Kings Forward Chimezie Metu Named Finalist For Nigerian Olympic Basketball Team
Jul 7, 2021, 9:36 AM | Updated: 9:36 am
(Photo by Ben Green/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ben Green/Getty Images)
Sacramento Kings forward Chimezie Metu has been named as one of the 15 finalists for the Nigeria men’s national basketball team that will be participating in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
The 15-man roster for Team Nigeria was announced Tuesday.
Metu has a strong chance of making the final 12-man roster, with his impressive 2020-21 season likely cementing his spot on the roster alongside fellow NBA talents such as Miami’s Precious Achiuwa, KZ Okpala, and Gabe Vincent; Milwaukee’s Jordan Nwora; Detroit’s Jahlil Okafor; Minnesota’s Josh Okogie; and Utah’s Miye Oni.
Ekpe Udoh played in the NBA from 2010-2019.
The 24-year-old Metu enjoyed a strong season for the Kings in 2020-21, averaging 6.3 points and 3.1 rebounds per game on 50-percent shooting from the field and 35-percent from three-point range.
Metu was a member of the Nigerian team during the 2019Â FIBA World Cup. Over three games, the USC product averaged 11 points and six rebounds per game off the bench. If Metu is selected to the final roster, he will be the lone representative of the Sacramento Kings to be participating in the 2020 Olympic games.
The last member of the Kings to play in the Olympics was DeMarcus Cousins in 2016.
