# The 16 Best Caribbean Players in NBA History

> Birthplace is the only test here: each player was born in a Caribbean nation or territory, and the list mixes Hall of Famers with bench pieces who earned rings.

*By YPB Team · Published November 6, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-16-best-caribbean-players-in-nba-history*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Tim Duncan** — score 1000/1000
   Born in Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, he won five NBA titles and two MVP awards with the San Antonio Spurs.
2. **Patrick Ewing** — score 809/1000
   Born in Kingston, Jamaica, he was the 1985 No. 1 overall pick and an 11-time All-Star center for the New York Knicks.
3. **Butch Lee** — score 763/1000
   Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, he became the first Puerto Rican-born NBA player in 1978 and won the 1980 title with the Lakers.
4. **Mychal Thompson** — score 485/1000
   Born in Nassau, Bahamas, he was the 1978 No. 1 overall pick and won two titles with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1987 and 1988.
5. **Raja Bell** — score 485/1000
   Born in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, he was a two-time All-Defensive Team guard during his years with the Phoenix Suns.
6. **Chris Boucher** — score 485/1000
   Born in Castries, Saint Lucia, he is a forward who won NBA titles with Golden State in 2018 and Toronto in 2019.
7. **Francisco Garcia** — score 485/1000
   Born in San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic, he was a wing who spent most of his NBA career with the Sacramento Kings.
8. **Carlos Arroyo** — score 397/1000
   Born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, he started at point guard for the Utah Jazz in 2003-04 and starred in Puerto Rico's 2004 Olympic win over the United States.
9. **Al Horford** — score 291/1000
   Born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, he is a five-time All-Star who won the 2024 NBA title with the Boston Celtics.
10. **Buddy Hield** — score 291/1000
   Born in Freeport, Bahamas, he set the NBA record for three-pointers made in a player's first three seasons in 2019.
11. **Deandre Ayton** — score 291/1000
   Born in Nassau, Bahamas, he was the 2018 No. 1 overall pick and started at center for Phoenix in the 2021 NBA Finals.
12. **Olden Polynice** — score 291/1000
   Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, he was a rebounding center who played 15 NBA seasons, mostly with Seattle, Sacramento and Utah.
13. **Adonal Foyle** — score 291/1000
   Born on Canouan, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, he was the eighth overall pick in 1997 and spent ten seasons as a Golden State Warriors shot-blocker.
14. **Chris Duarte** — score 291/1000
   Born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, he was named to the 2021–22 NBA All-Rookie Second Team with the Indiana Pacers.
15. **J.J. Barea** — score 0/1000
   Born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, he was a key reserve guard on the Dallas Mavericks team that won the 2011 NBA title.
16. **Carl Herrera** — score 0/1000
   Born in Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago, he was a forward on the Houston Rockets teams that won the 1994 and 1995 NBA titles.

Tags: sports, basketball, players, nba, caribbean