2015 Playoffs international storylines

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)