5 best NBA players EVER from Canada
Given the birthplace of basketball (Springfield, Massachusetts) and the dominance America has displaced, it's safe to say that Basketball is truly an American sport.
However, did you know that the founder of basketball - Dr. James Naismith was born in Ontario, Canada? It's a lesser known fact but it's the truth that he was born up north 30 years before he invented the sport of basketball. The Basketball Hall of Fame is named after him - Naismith Memorial Basketball of Fame.
But it was only since the start of this decade that Canada's young talent started competing at the NBA level and in international competitions. Yet they missed out on qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
There have been great Candian born players in the past and with the huge influx of current talent, it's time we name the five greatest NBA players from Canada:
#5 Tristan Thompson
Yes, Tristan Thompson is just 25 and has only played six seasons in the league but he does make it to the list. Thompson was a key member of the 2016 Championship winning Cleveland Cavaliers.
Given that his talent is more or less just rebounding and defense, Thompson has proved that he is an invaluable asset to the Cavaliers. Over the years, he's worked on his passing game and one-on-one post moves, adding more value to his priceless defense. Not to mention his durability. Until recently (April 5th, 2017), he held the longest active streak for most consecutive games played (447), which started in his rookie season.
In a league where all 30 teams are trying outscore each other rather than play any defense, his ability to not just play defense but look respectable when he switches onto guards.