The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the premier professional basketball league in the United States and Canada. It is composed of 30 teams, with the majority of them located in the United States. With such a large league, it comes as no surprise that players from all over the world participate in the NBA. This article will explore the question: Are there any Jamaicans in the NBA?
History of Jamaican Players in the NBA
The first Jamaican to play in the NBA was Patrick Ewing, who was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1962. He was drafted by the New York Knicks in 1985 and went on to become one of the greatest players in NBA history. Ewing was a nine-time All-Star, a two-time All-NBA First Team selection, and the 1989 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Jamaicans Currently on NBA Rosters
Currently, there are two Jamaican players in the NBA. The first is guard R.J. Barrett of the New York Knicks. Barrett was born in Toronto, Canada, but is of Jamaican descent. He was the third overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and is considered one of the top rookies in the league.
The second Jamaican player in the NBA is forward Donta Hall of the Detroit Pistons. Hall was born in Nassau, Bahamas, but is of Jamaican descent. He was signed by the Pistons in 2020 and has appeared in 25 games this season.
Jamaican Players Drafted in the NBA
Although the two current Jamaican players in the NBA were both born outside of Jamaica, there have been several Jamaican-born players who were drafted by NBA teams.
The first Jamaican-born player to be drafted in the NBA was guard Shamiel Stevenson, who was selected by the Utah Jazz in the 2020 NBA Draft. He is currently playing in the G League, the NBA’s official minor league.
Notable Jamaican NBA Players
Although Patrick Ewing is the most famous Jamaican NBA player of all time, there have been many other notable players.
John Rankin
John Rankin was a guard for the New York Knicks from 1975-1977. He was born in Jamaica and moved to the United States as a teenager. He was drafted by the Knicks in the fourth round of the 1975 NBA Draft.
Omar Sneed
Omar Sneed was a forward for the San Antonio Spurs from 2003-2005. He was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and moved to the United States when he was six years old. He was selected in the second round of the 2003 NBA Draft.
Samardo Samuels
Samardo Samuels was a center for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2010-2013. He was born in Jamaica and moved to the United States when he was 15 years old. He was selected in the first round of the 2010 NBA Draft.
Jamaican Players in the WNBA
Although there are currently no Jamaican players in the NBA, there are two Jamaican players in the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association): forward Cheyenne Parker of the Dallas Wings and guard Kaela Davis of the Minnesota Lynx. Both players were born in Jamaica and moved to the United States when they were young.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are currently two Jamaican players in the NBA, R.J. Barrett of the New York Knicks and Donta Hall of the Detroit Pistons. There have also been several Jamaican-born players who have been drafted in the NBA, including Patrick Ewing and John Rankin. Finally, there are currently two Jamaican players in the WNBA, Cheyenne Parker and Kaela Davis.
Overall, there is a growing presence of Jamaican players in the NBA, and it will be interesting to see how many more players from Jamaica make it to the league in the future.