Toronto Raptors guard Ochai Agbaji, 24, has been on three completely different NBA groups since getting into the league. Chosen 14th general by the Cleveland Cavaliers within the 2022 Draft, he was traded to the Utah Jazz earlier than enjoying an everyday season recreation and joined the Toronto Raptors in February. However whatever the completely different uniforms, Agbaji is enjoying for the Nigerian final title on the again of his jersey. The previous Kansas Jayhawk credit his tradition for the talents, work ethic, and perspective he brings to the court docket every night time.
Within the dialog beneath, part of NBC Sports activities’ By Method of Africa collection, Agbaji discusses his function on this younger Toronto Raptors squad, the teachings he is realized throughout his first two seasons within the league, and the way he is improved his recreation. Agbaji additionally displays on his time on the College of Kansas, the significance of tradition, the primary time he met Kevin Durant, and a lot extra.
*This interview has been edited for size and readability. The dialog occurred in October 2024 earlier than the beginning of the season.
So it looks like you had been destined to play basketball. Each of your mother and father performed in faculty. What are a few of your earliest or your favourite recollections of enjoying the game as a child?
Ochai Agbaji: I’ve obtained a whole lot of early recollections of basketball, however I might say one among my earliest goes to the fitness center with my dad and watching him play. It wasn’t lengthy till it transitioned to him working me out extra. I might go to the fitness center with him, and he’d be enjoying in five-on-five runs whereas I watched him from the sidelines.
You performed soccer in highschool. When did basketball turn out to be severe for you?
Agbaji: Actually, not till highschool. I performed each till my junior yr. Finally, I selected basketball and once I obtained my first Division I supply, [I realized] I needed to do one thing severe with this. Basketball took over from there.
You weren’t closely recruited up till your senior yr. What was the thought course of round basketball throughout that point? Have been you pondering “I’ll play basketball by hearth or by power,” or had been you extra like “No matter occurs, occurs?”
Agbaji: It was extra of a scenario the place I assumed, “No matter occurs, occurs.” I used to be blessed to even have curiosity from faculties whether or not it was DI, DII, or wherever. I simply needed to play faculty basketball or play on the subsequent degree no less than and that was my aim. I used to be blessed to get that curiosity from Kansas. It was late into my my senior yr once I obtained curiosity from Kansas and ended up getting a suggestion. It was a course of, however it was enjoyable.
What different colleges did you’ve gotten provides from and why did you select Kansas?
Agbaji: It was a bunch at one time. As soon as all the opposite colleges began discovering out that Kansas gave me a suggestion, they simply began flooding me with curiosity. It was actually right down to Oregon, Oklahoma State, Wisconsin, and Texas A&M. There have been a bunch—it was loads at one time! That is all I can keep in mind however I am glad I made the choice to go to Kansas.
You had a whirlwind expertise in faculty. You redshirted your freshman yr or no less than a part of it, COVID canceled your second yr, you performed with mainly no followers your junior yr, after which senior yr you probably did what each basketball participant desires of however solely few are capable of obtain.
You gained a nationwide championship, not solely that, however you had been named the Last 4 Most Excellent Participant. If you look again at that rollercoaster journey, are you glad that issues at Kansas unfolded the best way that they did?
Agbaji: Yeah, most undoubtedly. For those who would have [told me] that, that is precisely how my profession would have went as a freshman, I might have needed that proper then and there. My time at Kansas was nothing however wonderful. From my coaches, all of the teammates that I performed with, and the followers—the assist that you just get there each single night time—that is one of many causes that I went there.
Going again to that championship second, there’s a video of you sharing a particular second with your loved ones on the court docket. You had been crying. Your mother and sister had been crying. You should have that have—that title—for the remainder of your life. What does that imply to you?
Agbaji: It means the world to me as a result of I do know that it means loads to everybody that loves me a lot and everybody that is sacrificed a lot for me to get to this place. I do know it is for them, and so they realize it too. That is actually for the love of the sport and the place it comes from. From my mother and father simply instilling [that love] from a younger age, and never even understanding what I used to be going to do or that I might get to that time. They had been shocked and shook at that second, identical to I used to be. In order that was all of the all these feelings popping out.
Not too lengthy earlier than that, you truly declared for the 2021 NBA draft on the finish of your junior yr however ended up withdrawing. The place do you suppose you’d have been if issues went as you initially deliberate?
Agbaji: I really feel like I nonetheless would have been within the league however nonetheless working my approach up wherever I ended up that yr. However my resolution to return again to Kansas was most likely one of many higher choices that I’ve made.
A yr later you had been the 14th general decide within the 2022 NBA Draft, chosen by the Cavaliers. Initially, your go well with was hearth! However take me again to draft day and the entire feelings that you just skilled.
Agbaji: Draft day is everybody’s spotlight. It’s every little thing that is been stated about it. It was simply an amazing day, it felt prefer it glided by very quick. However once you’re sitting there on the desk, there’s a lot nerves and also you get so anxious sitting there. You form of know your title goes to be known as because you’re invited to the inexperienced room, however you are sitting there simply ready, decide after decide, and you actually do not know.
I had no concept sitting there that the Cavs would seize me at [number] 14 or something. I form of knew my ranges however I simply wasn’t certain. I used to be sitting there with my agent and my household across the desk and everybody was relaxed however tense on the similar time. My agent stored reminding me, “You are going to be within the NBA, you are going to get drafted, and the crew goes to like you.” It was the Cavs—although I didn’t even play for them—that basically set my NBA profession in movement.
Do you’ve gotten a favourite reminiscence from that night time apart from getting chosen?
Agbaji: I believe simply being round my family and friends. After the [pick] you undergo a complete lot of media and after that, you come out and your loved ones is there, and also you simply get to have a good time with them. We obtained to have a good time all night time, and the subsequent morning, my mother and father, my sister, and I obtained on a personal jet to Cleveland. It was a tremendous expertise, clearly, a whirlwind of feelings in such a short while, however it was actually enjoyable.
In third grade you wrote an essay saying that you just needed to be an NBA participant once you grew up. You’re truly residing that dream now. What does that imply to you?
Agbaji: Even up until now, I really feel like on daily basis I form of cease and sit on this current second and suppose “Wow, I am within the NBA, and that is one of the best job ever. “
I am grateful and humbled to be on this place—to only exit each single night time and compete and play the game that I do know and like to play, it is nothing however wonderful!
What have you ever realized out of your first two seasons within the league and has your expertise thus far matched your expectations?
Agbaji: I’ve realized loads with this being yr three and being with my third crew. It is occurred very quick, going from one crew and being traded to a different, after which enjoying there for just a few years after which being traded mid-season. However what I’ve realized from it’s actually to all the time be prepared, it doesn’t matter what.
Alternatives are one of many largest issues on this enterprise and on this recreation. Alternatives will come and go, whether or not you are a two-way [player] or a lottery decide, you simply need to be prepared for them.
You had been drafted by the Cavs, traded to the Utah Jazz, after which traded to the Raptors in February. Are there challenges that include these transitions and if that’s the case what are they?
Agbaji: Yeah, the challenges of getting to choose up every little thing at a way discover and transfer to a unique metropolis is tough, particularly throughout the season once you’re enjoying video games. However each groups make the transition simple. It is your job to play so that you simply go and meet the brand new crew. Perhaps some guys, perhaps you do not know anyone.
Normally folks. By now you have performed towards somebody, otherwise you performed with somebody so it is form of like a household in a approach the place you go to a unique crew, and you could know extra folks there than from the crew that you just simply got here from. So it is a actually cool factor on the similar time.
Are there any present gamers which have taken you underneath their wing? If that’s the case, who’re they?
Agbaji: We have now a whole lot of younger guys on our squad however the veteran that I got here to Toronto with, Kelly Olynyk, he is been a great voice for me, even in Utah when he was there with me. Garrett Temple has been the OG—the veteran of the crew—even earlier than I obtained right here. He has a extremely good presence on our crew. We’re a younger crew and we’re constructing chemistry however with him being there and being strong in that spot, it is good for our crew and shall be good for our season.
What’s your function on this crew?
Agbaji: To be the vitality man and the defender. It is masking the crew’s finest participant, one of the best matchup, each single night time. I am all the time stepping as much as that problem and it is actually enjoyable to do this. It is also simply being aggressive offensively. I believe there’s loads to my recreation that individuals nonetheless have not seen and I am trying ahead to displaying that.
What are a few of these issues that individuals have not seen? What’s the finest a part of your recreation?
Agbaji: My potential to shoot the ball and in addition to chop and be a risk on the rim.
What are some issues that you just labored on this off season?
Agbaji: I believe actually every little thing in my recreation. My deal with, my shot most significantly, however ending on the rim, and in addition enjoying out of various actions inside our offense. I believe that is one thing that is going to assist me kind into this new offense and this new crew, so will probably be enjoyable!
Are there any gamers that you just seemed as much as rising up, that you just now mirror your recreation after?
Agbaji: I grew up watching Kevin Durant. I believe he is one of the best scorer. Having the ability to guard him each time we play Phoenix—we’ll play them twice this yr as a result of we’re not within the Western Convention—however going up towards him, that is one among my favourite guards. He is been my favourite participant from a younger age I’ve form of modeled my recreation after him and I’ve watched a whole lot of movie. There’s a whole lot of different guys to choose and select from however I like Kevin Durant essentially the most.
Have you ever had an opportunity to work together with him off the court docket?
Agbaji: I do not know if he remembers this however I met him just a few occasions once I was youthful. There was one time after a pre-season recreation when Kansas Metropolis performed the Warmth after which one other time at Peach Jam once I was enjoying in highschool.
It doesn’t matter what crew you’re enjoying for, there’s a Nigerian final title on the again of your jersey which suggests you’ve gotten a lot love and assist from followers worldwide. Have you ever skilled that and if that’s the case are you able to share what that’s like?
Agbaji: Yeah, you stroll round with a way of satisfaction being Nigerian and understanding [that’s] the place you are from. I believe that is one thing that basically shapes all Nigerians, however one thing that is actually formed me.
My dad has 11 brothers and sisters who all nonetheless dwell in Nigeria. Six years in the past, I obtained to go over and meet a few of them. I used to be there for a couple of week and a half, however it felt like I used to be there for approach longer. Assembly all my household and experiencing that basically modified me and made me extra conscious of perspective and being grateful for every little thing in life. All of the alternatives and every little thing that I’ve gotten is from my background—it is from them. I am all the time testifying and displaying like to my Nigerian aspect. Having that sense of satisfaction is who I’m.
What does your first title imply in Idoma?
Agbaji: It means “King of Youngsters.”
What was it like rising up in a Nigerian-American family and experiencing one of the best of each worlds?
Agbaji: You see the Nigerian dad memes [online] and so they’re true. The “go me the distant”, the flip flops, the fufu or pounded yam, the entire completely different smells [of food] in the home—that is simply form of how it’s rising up. However I adore it and I’ll carry that custom on in my household and cook dinner African meals, and take them again to Nigeria. I need to return to Nigeria both subsequent summer time or the summer time after that, however I need to keep in contact with [my culture].
What values and traditions out of your tradition make you who you might be?
Agbaji: Being humble and coming from a humble background. My grandparents are nonetheless alive and wholesome, and praying to God. They have been grateful each single day of their lives and I need to dwell my life like them.
How would you say that you just keep related to your tradition?
Agbaji: By simply conserving in contact with [family]. I keep up a correspondence with my uncle who nonetheless watches all of the video games and he is all the time texting me after. They keep up until no matter time is there. It is normally early within the morning. [Sometimes] they need to get up and watch, however they’re all the time tuning in.
Other than basketball, your loved ones, and your Nigerian heritage, what are another issues that you’re captivated with?
Agbaji: I like to make music, whether or not it is DJing or creating my very own music. I like to attract. I like studying new languages. I am at the moment educating myself French. I like to play video video games. I am simply interested by every little thing.
What does studying to be a DJ appear to be?
Agbaji: I taught myself to make beats. I have been studying since I used to be 13 or 14 on [a software] known as FL Studio. I form of simply taught myself by messing round and making an attempt new issues. I am going to watch YouTube movies right here and there, however I do not depend on another person educating me. I make my beats a sure approach so it is form of completely different than how folks would historically make it so once I DJ, I really feel prefer it’s the identical factor. I am mixing and doing issues in my very own model.
The place can followers discover your music?
Agbaji: I’ll begin a TikTok beat web page quickly however I’ve a SoundCloud with just a few beats on it already. My SoundCloud title is similar as my Instagram “YoungOch”.
Alright, I’ve obtained a culture-themed, lightning spherical recreation for you. Afrobeats or Amapiano?
Agbaji: Afrobeats.
Title your high 3 Afrobeats artists of all time.
Agbaji: WizKid, Burna Boy, Davido.
What music have you ever had on repeat as of recently?
Agbaji: “Goodbye (Heat Up)” by Ayrra Starr.
Jollof Rice or Pounded Yam?
Agbaji: Pounded yam with stew or egusi.
Plantain or Fried Yam? Fried Yam…or truly, plantain, plantain!
Editor’s Observe: By Method of Africa is a collection dedicated to highlighting the expertise and tales from the African continent and its diaspora. African tales are price telling, and the tradition—the entire languages, tribes, and traditions—is price celebrating. Embedded in these narratives is a profound testomony to the diligence, self-discipline, and work ethic deeply ingrained in African heritage. Whether or not born on the continent or dispersed throughout the globe, the contributions of those tales to society resound uniquely, by means of Africa.
