Obinna Ralph Ekezie (born August 22, 1975) is a Nigerian former professional
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...
player who played in the
NBA and other leagues. His name, Obinna, means "Father's heart". He is a direct descendant of the 19th century Igbo warrior and businessman Duruike Akubugali, hence hails from Obor Autonomous Community in Orlu Urban Local Government Area of Imo State.
Career
A 6'10" 270 lb
center
Center or centre may refer to:
Mathematics
*Center (geometry), the middle of an object
* Center (algebra), used in various contexts
** Center (group theory)
** Center (ring theory)
* Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentrici ...
, Ekezie was selected with the 37th overall pick in the
1999 NBA draft by the
Vancouver Grizzlies
The Vancouver Grizzlies were a Canadian professional basketball team based in Vancouver. They were part of the Midwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team was established in 1995, along w ...
after playing with the
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
Terrapins
Terrapins are one of several small species of turtle (order Testudines) living in fresh or brackish water. Terrapins do not form a taxonomic unit and may not be closely related. Many belong to the families Geoemydidae and Emydidae.
The name " ...
from 1995–1999. Obinna prepared for college at
Worcester Academy
Worcester Academy is a private school in Worcester, Massachusetts. It is the oldest educational institution founded in the city of Worcester, Massachusetts, and one of the oldest day-boarding schools in the United States. A coeducational prepara ...
, graduating in 1995.
Ekezie played for five NBA teams (1999–2005), and also professionally with
Red Star Belgrade
Fudbalski klub Crvena zvezda ( sr-Cyrl, Фудбалски клуб Црвена звезда, lit=Red Star Football Club, ), commonly known as Red Star Belgrade in English-language media, is a Serbian professional football club based in Bel ...
(Serbia),
Lottomatica Roma (Italy),
[Dynamo tabs big man Ekezie](_blank)
November 29, 2006 and
Dynamo Moscow
MGO VFSO "Dynamo" (russian: МГО ВФСО «Динамо»), commonly known as Dynamo Moscow (russian: Динамо Москва) is a Russian sports club based in Moscow. Founded by Felix Dzerzhinsky on 18 April 1923, Dynamo Moscow was the first ...
.
Ekezie was invited to Atlanta Hawks training camp where he was a leading scorer averaging 11.8 points on 48.8 field goal percentage. Ekezie then suffered an
anterior cruciate ligament injury on October 13, 2005, in an exhibition game after landing awkwardly.
Ekezie is the founder of ZeepTravel and Wakanow, online businesses allowing travel services for those going to and from America and Africa.
Notes
External links
NBA.com player profile@ basketballreference.com
Dynamo player profile
1975 births
Living people
Sportspeople from Port Harcourt
Nigerian men's basketball players
Centers (basketball)
Worcester Academy alumni
Maryland Terrapins men's basketball players
Vancouver Grizzlies draft picks
Vancouver Grizzlies players
Washington Wizards players
Dallas Mavericks players
Los Angeles Clippers players
KK Crvena zvezda players
Columbus Riverdragons players
Atlanta Hawks players
Pallacanestro Virtus Roma players
BC Dynamo Moscow players
National Basketball Association players from Nigeria
ABA League players
Lega Basket Serie A players
1998 FIBA World Championship players
Nigerian expatriate basketball people in Italy
Nigerian expatriate basketball people in Serbia
Nigerian expatriate basketball people in the United States
Nigerian expatriate basketball people in Canada
Nigerian expatriate basketball people in Russia
{{Nigeria-basketball-bio-stub