There were 17 trades on deadline day Thursday, March 25, involving 45 different players, many of whom are set to be free agents this summer.
Thursday’s trades couldn’t be talked about without mention of the trade of Victor Oladipo from the Houston Rockets to Miami Heat.
In return, Houston acquired Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk, and a 2022 pick swap.
#AfricaIsNow https://t.co/9TT6UFNnW7
— Youcef Ouldyassia (@YoucefOuldy) March 25, 2021
Oladipo played 20 games with the Rockets after being traded earlier this season from the Indiana Pacers. He is averaging 20.8 points, 5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists this season.
But the two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo joins five other players of Nigerian origin who play for the Miami Heat.
So in the NBA now, the Miami Heat, after all the trading, have six players of Nigerian origin.
They are;
- Victor Oladipo
Born Kehinde Babatunde Victor Oladipo on May 4, 1992. Oladipo was born to Nigerian parents. His mother, Joan Amanze Oladipo, and father Christopher Oladipo are immigrants from Nigeria who settled in the US in 1985.
OFFICIAL: The Miami HEAT have acquired guard Victor Oladipo from the Houston Rockets in exchange for Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk and a 2022 draft pick swap. https://t.co/ESXBySbkHi
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) March 26, 2021
In 2019, Oladipo was named an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve for the second straight year.
2. Bam Adebayo
Edrice Femi “Bam” Adebayo was born on July 18, 1997, to a Nigerian father and an African-American mother. He was given the nickname “Bam Bam” by his mother.
https://t.co/UC9RWOeRqk pic.twitter.com/EkfqyO7xZe
— 13am Adebayo💥 (@Bam1of1) February 27, 2021
Adebayo is of African American and Yoruba descent.
3. Vincent Gabe Nnamdi
Gabriel Nnamdi Vincent (born June 14, 1996) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player.
He also plays for the Nigerian national basketball team. He played college basketball for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.
Appreciate the Love ! 209 native ! https://t.co/AXxJ762oYr
— Gabe Nnamdi Vincent (@iamgabevincent2) February 25, 2021
4. KZ Okpala
Chikezie “KZ” Okpala was born to Nigerian parents Martin and Mary Okpala. His parents settled in Orange County, California when they migrated to the US. He began playing basketball at age 4.
5. Precious Achiuwa
Precious Ezinna Achiuwa is a Nigerian professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers.
Achiuwa was born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and grew up mainly playing soccer before he turned his attention to NBA.
First day on the job.@PreciousAchiuwa has arrived. #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/MB8IUbN2Dj
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) November 27, 2020
6. Andre Iguodala
He was birthed by an African American mother and Nigerian father. He was born on January 28, 1984.
