Best Canadian NBA Players of All Time: Steve Nash, Shai Gilgeous Alexander and more

In Canada, over the last two decades, basketball has expanded its outreach, and the participation of Canadian players has increased remarkably in the recent times. Canada is a country where the most played sport might be hock, but basketball has also slowly started gaining momentum. In the NBA, there are all-time famous stars like Steve Nash as well as emerging stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray, who are inspiring even Canadian players to be a part of the NBA. The Canadian NBA players team, the Toronto Raptors, has a lot of milestones, including the 2019 NBA Championship victory and Canada’s bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. There is a growing surge of basketball and other sports in Canada, which is encouraging people to participate and play these sports more often. Canadian NBA players are increasing every day, and thus we can say that, their influence on the basketball game will only get better in the coming years.

Ranking Factors

The Canadian NBA players are ranked based on the following criteria:

• Career Achievements: We have taken into consideration the achievements of the players, such as, winning the championship, MVP award, any NBA honor, or All-Star Selection.
• Consistency: The quality of performance, or for how long they played in the NBA, and their performance is taken into account.
• Team Impact: We have also noted that if they were beneficial for their team's success, leadership skills within the team, and their playoff performance.
• Individual Stats: We have taken into consideration the rebounds, assists, points, and total games played of each player for a better analysis.
• International Fame: Contribution of each player to the Canada's basketball team or in the NBA, which made the team win olympics or any championship is also assessed.

10 Best Canadian NBA Players

Canadian NBA players are making their game better day by day, which is influencing other Canadians to also be a part of this game. The kind of game they play has an impactful influence on people who have an interest in this game and want to make their career in this sport. Both the Canadian veteran talents and emerging talents are there in the NBA playing teams, which is very inspiring to see. The best Canadian players in NBA are elevating the reputation of their country by playing the basketball in a very elegant and fair manner. Canada is also giving their utmost effort in uplifting the sport category in their country, so that more and more people can have the access to it.

#10: Kelly Olynyk

Kelly Olynyk is one of the most sought after Canadian basketball players in NBA, currently playing for the New Orleans Pelicans. Olynyk has the capability of directly aiming and shooting from the frontcourt, and his height, which is 6 feet 11 inches, allows him to do so very easily. In the 2013 NBA Draft, he was drafted 13th by the Dallas Mavericks but was immediately traded to the Boston Celtics, after which his professional career took a turn. Unlike other players, Olynyk was not connected to a particular team from the start, but has played for several teams in his career. He has played for NBA teams like, the Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, and Toronto Raptors, and then finally in February 2025, he joined the New Orleans Pelicans.

If we take into account the last season, 2024-25, Olynyk played 41 games, in which he averaged 8.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game, and his field goal percentage was 50.4%. Olynyk is especially known for his basketball playing tricks, IQ, and spacing capabilities. He started his collegiate basketball career in Gonzaga University and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second team in 2014.

Kelly Olynyk has the power to play both offensively and defensively. He also shows his power and consistent playing to the audience, which is very important while playing basketball.

#9: Bennedict Mathurin

Bennedict Mathurin is a Candian basketball player in the NBA, playing for the Indiana Pacers. Mathurin is Canada's most promising and emerging player, who played in the NBA and is improving his game every day. He is 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs around 210 pounds. Mathurin was selected sixth overall by the Indiana Pacers in the 2022 NBA Draft. In the last season of the NBA, he showed his basketball playing powers, by scoring 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 72 games. In Mathurin's early career stage, he won the Most Valuable Player award at the 2024 NBA Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend held at Indianapolis.

Mathurin is ranked among the top Canadian NBA players because of his consistent attitude towards the game, versatility, and contribution to the Indiana Pacers' success. He is a player who can play very well under the pressuring games, which makes him unique. If he continues to do so, he will definitely become the face of Canada's basketball game soon in the future.

#8: Luguentz Dort

Luguentz Dort is a Canadian basketball player, currently on the roster of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He is one of the most versatile Canadian NBA players and plays a great role in the NBA's premier perimeter defender. Dort is 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs about 220 lbs. In the last session of the NBA, Dort showed his skills of power defending and had a great role in the Oklahoma City Thunder's success. He was also awarded by his first, NBA All-Defensive First Team selection award, in which he received 81 votes and was given the third position.

In the NBA's last session, Dort has averaged 10.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists across 71 regular-season games while shooting 43.5% overall and a remarkable 41.2% on three-point attempts. He has an amazing capacity to space the floor and offer steady scoring, which has augmented the Thunder's high-powered offense. In the playoffs, Dort has a fantastic play up, scoring 7.8 points per game and grabbing 3.6 rebounds per game, while continuing to be the team's defensive stopper. Dort's inclusion on the list of Canada's NBA players is supported by his dominant defensive skills, and key contribution to the team's success. His path from undrafted rookie to All-Defensive First Team selection is a testament to his work ethic and contribution on the floor.

#7: Tristan Thompson

Tristan Thompson, is one of the old players who plays for the NBA team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was one of the important players, whose presence was very important in every season of the NBA. Thompson's height is 6 feet 9 inches, and he weighs around 254 lbs. Apart from this, Thompson was drafted fourth overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, which was the highest a Canadian player had ever been drafted in the NBA. He had also played an important role in the Cavaliers' 2016 NBA Championship campaign, playing a significant part in their frontcourt dominance.
In the last season of the NBA, Thompson played in 40 games with averages of 1.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game in 8.2 minutes per game with 43.7% field goal shooting. Although now his contributions on the court have decreased because of his age, but his experience and leadership are still irreplaceable to the Cavaliers, particularly in guiding young players and offering depth in key situations.
Some of Thompson's achievements include winning an NBA Championship in 2016 and being named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2012. His position as a top Canadian NBA player is supported by his championship-winning experience and continued rebounding ability throughout his career.

#6: Dillon Brooks

Dillon Brooks is a very famous Canadian Guard/Forward who plays for the Houston Rockets. He has played an amazing role in driving the force in the team's comeback in the 2024–25 NBA season. Brook is 6 feet 6 inches in height and weighs around 225 lbs. Brooks is a combination of toughness, creativity, and ability on the court. During the last season of the NBA, 2024-25, Brook averaged 14.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, making 42.9% of his shots and an outstanding 39.7% of his three-point attempts in 75 games.
Brooks has great defensive skills and has been a staple of his career. He received the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in the 2022–23 season and received All-Defensive Team votes for the same in 2023–24, reinforcing his image as a strong defender for his team. Taking it up on the international level, he was crowned Best Defensive Player at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, which helped Canada claim the bronze medal. His prowess on offense and defensive anchor make him a precious member of the Houston Rockets team and a leader among his peers who are Canadian in nature.

#5: RJ Barrett

RJ Barrett is an all-around shooting guard and small forward, who plays for the Toronto Raptors. Earlier, he was playing for the New York Knicks, but in December 2023, he was taken up by the Toronto Raptors. Barrett is 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighs around 214 lbs. Barrett has provided his home state team with scoring skills as well as playmaking skills that helped them win many competitions and awards.
During the last NBA season, 2024-25, Barrett showed his remarkable skills and statistics, putting up 21.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game in total 58 games, with a 46.8% field goal percentage and 35.0% three-point shooting. Apart from that, he registered his first career triple-double on November 16, 2024, with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and a career-high 15 assists in overtime against the Boston Celtics.
Though, till now Barrett hasn't been granted individual awards of recognition, but his overall performance and leadership have played a critical role in the development of the Raptors. His place among Canadian NBA players is further fueled by his consistency in scoring, and strong support for the team's chemistry.

#4: Andrew Wiggins

Andrew Wiggins is a Canadian small forward, who started the 2024–25 NBA season with the Golden State Warriors but was traded during midseason to the Miami Heat NBA team as part of a four-team exchange that also included Jimmy Butler. During this season of the NBA, Wiggins played in 60 games and averaged 18.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, shooting 44.8% from the field and 37.4% from three-point range.
Wiggins' defensive play continued to contribute in a better way, averaging his game with 1.0 steals and 0.8 blocks per contest. He was also awarded with the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2015, which is a very prestigious award. Apart from this, he was previously recognized as the Gatorade National Player of the Year and the Naismith Prep Player of the Year in 2013. His position in the list of Canadian NBA players is supported by his steady scoring, defensive versatility, and past experience as the number one overall draft pick.

#3: Jamal Murray

Jamal Murray is a great point guard, who plays for the Denver Nuggets, and he also gave a stellar performance in the 2024–25 NBA season. In the last season of the NBA, he played 67 games, averaging 21.4 points, 6.0 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per contest, going 47.4% from the field and 39.3% from three-point range. His biggest career achievement was when Murray, established a career-high 55 points for the Portland Trail Blazers, on February 12, 2025, a new NBA game record for most points scored by a Canadian player.
Murray's performance got better with averages of 21.8 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game over the course of 14 games. The highlight of his performance was a 43-point outing in a critical victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, his sixth playoff 40+ point game in his career, which was a franchise record. He also demonstrated his resilience by scoring 35 points on top of eight rebounds and seven assists despite being under the weather, leading to a Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Murray's achievements include a selection to the 2016–17 NBA All-Rookie Second Team and the "Breakout of the Year" award at the 2020 Sports Illustrated Awards. His ranking among Canadian NBA players is reinforced by his scoring reliability, clutch playoff games, and game leadership.

#2:Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander plays as a guard for the NBA team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. He is one of the well-deserved basketball players, who had to be in the NBA because of his basketball playing techniques. In the last NBA season, he gave an impressive performance in which she scored 32.7 points per game, along with 6.4 assists and 5 rebounds per game. SGA's team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, secured the top position in the Western Conference, as that was the franchise's best game with a 68-14 record, all because of SGA's performance.

He was also awarded with the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award in 2024-25, and thus he became the third person in the Thunder's history to win this prestigious award. For the third consecutive year, he was selected for the All-NBA First Team. SGA also got a recognition at the Western Conference, as he played a great game there with, 30.5 points, 8.3 assists, and 4.8 rebounds.

Apart from his awards and achievements, he has amazing leadership and game-play skills on the court, which make him unique from other NBA players. Ranking factors for Gilgeous-Alexander include his league-leading scoring, multiple MVP recognitions, All-NBA selections, and his significant role in the Thunder's historic season. Alexander is one of the premier players in the league because of her consistent performance, scoring capabilities, and ability to take the team directly into the playoffs. All in all, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is considered to be one of the best Canadian NBA players of recent times, perhaps even the one who could surpass Steve Nash's legacy.

#1: Steve Nash

Steve Nash, in the number one Canadian basketball player, and is a role model for many. Nash is considered as one of the greatest point guards in the history of the NBA, who is still unbeatable. Nash was born on February 7, 1974, in Johannesburg, South Africa, but grew up in British Columbia, Canada. During his long career of many years, he played mostly as a point guard. He was taken by the Phoenix Suns with the 15th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. In his career, Nash has played for various teams in the NBA, which involved playing for the Phoenix Suns (1996–1998, 2004–2012), Dallas Mavericks (1998–2004), and Los Angeles Lakers (2012–2015).
Nash's professional career is filled with many awards and achievements. He received consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards in 2005 and 2006, along with it he also became the first Canadian MVP in NBA history. Nash is a two-time NBA scoring champion, and was also an eight-time NBA All-Star, five-time NBA assists leader, and one of only four members of the elite 50–40–90 shooting club. His outstanding playmaking and shooting ability were the driving force behind making the high-scoring "Seven Seconds or Less" offense more popular while he played for the Phoenix Suns.
In addition to his achievements on the court, Nash was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018. His placement in the Canadian ranks as an NBA player is supported by his consistency, leadership, and influential contribution to the sport.