After Nigerian-born Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to a historic title in the 2020/21 NBA season alongside his brother Thanasis and D’Tigers’ Jordan Nwora, we would be looking at the off-season movements from Nigerian players and players of Nigerian descent in the NBA ahead of the 2021/22 NBA season.
We would also be looking at the results from the 2021 draft involving Nigerian rookies and players of Nigerian descent who made a move during the transfer window.
- Jahlil Okafor: After representing Nigeria at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Jahlil Okafor was traded alongside Sekou Doumbouya by the Detroit Pistons to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for DeAndre Jordan and four future second round draft picks of 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2027.
- Precious Achiuwa: Another member of Team Nigeria at the Tokyo Olympics, Achiuwa, was involved in a trade in the off-season. The young Nigerian was traded alongside Goran Dragic from the Miami Heat to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Kyle Lowry.
- Thanasis Antetokounmpo: After playing 57 regular season games and 13 post-season games for champions Milwaukee Bucks in their title-winning season, Antetokounmpo saw his contract expire before he was resigned by the Milwaukee Bucks to a new two-year deal that would run until the end of the 2022/23 NBA season.
- Al-Farouq Aminu: D’Tigers player and international veteran Al-Farouq Aminu was traded by the Chicago Bulls to the San Antonio Spurs alongside Thaddeus Young, a future first round draft pick, their 2022 second round draft pick and their 2025 second round draft pick. In exchange, the Chicago Bulls would get DeMar DeRozan to play for them from the 2021/22 NBA season.
- Semi Ojeleye: After representing the Boston Celtics in the 2020/21 NBA season, Power Forward Semi Ojeleye saw his contract at the side expire, and he entered into free agency before being picked up by the champions Milwaukee Bucks ahead of the 2021/22 season of the NBA.
- Andre Iguodala: Vastly experienced shooting guard Andre Iguodala has returned home to the Golden State Warriors, where he had his best days in the NBA, winning the title three times in 2015, 2017 and 2018. He was also named NBA Finals MVP in 2015. He was picked up from Free Agency by the Golden State Warriors after he spent one season with the Miami Heat. Now 37, Iguodala signed a one-year deal to join the Warriors and is said to be willing to retire at the end of his contract.
- Eugene Omoruyi: Benin City-born Canadian national Eugene Omoruyi was not drafted in the 2021 NBA draft, but went on to sign a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks after playing College ball for the Oregon Ducks. His two-way contract sees his affiliated to G League side Texas Legends, where he is expected to spend much of his time.
- Joel Ajayi: After going undrafted in the 2021 class, Ajayi joined the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-way contract after he played College ball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. The French national will be affiliated to G League side South Bay Lakers, as stipulated in his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Gabe Vincent: After the 2020/21 season, Gabe Nnamdi Vincent, another member of the D’Tigers squad to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics became a Restricted Free Agent before being re-signed on a two-year deal by the Miami Heat.
- Ayo Dosunmu: Chicago native Ayo Dosunmu was the 38th overall pick in the 2021 draft, and was selected by the Chicago Bulls.
- Charles Bassey: Raised in Lagos, Charles Bassey was the 53rd overall pick in the 2021 draft, and was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers.
- Usman Garuba: Spanish national and former Real Madrid player Usman Garuba was selected as the 23rd overall pick in the 2021 draft by the Houston Rockets.