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As of this moment, NBA's legs in Africa might be the deepest and the most effective they have ever been. With the multi-billion dollar organisation planning it's latest venture "the Africa league" in the buzzing continent, American and Europe-based recruiters have rushed in with hopes of scouting the latest young brass there is.
“The ingredients have always been there in terms of talent and passion for the game,” Fall(Former Vice president of the NBA’s Africa branch and current President of the Africa League) said in an interview. “There is a huge opportunity to create something really authentically African that could be a home for the tremendous talent that exists.”
There is no reason to believe that the Africans lack athleticism needed to survive in the brutal physicality that the league presents. Rather, past experience has ample proof of the fact that they are just as conditioned to thrive and grow their skillset as their American counterparts.
With the recent surge of elite African basketball talent at its peak, let's take a look at some of the established names in the league right now - having an African-origin - who have paved way for the ones to come.
#5 Serge Ibaka (Toronto Raptors, Congo Republic)
Raised by a father who represented the Congolese National Basketball team along with a mother who played for the Democratic Republic of Congo, Serge Ibaka didn't have to look far for his hooping inspiration.
After moving to Spain and shining at the Reebok EuroCamp in 2008, Ibaka caught the eye of NBA scouts who referred to his athleticism as "off the charts".
He was drafted as the 24th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft by the then-Seattle SuperSonics.
Ever since his debut, Ibaka has been impressive throughout the 10 regular seasons he has played including a recently concluded NBA Title run with the Toronto Raptors - wherein he averaged a career-high 15 points per game.
Even though the Raptors are no longer realistically capable of defending their title with the departure of Kawhi Leonard, Ibaka found a new lease of life last season and the front office is confident of his return this year as well.
#4 Pascal Siakam (Toronto Raptors, Cameroon)
Pascal Siakam was first discovered in 2011 when he was attending Luc Mbah a Moute's training camp. This eventually resulted in him being chosen for the Basketball Without Borders camp.
His intense energy and athleticism garnered serious attention including Raptors President Masai Ujiri's who recalled it as "His effort was memorable."
Mentored by Luc Mbah a Moute, a 16-year-old Siakam moved to the United States of America. After declaring for the NBA draft out of New Mexico State University in 2016, Siakam was picked as the 27th overall pick by the Toronto Raptors - the same team he ended up winning his first Championship with.
The Cameroonian's basketball skillset has evolved exponentially over the years. He was a pivotal factor in getting Kawhi Leonard his second NBA title, as he averaged a career-high 17 ppg during the regular season as well as 19 ppg during the playoffs.
#3 Victor Oladipo (Indiana Pacers, Sierra Leone-Nigeria)
Although Victor Oladipo was born in Maryland, his mother Joan Amanze Oladipo was a Nigerian immigrant, while his father, Christopher Oladipo, a native of Blama, Sierra Leone.
Raised amongst three sisters, Kristine, Kendra and twin sister Victoria, he made his initial basketball strides while playing CYO basketball at St. Jerome Academy in Hyattsville, Maryland.
After two and a half seasons at Indiana University, Bloomington, Oladipo had become one of the nation's biggest stars and was drafted second overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2013 NBA draft. His latest stint with the Indiana Pacers has seen him turn into much more than just an explosive scorer.
Prior to this season, Oldipo was recording career-best numbers like 23.1 points and 2.1 steals per game. Currently a two-time All-Star, Oladipo is recovering steadily from what proved to be a season-ending quad injury this January.
#2 Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers, Cameroon)
Joel Embiid was born in 1994 to Thomas Embiid and his wife, Christine in Yaounde, Cameroon. The two-time All-Star is yet another valuable find by one of the basketball camps put together by Luc Mbah a Moute, fellow native of Yaounde.
Mentored by Mbah a Moute, Embiid moved to the USA at age 16 and in time, was a five-star recruit who had committed to University of Kansas by November 2012. Plagued by injuries that downsized his intitial years, Embiid finally got drafted to the NBA as the third overall pick by the Sixers - only to sit out another season due to a broken navicular bone in his foot.
Nevertheless, he has been catching up brisky on the lost time ever since he began caught hold of regular NBA action three years ago.
Just this past season, Embiid recorded mind-boggling career-high averages of 27.5 points and 13.6 boards per game. Growing rapidly with every passing season, there is no limit to how high he can stretch his ceiling in the coming years.
#1 Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks, Nigeria)
The Antetokounmpo brothers, led by Giannis, have a move-like-backstory worthy of an Oscar.
As immigrants, Giannis' parents couldn't get work easily in Athens, which eventually resulted in him and his brothers helping out hawking watches, handbags and sunglasses in the streets. By the time he was 15, the youth squad of Filathlitikos had become his basketball home and that is where Giannis truly spread his wings.
He declared for the NBA draft in the year 2013 and was an underwhelming 15th pick by the Bucks. Ever since, his progressively increasing averages in all aspects of the game have been proof of his resilient grit over the years, not settling for anything less than the best.
The crowning moment came this year when Giannis was named the 2019 NBA's Most Valuable Player after posting blazing season averages of 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists per game - all of which were career-highs.
From sharing shoes with his brother at one point, to having his own signature line launched just recently, Giannis is the one true definition of consistent hardwork and commitment.
