NBA star Bane considers Nigeria switch, urges fellow descendants to Follow

Nigeria’s hopes of returning to Olympic basketball could be strengthened after Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane expressed strong interest in representing D’Tigers and helping recruit other NBA players of Nigerian heritage.

Although officially listed as American by the NBA, Bane has Nigerian roots and has yet to commit to any national team at international level.

Speaking to BBC Sport, the 27-year-old shooting guard said he would be open to answering Nigeria’s call if the opportunity arose, stressing the importance of unity among eligible players ahead of future Olympic campaigns.

“We just need to get all the Nigerians together for the Olympics coming up in the next couple years and make something happen,” Bane said.

Nigeria have previously competed in three Olympic Games, making their debut at London 2012 before also appearing at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

However, D’Tigers failed to qualify for the Paris 2024 Games, highlighting the need for renewal and reinforcement within the squad.

Bane revealed he has already discussed the possibility of playing for Nigeria with other NBA players, including Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith and Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent.

Vincent, like Houston Rockets guard Josh Okogie, has already represented Nigeria internationally.

Okogie was born in Lagos before moving to the United States, making him one of several diaspora players eligible for the national team.

Other Nigerian-linked NBA talents include forwards Precious Achiuwa of the Sacramento Kings and Adem Bona of the Philadelphia 76ers, underlining the depth of potential available if Nigeria can successfully bring its diaspora stars together.

Despite their pedigree, Nigeria’s current standing reflects recent struggles.

They are ranked 50th in the world by Fiba and seventh among African nations, a significant drop for a team that once dominated continental basketball. Qualification for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles remains uncertain.

Nigeria’s first route to qualification could come via the 2027 Fiba World Cup in Qatar, where five African teams will compete and only the highest-ranked among them will secure an Olympic spot.

However, D’Tigers must first qualify for the tournament and currently sit third in their first-round group behind Guinea and Tunisia. 

A separate African Olympic qualifying tournament featuring six nations will also offer another pathway, with only the winner advancing to LA.

Bane made his comments while participating in the NBA Global Games, as Orlando Magic split wins with the Memphis Grizzlies in Berlin and London.

 He also praised basketball’s expanding global reach, highlighting Africa’s growing talent pool and the NBA’s continued international ambitions.