Joshua Okechukwu Nebo[2] (born July 17, 1997) is an American-born naturalized Slovenian professional basketball player for Olimpia Milano of the Italian Lega basket serie A and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the Saint Francis Red Flash and the Texas A&M Aggies. In 2020-21 he led the Israel Basketball Premier League in rebounds per game.
No. 32 – Olimpia Milano | |
---|---|
Position | Center |
League | Lega Basket Serie A EuroLeague |
Personal information | |
Born | Houston, Texas, U.S. | July 17, 1997
Nationality | American / Nigerian[1] / Slovenian |
Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
Listed weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Cypress Lakes (Katy, Texas) |
College |
|
NBA draft | 2020: undrafted |
Playing career | 2020–present |
Career history | |
2020–2021 | Hapoel Eilat |
2021–2022 | Žalgiris Kaunas |
2022–2024 | Maccabi Tel Aviv |
2024–present | Olimpia Milano |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Early life
editNebo was born in Houston and later lived in Katy, Texas,[3] and grew up skateboarding and playing defensive end in football. He first began playing basketball in middle school.[4] Nebo attended Cypress Lakes High School, where he was frequently overshadowed by teammate De'Aaron Fox. As a senior, Nebo helped lead Cypress Lakes to the Class 6A state quarterfinals in 2015.[5] Lightly recruited, he signed with Saint Francis (PA).[6]
College career
editNebo grew three inches and gained 50 pounds during his first two years in college.[5] He averaged 4.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game as a freshman at Saint Francis and finished second in the conference in blocks with 56.[7] On February 2, 2017, he scored a career-high 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a 78–61 win over St. Francis Brooklyn.[8] As a sophomore, Nebo averaged 12 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.[9] Nebo was named to the Third Team All-Northeast Conference (NEC) and NEC Defensive Player of the Year during his sophomore season after setting the single-season record with 89 blocks. Following the season, he transferred to Texas A&M.[4]
Nebo cited homesickness and the fact that his parents were not able to attend his games as the reasons for his transfer. He scored a season-high 21 points and had seven rebounds on January 12, 2019, in an 81–80 win against Alabama.[6] Nebo made two starts as a junior and averaged 8.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Coming into his senior season, he missed much of the preseason with a torn hamstring.[10] Nebo scored a season-high 21 points in an 87–75 victory against Mississippi State on February 22, 2020.[11] As a senior, Nebo averaged 12.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.[12]
Professional career
editHapoel Yossi Avrahami Eilat (2020-2021)
editOn July 26, 2020, Nebo signed with Hapoel Eilat of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.[13] He averaged 13.9 points per game and led the Israeli Basketball Premier League with 9.9 rebounds per game, was third with a .665 field goal percentage, and was sixth with 1.1 blocks per game.[14] He was named 2021 Eurobasket All-Israeli League Second Team.[15]
B.C. Zalgiris Kaunas (2021-2022)
editOn June 21, 2021, Nebo signed with Žalgiris Kaunas of the Lithuanian Basketball League.[16] Playing for them in the Euroleauge Nebo started 17 out of 28 games and averaged 8.8 points (65% from 2-point range) and 6.2 rebounds (6th-best in the league).[17]
Maccabi Playtika Tel-Aviv (2022-2024)
editOn July 1, 2022, Nebo signed with Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv.[18] In 39 EuroLeague games (33 starts), he averaged 7.4 points and 6.2 rebounds in 22 minutes per contest. On July 18, 2023, Nebo renewed his contract with Maccabi.[19]
In March 2024, Nebo was named MVP of Round 29 after beating KK Crvena zvezda. He had 18 points and 13 rebounds.[20]
AX Armani Exchange Milano (2024-Present)
editOn June 24, 2024, Nebo signed a two-year deal with Olimpia Milano of the LBA and the EuroLeague.[21]
In October 2024, Nebo reported a muscle injury in the left groin region during the Monaco Euroleague game.[22] In November 2024, Nebo was injured again as he reported an injury to his right arm and would be out for two weeks.[23]
National team career
editIn June 2024, Nebo received a Slovenian passport and became eligible to play for the Slovenia national team ahead of the 2024 Olympic Qualifiers.[24] On June 23, 2024, he made his debut for Slovenia in a friendly against Lithuania, putting up nine points and eight rebounds.
Career statistics
editGP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | PIR | Performance Index Rating |
Bold | Career high |
EuroLeague
edit* | Led the league |
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021–22 | Žalgiris | 28 | 17 | 22.6 | .646 | .000 | .672 | 6.2 | .5 | .6 | .8 | 8.8 | 12.8 |
2022–23 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | 39 | 33 | 21.6 | .648 | — | .613 | 6.2 | .6 | .4 | .5 | 7.4 | 11.7 |
2023–24 | 39 | 39 | 23.7 | .667 | .000 | .714 | 7.1* | .6 | .6 | .9 | 11.2 | 16.7 | |
Career | 106 | 89 | 22.7 | .655 | .000 | .672 | 6.5 | .6 | .5 | .7 | 9.1 | 13.8 |
Domestic leagues
editYear | Team | League | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020–21 | Hapoel Eilat | Ligat HaAl | 26 | 30.0 | .665 | .000 | .629 | 9.9 | .3 | .4 | 1.1 | 13.6 |
2020–21 | Hapoel Eilat | BIBL | 4 | 29.5 | .523 | .000 | .900 | 8.5 | .5 | .7 | 1.2 | 16.0 |
2021–22 | Žalgiris | LKL | 41 | 18.7 | .665 | — | .639 | 4.9 | .7 | .4 | .8 | 6.8 |
2022–23 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | Ligat HaAl | 20 | 17.8 | .711 | — | .593 | 5.1 | .4 | .3 | .6 | 7.7 |
2023–24 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | Ligat HaAl | 28 | 19.9 | .723 | — | .724 | 6.1 | .7 | .4 | .4 | 10.5 |
College
editYear | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015–16 | Saint Francis | 30 | 29 | 22.8 | .487 | — | .522 | 5.8 | .5 | .2 | 1.9 | 4.9 |
2016–17 | Saint Francis | 34 | 32 | 29.7 | .566 | .500 | .595 | 8.2 | .7 | .3 | 2.6 | 12.0 |
2017–18 | Texas A&M | Redshirt | ||||||||||
2018–19 | Texas A&M | 30 | 2 | 19.6 | .699 | — | .695 | 5.4 | .3 | .2 | 2.3 | 8.1 |
2019–20 | Texas A&M | 29 | 27 | 28.8 | .665 | .000 | .613 | 6.2 | .8 | .4 | 1.9 | 12.5 |
Career | 123 | 90 | 25.4 | .604 | .333 | .609 | 6.3 | .6 | .3 | 2.2 | 9.4 |
References
edit- ^ Josh Nebo obtains Nigerian citizenship basketnews.com
- ^ "Joshua Okechukwu Nebo - Player Profile". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ "Josh Nebo Player Profile, Texas A&M - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com.
- ^ a b Underwood, Hannah (January 15, 2019). "Transfer forward Josh Nebo looks to make the most of his 2018-2019 season". The Battalion. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ^ a b Zwerneman, Brent (January 17, 2020). "How Josh Nebo became Texas A&M's best player". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ^ a b Zwerneman, Brent (January 15, 2019). "Homesickness leads to Josh Nebo getting a chance to shine at A&M". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ^ Taylor, Zach (April 13, 2017). "Aggies Announce the Addition of Josh Nebo". WTAW. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ^ "Nebo leads St. Francis (Pa) over St. Francis Brooklyn, 78–61". ESPN. Associated Press. February 2, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ^ Clarkin, Joe (June 25, 2018). "Texas A&M basketball: Former St. Francis star Josh Nebo transfers to the Aggies". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ^ Hattersley, Andrew (March 18, 2020). "Season recap time capsule: Josh Nebo". 247 Sports. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ^ "Hot-shooting Texas A&M beats Mississippi State 87-75". ESPN. February 22, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ "A&M lands nation's leading rebounder". Beloit Daily News. March 29, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ^ "Hapoel Eilat announces Josh Nebo". Sportando. July 26, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ^ "Israeli Super League - 2020-21 Standings and Stats".
- ^ "Josh Nebo Player Profile, Maccabi Playtika Tel-Aviv, News, Stats - Eurobasket". Eurobasket LLC.
- ^ "Zalgiris announces 1+1 deal with Josh Nebo". Sportando. June 21, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ "Josh Nebo completes move to Maccabi". Eurohoops. July 1, 2022.
- ^ "Josh Nebo completes move to Maccabi".
- ^ "Josh Nebo staying with Maccabi for another season". Eurohoops. July 18, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Josh Nebo is named MVP of the Round for the second time this season". Eurohoops. March 16, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ "Josh Nebo: "I'm looking forward to build something special in Milan"". Pallacanestro Olimpia Milano. June 24, 2024. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ "Josh Nebo will be out for at least two weeks due to a left groin muscle injury". Eurohoops. October 4, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ "Josh Nebo out again for at least two weeks". Eurohoops. November 3, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
- ^ "Josh Nebo eligible to join Slovenia in Olympic Qualifiers". Eurohoops. June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2024.