Top 5 NBA stars born in Africa
Basketball is a sport that has captured the hearts and minds of people all over the world. The NBA has for a long time been the melting point for the biggest basketball talent across the globe. While the sport was popularized in the United States, it has since spread to countries all over the planet, including Africa.
NBA legends Deke & The Dream come out of retirement to play in first NBA Africa game: bit.ly/1KItSrh http://t.co/VRg61FcCHo
Africa has produced some of the greatest basketball players in the sport's history, many of whom have become household names in the NBA. In this article, we will take a look at the top five NBA stars who were born in Africa.
#1, Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon, born in Lagos, Nigeria, later moved to the United States and became one of the best basketball players of his generation.
Ahead of the 2017 #NBAAfricaGame, NBA TV takes a look back at Hakeem Olajuwon's & Dikembe Mutombo's impact on the NBA...
#GameTime https://t.co/cUbHQHKQRM
He played for the University of Houston before proceeding to the NBA as the first pick in the 1984 draft. With the Houston Rockets, Olajuwon earned an MVP award, Rookie of the Year Award, two NBA Finals MVPs and was the Defensive Player of the Year twice. He earned 12 All-Star selections and two championships.
The nine-time All-Defensive team member led the league in blocks three times and rebounds twice.
#2, Steve Nash
Steve Nash, who was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, was raised in Canada. After honing his skills at Santa Clara University, he was picked by the Phoenix Suns as the 15th pick in the 1996 draft.
Nash, a two-time MVP and an eight-time All-Star, led the league in assists five times. He is recognized as one of the top point guards in the sport's history.
#3, Dikembe Mutombo
Dikembe Mutombo, hailing from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, first developed his love for basketball on the streets. His towering height and athletic prowess soon caught the attention of recruiters, leading him to pursue a career in the United States.
Mutombo was a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, six-time All-Defensive team member and eight-time All-Star. He cemented his legacy as one of the best defenders in history with his shot-blocking skills, leading the league in blocks three times.
#4, Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid, a native of Yaoundé, Cameroon, showed a natural talent for basketball from a young age. His combination of size, athleticism and skill on the court soon caught the attention of college recruiters in the United States.
After a single season playing for the University of Kansas, he was selected third by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2014. Embiid has since established himself as one of the top players in the league, earning six All-Star selections and three All-Defensive team selections.
#5, Pascal Siakam
Pascal Siakam, born in Douala, Cameroon, played college basketball at New Mexico State and was selected 27th by the Toronto Raptors in 2016. He has since established himself as a top player, winning a championship in 2019 and earning an All-Star selection in 2020. He was the Most Improved Player in 2018-19.