The impact of international prospects on American basketball isn't a new phenomenon. One need look no further than last season's All-NBA first team, which featured four players born outside the United States -- a group that didn't include two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. Or the last five NBA MVP awards, all won by players born outside the United States. Or France native Victor Wembanyama, the most recent No. 1 NBA draft pick.
International players have had an influence on the NBA dating back to the 1980s, when Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria) and Patrick Ewing (Jamaica) were selected No. 1 in back-to-back drafts (1984 and '85) and then went on to dominate the league for years.