Nigeria has produced a remarkable number of talented basketball players who have made their mark in the National Basketball Association (NBA). From legendary centers to dynamic forwards, Nigerian players have showcased their skills on the biggest stage in basketball, inspiring a new generation of athletes back home. Here’s a look at some of the most notable Nigerian basketballers who have played in the NBA, highlighting their achievements and contributions to the sport.
Hakeem Olajuwon
Nicknamed “The Dream”, Olajuwon, is a two-time NBA champion and NBA Finals MVP, Olajuwon is widely regarded as one of the greatest centers in NBA history. He played for the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors.
Born in January 21,1963,in Lagos,Olajuwon left Nigeria,to play for the University of Houston under head coach Guy Lewis. His college career for the Cougars included three trips to the Final Four. Olajuwon was drafted by the Houston Rockets with the first overall selection of the 1984 NBA draft.
From 1984 to 2002, he played center in th NBA, for the Houston Rockets, and in his last season, the Toronto Raptors. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. Olajuwon was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players and centers of all time.
Olumide Oyedeji
Olumide Oyedeji,was born 11 May 198, in Ibadan,Oyo State,Nigeria,he had his secondary education at Loyola College, Ibadan where he started playing as a member of the school’s senior basketball team.
Oyedeji played at the 1999 and 2000 Nike Hoop Summits and was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics, in the 2nd round (42nd overall) of the 2000 NBA draft. He played a total of 93 games during 3 seasons in the NBA, and had career averages of 1.4 points per game, 2.1 rebounds per game, 0.1 assists per game, and 0.2 steals per game.
His final NBA game was played on 1 April 2003, in a 105–118 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Since retirering he has continued to groom future basketball stars,with his Hoops N’ Read basketball club.He is the President of Nigeria Olympian Association (NOA), and the Vice President of Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).
Obinna Ekezie
Obinna Ekezie is a four-year NBA player, Ekezie
Born in Port-Harcourt Nigeria,he played professionally as an NBA player for teams such as the Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards, LA Clippers, and Vancouver Grizzlies.He is the Founder and CEO of ZeepTravel, the parent company of online ticket reservation service, Wakanow.com.
Festus Ezeli
Festus Ezeli, played for the Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks.Born October 21, 1989, in Benin City, Edo State, Ezeli played five seasons in the NBA. He played college basketball for the Vanderbilt Commodores before being selected with the 30th overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors, where he won an NBA Championship in 2015.
Ezeli last appeared in the 2016 NBA Finals and did not play basketball due to knee surgery in the 2017 season, then coming back in 2021.
On April 17, 2021, Ezeli signed with Rivers Hoopers to play in the inaugural season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL).However, he did not play a game for the Hoopers before getting injured and being replaced by Robinson Opong.
Charles Bassey
Charles Bassey played college basketball for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers,before he was selected in the second round of the 2021 NBA draft with the 53rd pick by the Philadelphia 76ers, subsequently joining them for the 2021 NBA Summer League.On September 24, 2021, he signed with the 76ers.In 2022, Bassey was waived by the 76ers,before the San Antonio Spurs announced that they had signed Bassey to a two-way contract, splitting time with the Spurs’ NBA G League affiliate, the Austin Spurs.
He was named to the G League’s inaugural Next Up Game for the 2022–23 season.In 2023, the Spurs converted Bassey’s deal to a four-year, $10.2 million standard contract.On July 11, 2025, Bassey played for the Boston Celtics in the 2025 NBA Summer League.
Michael Olowokandi
Micheal Olowokandi is nine-year NBA veteran,who played for several teams, including the Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, and raised in London, he played collegiately for the Pacific Tigers in Stockton, California. Nicknamed “the Kandi Man,” Olowokandi was selected as the first overall pick of the 1998 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. He played professionally until 2007, when he was forced to retire due to severe hernia and knee injuries.
In 500 regular season NBA games (399 games started), Olowokandi averaged 8.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.39 blocked shots per game. In 15 playoff games (2 starts), he averaged 2.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and .7 blocks per game.
Eugene Omoruyi
Eugene Omoruyi is forward who has played for the Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons.After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, Omoruyi signed a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks in 2021, splitting time with their G League affiliate, the Texas Legends.On December 15,2021,he suffered a season-ending injury while playing with the Legends, and on December 26, he was waived by the Mavericks.
In 2022, Omoruyi signed a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In 2023, he signed a 10-day contract with the Detroit Pistons,who exercised his team option for the 2023–24 NBA season.
Precious Achiuwa
The Port Harcourt, Rivers State born Achiuwa is a power forward/center who currently plays for the New York Knicks,in the NBA.He attended high school in the United States, where he was a consensus five-star recruit and named a McDonald’s All-American. Achiuwa played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers, earning conference player of the year honors as a freshman in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) in 2020.
He was selected by the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft with the 20th overall pick. After his rookie year ended in Miami, he was traded to the Toronto Raptors during the 2021 offseason before being traded to the Knicks in 2023.
9. Bam Adebayo
Femi Bam Adebayo is a centre who plays for the Miami Heat and is known for his defensive prowess and playmaking abilities.
He played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats before being selected by the Heat with the 14th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft. He is a three-time NBA All-Star, a five-time NBA All-Defensive Team honoree, and he helped the Heat reach the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023. Adebayo was cut from the United States national team for the 2019 World Cup,but he was named to their 2020 Olympic team and won a gold medal.
After considering the Nigerian team, he was chosen, and committed to play, for the US National team at the 2024 Olympics.Team USA would go on to win the gold medal in a rematch against France.
10. Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo
Born and raised in Athens to Nigerian parents, Antetokounmpo began playing basketball for the youth teams of Filathlitikos in Athens. In 2011, he began playing for the club’s senior team before entering the 2013 NBA draft, where he was selected 15th overall by the Bucks. In 2016–17, he led the Bucks in all five major statistical categories and became the first player in NBA history to finish a regular season in the top 20 in all five statistics: total points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
He received the NBA Most Improved Player award in 2017. Antetokounmpo has received nine NBA All-Star selections, including being selected as an All-Star captain in 2019, 2020, 2023 and 2024 as he led the Eastern Conference in voting in these four years.
In 2021, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to their first NBA championship since 1971 and was named Finals MVP.The same year, he was honored as one of the league’s greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.In 2024, he led the Bucks to win the 2nd edition of the NBA Cup, where he was named NBA Cup MVP.
