- Six players of Nigerian descent were selected in the 2026 NBA Draft in Brooklyn
- Ebuka Okorie and Zuby Ejiofor went in the first round, while others were picked later across multiple teams
- The group highlights Nigeria’s growing influence in global basketball talent production
Nigerian heritage was strongly represented at the 2026 NBA Draft as six players with roots in the country secured places in the world’s biggest basketball league during the two day event held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the group included Ebuka Okorie, Zuby Ejiofor, Felix Okpara, Otega Oweh, Tobi Lawal and Ugonna Onyenso, each selected by different NBA franchises after impressive performances at the collegiate level.
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While Okorie and Ejiofor celebrated first round selections, the remaining four players waited until the second round before hearing their names announced.
Felix Okpara was selected 46th overall by the Orlando Magic, while Ugonna Onyenso went 53rd overall to the Houston Rockets.
Onyenso’s journey to the NBA began in Nigeria, where he initially played football before switching to basketball after the encouragement of a local coach.
He later joined the NBA Academy Africa in Senegal, becoming the third graduate of the academy and the 15th NBA Academy alumnus overall to reach the NBA through the draft.
Born in Imo State, Onyenso also made history by becoming the youngest player to feature for Nigeria’s senior men’s national basketball team at the age of 17.
He later continued his development at Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut after leaving the NBA Academy Africa.
Stanford University’s Ebuka Okorie was selected with the 17th overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, he is expected to begin his NBA career with the Detroit Pistons after the Thunder agreed to trade his draft rights.
Zuby Ejiofor, who starred for St John’s University, was chosen 23rd overall by the Atlata Hawks after an outstanding college career that boosted his draft stock.
Kentucky standout Otega Oweh was picked 41st overall by the Miami Heat before his draft rights were included in a planned trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Oweh earned All Southeastern Conference Second Team honours in consecutive seasons and averaged 18.6 points and 1.8 steals per game during his senior campaign.
He also delivered a memorable 35 point performance against Santa Clara in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Basketball talent runs in the Oweh family, as his older brother, Odafe Oweh, plays in the NFL after being selected in the first round of the 2021 draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
Virginia Tech forward Tobi Lawal was selected 48th overall by the Dallas Mavericks. Raised in London, Lawal only began playing basketball at the age of 16 before moving to the United States to further his development.
His performances at Lee Academy Prep earned him recognition after averaging 14.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, three blocks and two steals per game while shooting an impressive 67 percent from the field.
The success of the six players highlights the growing influence of Nigerian talent in global basketball and further strengthens the country’s presence in the NBA.
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