.

The group is led by San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, Miami Heat teammates Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and Washington Wizards rookie AJ Dybantsa, this year's No. 1 overall draft pick.

Nigeria leads the way

Eighteen African countries are represented. Nigeria accounts for nearly half the group with 29 players, including Adebayo, Antetokounmpo, Knicks forward OG Anunoby and Wizards center Deandre Ayton, whose father is from Nigeria.

Senegal is next with six players. Cameroon and Mali have five each. Embiid heads the Cameroon group, which also includes Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam.

The African roots reach across other national teams too. Thirteen of France's 17 NBA players have African heritage. Wembanyama's family ties run to the Democratic Republic of the Congo through his father, Félix.

Japan's Rui Hachimura has roots in Benin through his father. Germany's Dennis Schröder has Gambian heritage. Portugal's Neemias Queta has ties to Guinea-Bissau.

A growing number

The rise comes even as the league's overall international group dipped to 125 players from last season's record 135. Those players represent 43 countries on six continents. Every NBA team has at least one.

The NBA counted 50 players with African roots in the 2023-24 season and 52 the following season.

Opening night

Five of those players took the floor in Tuesday's opening tripleheader. Embiid had 13 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three blocks as Philadelphia beat the defending champion Knicks 106-100. Anunoby scored 10 for New York.

Wembanyama had 12 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks in San Antonio's loss to Oklahoma City, though he made just 1 of 13 shots. Queta added three points, four rebounds and two blocks for Boston in its loss at Detroit.