5 best Canadian NBA players of all time

Steve Nash is the best Canadian NBA player of all time
Steve Nash is the best Canadian NBA player of all time

#3 Andrew Wiggins

Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Golden State Warriors goes up for a layup
Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Golden State Warriors goes up for a layup

Andrew Wiggins, although still active, has already cemented his position as one of the greatest Canadian NBA players of all time. He was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2014 NBA draft with the 1st overall pick, becoming the second player in the nation's history to be the No. 1 pick.

Wiggins stands a decent chance of being the best Canadian to have ever played in the NBA. Although he is yet to win a championship, he won the Rookie of the Year award in 2015 and has averaged 20+ points in a single season, a milestone no other Canadian has reached.


#2 Rick Fox

Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks to former NBA player Rick Fox
Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks to former NBA player Rick Fox

Rick Fox is undoubtedly one of the best Canadians to play in the NBA. Although he started as a rotation player, he later got first-team action and made tremendous use of the opportunity.

Fox's best run in the NBA ought to be his time with the Boston Celtics. He had his best run with them during the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons. However, he found more success in terms of championships after he joined the LA Lakers.

Although Fox was dropped to the bench after starting all 82 games for the Lakers in his first year, things picked up for the wingman as he was reinstated into the starting lineup. During his time with the Lakers, he helped achieve a three-peat which started in 2000.

Fox scored 8,966 career points and is ranked third on the all-time scoring list. He lost the No. 2 spot to Wiggins, who has crossed the 10,000-point mark.


#1 Steve Nash

Steve Nash #13 of the Phoenix Suns drives with the ball on Derek Fisher #2
Steve Nash #13 of the Phoenix Suns drives with the ball on Derek Fisher #2

Steve Nash was born in South Africa, but his family moved to Canada while he was a baby. Growing up in Saskatchewan, he developed an early interest in other sports and only took up basketball when he was 12.

Despite his somewhat late start, Nash developed into one of the most efficient shooters in NBA history. He started his NBA career in 1996 after he was selected with the 15th pick by the Phoenix Suns.

Nash struggled in the early stages of his career as he failed to solidify himself as an elite passer and shooter. However, things took off for him in the 2004-05 season, where he averaged 15.5 points and led the league in assists with 11.5 per game.

Given his impressive shooting and court vision, Nash won two consecutive NBA MVP awards and is the most valued member of the 50-40-90 club. Of all nine members, he is the only one that has achieved the feat in four different seasons from 2006-2010.

Nash leads all Canadian nationals who have played in the NBA in points and assists. In NBA history, he is ranked third on the assists leaderboard behind John Stockton and Jason Kidd.

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