Tag: Precious Achiuwa

Precious Achiuwa dazzles to lead Nigeria to victory over Argentina

Achiuwa finished with 12 points as Nigeria defeated Argentina 94-71 during exhibition play from Las Vegas.

Jahlil Okafor on Monday scored a game-high 15 points, Precious Achiuwa added 12 points and Nigeria defeated Argentina 94-71 during exhibition play from Las Vegas, Nevada.

Achiuwa hauled in seven rebounds and dished out three assists in 13 minutes of work while shooting 5-of-7 from the field. He also added one 3-pointer as Nigeria dominated throughout the contest, leading by as many as 24 points in the second half.

The victory saw Achiuwa score in a variety of ways, from working in the post to stepping out and knocking it down from deep. On one possession, Achiuwa even did it himself and went coast to coast for the finish in transition.

Achiuwa has emerged as a key player for Nigeria after he was named to their preliminary Olympic roster. Nigerian head coach Mike Brown said Achiuwa is extremely important to their success as the first-year center of the Miami Heat looks to be a lock to make the final roster.

He offers the team a strong presence inside and often does the dirty work on the court, something that Brown said was similar to how Draymond Green plays. Despite not being known as a shooter, he has given his country some outside shooting through two games.

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Nigeria improved to 2-0 during its exhibition slate after stunning the United States on Saturday. The Americans were favored by 28.5 points in that contest and had gone 39-0 over its last three Olympic runs, including exhibition games.

The Nigerian roster features eight active NBA players as they appear to be gelling well to begin their run to the Olympics.  They will wrap up exhibition play on Tuesday versus Australia, a team they will see in the Olympics from Group B.

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Precious Achiuwa after blocking Kevin Durant: ‘You’re not that guy pal’

Precious Achiuwa was feeling himself after an emphatic block on Kevin Durant.

Kevin Durant and Team USA failed to win their first exhibition game against Nigeria on Saturday. His squad was defeated 87-90 in one of the most shocking results in Team USA history. To add further insult to injury, Nigeria’s Precious Achiuwa made an Instagram post on his emphatic block on Durant during the game. Shots were indeed fired:

“You’re not that guy pal,” Achiuwa wrote, mimicking the viral video of an altercation between two customers at a supermarket. “Trust me you’re not that guy.”

The Miami Heat big man was certainly feeling himself after that block. However, it’s clear that this statement was not personal. Who wouldn’t be feeling themselves after rejecting one of the best players in the world? It was definitely a rare case to see the Nets star get blocked in this fashion. Durant will surely remember this for future reference though when the two face off again.

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Mike Brown: Precious Achiuwa extremely important to Nigeria

Achiuwa had perhaps the highlight of the game versus the U.S. after blocking Kevin Durant at the rim.

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Nigeria pulled off a stunning upset of USA Basketball on Saturday to become the first African country to defeat the United States, and the group received a huge contribution from Miami Heat center Precious Achiuwa.

Achiuwa, who was born in Port Harcourt, hauled in a key rebound late to seal the 90-87 win over the U.S. He also hit a 3-pointer in the third quarter and had perhaps the highlight of the game when he blocked Kevin Durant at the rim.

Despite the contest being just an exhibition, the win for Nigeria was monumental and among the greatest upsets in the sport. The U.S. had gone 39-0 over its last three Olympic runs, including exhibition games, en route to gold medals.

Afterward, Nigeria head coach Mike Brown, who serves as an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors, told Colin Udoh of ESPN that Achiuwa is a very important player for the program.

He is extremely important to this program. There is no ceiling to how good he can be. As a young guy, you see the talent, you see the determination, you see the intelligence, you see the physical and mental toughness, you see the athleticism, the length, the quickness. You see all those things, and when he puts them all together, he is dynamite on the floor, even as a young guy.

Achiuwa is one of eight active NBA players on the Nigerian roster and has a strong chance to be named to the final 12-man Olympic roster. He offers the team a strong presence inside and often does the dirty work on the court, something that Brown said was similar to how Draymond Green plays.

The performance by Nigeria against the U.S. likely just put the world on notice as it is clear the squad is not afraid of anyone heading into the Olympics and that could be a scary thought for all of those teams.

Nigeria plays its second exhibition game on Monday versus Argentina.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Precious Achiuwa, Nigeria stun Team USA in Olympic exhibition play

Achiuwa hauled in a key rebound late to help seal the upset win for Nigeria over the United States.

Gabe Vincent produced a game-high 21 points and Precious Achiuwa hauled in an important rebound late to lead Nigeria to an upset win in exhibition play over USA Basketball on Saturday.

Vincent hit six 3-pointers in the contest during the 90-87 win in the exhibition opener from Las Vegas, Nevada. Nigeria trailed by as many as 10 points in the second quarter to pull off the comeback win and become the first African country to defeat the United States.

Achiuwa finished with a strong effort versus the U.S. and hauled in a key rebound late to seal the win for Nigeria. He had perhaps one of the top highlights of the game after denying Kevin Durant at the rim in the second quarter.

The Americans entered the contest as 28.5-point favorites by some sportsbooks, marking the loss one of the largest upsets in international play. Durant led the U.S. with 17 points and five rebounds while Jayson Tatum had 15 points and seven rebounds.

Despite the contest being just an exhibition, the win for Nigeria proved to be monumental and among the greatest upsets in the sport. The U.S. had gone 39-0 over its last three Olympic runs, including exhibition games, en route to gold medals.

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Nigeria, which boasts a roster with eight active NBA players, qualified for the Olympics after becoming the top African country in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. They will open play in Group B, which also features Australia, Italy and Germany.

The presence of Nigerian-born players or those of Nigerian heritage was on full display in the NBA this year. Including Achiuwa, there were seven players drafted last year that were either from the country or have at least one parent born there.

Nigeria will face Argentina next on Monday while the U.S. will play Australia.

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Precious Achiuwa reminded Mike Brown of Draymond Green in one area

Heat center Precious Achiuwa turned in an incredible sequence on defense this week with Nigeria, and earned a high comparison from Brown.

Miami Heat center Precious Achiuwa turned in an incredible sequence on defense this week, and earned a high comparison from Nigerian head coach Mike Brown afterward.

Achiuwa was among 15 players named to the Nigerian preliminary roster for the Olympics in Tokyo. The team has been participating in training camp in Las Vegas before tipping of exhibition play on Saturday versus the United States.

On one sequence, Achiuwa impressed his head coach in camp with his energy and effort on a defensive possession. The display by Achiuwa immediately warranted a strong reaction from Brown, which reminded him of Draymond Green.

Precious Achiuwa two days ago, on one possession, guarded seven guys. Only five were on the floor; he was guarding two other guys on the sideline and then got the block at the end of the possession. I went up to him after and said, ‘Precious, that’s what we need from you!’

I’m sure (Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra) wants the same thing but that’s what Draymond gives us every single possession. He guards everybody, including the water boy and then he pushes it on the break for us the other way. There are a lot of similarities here based on the feedback we got from the players and also from Spo.

Achiuwa, who was born in Port Harcourt, appears to have a strong chance to make the final 12-man Olympic roster for Nigeria. He gives the team a strong inside presence with his size and can defend and alter shots down low on the defensive end.

Certainly earning a little comparison to Green, a former Defensive Player of the Year, is high praise for a player coming of his first season in the NBA. Of course, Achiuwa still has a long way to go to match Green on that end of the floor but it appears he can develop into a strong defender.

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Nigeria is expected to unveil the final roster after wrapping up its three-game exhibition schedule on July 13 versus Australia. In addition to Achiuwa, the roster also features other NBA players like Jahlil Okafor, Josh Okogie and Jordan Nwora.

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Precious Achiuwa named to Nigerian 15-man provisional Olympic roster

Heat center Precious Achiuwa was among the 15 players named to the Nigerian 15-man provisional roster for the Tokyo Olympics.

Miami Heat center Precious Achiuwa was among the 15 players named to the Nigerian 15-man provisional roster for the Tokyo Olympics, the team announced on Tuesday.

Achiuwa, who was born in Port Harcourt, was among nearly 50 players in contention to play for Nigeria. The team is expected to announce the final, 12-man roster after completing a four-game exhibition schedule from July 10-18 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Nigeria, which is led by Golden State Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown, also features other NBA players like Detroit Pistons center Jahlil Okafor, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Josh Okogie and Milwaukee Bucks guard Jordan Nwora among others.

Nigeria qualified for the Olympics after becoming the top African country in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. They will open preliminary play in Group B, will begin July 25 and run through Aug. 2. Group B also features Australia, Italy and Germany.

The quarterfinals of the men’s basketball tournament will start on Aug. 3 and consist of the top two teams in each group from the preliminary phase. The semifinals will take place on Aug. 5 with the gold and bronze medal games on Aug. 7.

Achiuwa turned in a strong rookie season with the Heat, averaging five points and 3.4 rebounds in 61 games. He now appears to be on the verge of making the final Olympic roster for Nigeria after competing in training camp.

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Precious Achiuwa in contention to play for Nigeria in Tokyo Olympics

Heat center Precious Achiuwa is among about 35 players in contention to play for Nigeria in the Tokyo Olympics.

Miami Heat center Precious Achiuwa is among approximately 35 players in contention to play for Nigeria in the Tokyo Olympics set to begin on July 23 in Japan, according to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.

Nigeria, which is led by Golden State Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown, begins a tryout camp this weekend in Oakland, California. The group of players will need to be cut to a 12-man roster prior to the start of the games.

In addition to Achiuwa, who was born in Port Harcourt, other NBA players expected to be in the mix to make the final roster include Al-Farouq Aminu, Chimezie Metu, Josh Okogie and Zeke Nnaji.

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Preliminary play in basketball, which will feature 12 teams spread across three groups, will begin July 25 and run through Aug. 2. The quarterfinals will start on Aug. 3 and consist of the top two teams in each group from the preliminary phase.

The semifinals will take place on Aug. 5 with the gold and bronze medal games on Aug. 7.

Nigeria qualified for the Olympics after becoming the top African country in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. They will open play in Group B, which also features Australia and two other teams to be determined after the qualifying tournament.

The presence of Nigerian-born players or those of Nigerian heritage was on full display in the NBA this year. Including Achiuwa, there were seven players drafted last year that are either from the country or have at least one parent born there.

Achiuwa just wrapped up a strong rookie season with the Heat, averaging five points and 3.4 rebounds in 61 games. He posted three double-doubles, including a career-high 23 points and 10 rebounds in the regular-season finale on May 16.

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Heat rookie Precious Achiuwa signs shoe endorsement deal with Anta

Heat rookie Precious Achiuwa on Thursday reportedly signed a multi-year shoe endorsement contract with Anta.

Miami Heat rookie Precious Achiuwa on Thursday reportedly signed a multi-year shoe endorsement contract with Anta, according to Nick DePaula of ESPN.

Achiuwa joins a talented up-and-coming roster with Anta, including Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson and Charlotte Hornets forward Gordon Hayward among others. He will be among those to help usher in the Project Z-Up line of shoes.

Including Achiuwa, several other rookies have managed to ink endorsement contracts with apparel companies this season.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards and Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu were among the first-year players to sign with Adidas while Hornets guard LaMelo Ball and Indiana Pacers guard Cassius Stanley joined PUMA.

With the Heat, Achiuwa is averaging 5.2 points and 3.5 rebounds in 48 games this season. His playing time has been a bit sporadic but the 21-year-old has shown flashes of his ability in a backup role behind Bam Adebayo off the bench.

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2021 NBA Rising Stars: Edwards, Wiseman among rookies named to rosters

Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards and Warriors center James Wiseman were among the first-year players named to the Rising Stars rosters.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards and Golden State Warriors center James Wiseman on Wednesday were among the first-year players named to the 2021 NBA Rising Stars rosters, the league announced.

The Rising Stars game, which is the annual showcase of the top young talent from the United States and around the world, will not be played this year due to the limitation of having All-Star events all on March 7. To recognize players, the NBA still named those deserving of the honor to the team.

The rosters were voted on by NBA assistant coaches with each selecting four frontcourt players, four guards and two additional players at any position. The teams are comprised of 10 first- and second-year players from the U.S. and 10 first- and second-year players from outside of the U.S.

The U.S. Team features a roster with players from 10 different teams, headlined by reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Ja Morant and All-Star Zion Williamson. Meanwhile, six countries are represented on the World Team, including five players from Canada.

The All-Star 2021 festivities begin on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. EST with the Skills Challenge and 3-Point Contest tipping off the action. The Slam Dunk Contest will take place during halftime of the All-Star Game.

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Precious Achiuwa posts double-double in first start with Heat

Achiuwa was thrust into the starting lineup due to injuries and COVID-19 issues and the Heat rookie did not disappoint.

Miami Heat rookie Precious Achiuwa on Tuesday was expected to log heavy minutes versus the Philadelphia 76ers due to a slew of injuries and COVID-19 issues.

The 20th overall pick did not disappoint in his first career start.

Achiuwa produced his first double-double with a career-high 17 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and one block in 35 minutes during the 137-134 overtime loss to the 76ers. He tallied four points and four rebounds alone in extra time before falling late to the Sixers.

The Heat center was active on both ends of the floor, and even hauled in six offensive rebounds. He showed off each element of his offensive game, from driving into the paint and finishing over Joel Embiid to his little mid-range jumper near the free-throw line.

The double-double by Achiuwa was only the sixth one of the season by a rookie and his 13 rebounds are the second-most among all first-year players in a game, trailing only the 14 hauled in by LaMelo Ball on Monday.

Prior to Tuesday, Achiuwa hadn’t logged over 20 minutes in a game with the Heat and had mostly played sparingly off the bench. However, due to personnel issues, the Heat relied on him heavily and the big man produced in his first extended action of the season.

Teams around the NBA have been hit hard by COVID-19 issues, with players either testing positive or forced to sit due to contact tracing. Depth will be an important factor and the Heat showed its roster off and they have to be encouraged by what they saw, despite a losing effort.

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