Ike Nwankwo

Last updated
Ike Nwankwo
Personal information
Born (1973-12-27) December 27, 1973 (age 50)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
NationalityAmerican / Nigerian
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight257.4 lb (117 kg)
Career information
High school Cypress Creek (Houston, Texas)
College
NBA draft 1997: undrafted
Playing career1998–2010
Position Power forward / center
Career history
1998 Cocodrilos de Caracas
1998 Piratas de Quebradillas
1998–1999 Tuborg Pilsener
1999 Prokom Trefl Sopot
1999Piratas de Quebradillas
1999Tuborg Pilsener
2000Prokom Trefl Sopot
2000 Mets de Guaynabo
2000 Vaqueros de Bayamón
2000–2001 Sioux Falls Skyforce
2001 Marinos de Oriente
2001–2002 Dynamo Moscow
2002Cocodrilos de Caracas
2003 Huntsville Flight
2003 Darüşşafaka
2004Huntsville Flight
2004–2005 CAB Madeira
2005–2006 Ovarense Basquetebol
2006–2007 Queluz
2007 Club Ourense Baloncesto
2007–2008 Belenenses
2008–2009 Club Malvín
2009 Rotterdam Challengers
2009–2010 Thailand Tigers
Career highlights and awards

Ikenna Nwankwo (born December 27, 1973) [1] is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. From Houston, Texas, he played college basketball with the UCLA Bruins, winning a national championship in 1995.

Contents

College career

Nwankwo played with the UCLA Bruins, and won a national championship on their 1994–95 team. In his second year as a reserve behind center George Zidek, he played in a career-high 23 games, averaging 2.7 points and 1.6 rebounds. After Zidek graduated, Nwankwo anticipated a larger role in 1995–96; however, freshman Jelani McCoy became the starting center instead. Seeking more playing time, Nwankwo transferred to Long Beach State in January 1996. [2]

Professional career

Nwankwo began his professional career in Venezuela with the Cocodrilos de Caracas. After a very successful stint where he was the league MVP he then moved to Puerto Rico where he was an MVP candidate in Puerto Rico, with Quebradillas Pirates of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) from 1998 to 1999. In 1998 Nwankwo also played his first season in Turkey where he would play for the next two seasons. He played with Tuborg where he led the league in rebounds at 10. 1 per game. He returned to Tuborg the following year until a knee injury cut his season short. He then signed in Poland with Prokom Trefl Sopot. Nwankwo signed with the Miami Heat of the NBA in 2000, the following year he signed with the Houston Rockets. From 2001 to 2003, Nwankwo played for several European clubs including MBC Dynamo Moscow of the Russian Superleague. In 2003 Nwankwo joined the Huntsville Flight (now Albuquerque Thunderbirds) of the National Basketball Development League. 2004 saw Nwankwo return to Turkey, where he played with Darüşşafaka S.K. of the Turkish Basketball League (TBL). Since 2005, Nwankwo has played in the Portuguese Basketball League (LCB) (2005 with CAB Madeira and since 2006 with CA Queluz. [3]

NBA teams

Nwankwo signed to play with an NBA squad every year from 2000 to 2004 except 2003, with the Miami Heat (2000), Houston Rockets (2001), Cleveland Cavaliers (2002) [4] and the Los Angeles Lakers (2004) [5] seasons.

International career

Although born in the United States, Nwankwo has represented the land of his ancestry, Nigeria, in international competition. He played for Nigeria at the FIBA Africa Championship 2003 and 2006 FIBA World Championship. [3]

Coaching career

After his playing career ended, Nwankwo started a basketball academy for kids in Bangkok in 2010, [6] which he later launched in Hong Kong as well. [7]

Personal

His name "Ikenna" means "The Father's Strength" in Igbo [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ike Diogu</span> Nigerian-American basketball player

Ikechukwu Somtochukwu Diogu is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player for Piratas de La Guaira of the Superliga Profesional de Baloncesto in Venezuela.

Isaac Edward "Ike" Austin is an American former professional basketball player who played for several different teams in the National Basketball Association between 1991 and 2002. He is the uncle of former Baylor University basketball player Isaiah Austin.

Christopher John Anstey is an Australian former professional basketball player. His career included stints in the National Basketball Association (NBA), Russia and Spain. Anstey was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the 1997 NBA draft. He also played for the Melbourne Tigers, South East Melbourne Magic and Victoria Titans in the NBL. He retired at the end of the 2009–10 season while with the Tigers and later became the team's head coach in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyus Edney</span> American basketball player and coach

Tyus Dwayne Edney Sr. is an American basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the San Diego Toreros men's team of the West Coast Conference (WCC). Listed at 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m), he played point guard. He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins from 1991 to 1995, leading them to the 1995 NCAA national championship. His game-winning shot for UCLA in the second round of the 1995 NCAA Tournament is considered one of the most famous plays in NCAA Tournament history. A two-time All-EuroLeague First Team selection, he led Žalgiris Kaunas to the 1999 EuroLeague title and was named the EuroLeague Final Four MVP. He became an assistant coach for UCLA.

Jiří "George" Zídek Jr., is a Czech former professional basketball player who is a sports commentator. He played college basketball in the United States for the UCLA Bruins from 1991 to 1995. He then became the first Czech player ever drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA), when he was selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 1995 NBA draft. He played in the NBA for a total of three seasons and then played professionally in Europe, before retiring in 2006.

James Dixon Mays is an American-born naturalized Central African former professional basketball player currently working as an assistant coach for the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League. He represented the Central African Republic at the 2011 FIBA Africa Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfred Aboya</span> Cameroonian basketball player

Alfred Aboya Baliaba is a Cameroonian former professional basketball player and current coach. He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins, advancing to three Final Fours. He was a member of the winningest class in UCLA history with 123 wins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nemanja Bjelica</span> Serbian basketball player (born 1988)

Nemanja Bjelica is a Serbian former professional basketball player who is the head of basketball operations of Bahçeşehir Koleji. He represented the senior Serbian national team in international competition. Bjelica was an All-Euroleague First Team selection as well as the Euroleague MVP in 2015. Bjelica started his NBA career as a 27-year-old rookie when he signed in 2015 and played for the Minnesota Timberwolves for three seasons before signing with the Sacramento Kings in the 2018 offseason. In 2021, he was traded to the Miami Heat before signing with the Golden State Warriors during the offseason. With the Warriors, he won an NBA championship in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ekpe Udoh</span> Nigerian-American basketball player

Ekpedeme Friday "Ekpe" Udoh is a Nigerian-American professional basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Michigan Wolverines and the Baylor Bears. In the 2010 NBA draft, he was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the sixth overall pick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Honeycutt</span> American basketball player (1990–2018)

Tyler Deon Honeycutt was an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins, where he earned first-team all-conference honors in the Pac-10 as a sophomore in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vassilis Charalampopoulos (basketball)</span> Greek basketball player

Vassilis Charalampopoulos is a Greek professional basketball player for Türk Telekom of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lazeric Jones</span> American basketball player

Lazeric Deleon Jones is an American former professional basketball player who works as a player development coach for the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins, and was named a second-team all-conference player in the Pac-12 in 2012. Jones has also played professionally with the NBA G League as well as overseas in Israel, Greece, Hungary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Roll (basketball)</span> American-Tunisian basketball player

Michael Brandon Roll is an American-born naturalized Tunisian professional basketball player who last played for US Monastir. Born in America, he joined the Tunisia national basketball team after becoming a naturalized citizen in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonah Bolden</span> Australian-American basketball player (born 1996)

Jonah Anthony Bolden is an Australian-American professional basketball player for the New Zealand Breakers of the National Basketball League (NBL). He started his professional career with FMP in Serbia, where he was named the ABA League Top Prospect in 2017. He played a season-and-a-half in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Philadelphia 76ers before joining the Phoenix Suns.

Christopher Ike Anigbogu is an American professional basketball player for the Birmingham Squadron of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for one season with the UCLA Bruins. As a freshman, he was a key reserve for a Bruins squad that advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. After the season, Anigbogu was selected by the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the 2017 NBA draft with the 47th overall pick. He played two seasons for the Pacers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ike Iroegbu</span> American-born Nigerian basketball player

Ikenna Ugochukwu Iroegbu is an American-born Nigerian basketball player for Bàsquet Girona of the Liga ACB. Iroegbu played college basketball for Washington State University, and is a member of the Nigerian national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Nwora</span> American basketball player (born 1998)

Jordan Ifeanyi Nwora is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player for Anadolu Efes of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the Louisville Cardinals. He plays internationally for the Nigeria men's national basketball team. Nwora won a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021 before being traded to the Indiana Pacers in 2023 and again to the Toronto Raptors in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Usman Garuba</span> Spanish basketball player (born 2002)

Destiny Usman Garuba Alari is a Spanish professional basketball player for Real Madrid of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. Listed at 2.03 m, he plays at both the power forward and center positions.

Adem Bona is a Nigerian-Turkish basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins. Named a McDonald's All-American in high school, he was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team and voted the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2023. Bona was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection and voted the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2024.

References

  1. ↑ Sports Illustrated profile
  2. ↑ Reid, Jason (February 10, 1996). "Southern Exposure : Nwankwo Left UCLA for Long Beach, and the 49ers Like Ike". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 27, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Profile Basketpedya.com
  4. ↑ "Nwankwo, Barnes, and Cummings waived". Archived from the original on 2007-12-08. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  5. ↑ Ike Nwankwo NBA.com profile
  6. ↑ Sanguansak, Kitinan (April 20, 2012). "Shooting for the top". The Nation. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  7. ↑ Sauers, Craig (April 30, 2018). "TOP FLIGHT BASKETBALL". Bangkok 101. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Ikenna". Online Nigeria: Nigerian Names and Meanings. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.