Four Canadian born players were selected in last night’s NBA draft, including the first overall pick Andrew Wiggins, who was taken by the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is not only the second year in a row that the Cavaliers have had the first overall pick, it is also the second year in a row they have taken a Canadian with that first pick.
Last year Cleveland selected Anthony Bennett, a power forward from Toronto who played his college ball at UNLV. Bennett is considered a bust, after averaging a mere 4.2 points per game during his rookie season. Cleveland clearly did not think his Canadian roots had anything to do with his inability to perform in the NBA, as they took Wiggins, also born in Toronto, with the first pick this year.
The Cavaliers also selected Canadian Tristan Thompson with the fourth overall pick back in 2011.
Over the past few years, more and more Canadians have made their way south of the border and earned spots in the NBA. With the four players selected last night, there are now 13 Canadians in the NBA, most notably Steve Nash, a two-time MVP.
Nik Stauskas, who was the Big Ten Player of the Year at Michigan is from Mississauga, and was taken with the 8th pick by the Sacramento Kings. Tyler Ennis out of Syracuse was taken by the Suns with the 18th pick. Dwight Powell was the last Canadian taken on the evening, going to the Hornets with the 45th pick.
There had never been more than three Canadians drafted in the same year, according to an article by TheGlobeandMail.com.
So what is the reason for the rising number of players from Canada making it to the NBA? According to Sports Illustrated, a> more Canadian youths are pursuing basketball instead of hockey.
Former NBA commissioner Davis Stern has to be given some of the credit. In 1995 the NBA put two teams in Canada- the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors. The Grizzlies moved to Memphis in 2001, but the Raptors have been taken in by the city of Toronto. Led by Vince Carter, the Raptors made three straight playoff appearances in the early 2000’s, which helped the popularity of the sport grow. It may not be a coincidence that Wiggins, Bennett and Thompson are from Toronto, and would have watched the immensely popular and entertaining Carter growing up.
Whatever the reason, all basketball fans can only hope these guys (well maybe not Bennett) decide to play for team Canada at an Olympics, either in two years or six. Picture this starting five in a couple years: Tyler Ennis, Nik Stauskas, Andrew Wiggins, Tristan Thompson, and Kelly Olynyk (Celtics). On the right day, that is a team that could challenge team USA.