The 2020 NBA Playoffs is reaching its climax with the finals set for both the Eastern and Western Conferences.
As expected, LeBron James and Anthony Davis led Los Angeles Lakers have made it while Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic led Denver Nuggets beat Clippers to the Western Conference final spot.
The shocking 4-3 win recorded by the Denver Nuggets in the semifinal over the highly fancied Los Angeles Clippers still hard to comprehend for Basketball fans.
While the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers battle it out in the Western Conference final for a place in the playoffs, the Eastern Conference has Boston Celtics and Miami Heat fighting it out in the Eastern Conference final for a place in the finals.
Miami Heat against all odds defeated the best team of the NBA regular season, Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semis to set up the final tie against Boston Celtics who needed 7 games to beat Raptors for a place in the final.
As it stands, there are two players of Nigerian heritage left in contention for the 2020 NBA title while a total of eight (technically, adding injured Aminu) started the playoffs campaign.
NetBet Nigeria gives details of all the players of Nigerian heritage who participated or still participating in the 2020 NBA Finals.
Victor Oladipo (Indiana Pacers)
Kehinde Babatunde Victor Oladipo was born in Maryland to Nigerian parents. He is a 2x All Star but hasn’t had luck with injuries in the last two seasons.
After his long-tern injury, he helped the Pacers to a fourth place finish during the regular season but he isn’t up to pace just yet as his Pacers were eliminated in the playoffs first round by Miami Heat.
Semi Ojeleye (Boston Celtics)
Jesusemilore Talodabijesu Ojeleye was born Kansas to Nigerian parents. The 25-year-old nicknamed ‘LeBron stopper’ has been growing in bounds in Boston.
Although, not a starter, Semi Ojeleye gets the job done defensively when needed by the Celtics. He and Celtics are currently 0-1 in their Eastern Conference final against the Miami Heat.
OG Anunoby (Toronto Raptors)
Ogugua Anunoby Jr was born in London to Nigerian parents. He won the NBA title with Toronto Raptors last season.
Although he was injured for the most part of the Raptors playoffs run until the final where helped the Canadian based franchise beat the highly rated Golden State Warriors.
Sadly, he and Raptors will not be doing a back-to-back NBA title wins after they were eliminated in the semifinals by the Boston Celtics in 7-game thriller.
Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)
Femi Adebayo was born in New Jersey to a Nigerian father and an African-American mother. Bam was the 14th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft.
Since his draft he has grown to becoming one of best power forwards in today’s NBA.
Adebayo was in contention for this year’s most improved player having gone from an average points of 6.9 a season to 15.9 points.
He was terrific for the Heat in the regular season and has been one of their best players in the post season alongside Jimmy Butler.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
The reigning MVP winner and the 2020 NBA defensive player of the year popularly known as the ‘Greek Freak’ tops the list of the players in NBA of Nigerian heritage.
Adetokunbo, was born in Lagos to a Yoruba father and an Igbo mother. He averaged 29.5 points during the regular season and 26.7 at the post season.
Sadly, injury and a strong Miami Heat ended his hopes of winning the NBA titles with his side’s 4-1 elimination in the Eastern Conference semifinal.
Hounarable mentions are Utah Jazz’ Miye Oni, Houston Rockets’ David Nwaba, D’Tiger and Orlando Magic Al-Farouq Aminu who couldn’t play part in the playoffs because of injury.
Bam Adebayo and Semi Ojeleye are the players of Nigerian descent left as the NBA Playoffs finals reaches its last stages, back them up when you bet on basketball with NetBet Nigeria.
