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Former Warriors player Ike Diogu signed with Venezuelan team Piratas de La Guaira for the remainder of the or 2023 season.
Even before Nigeria's self-imposed two-year ban from international basketball was announced last month, D'Tigers captain Ike Diogu saw the writing on the wall and joined Snoop Dogg's Big3 team, Bivouac. Having previously turned down approaches to play in the Big3, a professional 3x3 league founded by rapper Ice Cube, in favour of national team duty, Diogu changed his mind this year and signed on after competing in the Basketball Africa League.
The 38-year-old former Golden State Warriors player is the co-captain of Bivouac, a team partially owned by Snoop Dogg, and coached by NBA legend Gary Payton. "I've actually been asked to play [Big3] a number of years. It's just that with all my national team stuff, I just was never able to actually do it, but this was a year when things worked out schedule-wise, so I figured I'd give it a go." Diogu told ESPN.
With just a few days to go until action tips off in China, an exciting Nigeria team and head coach Alex Nwora announced their final roster for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019. The 12 players that were selected include team captain Ike Diogu and Al-Farouq Aminu leading Nigeria's charge alongside other stars Ekpe Udoh (Utah Jazz), Josh Okogie (Minnesota Timberwolves), Chimezie Metu (San Antonio Spurs).
Nigeria trailed 44-36 at halftime against Montenegro but turned the game around in the second half and grabbed an 89-86 win. Jordan Nwora led the way with 19 points followed by Ike Iroegbu with 18. Ike Diogu added 13 and Ekpe Udoh 11 points.
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The Nigeria Basketball Federation have named an expanded list of 44 players that will compete for spots in this year's team for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China. It's a mixture of veterans such as Ike Diogu and Al-Faruq Aminu and a selection of newcomers. Key members of the team that qualified Nigeria for the World Cup in China comprising of team captain Ike Diogu, Portland Trail Blazers forward Al-Farouk Aminu, Ben Uzoh, Jordan Nwora, Emegano Obinna, Ike Iroegbu, Chris Obekpa and Efevberha Michael are among the players that top the list for places to compete against Korea, Argentina and Russia in Group B.
David Pick: The Sichuan Whales have signed veteran globetrotter Ike Diogu to replace guard Jamaal Franklin on China's worst-ranked team, 3-20, according to source.
David 'Dubi' Pick: Source: Lavoy Allen broke off his $300K deal with Zhejiang Bulls and returned to the U.S. Chinese rival Sichuan Whales agreed to sign veteran globetrotter Ike Diogu.
Many of the players and coaches have self-funded their Olympic quest. A coach on Will’s staff, three-year Frost Heave and current Philadelphia 76ers assistant John Bryant, shouted out one D’Tiger in particular, Diogu, who sprang for warmups and gear. “Obviously it’s frustrating, but it speaks volumes for the guys,” Diogu said. “For us it’s a pride thing. We’re representing 280 million people. Change doesn’t happen overnight, and unfortunately for us we probably won’t see the benefits. But at the same time we’re setting things in motion.”
Orazio Cauchi: As reported by @DjordjeMatic, Ike Diogu will continue to play in China this season. He signed with Guangdong Southern Tigers.
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The Knicks are mulling whether to use one of their two roster spots on power forward Ike Diogu, who impressed the team during training camp but was released, according to an NBA source.
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