A recap of the NBA deadline trade market day, involving the transfer of 45 different players from one team to another may not have been what anyone expected but it did provide some raised eyebrows and head scratches.
The trade couldn’t be talked about without the mention of Nigerian-born Victor Oladipo from the Houston Rockets to Miami Heat.
Oladipo played 20 games with the Rockets after being traded earlier this season from the Indiana Pacers. He is averaging 20.8 points, 5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists this season.
In return, Houston acquired Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk, and a 2022 pick swap.
The two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo joins five other players of Nigerian origin who play for the Miami Heat.
Meanwhile, in the NBA, after all the trading, the Miami Heat now has six players of Nigerian origin to play for the team.
They are;
- Victor Oladipo
Born Kehinde Babatunde Victor Oladipo on May 4, 1992. Oladipo was born to Nigerian parents. His mother, Joan Amanze Oladipo, and father Christopher Oladipo are immigrants from Nigeria who settled in the US in 1985.
In 2019, Oladipo was named an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve for the second straight year.
- Bam Adebayo
Edrice Femi “Bam” Adebayo was born on July 18, 1997, to a Nigerian father and an African-American mother. He was given the nickname “Bam Bam” by his mother.
- Vincent Gabe Nnamdi
Gabriel Nnamdi Vincent (born June 14, 1996) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player.
He also plays for the Nigerian national basketball team. He played college basketball for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.
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- KZ Okpala
Chikezie “KZ” Okpala was born to Nigerian parents Martin and Mary Okpala. His parents settled in Orange County, California when they migrated to the US. He began playing basketball at age 4.
- Precious Achiuwa
Precious Ezinna Achiuwa is a Nigerian professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers.
Achiuwa was born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and grew up mainly playing soccer before he turned his attention to NBA.
- Andre Iguodala
He was birthed by an African American mother and Nigerian father. He was born on January 28, 1984.
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