Across the globe, Arab athletes are scoring goals and shooting hoops in different sports. In one of the most popular leagues in the world—the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the United States—Arab hoopers have been making headlines since the 1990s. The NBA has been known for helping drive the game of basketball across the world. Although it is an American league, international players make up 21.8 percent. The league is home to legends who have shaped the game of basketball, such as Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and others—but what many will not know is that there were also Arab players that made waves in the unbeatable NBA. Here are some of the players who made achievements in the NBA, and players who continue building their legacies. Abdelrahman Nader Abdelrahman Nader is currently the only Egyptian player drafted in the NBA. The star started playing college basketball for the Northern Illinois Huskies before he was drafted by the Boston Celtics, followed by Oklahoma City Thunder, then the Phoenix Suns. Nader is the first-ever internationally born player to win the NBA Development League Rookie of the Year. Mahmoud…
