The Nigerian national basketball team is currently the only African team to qualify for the Olympic Games and is the first African team ever that is potentially able to have a roster of 12 NBA players going to the Olympics.
D’Tigers’ 12-man roster for their last international outing at the FIBA World Cup last year marked the first time Nigeria had six current and former NBA players compete for the country at a global event. The team featured Al-Farouq Aminu, Chimezie Metu and Josh Okogie who all play in the NBA. While the trio of captain Ike Diogu, Ekpe Udoh and Ben Uzoh had also played in the world’s elite basketball league in the past.
However in 2021, they took it up a notch by naming 12 current NBA players. See the list below. https://www.instagram.com/p/CQcIGbeNBoD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Check this graphic to fully picture what it could look like. https://www.instagram.com/p/CQgRm_iDZfX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Moreover, they have called former NBA players like Festus Ezeli, Emeka Okafor and Ben Uzoh, as well as, 12 very promising NBA prospects.. With a roster of this quality, Nigeria is hoping to be set to make a stand by being the first African team to qualify beyond the group phase at the Olympics, and may even be able to get a medal.