The 2025-26 National Basketball Association season has kicked off in spectacular fashion, with African talent taking center stage. The opening week of the league's 80th anniversary season saw more than 55 players born in Africa or with direct African heritage featured on opening-night rosters, marking a significant moment for the continent's basketball influence.
Record-Breaking Opening Week Performances
The NBA's opening week set a new standard for offensive fireworks with four 50-point games, the most in league history for an opening week. Shai Gilgeous Alexander, last season's Finals MVP, led the charge with a dominant 55-point performance for the Oklahoma City Thunder in their rematch against the Indiana Pacers.
Austin Reaves delivered an impressive double-double with 51 points and 11 rebounds against the Sacramento Kings, while Utah Jazz's Lauri Markkanen contributed 51 points and 14 rebounds in their victory over the Phoenix Suns. Aaron Gordon rounded out the historic scoring spree with 50 points, though his team fell to the Golden State Warriors at Chase Centre.
African Excellence Recognized
African players immediately made their presence felt, with Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors for the period of October 21-26. He was joined by San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama, who claimed Western Conference Player of the Week recognition.
The African impact extended throughout the league's statistical leaderboards, with four players of African descent featuring in the Top 5 across multiple categories after the first week and a half of play. Giannis Antetokounmpo, with Nigerian heritage, ranked second in Points per Game and top in Field Goal Percentage.
His brother, Thanassis Antetokounmpo, also with Nigerian ties, placed third in Rebounds Per Game. Victor Wembanyama, connected to the Democratic Republic of Congo, led the league in Blocks Per Game, while Nigerian-born Adem Bona ranked fourth in Steals Per Game. OG Anunoby, another player with Nigerian heritage, placed fifth in Field Goal Percentage.
Emirates NBA Cup Underway
The Emirates NBA Cup tournament tipped off on Friday, October 31, with all 30 NBA teams participating in the group phase. The competition will see each team play four games before concluding on November 28, adding another layer of excitement to the early season schedule.
This strong opening demonstrates the growing influence of African talent in the world's premier basketball league, with players of African descent not only making rosters but significantly impacting game outcomes and statistical leaderboards from the season's very beginning.
