Six Athletes of Nigerian Heritage Selected in 2026 NBA Draft

The global influence of Nigerian basketball was on full display at the 2026 NBA Draft, as six players of Nigerian descent were selected during the two-day event held at the Barclays Center.

The group Ebuka Okorie, Zuby Ejiofor, Otega Oweh, Felix Okpara, Tobi Lawal, and Ugonna Onyenso were chosen by various NBA franchises, continuing a trend of rising Nigerian talent in the professional ranks.

First-Round Selections

Ebuka Okorie: The Stanford guard was selected 17th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder, though he is expected to join the Detroit Pistons following a pre-arranged draft-night trade.

Zuby Ejiofor: A former standout at St. John’s University, Ejiofor was selected 23rd overall by the Atlanta Hawks.

Second-Round Selections

Otega Oweh: Selected 41st overall by the Miami Heat, the Kentucky star is slated to move to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Oweh enters the league following an impressive collegiate season, where he averaged 18.6 points per game and earned All-SEC Second Team honors.

Felix Okpara: The former Ohio State and Tennessee center was chosen 46th overall by the Orlando Magic.

Tobi Lawal: The Virginia Tech forward was picked 48th overall by the Dallas Mavericks. Lawal’s path to the NBA is notable; raised in London, he did not begin playing basketball until age 16 before moving to the United States to hone his skills.

* **Ugonna Onyenso:** The Houston Rockets rounded out the group by selecting the Imo State native with the 53rd overall pick. Onyenso, who once pursued football, is a product of the NBA Academy Africa in Senegal and previously made history as the youngest player to represent the Nigerian senior men’s national basketball team.

The event highlights the continued development of Nigerian talent, with many of these players transitioning from collegiate programs or specialized training academies to the highest level of professional basketball.