Nigerian Basketball Players: Past and Present

From our archive

Nigerian basketball Hall of Fame

Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon is one of the popular basketball players in Nigeria and is also popularly known as Akeem Olajuwon (The Dream), he was once among the greatest and professional basketball players when it comes to NBA history but is retired now.

Abdul Olajuwon was born on the 21st of January 1963 in the city of Lagos, prior to his fame at the age of 15 years precisely; he started his career in basketball from high school named Muslim Teachers College.

Hakeem Olajuwon played for Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors in the centre position dated from the year 1984 - 2002. He was recorded as the first basketball player that led the Rockets to back to back in NBA championships in 1994 and 1995 respectively.

He was admitted into the basketball hall of fame in 2008 in the United States. Hakeem Olajuwon is the best basketball player ever to come out of continental Africa and also one of the best 10 basketball players ever to play in the NBA and the best basketball player ever to play for Houston Rockets, in the city of Houston.

Some sports commentators believed that Hakeem Olajuwon is a better player than Magic Johnson, although Magic Johnson ranks higher than Hakeem Olajuwon in terms of championships won, honours and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats.

Although Hakeem Olajuwon has never played for Nigeria’s senior national team (he played for a Nigerian junior team at the 1980 All-Africa Games), he did help boost the morale of young basketball players in Nigeria and as the most famous personality in the history of sports in Nigeria.

Akin Akingbala is also one of the best and professional basketball players for the Nigerian basketball team, he is also known to have played for the Saenz Horeca Araberri Basketball Club of the LEB Oro which is primarily based in Spain.

He was born in Lagos on the 25th of March in the year 1983 and attended Brunswick high school and Clemson University respectively, while at the college, he played in the college basketball team where he turned his hobby into a professional career.

Al-Farouq Ajiede Aminu is also another popular name in the Nigeria basketball team who has represented the country in local, national and international championships; he is also well known to have been one of the professional players for the Portland Trail Blazers which is based in Portland, Oregon.

Al-Farouq was born on the 21st in the month of September, in the year 1990 in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States of America to Nigerian parents, though he initially played for the Nigerian basketball team, Al-Farouq went on to play for Portland-based team - The Portland Trail Blazers which signed him for $30 million on a four-year contract in 2015.

Ike Diogu is one of the popular names when it comes to basketball; not only in Nigeria but internationally, his full name is Ikechukwu Somtochukwu born of Nigerian parents on September 11, 1983 in Buffalo, New York but later moved to Garland, Texas with the parents where he also attended his high school.

He is a professional basketball player (Nigerian-American) who has played while in college (Arizona State University) under Rob Evans who was then the head coach, he also played in the Nigeria senior team and was among the players that competed and represented Nigeria in the Summer Olympic Games of 2012 and 2016.

The 6 foot 9 inches basketball player has played for Chinese club by name Dongguan Leopards in 2014, played in 2015-2016 season for Guangdong Southern Tigers, in the year 2016 he signed a contract with Jiangsu Monkey King and in 2018, he replaced Jamaal Franklin to play for Sichuan Blue Whales in China.

Aloysius Anagonye is also one of the best and popular basketball players for Nigeria, he is a Nigerian-American basketball player and a professional one who last played for ALM Evreux Basket of the LNB Pro B.

Aloysius was born on the 10th day of February in the year 1981 to Nigeria parents in United States of America, precisely in Southfield, Michigan where he also attended his high school and college, he attended Saint Martin de Porres and Michigan State University respectively.

He has represented his home country - Nigeria in various basketball tournaments and championships and also represents his club well in all its matches. In 2006, he played in the Nigeria basketball team in the FIBA World Championship and also the subsequent year with Nigeria on the 5th position.

Benjamin Ndubuisi Eze was born in the city of Lagos in the year 1981 on the 8th of February; he is a Nigeria-Italian basketball player and one of the professional players for Nigeria and his club.

He was among the players that played for Nigeria in the FIBA Africa championship in the year 2005 where Nigeria finished 3rd making them eligible for the FIBA World Cup Championship for 2006 but didn’t play nor participate in the world championship.

Chamberlain Oguchi is a Nigeria professional basketball Player who is also known as Chukwuemeka, he is based in the United States of America and was born on the 28th of April 1986 in Houston, Texas, he is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player.

The 6 ft 6 in height player had played for many clubs, he played for a French club based in Boulazac by name Boulazac Basket Dordogne (BBD) of the LNB Pro B. Oguchi has been a member of the senior men’s Nigeria national basketball team; he participated at the 2006 FIBA World Championship and the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

Chinemelu D. Elonu, Jr. is one of Nigeria’s basketball players; he is also an American professional basketball player who was born in the year 1987 on the 11th of March.

While in Texas A&M University, he played for the college basketball team and participated in their various tournaments, prior to his college, he attended Alief Elsik High School and has also played for Athens of the Greek League and so many others.

Churchill Odia is a Nigerian basketball player who played college basketball for the University of Oregon Ducks men’s basketball team. He was born on 21st of November 1985 in Lagos Nigeria.

He attended Montrose Christian High School and the University of Oregon and had played with the Nigerian national basketball team at the FIBA Africa Championship 2007.

Nigeria basketball players

Nigeria has produced lots of outstanding players who have made the nation proud, below are lists of some of the Nigeria basketball players home and abroad and who either played/are playing locally and/or internationally.

• Festus Ezeli
• Ekpe Udoh
• Gani Lawal
• Peter Aluma
• Julius Nwosu
• Ike Diogu
• Ime Udoka
• Al-Farouq Aminu
• Olumide Oyedeji
• Ebi Ere
• Michael Olowokandi
• Obinna Eze
• Jeff Varem
• Chamberlin Oguchi
• Olaseni Lawal
• Andy Ogide
• Jamal Olasewere
• Ben Uzoh
• Benjamin Eze
• Ekene Ibekwe
• Tony Skinn
• Hakeem Olajuwon
• Aloysius Anagonye
• Tunji Awojobi
• Akin Akingbala
• Derrick Obusohan
• Ade Dagunduro
• Koko Archibong
• Richard Oruche
• Daniel Okonkwo