Slovenia has been a consistent producer of NBA players through the ages. The country disintegrated from Yugoslavia in 1991 and established itself as an independent state and a member of the European Union. Moreover, over a period of three decades, 11 players have been drafted into the NBA, while observing the fact that the State has only a population of 2 million.
One key factor for Slovenia giving a decent number of NBA players while having a small population is its connectivity with the other states of Europe, It shares the boundary with Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Croatia, all these countries have been participating in EuroBasketball, and FIBA World Cups regularly hence, as an attraction followed up by the small nation.
Nowadays, Slovenia is considered a competitive team and also a regular participant in European and FIBA tournaments. In EuroBasketball, the team's best performance was showcased in the 2017 EuroBasketball Cup, when the team lifted their first European Cup, after defeating France in a close competitive match. While talking about the team’s FIBA performances, Slovenia finished in seventh position in the 2014 World Cup.
Additionally, the team finished fourth position in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and also made it to the quarter-finals of 2022 Euro Basketball.
How many Slovenian players have played in the NBA since 1946?
List of NBA players that has been drafted in the NBA since 1946:
| Players | Draft Year |
| Luka Doncic | 2018 |
| Vlatko Cancar | 2019 |
| Zoran Dragic | 2004 |
| Marko Milic | 1997 |
| Goran Dragic | 2008 |
| Rasho Nesterovic | 1998 |
| Primoz Brezec | 2001 |
| Beno Udrih | 2004 |
| Sasha Vujacic | 2004 |
| Bostjan Nachbar | 2002 |
| Uros Slokar | 2006 |
Current Slovenian NBA players
Luka Doncic
Luka Donic, 24, is the greatest name from Slovenia till date. He has been wearing the Mavericks jersey since 2018 and has achieved numerous accomplishments, becoming four times NBA All-Star (2020-23) and NBA Rookie of the Year in 2019.
Vlatko Cancar
The 6 feet 8 inches forward from Slovenia was a 2017 draft. He recently won a championship with the Denver Nuggets in the 2022-23 season.
FAQs
A. In Europe, France dominates the standings by producing 42 NBA players, then Serbia with 30 NBA players.
A. Yes, Croatia has produced 32 NBA players in its history.
A. Yes, Slovenia has a good basketball history. This fact can be proved by seeing the team’s consistently making it into the FIBA World Cup and Olympic games.
A. Yes, Slovenia has qualified for the 2023 FIBA World Cup happening in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan.
