2028 Olympics: Orlando Magic’s Desmond Bane wants to play for Nigeria

Nigeria’s hopes of Olympic basketball success could get a boost, with Orlando Magic’s Desmond Bain saying he wants to “do something” and recruit fellow NBA stars to the D’Tigers.

Bane is officially listed as an American in the NBA, but is of Nigerian heritage and has yet to represent any nation on the international stage.

Having qualified for their first Olympics in London 2012, Nigeria’s basketball team also participated in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 but missed out on the Paris 2024 Games.

“I definitely would,” the shooting guard said when asked about the possibility of answering the call if it came.

“We just need to get all Nigerians together for the Olympics in the next few years and do something.

Houston Rockets guard Josh Okogie, who was born in Lagos but raised in the US, is already a member of the Nigerian national team, but Bain says he has spoken to other players about joining.

“I would talk to Aaron Nesmith (Indiana Pacers),” the 27-year-old told BBC Sport. “Me and Gabe Vincent (Los Angeles Lakers) talked about it a little bit, too. We’ve got to do it.”

Forwards Prechess Achiuva and Adem Bona of the Sacramento Kings and Philadelphia 76ers are also NBA players on Nigeria’s roster.

Currently 50th in the world rankings by governing body Fiba, Nigeria has dropped to 7th among African countries.

And the D’Tigers aren’t sure they’ll make it to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Their first chance could come at the 2027 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where they would have to finish as the highest-ranked of the five African nations to compete.

But they will have to qualify first and currently sit third in their first-round group behind Guinea and Tunisia.

There will also be a separate six-nation African Olympic qualifier, with the winner booking a place in LA.

Bain just finished participating in this year’s NBA Global Games, with Orlando beating the Memphis Grizzlies in Berlin before losing the second leg in London.

Speaking in Germany, NBA commissioner Adam Silver again spoke about the possibility of a new European continental league, in addition to the Basketball Africa League that has been in place since 2021 and is also supported by the NBA.

Bain is impressed by the growing global influence and talent pool.

“I think it’s great. If you hear about NBA Europe, and when you talk about Nigeria, there are so many talented players everywhere.”