Why isn't Nigeria a basketball powerhouse?

Leolovinliberal · Post #1 » by **Leolovinliberal** » Mon Sep 6, 2010 10:21 pm

* Emeka Okafor
* Akin Akingbala
* Peter Aluma
* Aloysius Anagonye
* Tunji Awajobi
* Obinna Ekezie
* Ebi Ere
* Benjamin Eze
* Ekene Ibekwe
* Michael Olowokandi
* Olumide Oyedeji
* Ime Udoka
* Jeff Varem
* Ekpe Udo
* Gani Lawal
* Gabe Muoneke
* Kelenna Azubuike
* Ike Diogu
* Andre Iguodola
* Al Farouq Aminu
* Alade Aminu

umopapisdn · Post #2 » by **umopapisdn** » Mon Sep 6, 2010 10:22 pm

do you really have to ask?

Sedale Threatt · Post #3 » by **Sedale Threatt** » Mon Sep 6, 2010 10:23 pm

Maybe three of those guys are worth a crap. And you forgot the best one, by a huge margin.

Jose_Matador · Post #4 » by **Jose_Matador** » Mon Sep 6, 2010 10:24 pm

Inb4someonesays "Lack basketball IQ"

Milkdud · Post #5 » by **Milkdud** » Mon Sep 6, 2010 10:25 pm

Do anyone of those guys actually play for their team at some point? I mean Iggy playing for the US right now.

Leolovinliberal · Post #6 » by **Leolovinliberal** » Mon Sep 6, 2010 10:45 pm

Sedale Threatt wrote:Maybe three of those guys are worth a crap. And you forgot the best one, by a huge margin.

There's several lottery picks in that group. The best 12 in that group would easily be in the WC quarterfinals right now, yet Africa was represented by Angola, Ivory Coast and Tunisia; it makes no sense to me.

supaSPED · Post #7 » by **supaSPED** » Mon Sep 6, 2010 10:45 pm

TBH, I came into this thread expecting a "Cuz They Is All Black Peoples!" or something like that. But seriously, that lineup you mentioned isnt' very impressive. Britain has Pop-Mensah Bonsu, Ben Gordon, and Luol Deng and they suck.

Leolovinliberal · Post #8 » by **Leolovinliberal** » Mon Sep 6, 2010 10:46 pm

Sedale Threatt wrote:Maybe three of those guys are worth a crap. And you forgot the best one, by a huge margin.

I didn't "forget" Olujuwon, he's just 50 years old, that's why I didn't mention it.

Post #9 » by **Three34** » Mon Sep 6, 2010 10:55 pm

Britain has Pop-Mensah Bonsu, Ben Gordon, and Luol Deng and they suck.

They don't suck, and Gordon has never played for them.

As to original question; where's the guards in that list? Lots of talent, but lots of duplication too.

Post #10 » by **suckfish** » Mon Sep 6, 2010 10:57 pm

Britain has Pop-Mensah Bonsu, Ben Gordon, and Luol Deng and they suck.

Don't forget Flinder Boyd.

RunMCR · Post #11 » by **RunMCR** » Mon Sep 6, 2010 11:39 pm

Sedale Threatt wrote:Maybe three of those guys are worth a crap. And you forgot the best one, by a huge margin.

wat. they have a lot of good players. stop reaching

Sedale Threatt · Post #12 » by **Sedale Threatt** » Mon Sep 6, 2010 11:41 pm

Sonrise wrote:
Sedale Threatt wrote:Maybe three of those guys are worth a crap. And you forgot the best one, by a huge margin.

There's several lottery picks in that group. The best 12 in that group would easily be in the WC quarterfinals right now, yet Africa was represented by Angola, Ivory Coast and Tunisia; it makes no sense to me.

So? Marcus Fizer, Rodney White, DeSanga Diop, Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Dajuan Wagner, Rafael Araujo, Robert Swift, Yaroslav Koralev, Adam Morrison, Shelden Williams, Acie Law and Aleksandar Radojevic were all lottery picks, too, and that looks like the world's worst basketball team to me. They should probably be better, a lot better, but powerhouse? I don't even know who three quarters of those guys are.

Sedale Threatt · Post #13 » by **Sedale Threatt** » Mon Sep 6, 2010 11:41 pm

Sonrise wrote:
Sedale Threatt wrote:Maybe three of those guys are worth a crap. And you forgot the best one, by a huge margin.

I didn't "forget" Olujuwon, he's just 50 years old, that's why I didn't mention it.

So why did you mention Michael Olowokandi? Is he going to suddenly start rocking it at 35?

Sedale Threatt · Post #14 » by **Sedale Threatt** » Mon Sep 6, 2010 11:43 pm

RunMCR wrote:
Sedale Threatt wrote:Maybe three of those guys are worth a crap. And you forgot the best one, by a huge margin.

wat. they have a lot of good players. stop reaching

Like who?

#1 pick · Post #15 » by **#1 pick** » Mon Sep 6, 2010 11:52 pm

This thread is full of epic fail. In Nigeria, sports isn't that big of a deal.

MaceCase · Post #16 » by **MaceCase** » Tue Sep 7, 2010 12:24 am

Different reasons really, plenty of those guys are first generation Americans or are British citizens and it's far more lucrative to play for those clubs. A majority of them also only play basketball because it offers an easier scholarship to college. Those that actually have the talent or drive to play professionally usually only look at basketball as a rather lucrative endeavor before they go on to work in what they majored in. Honestly, Ime is probably the highest profile Nigerian to play for the national team in recent years.

RunMCR · Post #17 » by **RunMCR** » Tue Sep 7, 2010 1:07 am

Sedale Threatt wrote:
RunMCR wrote:
Sedale Threatt wrote:Maybe three of those guys are worth a crap. And you forgot the best one, by a huge margin.

wat. they have a lot of good players. stop reaching

Like who?

Emeka Okafor
Ime Udoka
Ekpe Udoh
Kelenna Azubuike
Andre Iguodola
Al Farouq Aminu

Sedale Threatt · Post #18 » by **Sedale Threatt** » Tue Sep 7, 2010 1:14 am

First of all, Iguodala's out; he plays for the United States. Okafor's solid. So is Azubuike. Udoka is an end-of-the-bench role player who was never better than mediocre and the other two haven't done isht.

Ripp · Post #19 » by **Ripp** » Tue Sep 7, 2010 1:21 am

#1 pick wrote:This thread is full of epic fail. In Nigeria, sports isn't that big of a deal.

Err, no, that is not true at all.

But back on topic, soccer unfortunately is still far more popular a sport than basketball...basketball simply has not captured the hearts and minds of the people.

Hopefully in the future, basketball becomes more popular there...I think we have enough quality genetics to one day dominate the sport.

RunMCR · Post #20 » by **RunMCR** » Tue Sep 7, 2010 1:27 am

Sedale Threatt wrote:First of all, Iguodala's out; he plays for the United States. Okafor's solid. So is Azubuike. Udoka is an end-of-the-bench role player who was never better than mediocre and the other two haven't done isht.

better than almost every Euro team we've faced.

they have a low post scorer/defender/shotblocker, 3 point threat with defense, athletic swingman and another decent all around player and shooter.

playmaking is tough, but it's not that hard to play inside out. I'm sure it's not a huge problem for Okafor to deal with most soft centers they would face. He can score or kick it out for a 3 or a layup.