How Many Asian Players Are In The NBA?

The NBA has seen a recent surge in the number of Asian players. Here’s a look at how many Asian players are in the NBA.

The History of Asians in the NBA

The NBA has always been a league of international players. In the early years, however, the vast majority of foreign players came from Europe. It wasn’t until the late 1950s that players from other continents started to make an impact. Among these players were the first Asians to play in the NBA.

Early pioneers

Asian-Americans have been playing in the NBA since Woody Sauldsberry became the first player of Chinese descent to play in the league in 1956. However, it wasn’t until1980 when UCLA guard Norm Tanada became the first player of Japanese descent to be drafted into the NBA. In the intervening years, a handful of other players of Asian descent would join Tanada in the league including Filipino-American Michael Wiley and Korean-American Jerome Harmon.

The number of players of Asian descent in the NBA began to increase in the 1990s with the influx of players from China and Lithuania. The 1990s also saw the rise of Filipino-American star player Kobe Bryant. Bryant’s success helped change perceptions about Asian-American players and paved the way for more players from Asia to enter the league.

Today, there are nearly 30 Asian-American players in the NBA including stars like Jeremy Lin, Steve Nash and Behn Woong. The presence of these players is a testimony to the growing popularity of basketball in Asia and the increasing skill level of Asian-American players.

The first Asian All-Star

The first Asian All-Star was Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, who was born in China and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in July 2011. He was selected to eight All-Star teams during his NBA career.

The second Asian All-Star was Golden State Warriors point guard Jeremy Lin, who was born in the United States to Taiwanese parents. He was selected to the 2012 All-Star team.

There have been a total of three Asian All-Stars in NBA history.

The Current state of Asians in the NBA

As of the 2019-2020 season, there are a record high number of Asian players in the NBA. There are currently 7 Asian players in the NBA, which is the most in any season in NBA history. Asians are typically known for their work ethic and shooting ability, and these 7 players are no exception. In this article, we’ll take a look at each of these players and see how they’re doing in the NBA.

How many Asian players are in the NBA?

According to a recent report, there are currently only six Asian players in the NBA. This is down from a high of 12 in the 2010-11 season. The decline is due to a number of factors, including the retirement of several key players and the inability of others to make it onto an NBA roster.

The six Asian players currently in the NBA are Jeremy Lin (Houston Rockets), Joakim Noah (Chicago Bulls), Steve Blake (Portland Trail Blazers), Kyle O’Quinn (Orlando Magic), Jordan Clarkson (Los Angeles Lakers) and Festus Ezeli (Golden State Warriors). Of these, only Lin and Noah are starters.

The decline in the number of Asian players in the NBA is disappointing, but it is not surprising. Asian Americans have always been underrepresented in professional basketball. In fact, according to a recent study, they are the least likely ethnic group to play in the NBA.

There are many reasons for this lack of representation. One is that most Asians are simply not tall enough to play basketball at the highest level. Another is that basketball is not as popular in Asia as it is in other parts of the world. Finally, there is a general lack of awareness about basketball among Asians and Asian Americans.

Despite these obstacles, there are still many talented Asian basketball players out there. With more exposure and opportunities, we may one day see more Asians in the NBA.

The rise of Yao Ming

As the first overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft, Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets quickly became one of the most recognizable faces in the league. He was also one of the first bona fide Asian superstars in NBA history.

Yao’s impact on the league was immediate. In his rookie season, he averaged 13 points and eight rebounds per game, quickly becoming one of the best big men in the league. He was also a two-time NBA All-Star and helped lead the Rockets to the playoffs in each of his eight seasons with the team.

Unfortunately, injuries cut Yao’s career short; he retired in 2011 after playing just nine seasons in the league. But his legacy as one of basketball’s greatest international players lives on.

While Yao Ming was certainly a trailblazer for Asian players in the NBA, he is far from being the only one. In recent years, there has been a steady increase in the number of Asian players in the league.

As of 2019, there are a total of six Asian players in the NBA: Jeremy Lin (Brooklyn Nets), Jordan Clarkson (Cleveland Cavaliers), Joakim Noah (Los Angeles Clippers), Sacramento Kings center Nori Aoki, Indiana Pacers guard CJ Miles, and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert.

That may not seem like a lot, but it’s a significant increase from just a few years ago. In 2014-15, there were only two Asian players in the NBA: Jeremy Lin and former Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash.

The rise in Asian players can be attributed to a number of factors, including increased scouting of international players and a growing interest in basketball among Asian youths.
Whatever the reasons may be, it’s clear that Asians are having a greater impact on basketball than ever before.

The Future of Asians in the NBA

The NBA has seen a recent influx of Asian players, with names like Jeremy Lin and Jordan Clarkson leading the way. With the increasing popularity of basketball in Asia, it’s only a matter of time before we see even more Asian players making their mark in the NBA. In this article, we’ll take a look at the future of Asians in the NBA.

The next generation of Asian players

As the game of basketball continues to grow in popularity around the world, so too does the number of Asian players in the NBA. In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in the number of Asian players drafted into the league, and it’s only a matter of time before we see an Asian player drafted in the first round.

The next generation of Asian players is already making a name for itself, with players like Jeremy Lin and Rui Hachimura leading the way. We’re also seeing more and more Asians playing in college basketball, which is a trend that is likely to continue.

It’s exciting to think about what the future holds for Asian players in the NBA, and we can’t wait to see what they’ll accomplish.

The growth of basketball in Asia

As the game of basketball continues to grow in popularity around the world, more and more Asian players are making their way to the NBA. In the past, there have been a handful of Asian players in the league, but their numbers have been growing in recent years.

Currently, there are 11 Asian players in the NBA, including guys like Yi Jianlian, Jeremy Lin, and Jordan Clarkson. This is a significant increase from years past, when there were only a handful of Asian players in the league.

The growth of basketball in Asia has been partly responsible for the increase in Asian players in the NBA. In recent years, basketball has become one of the most popular sports in Asia, and many young Asian players have dreamed of playing in the NBA one day.

As the game of basketball continues to grow globally, it’s likely that we’ll see even more Asian players making their way to the NBA in the years to come.