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NBA Players Who Speak Multiple Languages

NBA Players Who Speak Multiple Languages

The NBA may be an American basketball league, one that is heavily dominated by players born and raised in America, from Georgia to New York to Pennsylvania, to North Carolina, many NBA players were born and raised in the states.

But with the NBA’s global aspirations and ties to the international community, more-and-more NBA players are from international countries. From Mexico to Bosnia to Spain, the NBA has become a diverse melting pot of players.

And with so many NBA players from international countries, more-and-more NBA players are speaking multiple languages.

Below, we are going to look at the best NBA players who speak multiple languages. These players not only speak English but, often, their mother tongue as well.

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant, better known by his nickname as the “black mamba“, was just one of six NBA players in the history of the league to score over 70-points in a single game.

Playing in the NBA for 20-years, Kobe Bryant would amass a length and notable basketball resume. A 5-time NBA champion, a 2-time NBA Finals MVP, an NBA Most Valuable Player Award, an 18-time NBA All-Star, a 4-time NBA All-Star Game MVP, and an 11-time All-NBA First Team selection to name a few.

However, and unbeknownst to many, although Kobe Bryant was born in Philadelphia his family moved to Rieti, Italy to allow his father, former NBA player Joe Bryant, to continue his basketball career.

The young Kobe Bryant became accustomed to his life in Italy and the new lifestyle and would become fluent in Italian.

Dikembe Mutombo

Dikembe Mutombo is a former NBA player and is of Congolese descent. He played 18-seasons in the NBA and is well-known for his humanitarian and charitable work. Listed at 7’2″, he is regarded as one of the best shot blockers and defenders in the history of the league.

An eight-time NBA All-Star, he would win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award four times, while averaging a double-double for most of his career.

Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015, Mutombo was born in 1966 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Living in Congo and with 9 siblings, he would become fluent in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and five Central African languages, including Lingala and Tshiluba.

Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille_O'Neal_Sweating_NBA_Basketball_Player

The Big Diesel, Shaquille O’Neal seems to be a man of many talents. One of the most dominant, and sweatiest, players to play in the league, Shaquille O’Neal is also one of the highest paid NBA players of all time, with much of his fortune coming via investments in businesses and restaurant franchises.

Born in Newark, New Jersey to Lucille O’Neal and Joe Toney, his biological father struggled with drug addiction and was not very present in Shaq’s young life.

However, Shaquille O’Neal would go on to play college basketball at Louisiana State University (LSU) and would be drafted by the Orlando Magic with the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft.

He is fluent in English, Spanish, Chinese, Greek, and Serbian.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo, aka “The Greek Freak”, was born and raised in Athens, Greece to Nigerian immigrants. Playing for the Milwaukee Bucks in the Central Division of the NBA’s Eastern Conference, he led the Bucks to the 2020-21 NBA Finals championship.

In addition to being an NBA Finals champion, Giannis won the NBA Finals MVP, is a 2-time NBA Most Valuable Player, a six-time NBA All-Star, and a 2-time NBA All-Star Game MVP.

In addition to speaking English, Giannis is fluent in Greek.

Luka Dončić

Luka Dončić currently plays for the Dallas Mavericks and represents the Slovenian national team. He is one of the most adept NBA players and shooters and frequently switches between playing the point guard and small forward positions.

Born in Ljubljana, Slovenia, he began playing organized basketball at the age of 7. Drafted to the NBA in 2018, he was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 3rd overall pick and promptly traded to the Mavericks.

In his tenure so far, he is a 3-time NBA All-Star, a 2-time All-NBA First-Team, and an NBA Rookie of the Year.

In addition to speaking English, Luka Dončić speaks Slovenian, Spanish, and Serbian.

Serge Ibaka

Serge Ibaka is a Congolese-Spanish basketball player who plays alongside Giannis with the Milwaukee Bucks. He was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics with the 24th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft.

A 3-time NBA All-Defensive First Team and having led the league in blocks twice, Serge Ibaka was born in the Republic of Congo. He won his first NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.

In addition to speaking English, Serge Ibaka speaks Lingala, French, and Spanish.

Tony Parker

Tony Parker is a French-American former NBA player. Selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2001 NBA draft with the 28th overall pick, he quickly became the starting point guard for the team.

Tony Parker was named to six NBA All-Star games, three All-NBA Second Teams, an All-NBA Third Team and was named MVP of the 2007 NBA Finals. He was also a member of the All-Rookie Second Team and had his No. 9 retired by the San Antonio Spurs.

He is regarded as one of the greatest European players of all time.

In addition to speaking English, Parker is fluent in French.

Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid is a Cameroonian basketball player who currently plays the center position for the Philadelphia 76ers. Joel Embiid was born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and played volleyball and soccer as a young child.

However, he was discovered as a basketball prodigy at a basketball camp by Luc Mbah a Moute, a fellow native of Yaoundé and an NBA player. With Mbah a Moute as his mentor, Embiid moved to the United States at age 16 to devote himself to becoming a professional basketball player.

Drafted with the third overall draft pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the 76ers after playing just one year of college basketball with the Kansas Jayhawks, he would enter the league and make the NBA All-Rookie First Team despite only playing 31 games.

He has received five All-Star selections and has nicknamed himself “the Process” in response to a refrain from 76ers fans during the Sam Hinkie era to “trust the process”.

In addition to speaking English, Joel Embiid speak Bassa and French.