Quite a number of Nigerian players are plying their trades in the NBA.
While a few are already members of the Nigeria men’s Basketball team, D’Tigers, others of Nigerian descent are not.
Afroballers.com in this article focus on the players of Nigerian descent who have been drafted in NBA 2020.
A record of 8 players of Nigerian descent have been drafted. 6 of these players will play in the first round, and two in the second round.
Below is a list of all the players of Nigerian descent in the 2020 NBA draft picks.
1. Onyeka Okongwu (Hawks)
With the No. 6 pick, the Hawks select Onyeka Okongwu 🔥 @brhoops pic.twitter.com/cONL1rRcWy
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 19, 2020
This is a testament both to how far the Nigerian community in the USA has come, and how much basketball has grown back home in Nigeria.
A record-high of 8 players of Nigerian descent have been drafted ! 6 in the first round, 2 in the secound round. 🇳🇬
#AfroBallers #NBAdraft pic.twitter.com/YGJbpOiZBp
— AfroBallers (@afroballers) November 19, 2020
In 1984, when Akeem Olajuwon was drafted number one overall to the NBA — ahead of even Michael Jordan — he was the lone Nigerian, nay African, in that Draft Class.
It took another 10 years before the NBA drafted another player of Nigerian descent when the New Jersey Nets picked up Yinka Dare from George Washington, and another four years before Michael Olowokandi was drafted number one overall by the LA Clipper.
