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Island Ballers: The 20 Best NBA Players from Puerto Rico

From this Caribbean island, a tropical powerhouse of basketball talent has emerged. Crossing cultures to bring their fiery island style to the stateside game, these Spanish-tongued ballers prove being a global great extends beyond the borders of the mainland.

Watching them command the court with their smooth Eurosteps and spicy Latino flavour, you’d never guess they honed their skills on outdoor courts battered by hurricane winds. But now they storm NBA hardwood with as much force as the tropical storms that shaped them.

With tricked-out crossovers as sharp as a San Juan alley, get ready as I unveil these Boricua ballers one by one—an All-Star lineup of Puerto Rican talent ready to spice up the league with their distinctive island magic.

1. José Juan Barea

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José Juan Barea Mora is a retired Puerto Rican professional basketball player who currently serves as the head coach for the Mets de Guaynabo team in Puerto Rico’s top basketball league, the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN).

He played college basketball at Northeastern University before being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in 2006, becoming one of only seven Puerto Ricans to reach the NBA.

Barea went on to win an NBA championship with the Mavericks in 2011 before signing with the Minnesota-based  Minnesota Timberwolves, where he competed for three seasons. In addition, he has played in the NBA Development League and the Baloncesto Superior Nacional throughout his basketball career.

On the international stage, Barea represented Puerto Rico on several championship teams, including gold-medal squads at the 2006 and 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games. He started at point guard when Puerto Rico captured gold at the 2011 Pan American Games as well as silver in 2007.

2. Carlos Arroyo

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Carlos Alberto Arroyo Bermúdez is a retired Puerto Rican professional basketball player who competed in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for several teams including the Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, and Boston Celtics.

In 2008-2009, Arroyo played overseas for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. He helped lead the team to the league championship and was named the Final’s Most Valuable Player.

That same year, he also led the Israeli League in assists. Throughout his career, Arroyo played professionally in Puerto Rico, Spain and Turkey in addition to the NBA.

Internationally, Arroyo represented Puerto Rico including the 2004 Summer Olympics when they famously defeated the United States. He also played for Puerto Rico at the 2006 FIBA World Championship held in Japan.

More recently in 2019, Arroyo was selected by Trilogy to compete in the Big3 basketball league before focusing his efforts on music. He has since released the hit song “Baila Reggaeton” internationally.

3. José Ortiz

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José Rafael “Piculín” Ortiz Rijos is a retired Puerto Rican professional basketball player who competed in the NCAA, NBA, various European teams, and Puerto Rico’s top league Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN).

During his NBA career, Ortiz played for the Utah-based Utah Jazz. In the BSN, he played for Atléticos de San Germán, Cangrejeros de Santurce, and Capitanes de Arecibo. Ortiz was also a long-time member of the Puerto Rican national team from 1983 to 2004.

Most notably, he was part of the 2004 team that defeated the United States at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Ortiz represented Puerto Rico in four Olympics overall (1988, 1992, 1996, 2004).

Ortiz holds many honours and records as a player. He ranks among the BSN’s career leaders in rebounds per game and total rebounds. He was also just the third BSN player to win eight championships.

Additionally, Ortiz was the first Puerto Rico-born player ever drafted into the NBA. He is considered by many experts to be the best Puerto Rican basketball player of all time.

4. Jose Alvarado

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Jose Alvarado is an American professional basketball player who currently competes for the New Orleans-based New Orleans Pelicans in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He earned the nickname “Grand Theft Alvarado” for his adept ability at stealing the ball from opponents.

As of 2022, Alvarado has also begun representing Puerto Rico at the international level. Before the NBA, he played college basketball with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

5. Alfred Lee

Alfred “Butch” Lee Jr. is a retired Puerto Rican professional basketball player. He made history as the first Puerto Rican and first Latin American-born athlete to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) after being drafted in the first round in 1978.

Lee played in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers over his career. He finished up his playing days competing in Puerto Rico’s top league, the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN).

Notably, Lee is the only Puerto Rican player to have won championships in the NCAA, NBA and BSN. He also represented Puerto Rico on the national team.

6. Daniel Santiago

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Daniel Gregg Santiago is a Puerto Rican basketball coach at IMG Academy and a former professional player.

As a centre, he had a college career competing in both the NCAA and NAIA. Professionally, Santiago played in the NBA along with Puerto Rico’s top league Baloncesto Superior Nacional and overseas.

He was a long-time member of the Puerto Rican national team from 1998 to 2014. Santiago was part of the 2004 Puerto Rican Olympic squad that famously defeated the United States.

7. Shabazz Napier

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Shabazz Bozie Napier is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player currently competing for Crvena Zvezda of Serbia’s top league KLS as well as the Adriatic League and EuroLeague.

Napier was selected 24th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets before being traded to the Miami Heat in Miami. He played college basketball at the University of Connecticut, winning NCAA national championships in 2011 and 2014.

In 2013-14, Napier was unanimously voted to the All-AAC First Team and named the inaugural American Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He was a key contributor when UConn won another championship in 2014, garnering Most Outstanding Player honours for the NCAA Tournament.

8. Gian Clavell

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Gian Louis Clavell López is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player currently competing for Cangrejeros de Santurce in Puerto Rico’s top league, the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). He also represents the Puerto Rican national team.

In 2017 while playing college basketball, Clavell was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year – the first ever for a Colorado State University Ram. His tenure in the NBA involved a stint at the Dallas-based Dallas Mavericks.

9. Ramón Rivas

Juan Ramón Rivas Contreras is a retired Puerto Rican professional basketball player and current sports colour commentator.

Rivas was the third Puerto Rican to reach the NBA after Butch Lee and José Ortiz and formed half of the first pair of Puerto Ricans active in the league at the same time along with Ortiz.

Over his career, Rivas played in the NBA along with NCAA Division I college basketball and Puerto Rico’s top league, the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN), for the Carolina Giants. He also competed internationally in Spain, Greece and Italy.

Rivas represented Puerto Rico for many years on the senior national team, playing in global events like the 1986 and 1990 FIBA World Championships, and the 1988, 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics.

10. Renaldo Balkman

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Renaldo Miguel Balkman is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player currently competing for Mets de Guaynabo in Puerto Rico’s top league, the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN).

He played college basketball at the University of South Carolina before being drafted 20th overall in the 2006 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. Balkman spent six NBA seasons split between the Knicks and Denver Nuggets in Denver.

Since 2012-13, he has played internationally and has also been a member of the Puerto Rican national team.

11. Maurice Harkless

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Maurice José “Moe” Harkless is an American-Puerto Rican professional basketball player from Queens, New York currently competing for the NBA G League’s Rip City Remix.

He played one season of college basketball for St. John’s University before being selected 15th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft after his freshman year.

Over his pro career, Harkless has represented the Puerto Rican national team in addition to stints in the NBA.

12. Guillermo Diaz

Guillermo Díaz is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player currently competing for Gigantes de Carolina in Puerto Rico’s top league, the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN).

Díaz was selected by the Los Angeles-based  Los Angeles Clippers in the 2006 NBA Draft, becoming the fifth Puerto Rican draftee and eighth Puerto Rican player in NBA history. Throughout his career, he has also played professionally in Europe along with Puerto Rico.

13. John Holland

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John Michael Joseph Holland is an American-Puerto Rican professional basketball player currently playing for Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.

A small forward, Holland played college basketball for Boston University and represents Puerto Rico’s national team internationally. Over his pro career, Holland’s NBA experience includes stints with the Cleveland-based Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics.

14. Ricky Sánchez

Ricardo “Ricky” Sánchez Rosa is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player who most recently played for Grises de Humacao in Puerto Rico’s top league, the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN).

He was selected 35th overall in the 2005 NBA Draft by the Oregon-based  Portland Trail Blazers out of IMG Academy, becoming the fourth Puerto Rican drafted to the NBA. His rights were immediately traded to the Denver Nuggets for Jarrett Jack. Sánchez has represented the Puerto Rican national team internationally.

He was the last player drafted by the NBA while still a minor, just 8 days before turning 18. Over his career, his rights have been traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat, though he never ultimately played in the NBA.

15. Peter John Ramos

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Peter John Ramos Fuentes, nicknamed “Mr. Beast,” is a retired Puerto Rican professional basketball player and current professional wrestler.

He was the sixth player from Puerto Rico to reach the NBA and the third to be drafted, finding success in the NBA Development League where he was an All-Star in 2006-07.

Over his basketball career, Ramos also played in Puerto Rico’s top league BSN, the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He represented Puerto Rico’s national team from 2004 to 2016, making his Olympic debut in the famous 2004 game where Puerto Rico defeated the United States.

In 2019, Ramos transitioned to professional wrestling, debuting with the World Wrestling Council (WWC) in Puerto Rico.

16. Tyler Davis

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Tyler Lee-Deon Davis is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player currently with Osos de Manatí of Puerto Rico’s top league, the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). He played college basketball for Texas A&M.

Davis also represents Puerto Rico’s senior national team internationally. Standing 6’10” tall at the centre position, Davis went undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft but joined the Brooklyn-based  Brooklyn Nets for the Summer League.

In August 2018, he signed a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder and made his brief NBA debut that November.

However, Davis was waived by the Thunder in December 2018. He has since averaged a double-double of 17.2 points and 11.5 rebounds per game in the G League for the Oklahoma City Blue.

17. Edwin Ubiles

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Edwin Ubiles is a retired Puerto Rican professional basketball player. He played college basketball at Siena College, averaging 14.8 points per game over four seasons and finishing third on the school’s career scoring list with 1,939 total points.

A native of Poughkeepsie, New York, Ubiles played in the 2012 NBA D-League All-Star Game.

On March 18, 2012, he signed a 10-day contract with the Washington Wizards, becoming the first Siena College alum to play in an NBA regular season game when he debuted for the Wizards on March 21, 2012.

18. Jordan Howard

Jaysean Paige is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player currently competing for the Raptors 905 of the NBA G League.

He played college basketball at West Virginia University, previously attending the College of Southern Idaho and Moberly Area Community College. Over his pro career, Paige has NBA experience with the  Detroit-based Detroit Pistons in addition to G League play.

19. Aleem Ford

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Aleem Ford is an American-Puerto Rican professional basketball player currently competing for the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League. He played college basketball at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin.

Of Puerto Rican descent, Ford has chosen to represent Puerto Rico internationally and will play for their national team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Professionally, Ford has spent time in the NBA with the Orlando Magic in addition to the G League.

20. Tremont Waters

Tremont Waters is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player currently competing for the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

He played college basketball at LSU. Of Puerto Rican descent, Waters has chosen to represent Puerto Rico at the international level and will play for their national team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

He was drafted by the Boston Celtics and has NBA experience with the Toronto Raptors and the Washington-based Washington Wizards as well over his professional career so far.

Even as their playing days sunset, their legacy burns bright as ever—eternal inspirations to the next generation of ballers back home gazing at their posters on bedroom walls.

Though oceans apart, their island hearts still bleed for Puerto Rico with a passion as fiery as the shades of red in its flag. Through their dominance on the hardwood, they put a global spotlight on this Caribbean jewel that glimmers like gold—Boricua legends forever.