Portland Trail Blazers big men Al-Farouq Aminu and Festus Ezeli were not on the Nigerian Olympic basketball team announced Monday.
Aminu reportedly withdrew due to issues with the Nigerian Basketball Federation, while it was previously reported Ezeli would not play due to the federation not reaching an agreement with the Blazers on insurance of his NBA contract.
The Nigerian team is instead led by former NBA big man Ike Diogu, who paced the team with 14.8 points per game at London 2012, where Nigerian went 1-4 and failed to advance out of group play.
The team does include Aminu’s older brother, Alade Aminu, Detroit Pistons second-round draft pick Michael Gbinije and former NBA point guard Ben Uzoh.
Nigeria opens group play in Rio against Argentina on Sunday.
The team is coached by Vermont’s Will Voigt.
MORE: Venezuela Olympic basketball roster announced
Your 2016 Nigerian Basketball Olympic Team. #RoadToRio pic.twitter.com/DDtaEklcZb
— D’Tigers | Nigeria Basketball (@NigeriaBasket) August 1, 2016
Aminu states he will not participate "due to continued and unresolved organizational challenges with the Nigerian Basketball Federation"
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) August 1, 2016
