'Fallen brother' Lawal gives Nigeria a lift

RIO DE JANEIRO (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - Nigeria expected Shane Lawal to make a significant impact for the team this summer at the Olympics.

He's always grabbed plenty of rebounds, blocked shots, come up with thunderous, rim-rocking dunks and offered unsolicited but much appreciated motivational talks in the locker room.

Lawal was robbed of a chance of doing that, however, after getting hurt at the start of D'Tigers' very first game against Argentina.

The Barcelona center landed awkwardly while coming down from a rebound attempt and tore a patella tendon. Lawal had to leave the team and return to Europe to be checked out by his club, and to have an operation.

"We're undermanned so we have to play for our brother Shane who unfortunately can't play," captain Ike Diogu said after the team's narrow defeat to Spain which dropped the team to 0-3.

"He had surgery on his knee, so we played for him. That's pretty much what we play for right now. It's just pride, playing for our fallen brother."

Lawal returned to the team, however, before their game against Croatia on Saturday and was taken, in a wheelchair, to the bench. His presence had a noticeable impact on the team and helped them win, 90-76, to keep their hopes of reaching the Quarter-Finals alive.

We saw him in the locker room before the game and it was a little emotional because we know how hard he works, how much energy he brings to our team. It really helped us tonight with him there. - Michael Umeh

The players were abuzz about Lawal after the game. One of their most teammates was back.

"To have Shane back, his energy, his presence in the locker room, it meant a lot," Alade Aminu said.

Michael Umeh, who has been terrific in the Nigeria backcourt, said: "That was a big morale boost for everybody.

"We saw him in the locker room before the game and it was a little emotional because we know how hard he works, how much energy he brings to our team. It really helped us tonight with him there."

Lawal was with the team again when they arrived at the Carioca Arena 1 for their game against hosts Brazil on Monday, a clash they needed to win to maintain hope of reaching the Quarter-Finals.

FIBA