While Ethiopia is widely recognized for its legendary long-distance runners, the nation also boasts talented athletes in various other sports, including basketball. Ethiopia joined FIBA (Federation of International Basketball Association) in 1949 and has Sub-Saharan Africa’s longest basketball tradition.
A founding member of the FIBA Africa Championship, the team once belonged to Africa’s top 5 basketball teams. Since the mid-60s, however, the team lost its international significance. Despite this, Ethiopian basketball players are making strides in international leagues, including the NBA.
Krubiel Workie: An Ethiopian American Dream
Krubiel Workie is an Ethiopian American basketball player currently training with the Denver Nuggets. A son of refugees, Krubiel Workie was born and raised in Aurora, Colorado - a suburb of Denver that is home to a sizeable population of immigrants from Ethiopia.
“I was invited by former Nugget Anthony Carter and Steve Hess, Coach for Strength and Conditioning, to practice with the Nuggets,” says Krubiel, who graduated from St. Joseph College in Maine in 2015. “I have been with the Nuggets every Summer since 2012."
“I got my work ethic from my immigrant parents. They instilled in me the importance and the sense of hard work,” says Krubiel. “My father used to say: Do you want to have fun now and struggle later? Or you want to work hard now and have fun later?
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Krubiel’s strong work ethic is helping him prepare for an upcoming basketball boot camp this Summer in Nevada where professional basketball coaches, agents and recruiters will be scouting for new NBA talents. “The game of basketball is not just a game for me, it’s my life,” Krubiel tells Tadias. “I grew up in the rough side of Denver and basketball kept me out of trouble. I would wake up everyday and the only thing I could think about was the game.
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Buay Tuach: A Journey from Ethiopia to International Courts
Buay is a forward from Ethipia currently playing in Germany for a professional team named Phoenix Hagen - a club with a notable basketball tradition. He began his career in northeast CC and then made it to Loyola Mary in the NCAA in 2015.
Tuach has also played for the Long Island Nets and Westchester Knicks in the NBA G League. He later joined the London Lions, Perkins Builders Southwest Slammers in NBL1 West, and Auckland Tuatara Basketball.
Here's a summary of Buay Tuach's professional career:
| Team | League | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Hagen | Germany | Current |
| Long Island Nets | NBA G League | 2017 |
| Westchester Knicks | NBA G League | 2017-2018 |
| London Lions | British Basketball League | 2020 |
| South West Slammers | NBL1 West | 2022-2023 |
| Auckland Tuatara Basketball | New Zealand NBL | 2025 |
NBA's Global Influence and African Talent
The NBA's global influence is undeniable, with international players increasingly dominating the league. Three international players have won the last six Kia NBA MVP Awards: Antetokounmpo (2019-20 and 2018-19), Embiid (2022-23) and Jokić (2023-24, 2021-22 and 2020-21). Last season also marked the third consecutive season that three international players finished top three in MVP voting: Jokić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder; Canada) and Dončić.
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Four international players were voted as the players GMs would most want to sign if they were starting a franchise today: Wembanyama (77% of votes), Gilgeous-Alexander (10% of votes), Jokić (10% of votes) and Dončić (3% of votes).
The NBA delegation included Luol Ajou Deng, a Sudanese-British professional basketball player who currently plays for the Miami Heat. On August 1,the NBA team made up of African players, led by Deng, was pitted against a world team in Johannesburg, South Africa. “I am very excited to be here. There are a lot of talented young players who love basketball,” Deng told The Reporter. The 30 year-old 6’9″ tall forward joined Chicago Bulls of NBA as a 19-year-old in 2004.
Ethiopia's Broader Sporting Achievements
In Ethiopia, football and athletics are two of the most prominent sporting activities. However, the nation has produced notable athletes in various other sports as well.
- Haile Gebrselassie: An astonishing 23 Gold medals, 2 Silver medals and 1 Bronze medal. He is also the first man in history to win both the 5,000 m and the 10,000 m championships at the same time.
- Tirunesh Dibaba: Nicknamed the Baby Faced Destroyer, she has won 14 Gold medals, 4 Silver medals, and 3 Bronze medals in her career in long distance track events and international road races.
- Elias Ymer: Born in Stockholm but of Ethiopian descent, Elias is a proven and yet very promising young tennis star.
- Seifu Mekonnen: A two-time Olympic boxer from Ethiopia.
- Amina: Has fulfilled roles as a volleyball player, team Leader, and a coach.
“This training will help our young players to develop their potential and compete in continental competitions,” Robel Seido, vice president of EBF, said. “The trainers were fantastic. I think there is a great potential in Ethiopia in both participation and coaching,” Learned Dees, cultural affairs officer of US Embassy, told The Reporter. “It is easy to develop basketball in Ethiopia. Ethiopian sport superstars are very proud of their accomplishments.
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