Canadian Contingency: Who will be the top scoring Canadian in the NBA?
The rise in talent of Canadian basketball players has skyrocketed over the last few years to the point that Canada will enter the 2022-23 season as the second-most represented country in the league, behind the the United States, for the ninth consecutive year.
After 18 Canadians were on opening-night rosters last season, a record 23 Canucks made NBA teams this year. Sports Interaction is looking at the top Canadian talent and which player from north of the border could be the highest scoring Canadian in the NBA this season.
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Shai Gilgeous- Alexander
2021-22 PPG average: 24.5 over 56 games
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged the most points per game of any Canadian in the NBA last season. Originally drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 2018 and flipped to the Clippers the same day, Gilgeous-Alexander has spent the last four years with the OKC Thunder after being part of the Paul George Clippers trade following his rookie season. The 6-foot-6 guard was originally considered a defensive prospect with hopes that he could develop more offensive upside.
Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.0 ppg through five contests to start the year, which leads all Canadians and ties him for seventh in league scoring overall. Those numbers will drop as OKC has been much better defensively when Gilgeous-Alexander is on the floor and will likely have him lock down more on the defensive side of the ball. Still, there’s clearly offensive upside with Gilgeous-Alexander and he should continue to be one of the highest scoring Canadians in the NBA for at least the next few years.
RJ Barrett
2021-22 PPG average: 20.0 over 70 games
Six games into the Knicks’ season, RJ Barrett again ranks second in points per game average behind Gilgeous-Alexander after trailing his fellow countryman last season. Barrett, who signed a four-year, $120 million contract in the off-season, is averaging 17.7 ppg, a slower start than expected.
Issues from three-point range have been a big factor in Barrett’s lack of offensive production. He’s shooting 21.9 per cent from deep, well below his career average of 35.2 per cent. It’s still early in the year, however, and coming off a 3-of-4 shooting performance from beyond the arc on Oct. 30 against Cleveland, there’s reason to believe Barrett’s numbers will improve. As the season goes on, bank on Barrett’s numbers to level off to his career averages.
Andrew Wiggins
2021-22 PPG average: 17.2 over 73 games
As a former first overall draft pick, Rookie of the Year winner and NBA champion, Wiggins is the most accomplished Canadian currently playing in the league. Drafted by Cleveland, Wiggins was quickly flipped to Minnesota before the start of his Rookie of the Year season. He spent five full seasons with the Timberwolves before being dealt to Golden State where he won his first NBA championship last season.
The Thornhill, Ont. native made his first all-star team last season and has emerged as one of the premier two-way players in the league on a dynasty team filled with offensive talent. He’s averaging 17.3 ppg through seven games and will likely stay around that number all season. He’ll never be the No. 1 option with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson as teammates, but he’ll continue to put up solid numbers as a No. 3/4 option with Jordan Poole.
Lugentz Dort
2021-22 PPG average: 17.2 over 51 games
Another Canadian on OKC, Lugentz Dort, has become a big piece of the Thunder’s lineup. The fourth-year guard from Montreal is known for his suffocating defensive style, but likely won’t be the highest scoring Canadian. Mavericks star Luka Doncic recently described Dort as one of the top three defensive players in the NBA, high praise from a future league MVP.
Dort is averaging 14.0 ppg through six games, a dip from his offensive production last season. His offensive numbers will likely fluctuate back-and-forth as the season goes on as OKC isn’t expected to be a playoff contender. Don’t expect high offensive numbers out of Dort, but he likely would have had a shot the make the All-Defensive Team last season if he hadn’t missed time with injuries. Dort is worth taking a shot on for Defensive Player of the Year.
Jamal Murray
2021-22 PPG average: Did not play due to injury
Jamal Murray missed all of last season after suffering a torn ACL near the end of the 2020-21 season. Hailing from Kitchener, Ont., Murray’s biggest moment came in the NBA bubble during the 2019-20 playoffs. He led the Denver Nuggets to the Western Conference final, losing to the eventual champion L.A. Lakers, and averaged 26.5 ppg on 50.5 per cent shooting, including four 40-point games.
Murray is averaging 13.8 ppg through six contests as Denver carefully ramps up his workload. His career average is 30.1 minutes played per game, so his 26.7 minutes averaged this season should rise as he acclimates back to the NBA. Bank on Murray’s offensive production also rising with time. His ppg average has risen every season, so don’t be surprised if he breaks his career-high of 21.2 ppg set in 2020-21.