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Nigeria recorded a significant presence at the 2026 NBA Draft as six players of Nigerian heritage were selected, highlighting the country’s growing influence on global basketball and reinforcing Africa’s expanding footprint in the world’s premier basketball league.
The second round of the 2026 NBA Draft concluded in the early hours of Thursday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, with more than 10 players from Africa or with African parentage hearing their names called across both rounds.
Among the Nigerian contingent, center Felix Okpara was selected 46th overall by the Orlando Magic, while fellow Nigerian Ugonna Onyenso went 53rd overall to the Houston Rockets. Their selections marked only the second time in NBA Draft history that two players from Nigeria were chosen in the same draft class.
Onyenso’s selection was particularly historic as the Owerri-born center became the third alumnus of NBA Academy Africa and the 15th NBA Academy graduate overall to be drafted into the NBA. The former Kentucky, Kansas State and Virginia standout spent three years developing at the academy in Saly, Senegal, before continuing his basketball journey in the United States.
Nigeria’s representation in the draft began in the first round with Ebuka Okorie, who was selected 17th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder before his draft rights were earmarked for a move to the Detroit Pistons through a planned trade. Zuby Ejiofor followed as the 23rd overall pick after impressing during his collegiate career at St. John’s University.
The second round saw Otega Oweh, one of Kentucky’s standout performers, selected 41st overall by the Miami Heat before a planned move to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Okpara was next at No. 46, followed by Tobi Lawal at No. 48 to the Dallas Mavericks and Onyenso at No. 53.
Okpara earned SEC All-Defensive Team honours at the University of Tennessee and established himself as one of the conference’s premier rim protectors, while Lawal’s rise from late basketball starter in London to NBA draftee underscored his remarkable development.
Africa’s influence extended beyond Nigeria, with AJ Dybantsa, who has ties to the Republic of the Congo, becoming the No. 1 overall pick after being selected by the Washington Wizards. Rwanda also celebrated representation through Nate Ament, who was taken 13th overall by the Miami Heat.
Other African-linked selections included Germany’s Jack Kayil, who has Ghanaian roots and was selected 39th overall by the Houston Rockets, and France’s Narcisse Ngoy, who has ties to the Central African Republic and was selected 57th overall by the Atlanta Hawks.
The 2026 NBA Draft further highlighted the growing impact of African talent and development pathways, with Nigeria once again emerging as one of the continent’s strongest contributors to basketball’s global talent pool.
