New D'Tigers head coach David Fizdale has set his sights on qualifying the Nigerian senior men's basketball team for the 2028 Olympic Games, which will be held in his hometown of Los Angeles. Fizdale, who turned down several other coaching offers to take the D'Tigers job, believes the team possesses immense potential that can be converted into success with adequate support.
Fizdale Appointed as D'Tigers Head Coach
The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) appointed the former NBA head coach as the D'Tigers' new manager last week, ahead of the third window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup African Qualifiers in Angola. Fizdale revealed to ESPN that former D'Tigers coach Mike Brown played a key role in convincing him to accept the position, and the rebuilding process for the team has already commenced.
Road to the Olympics Begins
The challenging journey towards Olympic qualification for D'Tigers starts with participation in the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers, scheduled from July 2 to 5 in Luanda, Angola. Nigeria will face Angola, Guinea, Tunisia, and Rwanda. Fizdale confirmed that the team will hold a training camp in Luanda prior to the competition.
If Nigeria secures a spot in the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar or the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the potential roster could feature NBA talents such as Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane, Knicks guard OG Anunoby, Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu and guard Gabe Vincent, Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams, Denver Nuggets center Zeke Nnaji, Sacramento Kings forward Precious Achiuwa, Houston Rockets forward Josh Okogie, Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona, and Chicago Bulls forward Isaac Okoro. Additionally, Stanford star freshman guard Ebuka Okorie, a 2026 NBA draft prospect, along with former NBA players Jahlil Okafor, Chuma Okeke, and Chima Moneke, could also be considered.
Fizdale's Personal Connection to Los Angeles
Fizdale has never visited Nigeria or Angola but has traveled to other African nations such as Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Kenya. His ultimate ambition is to coach Nigeria in his hometown of Los Angeles, where he starred at Fremont High School. The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics took place when Fizdale was 10 years old, but he could not afford to attend the events at that time.
“The reality of it is if I do get this team qualified for the Olympics, it will be in my hometown,” Fizdale said. “It would be a full circle for me. You’re talking about a basketball checklist. That would definitely be on my bucket list for me to not only coach in the Olympics, but to coach in the Olympics in front of my family in the place I grew up…. That was an easy decision.
“I didn’t go to the Olympics in 1984, but I told people where to park in my buddy’s yard. My homeboy lived by the (Los Angeles Memorial) Coliseum, so we used his front yard to park cars and make money because parking was crazy. We were the poor kids watching on TV, but that Olympics had a huge impact on all of us.”
