D’Tigers head coach David Fizdale has revealed growing enthusiasm among NBA players with Nigerian connections to represent the country, describing the response to his rebuilding project as an encouraging sign for Nigeria’s ambitions at the 2027 FIBA World Cup and Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Fizdale, appointed in May, has made player recruitment a major part of his mission to return Nigeria to the upper level of international basketball after D’Tigers missed the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The former Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks head coach believes the talent pool available to Nigeria gives the programme enormous potential.
The 52-year-old has previously revealed that he personally contacted 14 NBA players with strong Nigerian connections, with two giving commitments to the project subject to resolving international eligibility requirements.
“I’ve spoken to 14 NBA players that are not currently eligible but have deep Nigerian connections, and I’ve gotten a ton of excitement,” Fizdale said. “I got two commitments.”
That recruitment drive is already beginning to complement established D’Tigers players. Nigeria’s recent World Cup qualifying squad included NBA guard Josh Okogie, alongside Chima Moneke, Chimezie Metu, Udoka Azubuike and other experienced internationals.
Fizdale’s ultimate objective carries a deeply personal dimension. The 2028 Olympics will take place in Los Angeles, his hometown, where he grew up inspired by the 1984 Games.
“We have to make getting to Los Angeles our mission,” he said. “That is my ultimate goal, to get this team to those Olympics. And not just get there. I want to win.”
Nigeria’s Olympic pathway is closely connected to the 2027 World Cup. FIBA has confirmed that the World Cup will directly qualify seven countries for LA 2028, while further opportunities will come through Olympic qualifying tournaments.
D’Tigers have appeared at three Olympics — London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 — but have never won an Olympic basketball medal.
For Fizdale, the growing willingness of elite players to answer Nigeria’s call is therefore about more than assembling star names. It is the foundation of an ambitious rebuild aimed at taking D’Tigers back to the World Cup, back to the Olympics — and, ultimately, onto the podium in his own hometown.
