5 Nigerians drafted in the first round, 7 overall

[Balllin]

Isaac Okoro, Onyeka Onkongwu, Precious Achiuwa, Zeke Nnaji, Udoka Azubuike went in the first round...Daniel Oturu and Jordan Nwora in the second round.

This adds to the already outstanding pool of Nigerian players in the NBA which includes Giannis, Adebayo, Oladipo, DeAndre Ayton, Iguodala, Anunoby, Okogie and Aminu.

Then next year, Usman Garuba might go Top 5, while Joel Ajayi looks like a 1st rounder, too.

If they all actually represented Nigeria...my goodness.

[yitur]

How many of them can represent Nigeria exaclty?

[limbo]

Yeah, it's almost like Nigeria isn't the 7th biggest country in the World by population with by far the highest BDP of all African countries.

In b4 'but but muh China and India have 0 NBA playrrs'

[Sign5]

Yeah, it's almost like Nigeria isn't the 7th biggest country in the World by population with by far the highest BDP of all African countries.

In b4 'but but muh China and India have 0 NBA playrrs'

I mean same logic should apply, especially when they have 5.5x the pop of Nigeria.

[Balllin]

How many of them can represent Nigeria exaclty?

All of them except those who have represented another country in a main FIBA competition, i.e. Giannis (Greece), Ayton(Bahamas), Iguodala(USA).

[limbo]

I mean same logic should apply, especially when they have 5.5x the pop of Nigeria.

If you completely ignore genetic makeup and cutural differences, sure, i guess.

[brutalitops]

Not a lot of those players are born in Nigeria.

[lars_rosenberg]

Nigeria has a massive population with high grow rate. You better get used to Nigerian players in the NBA because they are not going away any time soon.

[trickshot]

Most black americans are from the west african region ancestry-wise. It's a gifted genetic pool no doubt

[Pinpilinpauxa]

West africans are great at football. Ghana, Nigeria, Yvori Coast and Cameroon are the most acomplised african countries in football only behind Egypt. As they develop economically there are going to be more and more basketball players from Nigeria wich has a 180 million population.

[HeartBreakKid]

Yeah, it's almost like Nigeria isn't the 7th biggest country in the World by population with by far the highest BDP of all African countries.

In b4 'but but muh China and India have 0 NBA playrrs'

I mean same logic should apply, especially when they have 5.5x the pop of Nigeria.

You and Limbo should both know that all of those first rounders except Udoka Azubuike and Precious Achiuwa are American. Precious Achiuwa learned how to play basketball when he moved to USA at 13 or so, never played ball in Nigeria.


Nigeria proper has nothing to do with their success. Most of the people of Nigerian ancestry in the NBA never been to Nigeria before they became professionals.

[limbo]

Not a lot of those players are born in Nigeria.

Right. It's not that Nigeria is actually an amazing development hub for basketball talent ala Serbia or Lithuania. Most of these players are born with supreme genetics when it comes to athletics and then migrate to the US, at whatever age, to pursue a basketball career. Or their parents move there before they are actually born to give them a better opportunity.

Obviously Nigeria will continually get better as a basketba hub as time goes on, giving these kids a better grasp of the sport fundamentals should they decide to spens more of time there during their formative years, but right now, it's mostly a scouting ground for guys that have top tier athletic predispositions that could eventually be molded into elite basketball players elsewhere.

[Sign5]

Yeah, it's almost like Nigeria isn't the 7th biggest country in the World by population with by far the highest BDP of all African countries.

In b4 'but but muh China and India have 0 NBA playrrs'

I mean same logic should apply, especially when they have 5.5x the pop of Nigeria.

You and Limbo should both know that all of those first rounders except Udoka Azubuike and Precious Achiuwa are American. Precious Achiuwa learned how to play basketball when he moved to USA at 13 or so, never played ball in Nigeria.


Nigeria proper has nothing to do with their success.

I appreciate info I already knew.

[HeartBreakKid]

I mean same logic should apply, especially when they have 5.5x the pop of Nigeria.

You and Limbo should both know that all of those first rounders except Udoka Azubuike and Precious Achiuwa are American. Precious Achiuwa learned how to play basketball when he moved to USA at 13 or so, never played ball in Nigeria.


Nigeria proper has nothing to do with their success.

I appreciate info I already knew.

So.....why bother talking about population? Like if you knew the info then actually use it. Those Nigerians have the same benefits as any jolly Ol American including the white guys who can't jump. It's not comparable to China's lack of development for NBA players in the slightest, Chinese basketball players are not developed in USA.

[Sign5]

You and Limbo should both know that all of those first rounders except Udoka Azubuike and Precious Achiuwa are American. Precious Achiuwa learned how to play basketball when he moved to USA at 13 or so, never played ball in Nigeria.


Nigeria proper has nothing to do with their success.

I appreciate info I already knew.

So.....why bother talking about population? Like if you knew the info then actually use it

because who i replied to talked about population, implying due to being the 7th largest pop that they should have a higher chance of producing elite prospects. So one can retort with questioning how those two countries are unable to produce anywhere near the talent despite being 5.5x more, are you slow?

[HeartBreakKid]

I appreciate info I already knew.

So.....why bother talking about population? Like if you knew the info then actually use it

because who i replied to talked about population, are you slow?

....but your response didn't counter his point. Also, are you capable of talking without calling someone a r*?


Limbo brought up population - which is not really relevant.

You countered his point by bringing up China - ....but it's still not relevant.

If you wanted to counter his point why wouldn't you mention that those players are diaspora? That actually would nullify the core aspect of his argument...

[kamaze]

Good to see African born and 2nd generation African Americans in the draft.

[Sign5]

So.....why bother talking about population? Like if you knew the info then actually use it

because who i replied to talked about population, are you slow?

....but your response didn't counter his point. Also, are you capable of talking without calling someone a r*?


Limbo brought up population - which is not really relevant.

You countered his point by bringing up China - ....but it's still not relevant.

If you wanted to counter his point why wouldn't you mention that those players are diaspora? That actually would nullify the core aspect of his argument...

He implied (whether sarcastically or not) due to being the 7th largest pop that they should have a higher chance of producing elite prospects. So one can retort with questioning how those two countries are unable to produce anywhere near the talent despite being 5.5x more.

The answer is simple, one group are just more talented in this specific sport.

[lambchop]

This definition is Nigerian is a stretch. By that definition many caucasian NBA players are actually Irish.

[Pantsman]

Finally some Africans in the nba