Can You Match the NBA Player to the Country He's From?

SPORTS

4 PLAYS

By: Stella Alexander

6 Min Quiz

Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

With 5 seconds on the clock, he dribbles, shoots and...

He may or may not have scored, but what we really want to know is if you'll score big with this quiz! With players that hail from all over the world, can you match them to the country they're from? Let's find out if you're getting a slam dunk.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is made up mostly of American players, but the international players in the league make a huge difference. Hank Biasatti was the very first international player to play in the NBA. Born in Italy, he first got his start as a baseball player before joining the NBA's Toronto Huskies. Since then, the league has received an influx of international players. 

Where would the league be without Hall of Famers like Bob Houbregs, Yao Ming, and Dikembe Mutombo? Would the Spurs have won championships without Tony Parker? What would the Dallas Mavericks franchise be without Dirk Nowitzki?

Many international players rule the courts of the NBA, but can you match them to where they're from? Is Dirk Nowitzki from Eastern Europe or maybe Scandinavia? Does Tony Parker hail from Europe or maybe South America? 

With all the international stars in the NBA, can you match them to their country of origin? SHOOT and let's see if you score!

Rik Smits

Rik Smits began his professional basketball career in 1988 and it would last until 2000. He was a center for the Indiana Pacers.

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Andrei Kirilenko

Andrei Kirilenko was born in the USSR, now Russia. He began his NBA career in 2001 as a forward. He has played for the Utah Jazz as well as the Timberwolves and Brooklyn Nets.

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Manu Ginobili

Manu Ginobili was born in Argentina and began his NBA career as a shooting guard in 2002. He has spent his entire career with the San Antonio Spurs where he has won four championships.

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Steve Nash

Steve Nash was born in South Africa but officially represented Canada when he played internationally. He began his NBA career in 1996 as a point guard. He spent the majority of his career with the Phoenix Suns, also playing for the Dallas Mavericks and spending his last few seasons with the Lakers.

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Serge Ibaka

Serge Ibaka was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo but represents Spain when he plays internationally. Ibaka began his NBA career in 2009 as a forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He has since played for the Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors.

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Dikembe Mutombo

Dikembe Mutombo was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and began his NBA career in 1991. At his retirement in 2009, he had been named an NBA All-Star eight times. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

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Matthew Dellavedova

Born in Australia, Matthew Dellavedova began his NBA career in 2013. Since then, he has won an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers and currently plays for the Milwaukee Bucks.

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Peja Stojakovic

Peja Stojakovic was born in what is now Croatia but represented Serbia throughout his international career. He played in the NBA from 1998-2011 with teams like the Kings, Pacers, and Hornets.

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Hakeem Olajuwon

Hakeem Olajuwon was born in Nigeria but chose to represent the United States in his international competitions. He began his career in 1984 as a center for the Houston Rockets. He would go on to play until 2002. Not only is he an Olympic Gold Medalist, but he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.

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Marc Gasol

Marc Gasol was born in Spain and began his NBA career in 2008 as a center for the Memphis Grizzlies. As of 2018, Gasol continues to play for the team and has since been named an NBA All-Star three times.

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Tony Parker

Tony Parker was born in Belgium, but represents France in international competitions. The point guard began his career in 2001 with the San Antonio Spurs and has been playing with them for the entirety of his career. He has won four championships with the team.

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Tim Duncan

Born in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Tim Duncan began his career in 1997. Quite a versatile player, Duncan played the entirety of his 20-year career with the San Antonio Spurs and gained an impressive five NBA championship titles.

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Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid was born in Cameroon before starting his NBA career in 2016. Embiid was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers as a center in 2014 but got a late start due to injuries. He has since been named an NBA All-Star for 2018.

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Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving was born in Australia before moving to the United States. He began his NBA career in 2011 as a point guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team with which he won an NBA championship. He has since been traded to the Boston Celtics.

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Dirk Nowitzki

Dirk Nowitzki was born in Germany before starting his NBA career in 1998. The power forward was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks and has been with the team for the entirety of his career. He has been named an NBA All-Star 13 times and won an NBA championship in 2011.

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Bob Houbregs

One of the earliest NBA players, Bob Houbregs was born in Canada and joined the NBA in 1953 where he played for five years. During his career, he played for the Milwaukee Hawks as well as the Baltimore Bullets, Boston Celtics, and Detroit Pistons. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987.

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Ricky Rubio

Ricky Rubio was born in Spain and began his NBA career in 2011. He was drafted as a point guard by the Minnesota Timberwolves and now plays for the Utah Jazz.

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Kristaps Porzingis

Born in Latvia, Kristaps Porzingis came to the United States and began his NBA career in 2015. He was drafted to the New York Knicks and was named an All-Star for the 2017-2018 season.

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Dominique Wilkins

Dominique Wilkins was born in France but represented the United States throughout his international career. He was drafted into the NBA in 1982 by the Atlanta Hawks, a team with which he would spend most of his career. By the end of his career, he was a 9-time All-Star. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

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Detlef Schrempf

Detlef Schrempf was born in Germany and was drafted into the NBA in 1985 by the Dallas Mavericks. He continued his career with the Pacers, SuperSonics, and Trail Blazers before ending his career as a 3-time All-Star.

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Ben Simmons

Ben Simmons was born in Australia and was drafted into the NBA in 2016. He was the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo was born in Greece and began his NBA career as a forward in 2013. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks and has since been named an All-Star twice.

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Dennis Schroder

Dennis Schroder was born in Germany and was drafted into the NBA in 2013. Schroder is a point guard for the Atlanta Hawks, a team he's played with for the past five years.

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Drazen Petrovic

Drazen Petrovic was born in what is now Croatia. He was drafted to the NBA in 1989 and played for four seasons. He spent two years each with the Trail Blazers and the Nets. In 1993, at the age of 28, he died in a car crash. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002.

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Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol was born in Spain and began his NBA career in 2001 as a forward for the Memphis Grizzlies. He has since played for the Lakers, Bulls, and currently plays for the Spurs. He is a two-time NBA champion and has been named an All-Star six times.

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Joakim Noah

A bit of a toss up, Joakim Noah was born in the United States but spent many years growing up in France. He began his career in 2007 as a center for the Chicago Bulls. He currently plays for the New York Knicks.

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Jose Calderon

Jose Calderon was born in Spain and began his NBA career as a point guard in 2005. He was drafted by the Toronto Rapters, a team with which he spent his first eight years. He currently plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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Patrick Ewing

Born in Jamaica, Patrick Ewing spent his international career representing the United States. He was drafted in 1985 by the New York Knicks, a team with which he spent 15 years. By the end of his career, he was an 11-time All-Star. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Olympic Hall of Fame in 2009.

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Al Horford

Al Horford was born in the Dominican Republic and began his NBA career in 2007. He was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks and currently plays for the Boston Celtics. He is a 5-time NBA All-Star.

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Luol Deng

Luol Deng was born in Sudan but chooses to represent England in international competitions. He was drafted into the NBA in 2004 by the Chicago Bulls. After playing with them for 10 years, he would go on to play with the Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and the Los Angeles Lakers, his current team.

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Yao Ming

Yao Ming was born in China and began his NBA career in 2002. He spent the entirety of his career with the Houston Rockets, and by the end of his career, he was an 8-time All-Star. He was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

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Steven Adams

Steven Adams was born in New Zealand and was drafted to the NBA in 2013. Since his rookie season, he has been a center for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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Zaza Pachulia

Zaza Pachulia was born in the USSR, in the portion that is now considered Georgia. He began his NBA career in 2003 as a center for the Orlando Magic. He has since played with the Bucks, Hawks, and Mavericks. He currently plays with the Golden State Warriors and won his first NBA Championship in 2017.

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Vlade Divac

Vlade Divac was born in the former Yugoslavia, the portion that is now Serbia. He began his NBA career in 1989 as a center for the Lakers. He would go on to play for the Hornets and Kings.

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Marco Belinelli

Marco Belinelli was born in Italy and was drafted to the NBA in 2007 as a shooting guard for the Golden State Warriors. Since then, he has played for the Raptors, Hornets, Bulls, Spurs, King, and Hawks. He won his first championship in 2014 with the San Antonio Spurs.

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