JUSTIN Brownlee, as expected, will be the biggest name to watch for the Philippines come the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as the resident Ginebra import has time and again saved the day for Gilas Pilipinas.
But he isn’t alone, with other naturalized players all raring to steer their respective nations to glory in the biennial continental competition.
Brownlee's competition
Josh Hawkinson isn’t far behind Brownlee, with the dependable center being a staple in the paint for Japan since 2023.
The 6-foot-10 banger was impressive for the Akatsuki Five in the 2024 Paris Olympics, norming 18.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists which really isn’t a far cry from his numbers for SunRockers Shibuya, where he normed 16.3 points, 8.6 boards, 2.2 dimes, and 1.1 blocks last B.League season.
Hawkinson, 30, has been in Japan since 2017 as after graduating from Washington State, he’s had stints with Toyutsu Fighting Eagles (now-Fighting Eagles Nagoya), Shinshu Brave Warriors, and Shibuya.
Chinese Taipei is also parading 7-foot Brandon Gilbeck as its naturalized player.
The Western Illinois alum was as good as advertised playing all of the six games in the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers where he netted a double-double with his 11.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.3 blocks, and 1.3 assists.
Gilbeck, 28, has been in Taiwan since 2021 as a part of the Formosa Dreamers.
His arrival backstops a budding frontcourt for Chinese Taipei which already has reclassified local Mohammad Al Bachir Gadiaga.
Dar Tucker is also back in the naturalized player spot for Jordan in lieu of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
The 6-foot-4 swingman from DePaul has been a part of the Falcons since 2016 and kept that intensity, nabbing 15.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists during the qualifiers.
At 37, Tucker is still as reliable as they come as he currently plays for the Hsinchu Toplus Lioneers in the Taiwan Professional Basketball League.
Dedric Lawson is also set to be unveiled as the new naturalized player for Lebanon.
The 6-foot-9 center out of Memphis and Kansas already showed a glimpse of what he can do for the Cedars, claiming the Finals MVP honors in the Beirut Cup.
Lawson, 27, is currently a part of Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) where he logged 19.6 points, 11.2 boards, and 5.4 assists last season.
Qatar has also shored up its guard rotation with the acquisition of 6-foot playmaker Brandon Goodwin.
The four-year NBA veteran who had stops in Denver, Atlanta, and Cleveland after spending college in University of Central Florida and Florida Gulf Coast, will be making his debut for the Qataris.
The 29-year-old Goodwin spent the past season in the CBA with the Shanxi Loongs where he posted 24.9 points, 7.7 assists, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals.
He will be a big help for Qatar especially with 6-foot-10 center Tyler Harris, the brother of Detroit Pistons’ Tobias, being classified as a local.
Syria will also parade a new naturalized player in Keron DeShields.
The 6-foot-3 talent has garnered a lot of hype as he notched 22.0 points, 8.7 assists, and 5.7 rebounds for Al Ittihad in the Fiba West Asia Super League.
DeShields, 32, takes the place of Myron Gordon who helped Syria in the qualifiers.
Completing the naturalized player cast is Demario Mayfield for Iraq.
The 34-year-old journeyman out of Angelo State has been a part of the national team since 2017, and continues to be a solid producer for the team, with the 6-foot-2 guard netting 18.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1.4 steals in the qualifiers.
Mayfield is signed with Brillantes de Maracaibo in Venezuela where he averaged 8.9 points on 3-percent shooting, 4.3 boards, and 3.1 assists in the 2025 season.
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