As the countdown to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles continues, the Nigerian national basketball team, the D’Tigers, have received a significant boost with the interest of NBA star Desmond Bane. The 27-year-old shooting guard, who is officially listed as American by the NBA but has Nigerian heritage, is eager to “make something happen” and recruit fellow NBA players to the D’Tigers’ cause.
Nigeria’s basketball prowess has been on the rise in recent years, with the team qualifying for the last three Olympic Games, starting with their debut appearance at London 2012. However, they missed out on the 2024 Paris Olympics, a setback they are determined to overcome.
Bane, who currently plays for the Orlando Magic, has had conversations with other Nigerian-born NBA players, including Houston Rockets’ Josh Okogie and Indiana Pacers’ Aaron Nesmith, about the possibility of representing the D’Tigers. He believes that bringing together the Nigerian talent pool in the NBA could be the key to their success.
“We just need to get all the Nigerians together for the Olympics coming up in the next couple of years and make something happen,” Bane told BBC Sport.
The D’Tigers’ path to the 2028 Olympics is not without its challenges. They currently sit third in their first-round group for the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar, where they must finish as the highest-ranked of the five African nations competing to secure a spot in the Olympics. Additionally, there will be a separate African Olympic qualification competition, with the winner earning a place in Los Angeles.
Despite the obstacles, Bane remains optimistic about Nigeria’s chances. “I’d talk to Aaron Nesmith. Me and Gabe Vincent (Los Angeles Lakers) also talked about it a little bit. We need to do it,” he said.
The growing global impact and talent pool in basketball have not gone unnoticed by the NBA. Commissioner Adam Silver has again discussed the possibility of a new European continental league, which would complement the Basketball Africa League that has been running since 2021 and is also backed by the NBA.
Bane is impressed by the increasing international influence of the sport. “I think it’s great. You hear about NBA Europe and talking about Nigeria, there’s so many talented players everywhere,” he said.
As the 2028 Olympics draw nearer, the D’Tigers and their supporters will be eagerly awaiting the decision of Bane and other Nigerian-born NBA stars on whether they will don the green and white jersey and help the team make their mark on the global stage.
