On 17 October 2019 Deng signed a one-day contract to retire with the Chicago Bulls. He made 902 appearances over his career, with career averages of 14.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1 steal per game. He spent his last season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played two seasons for the Heat before signing with the Lakers in 2016. After just half a season with Cleveland, Deng joined the Miami Heat for 2014–15. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team as a 19-year-old in 2005, was an All-Star with the Bulls in 20 before splitting the 2013–14 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The UK’s greatest ever player, Luol Deng was a two-time NBA All-Star and by far the most successful Brit in the NBA.Īfter playing college basketball for the Duke for a single season, Deng was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2004 NBA draft with the seventh overall pick, where he was swiftly traded to the Chicago Bulls. He returned to the UK to play for Sunderland the following season before a successful career both domestically and in Europe before retiring in 2007, as his rookie season was his only year with the league. He made 18 appearances during the season, averaging 1.3 points in 4.2 minutes per game.

Originally coming through the Crystal Palace programme, Bucknall went to the US for High School at Governer’s Academy before heading to college to play under the legendary Dean Smith.įollowing a successful college career at the University of North Carolina, the 6’6″ 215 lbs shooting guard went undrafted in 1989, but hooked on with the Lakers during training camp. The first British-developed player to make the NBA, Steve Bucknall suited up for the Lakers during the 1989-90 season. The 6’11” big man represented GB for six straight years from 2006-2012, collecting 46 caps which culminated in suiting up at the London 2012 Olympics.Īrchibald sadly took his own life at the age of 39. He played 30 games with the Raptors and holds NBA career averages of 1.2 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. A week later he was traded, for the third time that season, to the Toronto Raptors. He was drafted with the 32nd pick in the second round of the 2002 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies, who he signed a 2-year contract with.Īfter one season with the team, in which he played only 12 games, Archibald was traded to the Phoenix Suns, before again being traded in December 2003 to the Orlando Magic.

Robert Archibald has his own slice of history as the only Scottish player to make the NBA. The Rockets later traded him to the New York Knicks before the Knicks bought him out of his contract and he eventually retired from playing the sport altogether. He was traded to the Houston Rockets before the 2003–04 season in exchange for Glen Rice, and, though he was an active player, he did not participate in any games for them.

Amaechi went on to play for the Utah Jazz from 2001 to 2003. He returned to the NBA ahead of the 1999-2000 season, signing with the Orlando Magic, having his best season in the league as he averaged 10.5 points in 21.1 minutes per game.Īmaechi is famously known for turning down a $17 million contract offer from the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000, opting to remain in Orlando for $600,000 per year. He became the first undrafted player to start in his first NBA game as the Cavaliers’ starting center.Īmaechi played 28 games for the Cavaliers during the 1995–96 season before heading to Europe. The 6’10” center was undrafted and then signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1995. He first started playing at the age of 17 years old, under the legendary Joe Forber, who now heads up the Manchester Magic programme. Though he was actually born in the US, Amaechi was raised in Stockport, England. We start with British players who originally came through the UK system – playing in it and being coached by British teams – before making the NBA – this does not include those where born in the UK but moved to the US at a very young age. British-Developed Players to Make the NBA There are just seven players from the UK to have played in the NBA, who have come through the British system.ĭespite Great Britain hardly being a hotbed for hoops, it is possible to be British and make the league, and below we will show you the select few who have made the big league.

Uk basketball roster 2003