AFCON 2025
Nigerian center Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu delivered a brilliant performance for the Dallas Mavericks in the 2026 NBA Summer League, helping the 2011 NBA champions defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 96-88 in Las Vegas. The 26-year-old, 6-foot-10 big man finished with 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting, four rebounds, and two blocks in an energetic display that lit up the Thomas & Mack Center.
Akobundu-Ehiogu sparked a decisive first-quarter run for Dallas, scoring his first three baskets in transition before soaring for an emphatic alley-oop dunk over Memphis forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper. He added another highlight-reel putback dunk in the fourth quarter as the Mavericks held off a late Grizzlies surge.
The Nigerian-born center, who represented his country at the 2025 AfroBasket tournament in Angola, has taken an unconventional route to the NBA stage. He played college basketball at Southwestern Assemblies of God University and UT Arlington before a brief stint at Memphis, then built his professional career in Europe with clubs in Germany, Italy, and Spain, most recently with Bàsquet Manresa in Spain’s Liga ACB.
Akobundu-Ehiogu also featured for Nigeria’s D’Tigers in the just-concluded FIBA World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers Window 3, held in Luanda, Angola, from July 2 to 5. He was part of the 12-man squad named by new head coach David Fizdale, playing alongside NBA forward Chimezie Metu as Nigeria beat Tunisia, Guinea, and Rwanda in the qualifying window to qualify for the second round of qualification.
Speaking after the Summer League win, Akobundu-Ehiogu credited his consistency and self-motivation for his strong outing, saying he stays ready for whatever role his coaches ask of him.
The performance adds to a growing highlight reel for Akobundu-Ehiogu, whose leaping ability and rim-running instincts have made him one of the more eye-catching figures of this year’s Summer League. Dallas will look to build on the win as the Mavericks continue their Las Vegas campaign, with the big man expected to see significant minutes in their remaining games.
