Canadians in the NBA

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Joel Anthony - C - Miami Heat

Height: 6'9 | Weight: 245 | Exp: 6th season
Hometown: Montreal, QC. | Born: Aug. 9, 1982
Drafted: 2007 Undrafted Free Agent by Miami

Something of a late bloomer, Anthony did not make it to the NBA until he was 25. He signed with the Miami Heat as an undrafted free agent in 2007 after playing college basketball at UNLV. The Montreal native was named the Mountain West Conference defensive player of the year in his senior season. While not a gifted scorer, Anthony brings a defensive presence and toughness to the Miami frontcourt and has averaged more than a block per game in each of his five seasons with the Heat.
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Samuel Dalembert - C - Milwaukee Bucks

Height: 6'11 | Weight: 250 | Exp: 11th season
Hometown: Montreal, QC (born Haiti) | Born: May 10, 1981
Drafted: 2001 - Round 1 - 25th overall by Philadelphia

Dalembert was born in Haiti and grew up there until moving to Montreal as a teenager. It was in Montreal that Dalembert began playing basketball and eventually earned a scholarship to Seton Hall. Dalembert was then selected in the first round of the 2001 draft by the Philadelphia 76ers with whom he would spend the first eight seasons of his NBA career. During his NBA career Dalembert has become known for being a terrific rebounder and one of the best shot-blockers in the NBA. He also played for the Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets before being traded by the Rockets to the Milwaukee Bucks prior to the 2012-13 season. Dalembert became a Canadian Citizen on August 7, 2007.
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Cory Joseph - PG - San Antonio Spurs

Height: 6'3 | Weight: 185 | Exp: 2nd season
Hometown: Toronto, ON. | Born: Aug. 20, 1991
Drafted: 2011 -Round 1 - 29th overall by San Antonio

Joseph played point guard for the Texas Longhorns and was named to the Big 12's 2011 All-Rookie team before entering the NBA Draft following his freshman season in the NCAA. Joseph was selected 29th overall by San Antonio joining Longhorns teammate and fellow Canadian Tristan Thompson as a first round draft pick. This marked only the second time in NBA history that two Canadians were selected in the first round of the same draft. Joseph has split time between the Spurs and the NBA D-League in his first professional season.
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Kris Joseph - SF - Boston Celtics

Height: 6'7 | Weight: 210 | Exp: Rookie
Hometown: Montreal, QC | Born: Dec. 17, 1988
Drafted: 2012 - Round 2 - 51st overall by Boston

A primary contributor on one of the best teams in college basketball, the Montreal native averaged over 13 points and five rebounds over his last three years with the Orange. His ability to defend multiple positions made him a favourite of coach Jim Boeheim. At this point, Joseph is a solid mid-range shooter, but if he is to stick at the next level he will likely have to expand his offensive game. The 23-year-old made an impression early in Celtics camp with his work ethic and compete level and was pegged to be on Boston's opening night, 15-man roster.
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Steve Nash - PG - Los Angeles Lakers

Height: 6'3 | Weight: 178 | Exp: 16th season
Hometown: Victoria, BC. | Born: Feb. 7, 1974
Drafted: 1996 - Round 1 - 15th overall by Phoenix

Probably the greatest Canadian to ever play the game, Steve Nash is a two-time NBA MVP. The Victoria, BC native was originally drafted by the Suns with the 15th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft after a standout collegiate career at Santa Clara University. Nash played his first two NBA seasons in Phoenix before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks. It was in Dallas that Nash established himself as a star in the NBA and was selected to the first two of his eight NBA All-Star games. Nash returned to Phoenix in 2004 and helped turn the Suns franchise from a team that missed the playoffs the year before he arrived into an NBA title contender. That turnaround helped him win back-to-back MVP awards with the Suns in 2005 and 2006. Nash signed with the LA Lakers as a free agent during the off-season and will chase his first NBA title alongside Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol. The veteran point guard is one of the greatest passers in the history of the league and has led the NBA in assists five times in his career and sits fifth in Career Assists. Besides his play-making ability, Nash is also known for being a terrific ball-handler and shooter. Nash is one of only four players in the 50-40-90 club where a player averages 50% or better field goal shooting, 40% three-point shooting and 90% free-throw shooting in a season. Only Nash (five times) and Larry Bird (three times) have accomplished the feat more than once. At 38-years-old Nash remarkably has also shown no signs of slowing down.
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Andrew Nicholson - PF - Orlando Magic

Height: 6'9 | Weight: 250 | Exp: Rookie
Hometown: Mississaga, ON | Born: Dec. 8, 1989
Drafted: 2012 - Round 1 - 19th overall by Orlando

The Mississauga, ON native had an impressive four-year career at St. Bonaventure averaging 18.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game over his final three seasons with the Bonnies. A graduate of Father Goetz Secondary School in Mississauga, Nicholson's strength is his ability to shoot the basketball from all over the floor. He expanded his offensive game in each of his four years of college, hitting over 43 percent of his three pointers in his final season after not attempting any is his first two years. A long, active rebounder and shot-blocker, Nicholson has the potential to be a significant contributor if he is able to work on his ball-handling and low post game. He should get the chance to contribute immediately on a rebuilding Magic squad and could grow into an expanded role as the season unfolds.
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Robert Sacre - C - Los Angeles Lakers

Height: 7'0 | Weight: 260 | Exp: Rookie
Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA | Born: June 6, 1989
Drafted: 2012 - Round 2 - 60th overall by Los Angeles

Along with Steve Nash, one of two natives of British Columbia on the Lakers roster in 2012-13. The 23-year-old seven-footer was the last pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. He averaged 11.5 points and over six rebounds per game to go along with nearly two blocks over his final three years with Gonzaga. Sacre is a long big man who is at his best scoring in the paint and protecting the basket. He earned a spot on th Lakers roster after a solid pre-season but will likely see very limited action in his rookie year. If he is able to improve his rebounding and diversify his offensive game, Sacre could develop into a solid bench contributor.
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Tristan Thompson - PF - Cleveland Cavaliers

Height: 6'9 | Weight: 227 | Exp: 2nd season
Hometown: Brampton, ON. | Born: March 13, 1991
Drafted: 2011 - Round 1 - 4th overall by Cleveland

Thompson was selected with the fourth pick overall in the 2011 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers making him the highest drafted Canadian player in NBA history. Thompson played one season for the Texas Longhorns where he was named the Big 12 freshman of the year before forgoing his remaining NCAA eligibility and opting for the NBA draft. Thompson has enjoyed a solid rookie season in the NBA and was named to play in the 2012 Rising Stars Challenge as part of the NBA's All-Star weekend festivities where he led Team Shaq with 20 points.
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