NBA Promotes 9 Nigerian Basketballers Through Draft

By Olamide Oyetunji - The NBA Draft went down is an annual event where 60 talented hopefuls from college basketball and international leagues are drafted into the NBA.

Nine Nigerians were drafted into the NBA in one night.

They are:

Issac Okoro: Cleveland

Onyeka Okongwu: Atlanta

Precious Achiuwa: Miami

Zeke Nnaji: Denver

Udoka Azubuike: Utah

Desmond Bane: Boston

Daniel Oturu: Minnesota

Jordan Nwora: Milwaukee.

Obi Toppin : Knicks

Below is a list of all the Draft picks from the 2020 NBA Draft, including proposed and official trades.

2020 NBA Draft

First Round

1. Timberwolves draft Anthony Edwards

2. Warriors draft James Wiseman

3. Hornets draft LaMelo Ball

4. Bulls draft Patrick Williams

5. Cavaliers draft Isaac Okoro

6. Hawks draft Onyeka Okongwu

7. Pistons draft Killian Hayes 

8. Knicks draft Obi Toppin

9. Wizards draft Deni Avdija

10. Suns draft Jalen Smith

11. Spurs draft Devin Vassell

12. Kings draft Tyrese Haliburton

13. Pelicans draft Kira Lewis Jr.

14. Celtics draft Aaron Nesmith

15. Magic draft Cole Anthony

16. Trail Blazers draft Isaiah Stewart >> reportedly traded to the Pistons, after first being dealt to the Rockets

17. Timberwolves draft Aleksej Pokusevski  >> reportedly traded to the Thunder

18. Mavericks draft Josh Green

19. Nets draft Saddiq Bey >> reportedly traded to the Pistons, after first being dealt to the Clippers

20. Heat draft Precious Achiuwa

21. 76ers draft Tyrese Maxey

22. Nuggets draft Zeke Nnaji 

23. Knicks draft Leandro Bolmaro >> reportedly traded to the Timberwolves

24. Bucks draft RJ Hampton >> reportedly traded to the Nuggets, after first being dealt to the Pelicans

25. Thunder draft Immanuel Quickley >> reportedly traded to the Knicks, after first being dealt to the Timberwolves

26. Celtics draft Payton Pritchard

27. Jazz draft Udoka Azubuike

28. Lakers draft Jaden McDaniels >> reportedly traded to the Timberwolves, after first being dealt to the Thunder

29. Raptors draft Malachi Flynn

30. Celtics draft Desmond Bane >> reportedly traded to the Grizzlies

Second Round

31. Mavericks draft Tyrell Terry

32. Hornets draft Vernon Carey

33. Timberwolves draft Daniel Oturu >> reportedly traded to the Clippers, after first being dealt to the Knicks

34. 76ers draft Theo Maledon >> reportedly traded to the Thunder

35. Kings draft Xavier Tillman Sr >> reportedly traded to the Grizzlies

36. 76ers draft Tyler Bey  >> officially traded to the Mavericks

37. Wizards draft Vit Krejci >> reportedly traded to the Thunder

38. Jazz draft Saben Lee >> reportedly traded to the Pistons

39. Pelicans draft Elijah Hughes >> reportedly traded to the Jazz

40. Grizzlies draft Robert Woodard >> reportedly traded to the Kings

41. Spurs draft Tre Jones

42. Pelicans draft Nick Richards >> officially traded to the Hornets

43. Kings draft Jahmi’us Ramsey

44. Bulls draft Marko Simonovic

45. Bucks draft Jordan Nwora

46. Trail Blazers draft CJ Elleby

47. Celtics draft Yam Madar

48. Warriors draft Nico Mannion

49. 76ers draft Isaiah Joe

50. Hawks draft Skylar Mays

51. Warriors draft Justinian Jessup

52. Kings draft Kenyon Martin Jr >> reportedly traded to the Rockets

53. Thunder draft Cassius Winston >> reportedly traded to the Wizards

54. Pacers draft Cassius Stanley

55. Nets draft Jay Scrubb >> reportedly traded to the Clippers

56. Hornets draft Grant Riller

57. Clippers draft Reggie Perry >> reportedly traded to the Nets

58. 76ers draft Paul Reed

59. Raptors draft Jalen Harris

60. Pelicans draft Sam Merrill >> reportedly traded to the Bucks