A record four Canadian players will participate in the NBA Rising Stars Game set to take place on Friday during All-Star Weekend in Chicago, the most ever from outside of the United States.
The 26th Rising Stars game will pit 10 first- and second-year NBA players from the United States against 10 first- and second-year NBA players from around the world in the league’s annual showcase.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, R.J. Barrett, Brandon Clarke and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander make up the four players set to represent Canada in the event with Gilgeous-Alexander the lone sophomore.
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Canadian basketball has had an emerging presence in the NBA recently.
Entering the 2019-20 season, there were 108 international players representing 38 countries and territories on opening-night rosters — 16 of those players were from Canada, the most ever from outside the U.S.
The number of Canadians in the NBA expands to 20 with the inclusion of two-way contract players. Of those 20 players, eight are currently in their first year in the NBA.
NBA Rising Stars will tip-off at 8 p.m. ET on NBA on TNT.
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