PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria — Newly signed center Nikolaos Okekuoyen says he is eager to help Rivers Hoopers climb back to the pinnacle of Nigerian basketball as he prepares for his debut in Nigerian and African basketball.
The 7-foot, 285-pound Greek-Nigerian big man joined the six-time national champions ahead of the 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Phase 3 Playoffs, to be held in Port Harcourt.
The 29-year-old spent six seasons playing professionally across Greece and Cyprus, following a developmental run at Athens club Filathlitikos (the same Greek club that raised Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo) and prep stints in the U.S.
His next stop will be on the hardwood of the Basketball Arena on 59 Niger Street, Port Harcourt Township, a transition that, according to him, was strongly influenced by deep family ties, thanks to his cousin and fellow Hoopers big man, Peter Olisemeka.
“Yeah, it was a good decision because of my cousin… Peter Olisemeka,” Okekuoyen said in his first official interview with the club. “I got advice from him, and he told me it’s going to be a good move to come and play in Nigeria. [He said] it’s going to be fun; it’s going to be a challenging experience. And why not? I like challenges, and I want to be champion of Nigeria.”
Born in Athens to Nigerian parents, Okekuoyen also emphasized the personal resonance of suiting up in his parents’ native country.
“It’s a good opportunity for me to play basketball in a different country, in a different environment, and especially the country of my parents,” he said. “So it’s a blessing.”
Okekuoyen enters the NPBL Playoffs fresh off a 2025–26 campaign with Digenis Akritas Morphou in Cyprus Division A, where he averaged 13.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per contest. While known for his physical size and glass-cleaning ability, he outlined a style of play centered on high-IQ vocal leadership and distribution.
“I think I’m a very good leader,” Okekuoyen said. “As a player, I’m a vocal person, and I like to get my teammates involved. That’s, I think, my strongest and my best attribute. I can score the ball. I can be a dominant force in the basket, but my game type is similar to Nikola Jokic. I like getting my teammates involved in the game.”
The KingsMen enter the eight-team Final Eight tournament seeking redemption after falling just short of the domestic crown last season. The round-robin playoffs run from August 30 to September 5 at the Indoor Basketball Stadium in Port Harcourt Township. Looking forward to the action on the court, Okekuoyen noted that the seamless integration into the Hoopers’ squad culture has set a firm foundation for their championship push.
“It’s been great so far. Everybody here is super professional,” he said. “They love what they’re doing, and I can see the intensity and the professionalism everybody has.”
He, however, harped on the importance of patience and daily focus as the KingsMen aim to reclaim the NPBL title and earn a spot in the Basketball Africa League (BAL).
“I’m here to try my best, and I think we have a great bunch of guys; everybody being here is going to make the difference to see we’re crowned champions by the end of the final game,” he added. “I think we’ve got to go step by step, day by day. Everybody’s showing up in practice and focus, and I think we’re going to get there… We were there last year, and we didn’t make it by two points. I think this year is going to be our year.”
Action at the 2026 NPBL Playoffs is expected to begin on Sunday, 30th August, 2026, with fixtures and matchday schedules to be announced following a pre-tournament team meeting on 29th August.
