The Detroit Pistons have officially signed Nigerian prospects Ebuka Okorie and Ugonna Onyenso, with Okorie agreeing to a four-year rookie-scale contract and Onyenso joining the franchise on a two-year, two-way deal.
Okorie was selected by the Pistons with the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, while Onyenso was taken with the 53rd overall pick in the second round. Both players are expected to feature when Detroit faces the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2026 NBA Summer League on Thursday.
At just 19 years old, Okorie enters the NBA as one of the standout talents from his draft class after an exceptional freshman season with the Stanford Cardinal. The explosive guard led the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in scoring, averaging 23.2 points per game, becoming the first Stanford player to top the conference in scoring since Landry Fields during the 2009–10 season.
Onyenso’s two-way contract gives the Pistons the flexibility to assign him either to the NBA roster or their G League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise. However, the Owerri-born center will be aiming to earn consistent minutes with the Pistons at the highest level.
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Speaking after putting pen to paper, Onyenso expressed his excitement about joining the organization and highlighted his defensive prowess as the hallmark of his game.
“I’m glad to be here,” Onyenso said. “I’m really glad to be here.”
The 7-footer also emphasized that protecting the rim is what he enjoys most on the court.
“I’m very heavy on defense,” Onyenso said. “I’m mostly defensive-minded. When I block shots, I get fun from doing that, stuff like that. So, being in a situation where it’s also a defensive-minded program, it’s a lot easier for me because I take pride in playing defense.”
The signings mark another milestone for Nigerian basketball, with both players now set to begin their professional journeys in Detroit as they look to establish themselves in the NBA.
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