Sports

The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time 

Ranker NBA
Originally by
Updated August 3, 2020 15.6k votes 3.1k voters 102k views 38 items

List Rules Vote up the greatest Africa-born players ever to play in the NBA.

Our list of African NBA players includes a group of famous names including Dikembe Mutombo, Serge Ibaka, Luc Mbah a Moute, and yes, even Steve Nash (he was born a UK citizen in South Africa). Some of these players are the best blockers in the NBA, while others are part of a select list of impact players off the bench. Each of the players on this list were born in Africa and went on to play basketball in the NBA.

Now it's your turn to vote on who are the best African NBA players. Vote below and if we left anyone off the list, feel free to add them so that other basketball fans and Rankers can vote on your addition.
list ordered by
1
Hakeem Olajuwon is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
Center from Lagos, Nigeria

Age: 56

Teams: Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors

Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (; Yoruba: [olaɟuwɔ̃]; born January 21, 1963), formerly spelled (& still pronounced as) Akeem Olajuwon, is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. ...more

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#9 of 733 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #1,155 of 1,816 The Best Athletes Of All Time #3 of 165 The Greatest NBA Centers of All Time

2
Dikembe Mutombo is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
Center from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Age: 53

Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, + more

Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo (born June 25, 1966) is a Congolese American retired professional basketball player. Mutombo played 18 seasons in the National Basketball ...more

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#15 of 148 The Best NBA Players With No Championship Rings #54 of 733 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #9 of 78 The Best Philadelphia 76ers of All Time

3
Steve Nash is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
Point guard from Johannesburg, South Africa

Age: 45

Number: 10

Teams: Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns

Stephen John Nash (born 7 February 1974) is a Canadian former professional basketball player who played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was an eight-time NBA All-Star ...more

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#5 of 148 The Best NBA Players With No Championship Rings #24 of 733 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #375 of 1,816 The Best Athletes Of All Time

4
Serge Ibaka is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
Power forward and Center from Brazzaville, Congo

Age: 30

Number: 9

Teams: Toronto Raptors

Serge Jonas Ibaka Ngobila (; born 18 September 1989) is a Congolese-Spanish professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Ibaka was drafted ...more

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#71 of 294 The Top 100+ NBA Players Today #185 of 733 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #63 of 165 The Greatest NBA Centers of All Time

5
Luol Deng is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
Small forward from Wau, South Sudan

Age: 34

Number: 9

Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves

Luol Ajou Deng (born 16 April 1985) is a British professional basketball player who last played for Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is a two-time NBA ...more

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#110 of 148 The Best NBA Players With No Championship Rings #11 of 73 The Greatest Chicago Bulls of All Time #566 of 733 The Top NBA Players Of All Time

6
Joel Embiid is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
ndjzvhdsafew added Center from Yaoundé, Cameroon

Number: 21

Teams: Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Hans Embiid (born 16 March 1994) is a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After one year of college ...more

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#4 of 294 The Top 100+ NBA Players Today #115 of 733 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #7 of 78 The Best Philadelphia 76ers of All Time

7
Manute Bol is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
CodyMakuch added Center from Turalei, Sudan

Age: Dec. at 48 (1962-2010)

Teams: Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat

Manute Bol (; d. June 19, 2010) was a Sudanese-born American basketball player and political activist. Listed at 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m) tall, Bol was one of the three tallest players in the history ...more

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#63 of 148 The Best NBA Players With No Championship Rings #137 of 733 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #41 of 165 The Greatest NBA Centers of All Time

8
Andre Iguodala is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
swag1234 added Small forward from Springfield, Illinois

Age: 35

Number: 9

Teams: Memphis Grizzlies

Andre Tyler Iguodala ( ig-wə-DAH-lə; born January 28, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The swingman was ...more

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#77 of 294 The Top 100+ NBA Players Today #103 of 733 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #1,593 of 1,816 The Best Athletes Of All Time

9
Pascal Siakam is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
Tomcat_rice added

Number: 13

Teams: Toronto Raptors

Pascal Siakam (born April 2, 1994) is a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the New ...more

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#409 of 733 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #8 of 99 The Most Likable Players In The NBA Today #18 of 294 The Top 100+ NBA Players Today

10
Al-Farouq Aminu is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
Small forward and Power forward from Atlanta, Georgia

Age: 29

Number: 0

Teams: Orlando Magic

Al-Farouq Ajiede Aminu (born September 21, 1990) is an American-Nigerian professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He plays ...more

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11
Bismack Biyombo is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
Power forward and Center from Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Age: 27

Number: 8

Teams: Charlotte Hornets

Bismack Biyombo Sumba (born August 28, 1992) is a Congolese professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected with the ...more

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#212 of 294 The Top 100+ NBA Players Today #40 of 66 The Best Charlotte Hornets Players of All Time, Ranked #46 of 50 The Best NBA Centers Right Now

12
Victor Oladipo is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
Adebisi Oyedeji added Shooting guard from Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Age: 27

Number: 4

Teams: Indiana Pacers

Kehinde Babatunde Victor Oladipo (born May 4, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Oladipo was drafted with ...more

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#71 of 148 The Best NBA Players With No Championship Rings #16 of 294 The Top 100+ NBA Players Today #207 of 733 The Top NBA Players Of All Time

13
Luc Mbah a Moute is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
Small forward and Power forward from Yaoundé, Cameroon

Age: 33

Number: 12

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute ( BAH ah MOO-tay; born 9 September 1986) is a Cameroonian professional basketball player. Mbah a Moute also plays for the Cameroon national team.

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#682 of 733 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #75 of 107 The Best Foreign NBA Players of All Time #25 of 42 The Greatest UCLA Basketball Players of All Time

14
Emeka Okafor is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
Power forward and Center from Houston, Texas, United States of America

Age: 37

Number: 50

Teams: Charlotte Bobcats

Chukwuemeka Ndubuisi "Emeka" Okafor (born September 28, 1982) is an American professional basketball player. Okafor attended Bellaire High School in Bellaire, Texas and the University ...more

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#438 of 733 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #128 of 165 The Greatest NBA Centers of All Time #17 of 66 The Best Charlotte Hornets Players of All Time, Ranked

15
Thon Maker is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
Monojussi added Power forward and Center from Wau

Number: 7

Teams: Milwaukee Bucks

Thon Marial Maker (born 25 February 1997) is a South Sudanese Australian professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He attended high ...more

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#152 of 294 The Top 100+ NBA Players Today #91 of 99 The Most Likable Players In The NBA Today #33 of 50 The Best NBA Centers Right Now

16
OG Anunoby is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
GuyGamer217 added

Number: 13

Teams: Toronto Raptors

Ogugua "OG" Anunoby Jr. (born July 17, 1997) is a British professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college ...more

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#185 of 294 The Top 100+ NBA Players Today #30 of 69 The Best Toronto Raptors of All Time #33 of 72 The Best Current NBA International Players

17
Festus Ezeli is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
Center from Benin City, Nigeria

Age: 30

Number: 31

Ifeanyi Festus Ezeli-Ndulue is a Nigerian professional basketball player who currently plays for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association. He was selected by the Golden ...more

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18
Emmanuel Mudiay is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
SOBxRBEgoated added Point guard from Kinshasa

Number: 1

Teams: Utah Jazz

Emmanuel Kabeya Mudiay (born March 5, 1996) is a Congolese professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played high school basketball for ...more

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#160 of 294 The Top 100+ NBA Players Today #62 of 76 The Best Point Guards Currently in the NBA #66 of 90 The Best New York Knicks of All Time

19
Ekpe Udoh is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
Power forward and Center from Edmond, Oklahoma

Age: 32

Number: 13

Ekpedeme Friday "Ekpe" Udoh ( eh-PAY YOO-doh; born May 20, 1987) is an American– Nigerian professional basketball player for the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association ...more

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20
DeSagana Diop is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
Center from Dakar, Senegal

Age: 37

Number: 2

Teams: Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers

DeSagana N'gagne Diop ( sə-GAH-nə JOP; born January 30, 1982) is a Senegalese former professional basketball player who is currently a coaching associate for the Utah Jazz of the National ...more

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21
Kelenna Azubuike is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
Shooting guard and Small forward from London, United Kingdom

Age: 36

Teams: Golden State Warriors

Kelenna David Azubuike (born 16 December 1983) is an American former professional basketball player and currently the Golden State Warriors television color analyst on NBC Sports Bay Area. Born ...more

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#84 of 141 The Greatest Kentucky Basketball Players of All Time #101 of 107 The Best Foreign NBA Players of All Time #86 of 105 The Best Golden State Warriors of All Time

22
Tacko Fall is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
tenywjor added Tacko Fall

Number: 99

Teams: Boston Celtics

Elhadji Tacko Sereigne Diop Fall (born December 10, 1995) is a Senegalese professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Fall was born and ...more
23
Bol Bol is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
taitecreedon added Center from Khartoum, Sudan

Teams: Denver Nuggets

Bol Manute Bol (born November 16, 1999) is a Sudanese-American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball ...more

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24
Josh Okogie is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
GuyGamer217 added

Number: 30

Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves

Joshua Aloiye Okogie (born September 1, 1998) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). As a 6'3 shooting ...more

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#259 of 320 The Top 100+ NBA Players Today #65 of 96 The Best Minnesota Timberwolves of All Time #34 of 34 The Best Minnesota Timberwolves First-Round Picks In The NBA Draft

25
Michael Olowokandi is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time
Tomcat_rice added Michael Olowokandi Center from Lagos, Nigeria

Age: 44

Teams: Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers

Michael Olowokandi (born 3 April 1975) is a British Nigerian former professional basketball player. Born in Lagos and raised in London, he attended college on a basketball scholarship at the ...more

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