…Chima Moneke returns with Baskonia, Daniel Oturu with Anadolu Efes
At least four Nigerian players will feature in the 2024/25 EuroLeague season, which kicks off today. The EuroLeague is often considered basketball’s equivalent of football’s UEFA Champions League and is widely regarded as the top-tier men’s basketball competition in Europe.
Two D’Tigers stars – Jordan Nwora and Chimezie Metu are set to make their debuts after moving to Europe from the NBA.
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Jordan Nwora and Daniel Oturu (Anadolu Efes: Turkey)
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Jordan Nwora, who last played for the Toronto Raptors in the NBA, is set to make his EuroLeague debut for Anadolu Efes when they face Virtus Bologna in their season opener on Friday at the Virtus Segafredo Arena.
Nwora joined the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi side on August 5, marking his first professional stint in Europe since being drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2020.
The 26-year-old forward, known for his excellent three-point shooting, won an NBA championship with the Bucks in 2021 and averaged 7.6 points per game during his NBA career, which also included stints with the Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors.
He aims to make a strong start in Europe and help Anadolu Efes claim their third EuroLeague title. The team, one of two Turkish representatives in the EuroLeague, recently secured the Turkish Kings Cup, narrowly defeating Fenerbahçe 83-82.
Daniel Oturu, another D’Tigers player, will also don the Anadolu Efes jersey this season. Oturu joined the club in 2023 and will be looking to make an impact alongside Nwora.
Chimezie Metu (Barcelona: Spain)
Chimezie Metu has already begun his European journey with a stellar performance, scoring a team-high 17 points to lead Barcelona to a 91-65 victory over Granada in the Liga ACB last weekend.
The 27-year-old power forward/center, who played six seasons in the NBA, made the switch to Europe seeking new challenges.
A 49th overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2018 NBA Draft, Metu gained valuable experience with teams such as the Spurs, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, and Detroit Pistons before heading to Europe this summer.
Metu is set to make his EuroLeague debut today when Barcelona faces Lithuania’s Zalgiris at the Zalgirio Arena in Kaunas.
After his strong Liga ACB debut, Metu is expected to be in the starting lineup. Known for his versatility—shooting from beyond the arc, dominating the paint, rebounding, and dunking—he is poised to be one of the EuroLeague’s standout players this season.
Chima Moneke (Baskonia: Spain)
Though not a debutant, Chima Moneke returns for another EuroLeague season with Baskonia, where he ranked in the top 10 of the league’s Performance Index Ratings last season.
With the departure of American guard Codi Tyree Miller-McIntyre, Moneke is expected to take on a more prominent role and solidify his spot in the starting lineup.
Over the weekend, Moneke scored a game-high 20 points in Baskonia’s 88-80 loss to Tenerife in their Liga ACB season opener. Known for his scoring ability and rebounding skills, Moneke will be a key player for Baskonia this season as they aim for success in both the EuroLeague and domestic competitions.
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