Victor Oladipo and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s life stories have as many similarities as differences, and early Saturday morning, at Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn, they will come up against each other for the first time in the 2015 All-Star weekend.
On All-Sar Saturday night, they will battle for the Slam Dunk crown.
Oladipo, born to Nigerian parents in Maryland, will play for the USA in the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge, while Antetokounmpo, born to a Nigerian family in Athens, Greece, will represent the World Select in a contest involving the best first and second-year NBA players.
“It means that we are talented too, and we are going to represent them (Nigerian parents) well,” Oladipo said when asked to talk about the presence of two players with Nigerian heritage in the event.
For Oladipo, it is all about going to the court and try to win the game, and for the Greek-Freak, as Antetokounmpo is affectionately called by a section of NBA fans, it is no different.
This is the first time in the history of the All-Star weekend that a USA team take on a World Select, and judging by the talented pool at the disposable of both teams, the contest could go either way.
Minnesota Timberwolves centre Senegalese Gorgui Dieng is teaming up along with Antetokounmpo and Atlanta guard Denis Schroder in a trio of players with direct African heritage, representing the World team. Catch it all on SuperSport this weekend, with the live game as well as repeats of all the action.
