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Nigeria continues to strengthen its position in international basketball, with six players listed under the country on opening-night rosters for the 2026/2027 National Basketball Association season, as the league records its highest-ever number of players with African roots.
The NBA announced that more than 60 players who were born in Africa or have at least one parent from the continent will feature on opening-night rosters, surpassing last season’s figure of more than 55.
Among the six players listed under Nigeria are Ugonna Onyenso of the Detroit Pistons, Charles Bassey of the Golden State Warriors, Adem Bona of the Philadelphia 76ers, Precious Achiuwa of the Sacramento Kings, Josh Okogie of the Utah Jazz and Felix Okpara of the Washington Wizards.
Beyond the six players representing Nigeria directly, the country’s influence extends further through athletes with Nigerian ancestry. More than 25 players on NBA rosters are either Nigerian-born or have at least one Nigerian parent, making Nigeria one of the continent’s strongest contributors to the league.
Notable players with Nigerian roots include Miami Heat stars Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo, as well as New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby. Their presence highlights the growing international reach of Nigerian basketball talent and heritage.
Cameroon also maintains a notable presence through Philadelphia 76ers centre Joel Embiid and Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam, while Senegal, Mali and other African nations contribute players to the league.
The NBA’s latest figures show that 125 international players from 43 countries across six continents are on opening-night rosters for the new season. France leads the international contingent with 17 players, followed by Canada with 16. Australia has nine, Germany seven, while Nigeria and Serbia have six each.
The league also reported that all 30 NBA franchises have at least one international player, underlining the competition’s continued global expansion. More than 45 players on the opening-night rosters have also participated in Basketball Without Borders, a development programme jointly run by the NBA and the International Basketball Federation.
Nigeria’s growing representation reflects the country’s long-standing contribution to basketball talent development and its increasing visibility on the international stage. The latest figures further reinforce Africa’s place in a league that continues to attract players from different backgrounds and basketball systems.
