A significant audience in Canada will be following the action, particularly drawn by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose status as the NBA's leading scorer and strong MVP contender for Oklahoma City undeniably contributes to attracting fans situated north of the border.

Spectators across Serbia and Greece will be tuning in, as these nations are the origins of Denver's prominent player, Nikola Jokic, and Milwaukee's celebrated star, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Similarly, Alperen Sengun's performance will ensure Turkish fans are watching Houston games late into the night. Enthusiasts in Slovenia are set to follow Luka Doncic and the Lakers in their playoff debut, scheduled for 2:30 a.m. Sunday, which translates to 5:30 p.m. Saturday in Los Angeles. In Cameroon, audiences will be observing Pascal Siakam and the Indiana Pacers. The reigning champions, Boston, boast a roster that includes, notably, Kristaps Porzingis from Latvia and Al Horford from the Dominican Republic.

Once more, the NBA playoffs are poised to highlight exceptional international talent.

This season was special because the top players in five different stats came from five different countries, which had never happened before in the NBA. For example, Gilgeous-Alexander is from Canada, Domantas Sabonis, who led in rebounds for Sacramento, is from Lithuania, Victor Wembanyama, who led in blocked shots for San Antonio, is from France, Dyson Daniels, who led in steals for Atlanta, is from Australia, and Trae Young, who led in assists for the Hawks, is from the U.S. Because of this, the playoffs will also feel very international. Gilgeous-Alexander is already in, and Sabonis and Daniels, along with Young, could join him if their teams win in the play-in tournament.

"The NBA boasts a substantial representation of international players," stated Commissioner Adam Silver earlier this season. "Approximately 30% of our athletes, originating from 43 different countries on opening day, contribute to a decidedly more global atmosphere surrounding our teams."

Ultimately, the season concluded with representation from at least 44 distinct nations, specifically considering the birthplaces of players who registered points in the NBA. Historically unprecedented, players from a single foreign country collectively amassed over 15,000 points; Canadian athletes achieved 15,588 points this season, spearheaded by Gilgeous-Alexander, the first scoring champion from that nation.

Gilgeous-Alexander is widely considered the frontrunner for this season's MVP award, likely contending with Jokic. This would mark the seventh consecutive year the NBA MVP title has gone to an international player. Antetokounmpo secured the award twice, followed by Jokic's three victories in the subsequent four seasons, with Cameroon-born Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers claiming the honor two seasons prior.

"Shai belongs to the category of players who are practically unstoppable," remarked Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic following a game between the Raptors and Thunder this season.

So, he's similar to many other top international players right now.

It's also true that nobody can really stop players like Jokic, Antetokounmpo, and Doncic either.

This season marked another international milestone: Doncic's jersey became the best-seller on NBAStore.com, indicating a higher sales volume of his jersey compared to any other player. While this was undoubtedly boosted by Doncic's mid-season trade from Dallas to the Los Angeles Lakers, prompting a surge in demand for his new jersey, the achievement remains noteworthy.

The Slovenian player is the first international player to have the most popular jersey. He is also the first player besides Stephen Curry or LeBron James to be number one in over ten years. Before him, Carmelo Anthony, who will be in the Basketball Hall of Fame, had the most popular jersey when he played for New York in the 2012-13 season.

Even though we are a small country with only two million people, our sport is really good," said Ajsa Sivka, who is also from Slovenia. She was picked by the Chicago Sky in the WNBA on Monday night and was asked about Doncic and other top Slovenian athletes. She added, "In any sport, we always have at least one great person. I am very proud to be Slovenian."

This occurs as the NBA appears more committed than ever to expanding its global presence. Last month, FIBA, the international governing body for basketball, and the NBA unveiled a long-awaited plan to collaborate on a new European basketball league. The initial objective is a 16-team league, potentially featuring major European clubs like Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester City.

This season marked a notable period in the NBA, with four players exceeding 2,000 points, three of whom were international talents: Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic, and Antetokounmpo. On a global scale, viewing time for NBA League Pass saw a 6% increase compared to the previous season. France experienced unprecedented viewership for NBA games this season, despite Wembanyama's absence during the final two months. In Canada, social media engagement related to the NBA reached record levels this season, and league data indicates a surge in viewership in the Asia-Pacific region – already a significant basketball market.

FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis stated that the figures, evidently driven by sustained international expansion, indicate the sport is currently in a robust state.

Observing global trends, including within North America, Zagklis noted that the NBA enjoys unprecedented popularity and commercial success.