Following an impressive 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL) season with Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers, forward Devine Eke has joined the Milwaukee Bucks for the NBA Summer League.
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Eke, a cousin to WNBA stars Chiney and Nneka Ogwumike, averaged 16.6 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, leading the Rivers Hoopers to a remarkable third-place finish—the first Nigerian team to reach the knockout rounds.
In an interview with ESPN, Eke expressed his excitement about joining the Bucks. “I heard great things about the Bucks and the people at the organization. My goal for Summer League is just trying to contribute to my team winning,” he said. Despite interest from other teams, including the Dallas Mavericks, Eke chose the Bucks, partly due to advice from former NBA champion and NBA Africa investor Ian Mahinmi.
Eke credited the BAL for providing a valuable platform and praised his mentor, Mahinmi. “The BAL is an amazing platform. I met a lot of amazing people, and Ian Mahinmi, who works in the BAL and is a former NBA player, is a mentor to me,” Eke explained. His decision to play in the BAL was also influenced by his cousin, Chiney Ogwumike, who he considers more like a sister. “We have a really good relationship. They mentor me and give me really good advice,” he added.
While the NBA Summer League has featured several BAL alumni, no former BAL player has yet played in an NBA regular-season game. Eke aims to change that, joining other notable Summer League participants like South Africa’s Samkelo Cele, who was invited by the New York Knicks.
The Milwaukee Bucks have maintained a strong connection with the BAL, hiring scouting coordinator Ijeoma Ofomata from the league and sending scout Dzaflo Larkai to the tournament. Eke’s diverse career includes stints in Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Bosnia, as well as representing Nigeria’s national team.
Eke’s Bucks will face the Chicago Bulls on July 13 in their first NBA Summer League game in Las Vegas, followed by games against the Cleveland Cavaliers, LA Clippers, and Phoenix Suns. Eke’s journey from BAL standout to NBA hopeful exemplifies the growing bridge between African basketball and the global stage.
 season with Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers, forward Devine Eke has joined the){kind=link}