Six Nigerians Drafted in 2026 NBA Selection, Including Two First‑Time Draftees

Six Nigerian players were chosen among more than ten African‑descent prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft held at Brooklyn’s Barclays Centre. Felix Okpara was taken 46th overall by the Orlando Magic and Ugonna Onyenso 53rd overall by the Houston Rockets, marking the second occasion that two Nigerians were selected in the same draft. Onyenso, a 17‑year‑old NBA Academy Africa alumnus, became the youngest ever to suit up for Nigeria’s senior national team. The other draftees were Ebuka Okorie (17th pick, rights traded to Detroit Pistons), Zuby Ejiofor (23rd, Atlanta Hawks), Otega Oweh (41st, Miami Heat rights sent to Oklahoma City Thunder) and Tobi Lawal (48th, Dallas Mavericks). Several selections involved immediate trade agreements, reshuffling draft rights among teams. Onyenso’s pathway included NBA Academy Africa in Senegal, followed by Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut, while Okpara earned SEC All‑Defensive honors at the University of Tennessee. The draft also featured players with ties to the Republic of the Congo, Jamaica, Rwanda, Ghana and the Central African Republic.