LAGOS (NBA) - Since the exit of Nigerian basketball legend, Hakeem 'The Dream' Olajuwon from the world's most glamorous and richest basketball league, NBA, no Nigerian or Nigeria-born player has inched close to his feat.

Drafted in 1985 by Houston Rockets, Olajuwon won the NBA title back to back in the 1995 and 1996 season in addition to Olympic gold medal with the USA Dream Team 11 at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996 with several individual awards.

Another great Nigerian that tried to carve a niche for himself in the NBA was late Yinka Dare who was drafted in 1994, 1st Round, 14th pick overall by the New Jersey Nets. He tried making a headway but along the line he quit the game and went into music but unfortunately for him he died of heart attack on January 9, 2004 at 32.

Another prospect was a son of a Nigerian diplomat, Michael Olowokandi who was number one pick in 1998 by Los Angeles Clippers who many tipped to replace Olajuwon but was a shadow of himself. After unsuccessful five seasons with Clippers, he was offloaded at the end of 2003/04 season. The following season, Olowokandi joined Minnesota Timberwolves for another two seasons. His last stint in the NBA was with Boston Celtics before departing to Europe early this year. In his eight years in the NBA, he struggled, never emerging as a dominant center that many expected him to be.

Olumide Oyedeji also looked promising when he was drafted in 2000, 2nd round, 42nd pick by the Seattle SuperSonics. After two seasons with Seattle, he moved to Orlando Magic during the 2002/03 season.

After the end of that season, Oyedeji decided to seek greener pastures in Asia or Europe where he began his professional career with Germany with DJK Wurzburg in 1998 through 2000 and crowned his effort with the Bundesliga MVP in 2000.

Since 2003 that he left the NBA, he has traversed the nook and crannies, of Europe, through Asia and South America. But then, his effort to return to the NBS despite series of pre-season camps with some teams is yet to materialize.

While these great players made it to the NBA, many had no opportunity but excelled in the lower league and others did their various colleges proud in the NCAA Championship.

However, another crop of Nigerian players have already found there way to the NBA while some are set to test their talents against some of the best players in the world.

As the 2007/08 NBA season dunk off on October 30, nine Nigerian players would be in action for their various clubs, with the hope that one would follow the footsteps of Olajuwon.

Emeka Okafor – Charlotte Bobcats

With a new role ahead of Emeka Okafor as Charlotte Bobcats host Milwaukee Bucks at home on november 2, coach Sam Vincent expects much from the Nigerian-born player.Vincent hopes to use Emeka Okafor primarily at power forward, rather than center, this season.

Early into the 2006-07 season, Emeka Okafor had established himself as one of the best young centers in the NBA. During the offseason he continued his tutorials with

Hakeem Olajuwon, which he took up after his rookie season, and lost the 20 pounds which he had gained for his second season. Okafor feels this weight loss gives him more energy and mobilily. He currently leads the Bobcats in rebounds per game, blocks per game, and field goal percentage.

Ime Udoka - San Antonio Spurs

Udoka is not new to the NBA. In 2000 after his college game with Portland University, he was signed by Portland to a rookie minimum contract worth $316,969. With less than a month because he was signed to a non-guaranteed contract,Portland released him. On August 13, 2003, he had another contract offer from Los Angelese Lakers and the following August he was released.

January of 2004, Lakers resigned him to a ten-day contractUdoka had stint with Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks between 2005 and 2006 before finally settling down with Portland Trailblazers. Having became a free agent in 2007, Udoka signed a multi million deal with San Antonio Spurs.

Kelenna Azubuike – Golden State Warriors

Azubuike needed a year and a half to get to the NBA out of college, but his career with the Warriors has been on the fast track.

Azubuike made his professional debut on January 2 after injury-riddled Golden State called him up from the D-League. He was in the starting lineup the next night, and, six games later, played all 48 minutes when the Warriors and Pacers shuffled their rosters.

Warriors coach Don Nelson plans to start Azubuike at small forward while Stephen Jackson serves his seven game suspension.

Nelson ranks Azubuike as the second-most impressive Warrior in training camp ahead of the new season, just behind forward Al Harrington. Azubuike already possessed one of the Warriors' most chiseled bodies, but a summer working with Warriors assistant Rico Hines, who is also Baron Davis' personal trainer, seems to have widened his biceps even more.

Azubuike signed a two-year deal for the league minimum over the summer but can opt out of the second year. In the event that happens, the Warriors still retain his rights as a restricted free agent, giving them the chance to negotiate a new contract or match any offers Azubuike receives.

Gab Muoneke - Charlotte Bobcats

A petroleum engineering major from the University of Texas, Gab Muoneke began his NBA career on September 30, 2002 with Detroit Pistons when he was signed to a minimum salary contracts but on August 25, he was waived.

He also tried his skills with Houston Rockets in 2003 when he was signed to minimum salary contracts and after a month he was released. After that, Muoneke has played around the world, including Puerto Rico, Turkey, China and South Korea among other places.

Having played under coach Sam Vincent as the chief coach of Nigeria, Muoneke has another opportunity to express himself among the big boys on the court.

Ike Diogu - Indiana Pacers

After been encouraged by his parents to go pro, Ike Diogu on June 21, 2005 made the decision to enter the draft. He was selected 9th overall in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors.

On December 23, he recorded a professional career-best 27 points on 13-15 shooting.

On January 17, 2007, Diogu, whom Larry Bird called the "gem" of the deal, was dealt to the Indiana Pacers. In the off-season Ike goes back to school to finish up his education at Arizona State University.

Aside these established players, other rookie players would also be in action.

Kenny Adeleke will line up for Seattle SuperSonics while Deji Akindele tests his skills

with Charlotte Bobcats just as Akin Akingbala and Olu Famutimi would feature for Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs respectively.

Bimbo ADESINA
FIBA Correspondent in Nigeria