Houston Rockets shooting guard Josh Okogie has now joined the camp of the Nigerian senior men’s national team, D’Tigers, ahead of the forthcoming FIBA AfroBasket tournament set to take place in Angola next week, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The 26-year-old, who recently signed a one-year deal worth $3.1m with NBA Western Conference franchise Houston Rockets last month, touched down in the team’s camp as preparations for the continental competition gear up. The former Phoenix Suns star is making a return to the national team set-up since the FIBA World Cup African Qualifiers in 2023, where he averaged 16.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, with an efficiency rating of 18.0.
Okogie’s arrival will come as a massive boost for the coach Mohammed Abdulrahman-led side, who are aiming to win a first AfroBasket title in 10 years and a second continental crown overall. The team last won Africa’s elite men’s basketball tournament in 2015, under the guidance of former head coach Will Voigt.
Having begun his NBA journey when he was first drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2018, before moving to the Phoenix Suns where he was teammates with the legendary Kevin Durant and having a brief stint with Charlotte Hornets, Okogie’s elite experience will come to the fore as Nigeria attempts to navigate their Group B opponents in Tunisia, Cameroon and Madagascar.
Nigeria’s first official game at AfroBasket 2025 will be against Madagascar on August 13, before facing the current defending champions Tunisia on August 15. The West Africans will conclude the round-robin phase with a fixture against Cameroon on August 17.
The 31st edition of the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket tournament will feature 16 countries and run from August 12 to 24, with Luanda and Namibe the two host cities for the showpiece.
