- Here’s a list of the three best Canadian NBA players in history.
- Steve Nash leads the list of the greatest Canadian NBA players.
- Rick Fox and Andrew Wiggins are the other names on the list.
Outside of the United States, Canada is one of the other countries that has produced a lot of NBA players. Thanks to its pipeline of basketball talent, the country is represented in the best basketball league in the world. In the 2022-23 season alone, 26 players from Canada earned a roster spot from various teams. Players like Jamal Murray, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and RJ Barrett have boosted their team’s NBA championship odds.
Despite the major contributions from the aforementioned names, three players from Canada stood out and made the cut on the greatest players list. These players collected the most accolades and significantly helped their respective teams win games and capture championships. Find out the three Canadian players below.
Steve Nash
First on the list is Steve Nash. The 6-foot-3 point guard is the undisputed greatest Canadian NBA player of all time because of his stacked resume. Drafted as the 15th overall pick in 1996 by Phoenix, Nash started as a second-string guard for the team. After two seasons with the Suns, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 1998 and started making a name for himself as one of the premier point guards in the league.
Let’s start this day off with some Steve Nash Suns highlights. pic.twitter.com/h4nxhBLWPE
— ThrowbackHoops (@ThrowbackHoops) October 24, 2020
After six seasons, he returned to Phoenix, leading them to successive playoff appearances in the Western Conference. Nash won back-to-back MVPs in 2005 and 2006 thanks to his stellar play with the Suns. He was also selected to eight NBA All-Star Games and became part of the All-NBA 1st Team thrice from 2005 to 2007. Nash finished his playing career in 2014 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.
Rick Fox
Rick Fox was another Canadian basketball great who played for 13 seasons in the NBA. He was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1991 as the 24th overall pick. During his six-year tenure with Boston, Fox established himself as a reliable two-way player who could contribute timely points and defend the best player on the opposing team. In 1997, the 6-foot-7 forward signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Hello @SDinwiddie_25 #NiceToMeetYou Thanks for the introduction @ClutchPointsApp ~ this is a photo of the 3 Captains that @PhilJackson11 chose to lead his @Lakers Teams to Back2Back2Back Championships ~Who is @RickFox? I AM #TheOther #TheEnforcer
KEYS:#DefenseWinsChampionships pic.twitter.com/QdOBPOKeYQ— Rick Fox (@RickFox) April 14, 2023
When he arrived in Los Angeles, Fox embraced a new role in the team by becoming the defensive specialist off the bench because his offensive output was reduced due to the dynamic duo of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. That sacrifice paid off, as he became part of the Lakers three-peat from 2000 to 2002. Fox’s last season in the league was played during the 2003-04 season with the Purple and Gold.
Andrew Wiggins
Rounding out the list of the three greatest Canadian players in history is Andrew Wiggins. The former Kansas standout was drafted as the number one overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014 but was immediately traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Wiggins became one of the foundational players of the franchise and won the Rookie of the Year award in 2015.
Since then, he led the team offensively. However, despite his fine play, Minnesota only reached the playoffs once in his six years with them.
Andrew Wiggins is an NBA champion. 🥲 @warriors pic.twitter.com/XRuYCfDLZI
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) June 17, 2022
His basketball fortunes changed when he got traded to the Golden State Warriors in February 2020. Upon his arrival to the team, Wiggins accepted another role given to him, as he focused more on the defensive end while still being a constant threat on offense. The 6-foot-7 forward played his part well, which helped him become an NBA All-Star and an NBA champion in 2022. In his first nine years in the NBA, Wiggins has averaged 17.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists.