Ime Udoka
FILE - Nigeria's Jahlil Okafor (15), center, celebrates with teammates after making a basket during men's basketball preliminary round game against Italy at the 2020 Summer Olympics, July 31, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. The Nigerian government has made a sudden U-turn and cleared its national basketball teams to return to competition immediately. The sports ministry on Thursday, June 23, 2022 says the decision to lift a ban on the teams playing in international competitions came after an appeal to the government by the Nigerian Basketball Federation. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, file)
Nigerian government allows basketball teams to play again

By Gerald Imray Jun. 23, 2022 11:00 AM EDT

Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka speaks to reporters before his team's Game 1 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Thursday, June 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors 6/2/2022

Jun. 05, 2022 07:52 PM EDT

FILE - Nigeria players walk off the court after their loss in the women's basketball preliminary round game against Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Aug. 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. FIBA-Nigeria, basketball's world governing body, confirmed Thursday, June 2, 2022, that Nigeria has withdrawn its team from the women's World Cup and warned of "potential disciplinary measures" against the country because of government interference. Nigeria's government announced last month that it was withdrawing all its basketball teams from international competitions for two years while it completely restructures the sport. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Udoka, Ujiri angry over Nigerian basketball dysfunction

By Tim Reynolds Jun. 05, 2022 07:48 PM EDT