Since Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon arrived in the National Basketball Association in 1984, the participation of African basketball players in the biggest basketball competition in the world has increased considerably. Last season, for the 79th edition of the NBA, there were 17 African nationals on opening night, while there were a further 35 players with at least one parent from an African country, hinting at the increasing global reach of the sport and its growing popularity on the African continent.
Consequently, the NBA Playoffs featured significant African participation with several African players and athletes of African descent contributing significantly to the business end of the NBA.
In honour of their participation, we have put together a list of Africans featured in the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Neemias Queta - Boston Celtics (Portuguese with ties to Guinea-Bissau)
Born to Guinean parents in Lisbon, Neemias Queta moved to the United States to play college basketball for the Utah State Aggies in 2018. He was selected in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings, becoming the first player of both Portuguese and Guinean heritage to be drafted into the NBA. He signed a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics in September 2023 and made his debut in the NBA Playoffs on the 7th of May 2024, ultimately contributing to his team becoming NBA Champions against the Dallas Mavericks. In the 2025 Playoffs, Queta played four games, averaging a little over three minutes per game.
Isaac Okoro - Cleveland Cavaliers (American with ties to Nigeria)
The son of two Nigerian immigrants to the United States of America, Isaac Okoro grew up in metro Atlanta. He played college basketball for the Auburn Tigers men's basketball program representing Auburn University before being drafted as the fifth pick overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He made his NBA debut on December 23, 2020, starting and recording 11 points, five assists, and three rebounds in a 121–114 win over the Charlotte Hornets. He helped the Cavs to the 2025 NBA Playoffs, where he played nine games and averaged 14 minutes per game. Early in July, he was traded to the Chicago Bulls.
Ariel Hukporti - New York Knicks (German with ties to Togo)
Raised by a single mother from Togo, Hukporti initially played football before switching to basketball around age 11 due to his height. After stints playing in Lithuania, Australia, and Germany, he was selected as the 58th overall draft pick by the Dallas Mavericks during the 2024 NBA Draft. On the same day, he was traded to the New York Knicks and signed a two-way contract with the team, being assigned to the Westchester Knicks multiple times across the season. He played a tiny part in the Knicks’ NBA Playoff campaign, appearing in three games and averaging 1.7 minutes per game.
Pacôme Dadiet - New York Knicks (French with ties to Côte d'Ivoire)
Another New York Knicks prospect, Pacôme Dadiet was born in Aubagne in the south of France and is of Ivorian descent. He played in France and Germany before declaring as an international player for the 2024 NBA Draft, where he was selected with the 25th overall pick by the New York Knicks. Throughout his debut season, he was regularly assigned to the Westchester Knicks. He was a part of the New York Knicks’ roster for the 2025 NBA Playoffs, appearing in two games and averaging two minutes per game.
Precious Achiuwa - New York Knicks (Nigerian)
Born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Precious Achiuwa migrated to the United States of America with his family as a child, settling in Queens, New York. After playing basketball for Our Saviour Lutheran School in The Bronx, New York, St. Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey, and Montverde Academy, a prep school in Montverde, Florida, he committed to playing college basketball for the Memphis Tigers. He was selected as the 20th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat. Just one year after signing with the Heat, he was traded to the Toronto Raptors before being traded to the New York Knicks in December 2023. Achiuwa played eight games for the Knicks in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, averaging 4.3 minutes and 1.8 points per game.
Ogugua "OG" Anunoby Jr. - New York Knicks (British with ties to Nigeria)
Ogugua "OG" Anunoby Jr. was born in London, England, on July 17, 1997, to Nigerian parents. After losing his mother to cancer at age one, the family moved to Missouri. Anunoby Jr. started playing basketball at the age of eight. He played for Jefferson City High School at the high school level and committed to the Indiana Hoosiers for college basketball. He was selected as the 23rd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors, where he played until he was traded to the New York Knicks in 2023. He played 18 games for the New York Knicks during the 2025 NBA playoffs, averaging 39.2 minutes and 16.3 points per game.
Pascal Siakam - Indiana Pacers (Cameroonian)
Regarded as one of the best African players currently in the NBA, Pascal Siakam was born in Douala, Cameroon. Siakam was discovered by Luc Mbah a Moute before being selected to attend a Basketball Without Borders camp, where he caught the attention of Masai Ujiri. He moved to the United States of America at age 18, enrolling at New Mexico State University in 2013 before being selected by the Toronto Raptors with the 27th overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft. In 2019, he helped the Toronto Raptors become NBA Champions and was named to the NBA All-Star team in 2020, 2023, and 2025. Siakam was instrumental to the Indiana Pacers’ NBA Playoffs campaign, playing 23 games. He averaged 33.5 minutes and 20.5 points per game.
Giannis Antetokounmpo - Milwaukee Bucks (Greek with ties to Nigeria)
Widely renowned as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Giannis was born in Athens, Greece, to Nigerian parents. After playing professionally in Greece at the beginning of his career, Antetokounmpo declared himself for the 2013 NBA Draft, where he was selected as the 15th overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks. He made his NBA debut on October 13, 2013, at the age of 18, becoming one of the youngest NBA players ever. Since then, Antetokounmpo, popularly referred to as the “Greek Freak” has become one of the most highly regarded players in the league. He claims both his Greek identity and Nigerian heritage, and became an NBA Champion in 2021. He has twice been voted the NBA MVP in 2019 and 2020. However, Antetokounmpo played only five games in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, averaging 37.6 minutes and 33 points per game.
Edrice “Bam” Adebayo - Miami Heat (American with ties to Nigeria)
Born to a Nigerian father and an African-American mother in Newark, New Jersey, Bam Adebayo maintains connections with the country of his birth and his ancestral homeland in Africa. In 2016, he was named North Carolina Mr. Basketball and was rated a five-star recruit. Adebayo played college basketball for the University of Kentucky. He was selected as the 14th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat. Since being at the Heat, he has been a three-time NBA All-Star and helped his team reach the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023. He played four games for the Heat during the 2025 NBA Playoffs and averaged 38.3 minutes and 17.5 points per game.
Ousmane Dieng - Oklahoma City Thunder (French with ties to Senegal)
Dienng was born in Lot-et-Garonne in southwestern France. He is of Senegalese descent through his father, Ababacar, a former basketball player who played in France. After playing in France and New Zealand, Dieng declared for the 2022 NBA Draft. He was selected with the 11th overall pick by the New York Knicks before being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He won the 2024 G-League championship with the Oklahoma City Blue and was named the MVP in the Championship game. In 2025, he played nine NBA Playoff games for the Oklahoma City Thunder, averaging 3.6 minutes and 1.6 points per game.
Gabe Vincent - Los Angeles Lakers (American with Nigerian ties)
Born in Modesto, California, to Nigerian parents, Gabe Vincent played college basketball for the University of California. After graduating from university, he had a pre-draft workout with the Sacramento Kings, eventually signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Kings and playing in the G-League for the Stockton Kings. Vincent was signed by the Miami Heat in 2020, helping them reach the 2020 NBA Finals against his future employers, the Los Angeles Lakers. He signed with the Lakers in July 2023, and represents the Nigerian basketball national team, D’Tigers, internationally. Vincent played five games for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2025 NBA Playoffs. He averaged 19.8 minutes and 2.8 points per game.
Nicolas Batum - Los Angeles Clippers (French with Cameroonian ties)
The son of a Cameroonian father and French mother, Nicolas Batum’s early life was marked by the tragedy of watching his father suffer an aneurysm while playing a professional basketball game in France. In his youth, Batum was ranked one of the most impressive basketball players in Europe. He entered the NBA Draft in 2008 and was selected with the 25th pick by the Houston Rockets. He was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers and has since played for the Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers. He rejoined the Los Angeles Clippers for a second stint in July 2024. Batum played seven games for the Clippers during the 2025 NBA Playoffs, he averaged 24.5 minutes and 5.6 points per game.
Rui Hachimura - Los Angeles Lakers (Japanese with Beninese ties)
Born in Toyama Prefecture to a Japanese mother and Beninese father, Rui Hachimura was introduced to basketball courtesy of his grandfather who was a big fan of the sport. Hachimura moved to the USA in 2015 where he played college basketball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. He declared for the 2019 NBA Draft and was drafted ninth overall by the Washington Wizards. In 2023, he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Hachimura played five games for the Lakers in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, he averaged 36.4 minutes and 14.8 points per game.
Zeke Nnaji - Denver Nuggets (American with ties to Nigeria)
Ezekiel Tobechukwu "Zeke" Nnaji was born and bred in Minnesota, but he still maintains a strong connection with Nigeria. He initially played baseball and football before settling on basketball as he grew taller. Nnaji played college basketball at the University of Arizona and was selected 22nd overall by the Denver Nuggets in the 2020 NBA Draft. He has since grown into an important member of the team, winning the NBA Championship in 2023. He played six games during the 2025 NBA Playoffs, averaging 5.7 minutes and 1.2 points per game. Nnaji has also launched the Nnaji Foundation, which has partnered with the NBA to build a basketball academy in Nigeria, solidifying his ties with his fatherland. He has also hinted that he would be open to representing the Nigerian basketball national team, D’Tigers, internationally.
Jonathan Kuminga - Golden State Warriors (Congolese)
Born in Goma, a city in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jonathan Kuminga always played basketball as a child. He moved to the USA in 2016 to play high school basketball, representing Huntington Prep School in Huntington, West Virginia, Our Savior New American School in Centereach, New York, and The Patrick School in Hillside, New Jersey. Kuminga bypassed college basketball, instead signing a one-year contract with the NBA G League Ignite, a developmental team, in 2020. Just one year later, the Golden State Warriors drafted Kuminga as the 7th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He was part of the Golden State Warriors roster that became NBA Champions after defeating the Boston Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals. At 19 years and 253 days, Kuminga became the second-youngest NBA champion, behind Darko Miličić. He played eight games for the Golden State Warriors during the NBA Playoffs, averaging 23.4 minutes and 15.3 points per game.
By the Numbers: Africa's Impact on the NBA
67 African-born players in NBA history.
17 African nationals on 2024–25 NBA rosters.
2 of the last 6 NBA MVPs have African roots (Embiid, Antetokounmpo).
Top-10 NBA draft pick: Khaman Maluach (South Sudan, 2025).
397 blocks: Manute Bol’s NBA rookie record (1985–86).
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