Nigeria’s growing footprint in world basketball was again evident at the 2026 NBA Draft, with six players of Nigerian heritage earning selections across the two-day event held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
- +Meet six players of Nigerian heritage picked in 2026 NBA Draft
The group comprises Ebuka Okorie, Zuby Ejiofor, Otega Oweh, Felix Okpara, Tobi Lawal and Ugonna Onyenso, who were drafted by six NBA franchises, although some are expected to join different teams through pre-arranged draft-night trades.
The group comprises Ebuka Okorie, Zuby Ejiofor, Otega Oweh, Felix Okpara, Tobi Lawal and Ugonna Onyenso, who were drafted by six NBA franchises, although some are expected to join different teams through pre-arranged draft-night trades.
Okorie and Ejiofor secured first-round selections, while Oweh, Okpara, Lawal and Onyenso were picked in the second round.
Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie was selected with the 17th overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
However, he is expected to end up with the Detroit Pistons after the completion of a previously agreed trade.
Zuby Ejiofor, who impressed during his collegiate career at St. John’s University, was taken 23rd overall by the Atlanta Hawks.
Kentucky standout Otega Oweh was chosen 41st overall by the Miami Heat, although his draft rights are expected to be transferred to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Oweh capped his final college season by averaging 18.6 points and 1.8 steals per game, earning All-SEC Second Team honours for a second consecutive year.
He also produced a standout 35-point performance against Santa Clara in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
The guard comes from a sporting family, with his elder brother, Odafe Oweh, currently playing in the NFL after being selected in the first round of the 2021 draft.
Former Ohio State and Tennessee centre Felix Okpara was picked 46th overall by the Orlando Magic.
Tobi Lawal, a forward from Virginia Tech, followed two spots later after the Dallas Mavericks selected him with the 48th overall pick.
Lawal’s basketball journey began relatively late. Raised in London, he only took up the sport at age 16 before relocating to the United States, where he developed into one of the top prospects at Lee Academy Prep.
There, he averaged 14.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, three blocks and two steals per game while shooting 67 per cent from the field.
The Houston Rockets rounded off the Nigerian contingent by selecting Ugonna Onyenso with the 53rd overall pick.
Born in Imo State, Onyenso initially pursued football before switching to basketball after moving to the United States in 2018. He later enrolled at the NBA Academy Africa in Senegal, becoming only the third graduate of the programme to be drafted into the NBA.
His rise had begun even before leaving Nigeria. At just 17, Onyenso became the youngest player to represent Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, before continuing his development at Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut.
