Written by: FIBA

LAS VEGAS (USA) – Leading into the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the Nigerian men’s basketball team celebrated two big wins in three days in international friendlies. Young and ambitious, Nigeria kicked off their pre-Games preparation by stunning three-time defending Olympic champions USA with a historic 90-87 victory. 

The D’Tigers followed this up with a 94-71 blowout over Argentina, the world’s fourth-ranked side before finding themselves on the other side of a thrashing, falling 108-69 to world No. 3 Australia in Las Vegas. 

FIBA caught up with the rising D’Tiger talent Miye Oni before he left with the Nigerian team to the Tokyo Games. 

The shooting guard made a name for himself playing collegiately for Yale University, where he led the Ivy League in all the leading statistical categories, en route to conference player of the year honors.

Selected in the 2019 NBA Draft’s second round by the Golden State Warriors and subsequently traded to the Utah Jazz, Oni has since carved out a regular roster role in the Association – one that he has already started to expound upon this summer with the D’Tigers in international play. 

Could Tokyo 2020 prove the place where the 23-year-old helps take Nigerian men’s basketball to new all-time international heights? 

Continue reading here: Miye Oni’s rising talent helping D’Tigers lift Nigeria’s Olympic hoops hopes