# Who is the best Asian player in NBA history?

> Only a small club of players from Asian national teams has reached the NBA, and it runs from a Hall of Famer to pioneers who logged a handful of games.

*By YPB Team · Published November 11, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-asian-player-in-nba-history*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Rui Hachimura** — score 1000/1000
   Japanese forward drafted ninth overall by the Washington Wizards in 2019, the first Japanese player taken in the NBA draft's first round, later traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
2. **Yao Ming** — score 611/1000
   Chinese center taken first overall by the Houston Rockets in 2002, an eight-time All-Star inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2016.
3. **Wang Zhizhi** — score 517/1000
   Chinese center who became the first player from China in the NBA when he debuted for the Dallas Mavericks in 2001, later playing for the Clippers and Heat.
4. **Yi Jianlian** — score 423/1000
   Chinese forward picked sixth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2007 who also played for the Nets, Wizards and Mavericks.
5. **Yuta Watanabe** — score 423/1000
   Japanese forward who played six NBA seasons from 2018 to 2024 for the Grizzlies, Raptors, Nets and Suns.
6. **Hamed Haddadi** — score 423/1000
   Iranian center who became the first player from Iran in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2008 and later played for the Phoenix Suns.
7. **Jordan Clarkson** — score 310/1000
   Guard who won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award with the Utah Jazz in 2021 and has played for the Philippines at the 2018 Asian Games and the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
8. **Yuta Tabuse** — score 0/1000
   Point guard who became the first Japanese-born player to appear in an NBA game, playing four games for the Phoenix Suns in November and December 2004.

Tags: asia, sports, basketball, players, nba