Why is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander considered an “international” player?

[LockoutSeason]

Shai was born in Canada, went to high school in Tennessee and played college ball at Kentucky. How this any different than Patrick Ewing, who was born in Jamaica, went to high school in Massachusetts and played college ball at Georgetown? Why isn’t Ewing considered an international player?

Why aren’t Steve Nash and Tim Duncan considered international players? Nash was born in South Africa and raised in Canada. Duncan was born and raised in the Virgin Islands. Shouldn’t they be apart of the so-called “international takeover” that I keep hearing about?

Seems like most people don’t consider them foreign since played in the NCAA. Yet Embiid, Sabonis, and Shai all played in the NCAA and are all considered foreign players.

I’ve even seen people call Karl Towns an international player because his mom is Dominican, even though he was was born and raised in New Jersey. So should Kareem be considered an international player since his parents are from Trinidad?

We might as well call Shaq an international player since his stepdad is Jamaican.

It seems like the definition of “international” has been changed to inflate the dominance of foreign players on today’s league. Jokic, Luka, and Giannis are the only purely foreign superstars in the league right now.

[zike_42]

Because he plays for Canada? I've always seen Nash as international because he played for Canada. Ewing and Duncan are seen as American because they played for USA. I go off their national team representation.

[Johnny Firpo]

Shai was born in Canada, went to high school in Tennessee and played college ball at Kentucky. How this any different than Patrick Ewing, who was born in Jamaica, went to high school in Massachusetts and played college ball at Georgetown? Why isn’t Ewing considered an international player

Wasn't Ewing born to American parents, in Jamaica? And wasn't he a dual citizen/Jamaican-American since his birth? I'm not 100% sure about those, but if it's true, that's the obvious difference, is that he was simply American. Shai is Canadian, period.

[RiRuHoops]

When Shai and Canada beat USA in the Olympics maybe then the OP will realize that Shai is a foreign player.

[shrink]

Next you’re going to tell me Kyle Anderson isn’t Chinese?!?

[Nate505]

Doesn't it just depend on what national team you play for? And what nationality you are?

To me, anyone who isn't a US citizen or doesn't play for the US national team is an international player, while the others aren't.

Like Sabonis was born in the US, has US citizenship, played in the NCAA, but has decided to play for Lithuania, so he's an international player to me. If he played for the US, he wouldn't be.

Conversely, if I were Lithuanian, I'd consider him not an international player but would consider Lebron/Gobert/Doncic international players. I get though in the context of the NBA it tends to mean non-Americans given the league is based in the US and all but one franchise is based in the US.

[RiRuHoops]

Next you’re going to tell me Kyle Anderson isn’t Chinese?!?

Isn't he Taiwanese? Taiwan isn't really part of China.

[shrink]

For the record, I only think about a player’s country of origin once every four years, for Olympic rosters.

When I’m watching games, Shai, LeBron, Luka, Jokic and Curry are just great basketball players. And since the sport is “basketball,” not “Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?” .. who cares? Just sit back and enjoy them.

[shrink]

Next you’re going to tell me Kyle Anderson isn’t Chinese?!?

Isn't he Taiwanese? Taiwan isn't really part of China.

You’re probably right? I guess it shows how much I really don’t care.

[LockoutSeason]

When Shai and Canada beat USA in the Olympics maybe then the OP will realize that Shai is a foreign player.

So Andray Blatche is Filipino?

[RiRuHoops]

When Shai and Canada beat USA in the Olympics maybe then the OP will realize that Shai is a foreign player.

So Andray Blatche is Filipino?

who ?

[SomeBunghole]

So you figure that Shai, who doesn't have American citizenship, should be considered an American player?

[ItsDanger]

Should really use non-US or foreign, international isn't quite appropriate.

[brackdan70]

Comes down to citizenship and what national team you play for

[og15]

So it's not an exact designation depending on what is being discussed.

Yes, if we're discussing the USA's development of players, then yes, guys who played high school and college basketball in the US are generally USA developed players. People don't tend to distinguish between that and who the player represents, but that's the reality. From a USA developed players standpoint, guys like SGA and Embiid, etc are USA products, yes.

[Wallace_Wallace]

When Shai and Canada beat USA in the Olympics maybe then the OP will realize that Shai is a foreign player.

So Andray Blatche is Filipino?

who ?

He’s not that old yet, he was just in the league ten years ago

Heck, Stephon Maubury could be eligible for China, hopefully you know who I’m referring to.

[RiRuHoops]

So Andray Blatche is Filipino?

who ?

He’s not that old yet, he was just in the league ten years ago

Heck, Stephon Maubury could be eligible for China, hopefully you know who I’m referring to.

Of course I know the the one and only transcontinental legend

Watch on YouTube

[Black Jack]

He's not, Canada is a glorified US state

[VFX]

I don’t consider Steve Nash American. The US Virgin Islands are an American territory, so Duncan technically is one.

Canadians would be considered international players.
Also, SGA’s mom isn’t even Canadian. She’s from Barbados.

To me it’s about what team you would represent. SGA would be playing for Canada, so that ends the argument.

[Blazing_royale]

He's Canadian. It's simple.