The Nigeria Basketball Federation has lauded the selection of eight players of Nigerian descent in the 2020 NBA Draft, saying it portends a new dawn for the country’s progress in the sport.
The development comes as good news for the country’s basketball faithful, as the NBBF prepares ahead of next year’s Olympic Games, with the men and women’s national teams — a first in Africa — competing at the global sport’s showpiece.
Six of the players Isaac Okoro, Onyeka Okongwu, Precious Achiuwa, Zeke Nnaji, Udoka Azubuike and Desmond Bane were selected in the first round, while Daniel Oturu and D’Tigers star Jordan Nwora were selected in the second round.
It’s the first time eight players of Nigerian descent would be selected for the draft.
It’s also the first time two players born in Nigeria – Achiuwa and Azubuike — would be selected in the first round.
NBBF vice president Babs Ogunade expressed delight at the selections, saying it would help boost the men’s national team at the 2020 Olympics.
