WASHINGTON, Oct 20 (CNN) – The NBA has never been more global. At the start of the 2024–25 season, a record-tying 125 international players from 43 countries — including Australia, Germany, France, Cameroon and Serbia — were listed on opening night rosters.
Yet while the league’s global presence soars, players from Great Britain continue to face major barriers breaking through to basketball’s highest stage.
British breakthrough: Amari Williams’ story
Amari Williams, a seven-foot center from Nottingham, England, became just the sixth homegrown British player to be drafted into the NBA in the last 25 years, according to Hoopsfix. After a five-year college career at Drexel University and Kentucky, Williams was picked by the Orlando Magic in the 2025 NBA Draft before being traded to the Boston Celtics, where he signed a two-way contract.
“It’s a great feeling,” the 23-year-old told CNN Sports. “The Celtics just won it recently. I want to learn as much as I can this year from the best players.”
Williams’ journey to the NBA was anything but easy. At 16, he left Nottingham to attend an agricultural boarding college in rural northwest England — one of the few schools offering full-time basketball training. “We were living on a farm. It was so different from city life,” he said.
Even now, access to quality basketball facilities in the UK remains limited. “When I moved to Preston, we could finally train properly, but most places have to share with badminton or other sports,” he said.
Limited paths to the top
Despite basketball’s growing popularity — over 1.5 million people in the UK now play weekly, making it the country’s second most popular team sport — few British players reach the NBA.
New York Knicks forward Tosan Evbuomwan, from Newcastle, said the problem is structural. “There’s a lack of direction in the UK. You have to figure it out yourself because there aren’t many players who’ve made it to the top to show you the way,” he explained.
Evbuomwan’s journey began with no formal school team, no coaches, and no equipment. “We just created our own team. There was no structure — just passion,” he said. His determination paid off: he went on to play at Princeton University, earning Ivy League Player of the Year before signing NBA contracts with Memphis, Detroit, Brooklyn and now the Knicks.
British basketball in crisis
Despite grassroots growth, British basketball is facing a governance crisis. On October 14, FIBA suspended the British Basketball Federation (BBF) and banned the men’s national team from international competitions amid regulatory concerns. The BBF, now involved in a legal dispute with investors and clubs, says it is committed to restoring transparency and stability.
Meanwhile, the UK government announced a joint £10 million ($13.4 million) investment with the NBA to improve basketball facilities and community programs across Britain by 2028. “Basketball is booming in Britain,” said Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “This is about more than sport — it’s about community and inspiring the next generation.”
A shared vision for the future
Williams cites Evbuomwan as a personal role model. “Tosan was the first from my age group to make the NBA. Seeing him do it inspired me and a lot of others,” Williams said.
Evbuomwan, in turn, is eager to mentor Williams. “Whatever I can do to help him and the younger generation, I’ll always be there,” he said. “That connection matters — just like Sochan helped me, I’ll help the next ones.”
For now, British players remain rare in the NBA. But as investment grows and young athletes like Williams rise, the hope is that the UK’s basketball future will finally match its passion.
This news was originally published by CNN Sports.