Olumide Oyedeji, a former Captain of the national male basketball team D’Tigers, has commended young Nigerian basketball players who have shown interest in the 2020 NBA Draft in America.
The 2020 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 25 in New York, but sports analysts doubt if the event will hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oyedeji, who captained the Nigerian team, D’Tigers at the London 2012 Olympic Games, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos that the move by the players was a sign of good things to come.
“For Nigerian players that made move to join the NBA Draft this year, it’s a great and wonderful move. I believe that this is the first time that Nigeria will have eight players to declare for NBA Draft.
“I am very delighted to see that young Nigerians have made the move to go for the NBA Draft,’’ Oyedeji, a former U.S. Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks player said.
He said though no player from his foundation, Olumide Oyedeji Foundation, was going for the draft, they were doing well in their respective careers.
The ex-basketball player said he was sure that the 2020 NBA Draft would be postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I don’t think that there will be NBA Draft on June 25 because of Coronavirus. I think the organisers may do the virtual draft as was the case with women NBA. The draft always comes at the end of the season.
“I believe the date will come after the organisers know what is going on,’’ he said.
On plans by Spencer Dinwiddie, a Brooklyn Nets Point Guard to acquire a Nigerian passport to play for Nigeria at the Tokyo Olympic Games in Japan, Oyedeji said he had nothing against his ambition.
“For me, I will give opportunity to the home grown players.
“Notwithstanding, if that is what he (Spencer) wants to do, I respect his ambition. If he is interested in that move, he should have joined the Nigerian team in the World Cup qualifiers not when they have qualified for the Olympic Games,’’ he said. (
