Houston Rockets shooting guard Josh Okogie has officially joined the Nigerian senior men’s national basketball team, D’Tigers, ahead of the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket tournament scheduled to tip off next week in Angola.
The 26-year-old NBA star, Josh Okogie, who recently signed a one-year, $3.1 million deal with the Rockets, arrived at the team’s training camp as preparations intensify for the continental championship.
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Okogie’s inclusion is expected to significantly boost Nigeria’s chances of ending their 10-year title drought.
With his wealth of top-level experience, Okogie will play a key leadership role as Nigeria prepares to face tough Group B opponents, including Tunisia, Cameroon, and Madagascar.
Josh Okogie is making a return to the national fold for the first time since featuring in the 2023 FIBA World Cup African Qualifiers, where he delivered standout performances averaging 16.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, with an efficiency rating of 18.0.
His presence will be a welcome boost for head coach Mohammed Abdulrahman and his squad, who are aiming to reclaim the AfroBasket title Nigeria last won in 2015 under then-head coach Will Voigt.
D’Tigers open their campaign against Madagascar on August 13, then square off with defending champions Tunisia on August 15, before wrapping up the group stage against Cameroon on August 17.
The 31st edition of the FIBA AfroBasket will run from August 12 to 24 across two Angolan cities, Luanda and Namibe, with 16 nations vying for continental glory.
