Felix Okpara went looking for familiar comforts within days of arriving in Washington, D.C., after being drafted by the Washington Wizards, and it was not the practice facility or arena he first sought. Okpara, who was born in Lagos, told reporters during a media availability organized by NBA Africa that his first stop was finding Nigerian food in the city.
“I already checked out some of the food spots,” the 22-year-old center said. “You’ve got to have a little taste of home. Afang is probably my favourite. Egusi too. I actually cook egusi myself.”
For Okpara, Washington will mean more than the start of his NBA career. The city is home to one of the largest Nigerian and African communities in the United States, a presence he said will help ease the transition to the league. “I think I’m going to feel more at home,” he said. “Even not just Nigerians, but people from Africa. Just being around them, I think that’s why I love DC so much.”
Washington already includes other athletes of Nigerian origin. The roster of local professionals includes Nigeria internationals Monday Gift and Deborah Abiodun with the NWSL’s Washington Spirit, Kiki Iriafen with the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, and Okpara’s new teammate Deandre Ayton, whose father is Nigerian.
Okpara traced his basketball journey back to Nigeria, where he abandoned soccer because he was growing too tall and was introduced to basketball. He attended NBA Academy Africa before moving to the United States to play high school basketball and then at Tennessee under coach Rick Barnes. “I was still very raw,” he said, noting that most of his development occurred in the U.S.
Leaving family behind was the most difficult part of his path, Okpara said, and draft night underscored the sacrifices. He recalled FaceTiming his parents — “My dad was jumping up and down … and my mum was crying” — and said the stories of other Nigerian-origin players, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, provided inspiration along the way.
