After getting a commitment from Brooklyn Nets’ Spencer Dinwiddie earlier this year, Nigeria Basketball Team are trying to get another impactful NBA star to play for them. This time, they are making a play for Miami Heat’s All-Star Bam Adebayo.
Nigeria made several attempts to get Adebayo in the past, considering his father is Nigerian. The 23-year-old center rejected them on previous occasions, instead committing to USA Basketball, but the country’s basketball federation believes they still have a chance.
Nigeria Basketball Federation president Musa Kida confirmed the news in a statement to ESPN, saying that he hopes he could have Adebayo on the roster for 2020 Olympic Games.
“Having Bam in our national team is a possibility that we are considering as a federation ahead of the 2020 Olympics and beyond,” said Kida. “We are excited about how far he has gone and what he can achieve in his career with D’Tigers if he chooses to play for Nigeria.”
Nigeria didn’t give up on Bam Adebayo because the Kentucky Wildcats’ product hasn’t actually played a game with USA Basketball just yet. Adebayo was part of the Team USA’s training camp ahead of FIBA World Cup in 2019, but failed to make the final roster. Reportedly, he didn’t take the decision lightly and started questioning his choice.
The fact is that Adebayo now enjoys a different reputation compared to a year ago. He is now bona-fide All-Star and one of the best centers in the league, while in 2019; he was just a solid starter.
It remains to be seen whether Adebayo tries to make his name with USA Basketball or decides to take an easier route with the country of his father. Nigeria has a talented squad that would definitely be a contender with him on the board. Their roster includes several other NBA players besides Dinwiddie including Minnesota Timberwolves’ Josh Okogie, San Antonio Spurs’ Chimezie Metu, and Orlando Magic’s Al Farouq Aminu.
