D’Tigers point guard, Gabe Nnamdi Vincent, has revealed to Completesports.com in an exclusive interview, how the Nigeria’s national basketball team pulled an upset, beating world’s top ranked team, USA, in a pre-Tokyo 2020 Olympics exhibition match in Las Vegas on Saturday.
In one of the most stunning international upsets in basketball history, Nigeria’s D’Tigers led by Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown, defeated USA 90-87, their first ever loss to an African nation in their first exhibition game before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Nigeria made 20-of-42 3-pointers, repeatedly passing its way through Team USA rotations while racking up 21 assists. Gabe Nnamdi Vincent who plays for the Miami Heat made 6-of-8 3-pointers and finished with 21 points. Caleb Agada, who plays in the Israeli league and is soon to play summer league with the Denver Nuggets, scored 17 points off the bench.
Nnamdi was highly instrumental to the D’Tigers win, and in an exlusive interview with Completesports.com on Sunday evening, he revealed how it felt after the win against the United States and also how the team can still get better.
“I feel so good about the win. We knew we could compete with them, we knew we could play with them, much of the world were shocked, but I don’t think we were very shocked,” Nnamdi told Completesports.com.
“Even when we were back into the lockeroom, it seemed just like a normal game, and we played to our strikes, and eventually came out with the win.
“Obviously, USA have a great reputation, they’ve been a great team for years, and still remain a great team, but last night [Saturday], we got the the better of them and we’re happy about that. But our ultimate goal is to be on the podium in Tokyo, we have that in mind, so we’re trying not to get too high or get too low, but just continue to get better.”
Also Read – Pre-Olympic Friendly: Atiku Celebrates D’Tigers’ Shock Win Against USA
Speaking on how the team can still improve in some areas, Nnamdi said;
“I think we can definitely get better, and that’s one thing after the game we knew. We knew we could have done way better ourselves, we still made some mistakes, and we knew, we were just happy to get the win. And it’s a lot easier to make corrections with a win, and going forward into the Olympics, we are set to get very much better everyday.”
When asked how effective Mike Brown has been to the D’Tigers team Nnamdi appraised his coach in glowing terms.
“Coach Mike Brown has been great so far, seeing how we’ve put in a lot of good things into our offense and defense, he has brought together a great staff of both coaches, training staff, doctors, and a whole lot of things he has brought on to make sure we’re in our best shape and best condition when we step into the court,” Nnamdi remarked.
“He has done a great job in bringing in organisation into what we do here, and we are looking forward to more successes”.
For a young player like Gabe Nnamdi Vincent, who’s trying to make a very big name for himself in the NBA, atimes there could exist extra pressure from the bad and good sides of his game. He also responded to question on how he copes with the pressure that accompany both the good and bad sides of the game.
He said: “I’ll try not so say there’s pressure, it always come with the game, everyone always have a opinion, both good and bad, the pressure on the court, but in all of these, I just try to rely on the work that I’ve put in before those times.”
“I just try to rely on my reputation, my practice, and I put my faith in that and move forward to keep doing the best for myself.“
Nnamdi Vincent in action for Miami Heat
On June 22 2020, the NBA G league announced Gabe Nnamdi Vincent as the most improved player with just six months with the Heat. It would have given him a surreal feeling, and when asked if it made him believe he was ready for the NBA, he was positive.
Also Read: D’Tigers Stun USA In Pre-Olympics Friendly
“ You know, I didn’t get that award until after my call-up. I was in Miami actually when I got that award. That was in preseason, going into the year. To be the most improved, that award was most important to me and to my development,” he said.
“I wasn’t paying attention to who was getting what award or not, I was just focused on getting better when that award came along the way.”
Miami Heat reached the 2020 NBA finals and lost in 6 games to the Los Angeles Lakers, Nnamdi expressed how the loss was for him and the rest of the team and the atmosphere in the Locker room.
“I think I took it personally, we all took it personally. To be so close to accomplishing a very difficult goal, and then losing was painful, although I didn’t play in that series, I took it hard as everyone else did,” Nnamdi stated.
Nnamdi had a strong word for the lovers and supporters of Basketball in Nigeria, giving assurance on the D’Tigers making it happen in Tokyo.
He added: “My word to Nigerians is that we appreciate all the support, and we’re going to do everything we can to represent the nation Nigeria to the best of our ability.
“We’re going to play to bring home a medal, and we’re going to do everything we can to do so.”
By Timothy Dehinbo
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COMMENTS
Wish u all the best.
God speed guys, looking forward to the medals
Come to think of it, why is Mr Sports Minister, Mr Odegbami, some select sports jounalist, Ex BasketBall internationals, NBBF President not insisting that Coach Brown include players from the Nigerian BasketBall league (Union Bank, Ebun Comets) in the D’Tigers team.
Just thinking aloud here
http://www.livetotal.tv/c/basketball/friendly-match/12-07-2021/argentina-vs-nigeria/2/
D’Tigers currently leading Argentina (Ranked No 4 in the world) by double digits into the 3rd Quarter.
When your players play in the same leagues where the best play, playing against and defeating them wouldnt be a hassle. Gabe – Miami Heats. Achiuwa – Miami Heats. Udoka – Kansas City. Jordan – Milwaukee Bucks. Okogie – Minnesota timeberwolves. Metu – Sacrameto Kings. Ezeli – Golden State Warriors. Okafor – Detroit Pistons. Okpala – Miami Heats and so on
In the words of Gabe Nnamdi, “…we knew we could compete with them, we knew we could play with them, much of the world were shocked, but I don’t think we were very shocked…..Even when we were back into the lockeroom, it seemed just like a normal game…”
Yea, it will always look like a normal game because they are facing the same guys the rub shoulders with on weekly basis. When we say our footballers too should move to the top 5 leagues and play there regularly with the best on the planet, e get Y. They wont feel intimidated meeting them in the World cup or go running after them for jerseys in the middle of a match like Ezenwa was doing in Russia
We are waiting for all those agents of backwardness led by their sports minister to come and complain about why Coach Mike Brown is depending on ready made stars from abroad rather than scouting the domestic league like coach Ayo Bakare did in the 90s…..LMAOOOoo.
Even the commentators are sayin it that This Nigerian team in not composed of slouches
When you get the right coach, that’s what happens. SE on my mind . So many talents with too Little to show.
And DTigers blows away Argentina like they were never there 92-67 or thereabout. It was just like watching a NBA game, that was how much quality on display by these guys. You want top performances against top teams, get your players to play in top leagues. Its that simple.
Our own Jalil Okafor is teammate with US Dream Team star Jerami Grant at Detroit Pistons. Gabe Vincent, Chikezie Okpala and Precious Achiuwa are teammates with Bam Adebayo (all pictured above) at Heats. Jordan Nwora shares the same dressing room with Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton at Bucks. That’s 4 US National team players already. Someone should tell me why they will feel inferior playing against them simply because they are wearing green jerseys with Nigeria written on it.