NBA Players from Nigeria: Full List (2026)
30 NBA players have come from Nigeria, by Wikipedia’s count (including 17 foreign-born Nigerians). Our table below names 20: players born outside the United States with a tie to Nigeria, plus current players listed with its nationality. As of October 2026, 7 are on an NBA roster: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Miami Heat), Josh Okogie (Utah Jazz), Precious Achiuwa (Sacramento Kings), Charles Bassey (Golden State Warriors), Adem Bona (Philadelphia Sixers), Felix Okpara (Washington Wizards) and Ugonna Onyenso (Detroit Pistons).
NBA players from Nigeria at a glance
| NBA players, all time | 30 (Wikipedia count); 20 named in our table |
|---|---|
| On NBA rosters, October 2026 | 7: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Josh Okogie, Precious Achiuwa, Charles Bassey, Adem Bona, Felix Okpara, Ugonna Onyenso |
| First to play in the NBA | Hakeem Olajuwon (1984) |
| Longest NBA career | Hakeem Olajuwon (18 seasons) |
| Centers | 13: Hakeem Olajuwon, Julius Nwosu, Yinka Dare, Michael Olowokandi, Peter Aluma, Olumide Oyedeji, Obinna Ekezie, Solomon Alabi, Festus Ezeli, Udoka Azubuike, Adem Bona, Felix Okpara, Ugonna Onyenso |
| Hall of Fame | Hakeem Olajuwon |
| 7-foot prospects in our database | 11 (see them) |
| Last checked | 9 October 2026 |
Every NBA player from Nigeria
Sorted by NBA debut, earliest first. Status is as of October 2026, before the 2026-27 regular season, so it includes players on training camp deals.
| Player | Position | NBA seasons | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hakeem Olajuwon | Center | 1984-2002 | Former player | Born in Nigeria; listed under the United States. Hall of Fame |
| Julius Nwosu | Center | 1994-95 | Former player | |
| Yinka Dare | Center | 1994-1998 | Former player | |
| Michael Olowokandi | Center | 1998-2007 | Former player | |
| Peter Aluma | Center | 1999 | Former player | |
| Olumide Oyedeji | Center | 2000-2003 | Former player | |
| Obinna Ekezie | Forward/center | 2005 | Former player | |
| Solomon Alabi | Center | 2010-2012 | Former player | |
| Festus Ezeli | Center | 2012-2017 | Former player | |
| Kelenna Azubuike | Guard | 2012 | Former player | Born in the United Kingdom |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Forward | 2013 to present | Miami Heat | Also listed with Greece nationality |
| Josh Okogie | Forward | 2018 to present | Utah Jazz | |
| Precious Achiuwa | Forward | 2020 to present | Sacramento Kings | |
| Udoka Azubuike | Center | 2020-2024 | Former player | |
| Charles Bassey | Forward | 2021 to present | Golden State Warriors | |
| Eugene Omoruyi | Forward | 2021-2024 | Former player | Born in Nigeria; listed under Canada |
| Chima Moneke | Forward | 2022 | Former player | |
| Adem Bona | Forward/center | 2024 to present | Philadelphia Sixers | Born in Nigeria; listed under Turkey |
| Felix Okpara | Center | Rookie in 2026-27 | Washington Wizards | |
| Ugonna Onyenso | Center | Rookie in 2026-27 | Detroit Pistons | Also listed with the United States nationality |
Players from Nigeria in the NBA in 2026-27
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: forward, 6’11”, age 31, Miami Heat. Entering NBA season 14; drafted in 2013, round 1, pick 15.
- Josh Okogie: forward, 6’4″, age 28, Utah Jazz. Entering NBA season 9; drafted in 2018, round 1, pick 20.
- Precious Achiuwa: forward, 6’8″, age 27, Sacramento Kings. Entering NBA season 7; drafted in 2020, round 1, pick 20.
- Charles Bassey: forward, 6’10”, age 25, Golden State Warriors. Entering NBA season 6; drafted in 2021, round 2, pick 23.
- Adem Bona: forward/center, 6’10”, age 23, Philadelphia Sixers. Entering NBA season 3; drafted in 2024, round 2, pick 11.
- Felix Okpara: center, 6’11”, age 23, Washington Wizards. Rookie; drafted in 2026, round 2, pick 16.
- Ugonna Onyenso: center, 6’11”, age 23, Detroit Pistons. Rookie; drafted in 2026, round 2, pick 23.
NBA centers from Nigeria
13 of the 20 players in the table played center or forward/center: Hakeem Olajuwon (1984-2002), Julius Nwosu (1994-95), Yinka Dare (1994-1998), Michael Olowokandi (1998-2007), Peter Aluma (1999), Olumide Oyedeji (2000-2003), Obinna Ekezie (2005), Solomon Alabi (2010-2012), Festus Ezeli (2012-2017), Udoka Azubuike (2020-2024), Adem Bona (2024 to present), Felix Okpara (Rookie in 2026-27) and Ugonna Onyenso (Rookie in 2026-27). Our database also lists 11 young players from Nigeria at 7 feet or taller.
7-Foot Prospects from Nigeria
11 active players from Nigeria are listed at 7 feet or taller and born in 2001 or later in our 7-Foot Prospect Database, last checked on 9 October 2026:
- Obinna Ekezie, Jr.: 7’2″ (218 cm), born around 2007, Louisville (NCAA D1)
- Favour Ibe: 7’1″ (216 cm), born in 2006, Virginia (NCAA D1)
- Nico Onyekwere: 7’1″ (216 cm), born in 2006, Villanova (NCAA D1)
- Stephanie Okechukwu: 7’1″ (216 cm), born in 2005, Texas Tech (NCAA D1 (women))
- Daniel Mbaeteka: 7’0″ (213 cm), born around 2005, North Carolina Central (NCAA D1)
- David Ike: 7’0″ (213 cm), born in 2007, Georgia (NCAA D1)
- Fortune Anslem-Ibe: 7’0″ (213 cm), born around 2005, Savannah State (NCAA D2)
- James Nnaji: 7’0″ (213 cm), born in 2004, George Mason (NCAA D1)
- Jason Jitoboh: 7’0″ (213 cm), born in 2001, Heroes de Falcons (Venezuelan SPB)
- Tacko Fawaz: 7’0″ (213 cm), born around 2006, Florida Atlantic (NCAA D1)
- Ugonna Onyenso: 7’0″ (213 cm), born in 2004, Detroit Pistons (NBA)
See every player, with filters by country, in the 7-Foot Prospect Database.
Player profiles from our archive
This section was first published in 2017. Teams and career details in it are as of that time; the tables above show where things stand in October 2026.
Walid Zabadne brought basketball to Nigeria in the 1950’s, by teaching the game to the local youngsters on the only basketball court in the country. After many years of touring the country and spreading awareness of the sport, basketball became mainstream. Nigeria’s national basketball team finally joined the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) in 1964.
The NBA’s roster is no stranger to overseas talent and over the years several Nigerians have played in the prestigious league. Nigerian players found their way into the NBA in 1994 with two players, Yinka Dare and Julius Nwosu debuting. Over the intervening years, Nigerian players have been prominent on the international scene with a total of sixteen individuals making it to the NBA.
Former Nigerians that have played in the NBA:
Below you will find a list of all of the Nigerian professional basketball players that have played in the NBA. Listed in order of their debut performance:
- Julius Nwosu (1994 – 1995)
- Yinka Dare (1994 – 1998)
- Michael Olowokandi (1998 – 2007)
- Peter Aluma (1999)
- Obinna Ekezie (1999 – 2002/2005)
- Olumide Oyedeji (2000 – 2003)
- Ime Udoka (2004/2006 – 2011)
- Ike Diogu (2005 – 2009/2010 – 2012)
- Kelenna Azubuike (2007 – 2011/2012)
- Solomon Alabi (2010 – 2012)
- Gani Lawal (2010 – 2011)
- Al-Farouq Aminu (2010 – Present)
- Ben Uzoh (2010 – 2011/2012)
- Festus Ezeli (2012 – Present)
- Josh Akognon (2013)
- Michael Gbinije (2016 – Present)
Active Nigerian players in the NBA:
As of this moment there are three active Nigerian players in the NBA.
- Al-Farouq Aminu – American born but descended from Nigerian kings, Al-Farouq Aminu has been playing basketball for a good percentage of his life. Playing throughout high-school and college Aminu debuted in the NBA in 2010 playing for the Los Angeles Clippers. A year later Aminu was traded to the New Orleans Hornets where he played for the next 3 years until signing a deal with the Dallas Mavericks. During this time Aminu competed in the 2012 Olympics as part of the Nigerian national basketball team. In 2015 Nigeria competed in and won the FIBA Africa Championship with Aminu being named in the All-star 5 of the tournament. Later that year he signed a 30 million dollar contract with the Portland Trail Blazers. He continues to play with them today.
- Festus Ezeli – Early life in Nigeria had convinced Ezeli that he was going to be a physician when he was older. He worked hard at school and graduated at the young age of 14. His parents sent him to live with his Uncle, a Doctor living in the US. Naturally for a 6’8 teenager living in the states he soon spotted basketball. It wasn’t plain sailing from there however. Ezeli had never played any organized sports before and found learning basketball quite difficult. He stuck with it and after joining Vanderbilt University played his debut game for them in 2008. Ezeli’s NBA career has been marred by injury. Signing his first Rookie Contract in 2012 for the Golden State Warriors it was less than a year later that an operation on his right knee had him sitting out the entire 2013-2014 season. In July of 2016 Ezeli signed with the Portland Trail Blazers, but again injury struck him. Two months later he was ruled out for six weeks after an injection in his left knee, and further complications had him benched throughout the 2016-2017 season. His NBA career might be over.
- Michael Gbinije – American born Michael Gbinije is the latest in a long line of Nigerians to play in the NBA. In 2015 he played with the Nigerian national basketball team taking home the gold in the FIBA Africa Championship. Gbinije also helped the Nigerian team qualify for the 2016 summer Olympics. After an impressive high-school and college career Gbinije signed with the Detroit Pistons where he remains to this day often on assignment to the Grand Rapids Drive – The Pistons D league affiliate.
Frequently asked questions
How many NBA players are from Nigeria?
Wikipedia counts 30 (including 17 foreign-born Nigerians). Our table names 20 players with a tie to Nigeria.
Which players from Nigeria are in the NBA in 2026-27?
As of October 2026: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Miami Heat), Josh Okogie (Utah Jazz), Precious Achiuwa (Sacramento Kings), Charles Bassey (Golden State Warriors), Adem Bona (Philadelphia Sixers), Felix Okpara (Washington Wizards) and Ugonna Onyenso (Detroit Pistons).
Who was the first NBA player from Nigeria?
Hakeem Olajuwon, who debuted in 1984 (born in Nigeria; listed under the United States).
Which centers from Nigeria have played in the NBA?
Hakeem Olajuwon, Julius Nwosu, Yinka Dare, Michael Olowokandi, Peter Aluma, Olumide Oyedeji, Obinna Ekezie, Solomon Alabi, Festus Ezeli, Udoka Azubuike, Adem Bona, Felix Okpara and Ugonna Onyenso.
Are there 7-foot prospects from Nigeria?
Yes. Our 7-Foot Prospect Database lists 11: Obinna Ekezie, Jr., Favour Ibe, Nico Onyekwere, Stephanie Okechukwu, Daniel Mbaeteka and David Ike and others.
More guides: NBA players by country. Scouting reports: NBA center prospects.
Sources: Wikipedia, List of NBA players born outside the United States (revision of 3 October 2026); RealGM NBA player list (9 October 2026); Low Key NBA 7-Foot Prospect Database. U.S.-born players with family ties to Nigeria may be missing from the table. Last checked 9 October 2026.
