The National Basketball Association starts its 2020-21 regular season on Tuesday night. This season, there are 18 Canadians on NBA rosters, including five starters.
The starters are Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Golden State Warriors shooting guard Andrew Wiggins, and New York Knicks shooting guard R.J. Barrett of Toronto, Ontario, Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray of Kitchener, Ontario, and Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard Dillon Brooks of Mississauga, Ontario. All the starters are guards from Ontario.
Wiggins averaged 21.8 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, and 3.7 assists per game in 2019-20 with the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves in 2019-20. He had a field goal percentage of .447, a three-point percentage of .332, and a free-throw percentage of .709.
Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 19 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, and 3.3 assists per game in 2019-20. He had a field goal percentage of .471, a three-point percentage of .347, and a free throw percentage of .807.
Murray averaged 18.5 points per game, 4.8 assists per game, and 3.2 rebounds per game in 2019-20. He had a field goal percentage of .456, a three-point percentage of .346, and a free-throw percentage of .881.
Brooks averaged 16.2 points per game, 3.3 rebounds per game, and 2.1 assists per game in 2019-20. He had a field goal percentage of .407, a three-point percentage of .358, and a free-throw percentage of .808.
Barrett averaged 14.3 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game, and 2.6 assists per game in 2019-20. He had a field goal percentage of .402, a three-point percentage of .320, and a free-throw percentage of .614.
There are 13 other Canadians to start the season on NBA rosters according to ESPN. They are New Orleans Pelicans shooting guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Sacramento Kings point guard Cory Joseph, Boston Celtics power forward Tristan Thompson, Los Angeles Clippers center Mfiondu Kabengele, Dallas Mavericks center Dwight Powell, Warriors point guard Mychal Mulder and Miami Heat center Kelly Olynyk of Toronto, Ontario, Orlando Magic center Khem Birch, Thunder small forward Luguentz Dort, and Toronto Raptors center Chris Boucher of Montreal, Quebec, Knicks small forward Ignas Brazdeikis of Mono, Ontario, Grizzlies power forward Brandon Clarke of Vancouver, British Columbia, and San Antonio Spurs power forward Trey Lyles of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
