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  • Sports - Basketball - All Teams
  • Updated: November 18, 2020

Basketball: Orlando Magic Sign Rookie Nigerian-American Chuma Okeke

Basketball: Orlando Magic Sign Rookie Nigerian-American Chum

Orlando Magic have signed Nigerian-American forward, Chuma Okeke, President of Basketball Operations, Jeff Weltman announced on Tuesday.

AllNews gathered that per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

“We are thrilled to welcome Chuma (Okeke) to the team,” said Weltman.

“He’s demonstrated all of the characteristics that we had seen in him when we drafted him and we look forward to him starting his career with us.”


Okeke (6’8”, 230, 8/18/98) was selected in the first round (16th overall) of the 2019 NBA Draft.

He played and started in 38 games during the 2018-19 campaign as a sophomore at Auburn University, averaging 12.0 ppg., 6.8 rpg., 1.9 apg., 1.82 stlpg. and 1.21 blkpg. in 29.1 minpg., while shooting .387 (55-142) from three-point range.

Okeke, 22, led the Tigers in rebounding, steals (third in the SEC) and blocked shots.

He was named to the 2019 SEC All-Tournament Team and the 2019 All-Midwest Regional Team.

Okeke helped the Tigers reach the 2019 NCAA Final Four, but sustained a season-ending knee injury (torn left ACL) during their Sweet Sixteen win against North Carolina.

During that contest, he became the first Auburn player since 2000 and fifth ever to record 20+ points and 10+ rebounds in a NCAA Tournament game.

Okeke played in 72 career games (38 starts) during two seasons (2017-19) at Auburn University, averaging 9.9 ppg., 6.3 rpg., 1.5 apg. and 1.28 stlpg. in 25.5 minpg., while shooting .389 (89-229) from three-point range.

About The Orlando Magic

Orlando's NBA franchise since 1989, the Magic's mission is to be world champions on and off the court, delivering legendary moments every step of the way.

Under the DeVos family’s ownership, the Magic have seen great success in a relatively short history, winning six division championships (1995, 1996, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2019) with seven 50-plus win seasons and capturing the Eastern Conference title in 1995 and 2009.

Off the court, on an annual basis, the Orlando Magic gives more than $2 million to the local community by way of sponsorships of events, donated tickets, autographed merchandise and grants.

Orlando Magic community relations programs impact an estimated 100,000 kids each year, while a Magic staff-wide initiative provides more than 7,000 volunteer hours annually.

In addition, the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation (OMYF) which serves at-risk youth, has distributed more than $25 million to local nonprofit community organizations over the last 30 years.

READ ALSO: Seven Players In 2020 NBA Draft Class Have Ties With Nigeria

The Magic’s other entities include the team’s NBA G League affiliate, the Lakeland Magic, which began play in the 2017-18 season in nearby Lakeland, Fla.; the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL, which serves as the affiliate to the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning; and Magic Gaming, of the NBA 2K League, which began play in the spring of 2018.

The Magic play their home games at the award-winning Amway Center, honoured with TheStadiumBusiness Awards’ 2013 Customer Experience Award and named SportsBusiness Journal's 2012 Sports Facility of the Year.

Season ticket plans start as low as $13 per game.

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