Former NBA star and influential Nigerian basketball figure, Olumide Oyedeji, has applauded Lagos Legends following their nail-biting 74–72 triumph over Rivers Hoopers on Sunday—a victory that sealed the franchise’s first-ever NBBF Premier League title and secured their debut ticket to the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Oyedeji, founder of Hoops N’ Read and an NBBF board member, described the win as a watershed moment for the domestic league, arguing that Legends’ ascent reflects what Nigerian clubs can achieve with genuine planning, structure, and discipline.
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“This victory is the result of hard work,” he said. “Other teams should learn from the way Lagos Legends went about their business.”
He urged the new champions to begin preparations immediately for the “massive step up” that BAL competition demands.
Although his own Hoops N’ Read side exited in the Final Eight phase this season, Oyedeji maintained a firm focus on the league’s continued growth, stressing that the Legends’ success should serve as a blueprint for elevating Nigerian basketball to continental relevance.
With the BAL slot now secured, Lagos Legends face their biggest challenge yet—representing Nigeria on Africa’s premier basketball stage and proving their championship run is the beginning of a sustained era, not a one-off breakthrough.
