Top Nigerian Basketball Stars Who Secured New Deals Ahead Of 2025/26 Season

As domestic basketball leagues across North America, Europe, and Asia prepare to tip off, several Nigerian players have signed new contracts that will see them embark on fresh adventures in the 2025/26 campaign.

From the NBA to the WCBA, these stars are set to fly the Nigerian flag high on the global stage.

Below are the top Nigerian basketball players who are expected to make fresh starts this season

Josh Okogie Joins Houston Rockets

Josh Okogie was arguably the biggest Nigerian name on the move this summer after sealing a free-agent deal with the Houston Rockets. The 26-year-old guard will reunite with his former Phoenix Suns teammate, Kevin Durant, as the Rockets look to mount a serious challenge for the NBA title under Nigerian-American coach Ime Udoka.

Okogie, who has seven years of NBA experience, will be a key part of Houston’s plans, especially on the defensive end. He averaged 6.3 points and 3.0 rebounds across 416 career games and ranked fourth in steals per 36 minutes (2.8) last season.

The Rockets begin their pre-season campaign with scrimmages against the Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz, and New Orleans Pelicans before tipping off the regular season on October 22 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Okogie also returned to national team duty this summer, representing D’Tigers at the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket in Angola, where Nigeria reached the quarter-finals.

Caleb Agada Signs for Força Lleida

Point guard Caleb Agada has secured a move to Hiopos Força Lleida in Spain’s Liga ACB. The 31-year-old, who has enjoyed spells in seven countries across three continents, will be playing in Spain for the third time after stints with CB Prat and Melilla.

Agada was instrumental in Al Ahli Tripoli’s historic Basketball Africa League triumph earlier this year, helping the Libyan side defeat Petro de Luanda in the final. He also made the tournament’s all-defensive first team.

The Nigerian international will be expected to bring his defensive steel and leadership to Lleida, who kick off their campaign against Breogan on October 4.

Ezinne Kalu Heads to Wuhan Shengfan

D’Tigress veteran Ezinne Kalu has joined the Chinese side Wuhan Shengfan ahead of the new Women’s Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) season. The 33-year-old guard spent last season with Zhejiang, where she averaged an impressive 21.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game.

Kalu, a four-time FIBA Women’s AfroBasket champion, played a starring role as D’Tigress clinched their fifth straight continental crown in the Ivory Coast this summer. Her move to Wuhan is the latest stop in a career that has taken her across France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Turkey, and Hungary.

Murjanatu Musa Joins Basket Landes

After a short stint with WNBA side Phoenix Mercury, Murjanatu Musa has signed for French top-flight club Basket Landes. The 6’2” centre previously impressed with Tarbes Gespe Bigorre, where she averaged nearly 15 points and 10 rebounds per game last season.

Musa also featured for D’Tigress during their AfroBasket triumph, averaging 7.8 points and rebounds as Nigeria extended their unbeaten streak in the competition to a decade. She is expected to play a central role for Landes as they chase silverware in France and Europe.

Lauren Ebo Makes Spanish Move

Lauren Ebo, another key figure for D’Tigress, has completed a move to Club Joventut Badalona in Spain’s Liga Femenina Endesa. The 6’4” centre arrives from the Polish side KS Basket, where she posted strong numbers, 15.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.

Ebo, who represented Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympics, will look to establish herself as a dominant presence in the Spanish league when Badalona face Jairis in their opening fixture on October 4.

Source: Naijanews