Nigeria produced its most significant showing at an NBA Draft in recent memory on Thursday, with six players of Nigerian heritage selected at the 2026 edition held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, led by Felix Okpara and Ugonna Onyenso who became only the second pair of Nigeria-born players to be drafted in the same year.
The first-round picks set the tone early. Ebuka Okorie, a Stanford University product with Nigerian ties, was selected 17th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder, with his draft rights subsequently bound for the Detroit Pistons as part of a planned trade involving the Memphis Grizzlies.
Zuby Ejiofor of St John’s University followed at 23rd overall, chosen by the Atlanta Hawks to complete a strong first-round showing for players of Nigerian heritage.
In the second round, Okpara, who hails from Nigeria and starred at the University of Tennessee, was picked 46th overall by the Orlando Magic. The centre established himself as one of the most dependable shot-blockers in the Southeastern Conference during his time at Tennessee, earning SEC All-Defensive Team honours in his senior season. He ranks second in programme history in blocks per game at 1.6 and is one of only four Tennessee players to record multiple 50-block seasons. Okpara grew up playing football before taking up basketball shortly before relocating to the United States in August 2018.
