Kristian Ferrell
In an exhibition game ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, Nigeria's men's basketball team defeated the United States' men's basketball team. This was the first time an African nation had beaten the US in basketball. Nigeria's win was considered a massive upset, with the Nigerian team pulling off a 90-87 victory over the three-time reigning Olympic gold medalists.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 10 July 2021 |
| Score | 90-87 to Nigeria |
| Venue | Mandalay Bay Arena, Las Vegas |
| Competition | Exhibition game ahead of the Tokyo Olympics |
| Nigeria's Coach | Mike Brown |
| USA's Coach | Gregg Popovich |
| Notable Nigerian Players | Ike Iroegbu, Gabe Vincent, Precious Achiuwa |
| Notable USA Players | Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum |
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What You'll Learn
Nigeria's first win against the USA
On Saturday, July 10, 2021, Nigeria's men's basketball team defeated the United States in an exhibition game ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. The game, which took place in Las Vegas, ended with a score of 90-87 in favour of Nigeria, marking the first time an African nation had beaten the US in basketball.
Nigeria's roster included several NBA players, such as Chimezie Metu of the Sacramento Kings, Josh Okogie of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Miye Oni of the Utah Jazz. They were coached by Mike Brown, a Golden State Warriors assistant. Nigeria's physical defence and 3-point shooting were notable, outscoring the US 60-30 from 3-point range and outrebounding them 46-34. Ike Iroegbu, a former Washington State player, made a 3-pointer with just over a minute left, putting Nigeria up 88-80. Gabe Vincent, of the Miami Heat, led the scoring with 21 points and made six 3-pointers.
The US team, led by Kevin Durant, included other NBA stars such as Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, Jayson Tatum, and Bam Adebayo. Durant, who had never lost a game with the US before, scored 17 points, with Tatum adding 15, and Lillard 14. The US had gone 39-0 in their last three Olympic seasons and were 54-2 in major exhibitions since NBA players joined in 1992. They had beaten Nigeria by 83 points in the 2012 London Olympics and by 43 or 44 points in an exhibition game in 2016.
Nigeria's historic win was a shock to many, with US coach Gregg Popovich acknowledging the physicality and skill of the Nigerian team. While it was only an exhibition game, it was a significant moment for Nigerian and African basketball, showing the progress and potential of the region.
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Exhibition game ahead of the Tokyo Olympics
On Saturday, July 10, 2021, Nigeria's men's basketball team defeated the United States in an exhibition game ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. The game, which took place in Las Vegas, ended with a score of 90-87 in favour of Nigeria. This marked the first time an African nation had beaten the US in men's basketball.
Nigeria's roster included several NBA players, such as Chimezie Metu of the Sacramento Kings, Josh Okogie of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Miye Oni of the Utah Jazz. The team was coached by Mike Brown, an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors. Nigeria's physical defence and 3-point shooting were standout aspects of their performance, with the team making nearly half of their 40 3-point attempts. Gabe Vincent of the Miami Heat stood out with a game-high of 21 points.
Team USA, on the other hand, fielded a roster stacked with All-NBA players, including Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, and Bam Adebayo. Despite their talent, the US players appeared rusty and struggled against Nigeria's size and physicality. Durant, who had never lost a game with USA Basketball prior to this, led the scoring for his team with 17 points. Tatum added 15 points, while Lillard contributed 14.
The loss was a surprising outcome for the US, given their past dominance in men's basketball. In the 2012 London Olympics, for instance, the US defeated Nigeria by a margin of 83 points (156-73). However, despite the upset, US coach Gregg Popovich emphasised the importance of learning from the defeat and using it as a growth opportunity for the team.
Nigeria's victory in the exhibition game ahead of the Tokyo Olympics was a significant milestone for the country and the African continent as a whole, showcasing the growth and potential of basketball in the region.
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Nigeria's talented players
Nigeria has a rich pool of talented basketball players who have made their mark in the NBA. The country's basketball culture has produced some exceptional talent that has left an impact on the global basketball stage. Here are some of Nigeria's talented players who have represented their country with pride and excellence:
Hakeem Olajuwon is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Olajuwon was selected as the first overall pick by the Houston Rockets in the 1984 NBA Draft. He had a highly successful NBA career, winning two NBA championships with the Rockets and earning accolades such as NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Michael Olowokandi, also born in Lagos, was the first overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft. Standing at 7 feet tall, he played as a center during an NBA career that spanned from 1998 to 2007. While his career may not have reached the heights of some other Nigerian players, he still made a significant impact in the league.
Festus Ezeli, a native of Benin City, Nigeria, was selected as the 30th overall pick by the Golden State Warriors in the 2012 NBA Draft.
Josh Okogie, born in Lagos, Nigeria, is a promising shooting guard. He was selected as the 20th overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2018 NBA Draft. Okogie has impressed with his athleticism and defensive skills, continuing to develop and make his mark in the NBA.
Other notable Nigerian-born players who have represented their country in the NBA include Olumide Oyedeji and Gabe Vincent. These players have inspired a new generation of Nigerian basketball players, demonstrating that with dedication and hard work, dreams can become a reality.
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Team USA's loss and response
Team USA's loss to Nigeria in their first exhibition game ahead of the Tokyo Olympics came as a shock to many. It was the first time an African team had beaten the US men's national team, and it was only Nigeria's second win over Team USA in history. The final score was 90-87 to Nigeria.
Team USA's coach, Gregg Popovich, acknowledged the loss and its potential impact, stating:
> "That loss means nothing if we don't learn from it, but it can be the most important thing in this tournament for us to learn lessons from it."
Popovich also praised the Nigerian team, noting their physicality and impressive three-point shooting. He gave credit where it was due, recognising that the Nigerian team had played a great game.
Team USA had a strong roster, including some of the best isolation players in the world, such as Damian Lillard, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. However, these players were reported to be rusty and were bothered by the opposition's size. They were also said to have played a very isolation-heavy offense, which may have contributed to their loss.
Despite the upset, many downplayed the impact of the result, noting that it was only an exhibition game. Nigerian coach Mike Brown acknowledged this, stating:
> "It was an exhibition and at the end of the day, it doesn't mean much in the standings...But it's a good win for us. I don't think any African team has been able to beat USA Basketball."
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Previous Nigeria-USA basketball matches
Nigeria and the USA men's basketball teams have faced off in several matches over the years, with the USA typically dominating the fixture. However, in a stunning turn of events on 10 July 2021, Nigeria defeated the USA in an exhibition game ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. This was the first time an African team had beaten the USA's men's national team.
Led by coach Mike Brown, Nigeria's roster included several NBA players, such as Chimezie Metu, Josh Okogie, and Miye Oni. The Nigerian team pulled off an incredible upset, outscoring the USA 60-30 from the three-point range and dominating the rebounds with a 46-34 advantage. Ike Iroegbu's three-pointer in the final minutes of the game sealed the deal, giving Nigeria an 88-80 lead. Despite Kevin Durant's valiant efforts, the USA fell short, losing the game 90-87.
This defeat was a shock to the USA, given their previous dominance in the fixture. In the 2012 London Olympics, the USA trounced Nigeria by a staggering 83-point margin, with a final score of 156-73. They repeated this feat in a warm-up game for the 2016 Rio Olympics, beating Nigeria by a combined 127 points across the two fixtures.
The 2021 exhibition game was a wake-up call for the USA, with coach Gregg Popovich acknowledging the importance of learning from the loss. Despite the symbolic nature of the defeat, the USA's gold medal hopes for the Tokyo Olympics remained intact.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Nigeria beat the USA men's basketball team in an Olympic exhibition game in Las Vegas in 2021.
Nigeria beat the USA 90-87.
The USA's team included Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, and Bam Adebayo.
Nigeria's team included Gabe Vincent, Ike Iroegbu, Precious Achiuwa, Caleb Agada, and Ike Nwamu.
Yes, Nigeria lost to the USA at the 2012 London Olympics, 156-73.
