The Season’s Opening Night was not disappointing. Both games played tonight were spectacular as expected with Milwaukee Bucks defending its championship against “short-handed” Brooklyn Nets (aka Kyrie Irving saga) and my fave Team, Golden States Warriors, routing the Los Angeles (LA) Lakers. The Dubs are surely back and in the championship race this Season. I hope tonight’s play reflects Season’s expectations which will only be improved upon and lead to playoff and eventual Finals. Knocking on woods! 🙏🏾

Bucks’ Championship Rings
And, yes, the Bucks were presented with their championship rings (if you missed it, watch it here) prior to the start of game amid a full fan-packed arena. Well deserved. I’m happy for the Bucks players and management,
Will Bucks shoot for a back-to-back championship? We’ll see what the 2021-22 Season holds.
NBA’s International Players
Well, on Opening Night, the National Basketball Association (NBA) released that there are “109 international players from 39 countries on roster for its landmark 75th Anniversary Season, including a record number of players from Canada (eighteen), Germany (seven) and the Bahamas (three), and a record-tying number of players from Nigeria (five). The Toronto Raptors lead the league with a record-tying 10 international players from a record nine countries.”
The number of NBA international players went up by 2 compared to last season’s of 107 from 41 countries of which fourteen (14) were Africans.
On Opening Night, the Season’s roster comprised of 500 players. I identified 44 names of African descent. Twenty-seven (27) were Nigerians contrary to the Association’s stated number of only five (5). This might not be unconnected with the players being second or third generation Nigerians born offshore and/or having dual citizenships but choosing only to identify with the other country over Nigeria. Nigeria accepts dual nationality but some countries don’t.
Below is a list of the identified African NBA players, the country, the year they were drafted, and the Team:
Gorgui Dieng, Senegal, 2013 -
AtlantaHawks
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Congo & France, 2016 -
AtlantaHawks
Onyeka Okongwu, Nigeria, 2020 -
AtlantaHawks
Wes Iwundu, Nigeria, 2017 -
Charlotte Hornets- Ayo Dosunmu, Nigeria, 2021 Rookie – Chicago Bulls
- Daniel Oturu, Nigeria, 2020 – Chicago Bulls
- Tacko Fall, Senegal, 2019 – Cleveland Cavaliers
- Isaac Okoro, Nigeria, 2020 – Cleveland Cavaliers
- Frank Ntilikina, Rwanda-France, 2017 – Dallas Mavericks
- Eugene Omoruyi, Nigeria, Rookie – Dallas Mavericks
- Bol Bol, Sudan, 2019 – Denver Nuggets
- Zeke Nnaji, Nigeria, 2020 – Denver Nuggets
- Hamidou Diallo, Guinea, 2018 – Detroit Pistons
- Andre Iguodala, Nigeria, 2004 – Golden State Warriors
- Jonathan Kuminga, Congo, 2021 – Golden State Warriors
- Usman Garuba, Nigeria-Spain, 2021 – Houston Rockets
- David Nwaba, Nigeria, 2016 – Houston Rockets
- Nicolas Batum, Cameroon-France, 2008 – Los Angeles (LA) Clippers
- Serge Ibaka, Congo, 2008 – Los Angeles (LA) Clippers
- Sekou Doumbouya, Guinea-France, 2019 – Los Angeles (LA) Lakers
- Bam Adebato, Nigeria, 2017 – Miami Heat
- KZ Okpala, Nigeria, 2019 – Miami Heat
- Victor Oladipo, Nigeria, 2013 – Miami Heat
- Gabe Vincent, Nigeria, undrafted 2 years – Miami Heat
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece-Nigeria, 2013 – Milwaukee Bucks
- Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Greece-Nigeria, 2014 – Milwaukee Bucks
- Jordan Nwora, Nigeria, 2020 – Milwaukee Bucks
- Semi Ojeleye, Nigeria, 2017 – Milwaukee Bucks
- Josh Okogie, Nigeria, 2018 – Minnesota Timberwolves
- Mamadi Diakite, Guinea, 2020 undrafted – Oklahoma City Thunder
- Mohammed (Mo) Bamba, Ivory Coast, 2018 – Orlando Magic
- Chuma Okeke, Nigeria, 2019 – Orlando Magic
- Charles Bassey, Nigeria, 2021 – Philadelphia Sixers
- Joel Embiid, Cameroon, 2014 – Philadelphia Sixers
- Abdel Nader, Egypt, 2016 – Phoenix Suns
- Chimezie Metu, Nigeria, 2018 – Sacramento Kings
- Al-Farouq Aminu, Nigeria, 2010 – San Antonio Spurs
- Precious Achiuwa, Nigeria, 2020 – Toronto Raptors
- OG Anunoby, Nigeria, 2017 – Toronto Raptors
- Isaac Bonga, Congo, 2018 – Toronto Raptors
- Pascal Siakam, Cameroon, 2016 – Toronto Raptors
- Udoka Azubuike, Nigeria, 2020 – Utah Jazz
- Miye Oni, Nigeria, 2019 – Utah Jazz
- Joel Ayayi, Benin-France, undrafted 2020 – Washington Wizards
Race composition continues to be dynamic and has changed the trajectory of professional sports, including the NBA. Though Black-Americans first entered the league in 1950, almost fifteen years after its inception, the first African-born NBA player was Hakeem Olajuwon from Nigeria who was drafted in 1984.
NBA, like other professional sports and industry, have indeed come a long way as regards inclusion and diversity. We hope the trend continues to be upward till it indeed becomes a melting pot.