Overall international storylines
Each first round series features at least 4 international players on the active rosters of both teams. Seven of the 8 first round series feature at least 6 international players on the active rosters of both teams.
There are a record 58 international players from 28 countries and territories on active rosters of playoff teams (1 from Africa, 6 from Asia/Pacific, 33 from Europe, 13 from LatAm/Caribbean, and 5 from Canada). The previous record was 50 in 2008.
Australia, Brazil and France (6 players each) have the most players on active rosters of playoff teams. There were a record eight Australians on opening-night rosters and a record seven Brazilians on opening-night rosters. There were 10 French players on opening-night rosters.
The Spurs have the most international players (9) of any of the playoff teams. Cleveland and Milwaukee are tied for second with 5 international players each.
Clippers-Spurs has the most international players (10) of any of the first round series.
The Spurs, who won the 2014 NBA Championship with a record nine international players, are trying to repeat for the first time in franchise history. The Spurs feature the same 9 international players this year.
13 of the international players in the playoffs have won an NBA championship (AronBaynes, Australia; Patty Mills, Australia; Tiago Splitter, Brazil; Cory Joseph, Canada; Boris Diaw, France; Tony Parker, France; Marco Belinelli, Italy; Manu Ginobili, Argentina; Tim Duncan, U.S. Virgin Islands; Dirk Nowitzki, Germany; J.J. Barea, Puerto Rico; Pau Gasol, Spain; BenoUdrih, Slovenia).
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1. Atlanta Hawks vs. Brooklyn Nets
? International players (8):
? Atlanta (4): Al Horford (Dominican Republic); Dennis Schroder (Germany); Pero Antic (Macedonia); Thabo Sefolosha (Switzerland)
? Brooklyn (4):BojanBogdanovic (Croatia); Jerome Jordan (Jamaica); MirzaTeletovic (Bosnia & Herzegovina); Sergey Karasev (Russia)
2. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics
? International players (8):
? Cleveland (5): Matthew Dellavedova (Australia); Kyrie Irving (Australia); Anderson Varejao (Brazil); Tristan Thompson (Canada); TimofeyMozgov (Russia)
? Boston (3): Luigi “Gigi” Datome (Italy); Jonas Jerebko (Sweden); Kelly Olynyk (Canada)
3. Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks
? International players (8):
? Chicago (3): Cameron Bairstow (Australia); Nikola Mirotic (Montenegro); Pau Gasol (Spain)
? Milwaukee (5): Tyler Ennis (Canada); Damien Inglis (France); ZazaPachulia (Georgia); GiannisAntetokounmpo (Greece); ErsanIlyasova (Turkey)
4. Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards
? International players (7):
? Toronto (4): Bruno Caboclo (Brazil); Lucas “Bebe” Nogueira (Brazil); Jonas Valanciunas (Lithuania); Greivis Vasquez (Venezuela)
? Washington (3): Nene (Brazil); Kevin Seraphin (France); MarcinGortat (Poland)
5. Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans
? International players (6):
? Golden State (4): Andrew Bogut (Australia); OgnjenKuzmic (Bosnia & Herzegovina); Leandro Barbosa (Brazil); Festus Ezeli (Nigeria)
? New Orleans (2):Alexis Ajinca (France); Omer Asik (Turkey)
6. Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs
? International players (10):
? Los Angeles (1): HedoTurkoglu (Turkey)
? San Antonio (9): Manu Ginobili (Argentina); AronBaynes (Australia); Patty Mills (Australia); Tiago Splitter (Brazil); Cory Joseph (Canada); Boris Diaw (France); Tony Parker (France); Marco Belinelli (Italy); Tim Duncan (U.S. Virgin Islands)
7. Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks
? International players (7):
? Houston (4): Pablo Prigioni (Argentina); Kostas Papanikolaou (Greece); DonatasMotiejunas (Lithuania); Clint Capela (Switzerland)
? Dallas (3): Dwight Powell (Canada); Dirk Nowitzki (Germany); J.J. Barea (Puerto Rico)
8. Portland Trail Blazers vs. Memphis Grizzlies
? International players (4):
? Portland (2): Nicolas Batum (France); Joel Freeland (Great Britain)
? Memphis (2): BenoUdrih (Slovenia); Marc Gasol (Spain)