Toronto Raptors guard Ochai Agbaji, 24, has been on three different NBA teams since entering the league. Selected 14th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2022 Draft, he was traded to the Utah Jazz before playing a regular season game and joined the Toronto Raptors in February. But regardless of the different uniforms, Agbaji is playing for the Nigerian last name on the back of his jersey. The former Kansas Jayhawk credits his culture for the skills, work ethic, and attitude he brings to the court each night.
In the conversation below, a part of NBC Sports’ By Way of Africa series, Agbaji discusses his role on this young Toronto Raptors squad, the lessons he’s learned during his first two seasons in the league, and how he’s improved his game. Agbaji also reflects on his time at the University of Kansas, the importance of culture, the first time he met Kevin Durant, and so much more.
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity. The conversation took place in October 2024 before the start of the season.
So it seems like you were destined to play basketball. Both of your parents played in college. What are some of your earliest or your favorite memories of playing the sport as a kid?
Ochai Agbaji: I’ve got a lot of early memories of basketball, but I would say one of my earliest is going to the gym with my dad and watching him play. It wasn’t long until it transitioned to him working me out more. I would go to the gym with him, and he’d be playing in five-on-five runs while I watched him from the sidelines.
You played soccer in high school. When did basketball become serious for you?
Agbaji: Honestly, not until high school. I played both until my junior year. Ultimately, I chose basketball and when I got my first Division I offer, [I realized] I wanted to do something serious with this. Basketball took over from there.
You weren’t heavily recruited up until your senior year. What was the thought process around basketball during that time? Were you thinking “I’m going to play basketball by fire or by force,” or were you more like “Whatever happens, happens?”
Agbaji: It was more of a situation where I thought, “Whatever happens, happens.” I was blessed to even have interest from colleges whether it was DI, DII, or wherever. I just wanted to play college basketball or play at the next level at least and that was my goal. I was blessed to get that interest from Kansas. It was late into my my senior year when I got interest from Kansas and ended up getting an offer. It was a process, but it was fun.
What other schools did you have offers from and why did you choose Kansas?
Agbaji: It was a bunch at one time. Once all the other schools started finding out that Kansas gave me an offer, they just started flooding me with interest. It was really down to Oregon, Oklahoma State, Wisconsin, and Texas A&M. There were a bunch—it was a lot at one time! That’s all I can remember but I’m glad I made the decision to go to Kansas.
You had a whirlwind experience in college. You redshirted your freshman year or at least part of it, COVID canceled your second year, you played with basically no fans your junior year, and then senior year you did what every basketball player dreams of but only few are able to achieve.
You won a national championship, not only that, but you were named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player. When you look back at that rollercoaster journey, are you glad that things at Kansas unfolded the way that they did?
Agbaji: Yeah, most definitely. If you would have [told me] that, that’s exactly how my career would have went as a freshman, I would have wanted that right then and there. My time at Kansas was nothing but amazing. From my coaches, all the teammates that I played with, and the fans—the support that you get there every single night—that’s one of the reasons that I went there.
Going back to that championship moment, there’s a video of you sharing a special moment with your family on the court. You were crying. Your mom and sister were crying. You will have that experience—that title—for the rest of your life. What does that mean to you?
Agbaji: It means the world to me because I know that it means a lot to everyone that loves me so much and everyone that’s sacrificed so much for me to get to this position. I know it’s for them, and they know it too. That’s really for the love of the game and where it comes from. From my parents just instilling [that love] from a young age, and not even knowing what I was going to do or that I would get to that point. They were surprised and shook at that moment, just like I was. So that was all the all those emotions coming out.
Not too long before that, you actually declared for the 2021 NBA draft at the end of your junior year but ended up withdrawing. Where do you think you would have been if things went as you initially planned?
Agbaji: I feel like I still would have been in the league but still working my way up wherever I ended up that year. But my decision to come back to Kansas was probably one of the better decisions that I’ve made.
A year later you were the 14th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, selected by the Cavaliers. First of all, your suit was fire! But take me back to draft day and all of the emotions that you experienced.
Agbaji: Draft day is everyone’s highlight. It is everything that’s been said about it. It was just an overwhelming day, it felt like it went by very fast. But when you’re sitting there at the table, there’s so much nerves and you get so anxious sitting there. You kind of know your name is going to be called since you’re invited to the green room, but you’re sitting there just waiting, pick after pick, and you really don’t know.
I had no idea sitting there that the Cavs would grab me at [number] 14 or anything. I kind of knew my ranges but I just wasn’t sure. I was sitting there with my agent and my family around the table and everyone was relaxed but tense at the same time. My agent kept reminding me, “You’re going to be in the NBA, you’re going to get drafted, and the team is going to love you.” It was the Cavs—though I didn’t even play for them—that really set my NBA career in motion.
Do you have a favorite memory from that night aside from getting selected?
Agbaji: I think just being around my friends and family. After the [pick] you go through a whole lot of media and after that, you come out and your family is there, and you just get to celebrate with them. We got to celebrate all night, and the next morning, my parents, my sister, and I got on a private jet to Cleveland. It was an amazing experience, obviously, a whirlwind of emotions in such a short time, but it was really fun.
In third grade you wrote an essay saying that you wanted to be an NBA player when you grew up. You’re actually living that dream now. What does that mean to you?
Agbaji: Even up till now, I feel like every day I kind of stop and sit in this present moment and think “Wow, I’m in the NBA, and this is the best job ever. “
I’m thankful and humbled to be in this position—to just go out every single night and compete and play the sport that I know and love to play, it’s nothing but amazing!
What have you learned from your first two seasons in the league and has your experience so far matched your expectations?
Agbaji: I’ve learned a lot with this being year three and being with my third team. It’s happened very fast, going from one team and being traded to another, and then playing there for a few years and then being traded mid-season. But what I’ve learned from it is really to always be ready, no matter what.
Opportunities are one of the biggest things in this business and in this game. Opportunities will come and go, whether you’re a two-way [player] or a lottery pick, you just have to be ready for them.
You were drafted by the Cavs, traded to the Utah Jazz, and then traded to the Raptors in February. Are there challenges that come with those transitions and if so what are they?
Agbaji: Yeah, the challenges of having to pick up everything you know at a means notice and move to a different city is hard, especially during the season when you’re playing games. But both teams make the transition easy. It’s your job to play so you just go and meet the new team. Maybe you know some guys, maybe you don’t know anybody.
Usually you know people. By now you’ve played against someone, or you played with someone so it’s kind of like a family in a way where you go to a different team, and you may know more people there than from the team that you just came from. So it’s a really cool thing at the same time.
Are there any current players that have taken you under their wing? If so, who are they?
Agbaji: We have a lot of young guys on our squad but the veteran that I came to Toronto with, Kelly Olynyk, he’s been a good voice for me, even in Utah when he was there with me. Garrett Temple has been the OG—the veteran of the team—even before I got here. He has a really good presence on our team. We’re a young team and we’re building chemistry but with him being there and being solid in that spot, it’s good for our team and will be good for our season.
What is your role on this team?
Agbaji: To be the energy guy and the defender. It’s covering the team’s best player, the best matchup, every single night. I’m always stepping up to that challenge and it’s really fun to do that. It’s also just being aggressive offensively. I think there’s a lot to my game that people still haven’t seen and I’m looking forward to showing that.
What are some of those things that people haven’t seen? What is the best part of your game?
Agbaji: My ability to shoot the ball and also to cut and be a threat at the rim.
What are some things that you worked on this off season?
Agbaji: I think really everything in my game. My handle, my shot most importantly, but finishing at the rim, and also playing out of different actions within our offense. I think that’s something that’s going to help me form into this new offense and this new team, so it will be fun!
Are there any players that you looked up to growing up, that you now mirror your game after?
Agbaji: I grew up watching Kevin Durant. I think he’s the best scorer. Being able to guard him every time we play Phoenix—we’re going to play them twice this year because we’re not in the Western Conference—but going up against him, that’s one of my favorite guards. He’s been my favorite player from a young age I’ve kind of modeled my game after him and I’ve watched a lot of film. There’s a lot of other guys to pick and choose from but I like Kevin Durant the most.
Have you had a chance to interact with him off the court?
Agbaji: I don’t know if he remembers this but I met him a few times when I was younger. There was one time after a pre-season game when Kansas City played the Heat and then another time at Peach Jam when I was playing in high school.
No matter what team you’re playing for, there’s a Nigerian last name on the back of your jersey which means you have so much love and support from fans worldwide. Have you experienced that and if so can you share what that’s like?
Agbaji: Yeah, you walk around with a sense of pride being Nigerian and knowing [that’s] where you’re from. I think that’s something that really shapes all Nigerians, but something that’s really shaped me.
My dad has 11 brothers and sisters who all still live in Nigeria. Six years ago, I got to go over and meet some of them. I was there for about a week and a half, but it felt like I was there for way longer. Meeting all my family and experiencing that really changed me and made me more aware of perspective and being grateful for everything in life. All the opportunities and everything that I’ve gotten is from my background—it’s from them. I’m always attesting and showing love to my Nigerian side. Having that sense of pride is who I am.
What does your first name mean in Idoma?
Agbaji: It means “King of Children.”
What was it like growing up in a Nigerian-American household and experiencing the best of both worlds?
Agbaji: You see the Nigerian dad memes [online] and they’re true. The “pass me the remote”, the flip flops, the fufu or pounded yam, all of the different smells [of food] in the house—that’s just kind of how it is growing up. But I love it and I’m going to carry that tradition on in my family and cook African food, and take them back to Nigeria. I want to go back to Nigeria either next summer or the summer after that, but I want to stay in touch with [my culture].
What values and traditions from your culture make you who you are?
Agbaji: Being humble and coming from a humble background. My grandparents are still alive and healthy, and praying to God. They’ve been thankful every single day of their lives and I want to live my life like them.
How would you say that you stay connected to your culture?
Agbaji: By just keeping in touch with [family]. I keep in touch with my uncle who still watches all the games and he’s always texting me after. They stay up till whatever time is there. It’s usually early in the morning. [Sometimes] they have to wake up and watch, but they’re always tuning in.
Aside from basketball, your family, and your Nigerian heritage, what are some other things that you are passionate about?
Agbaji: I love to make music, whether it’s DJing or creating my own music. I love to draw. I love learning new languages. I’m currently teaching myself French. I love to play video games. I’m just curious about everything.
What does learning to be a DJ look like?
Agbaji: I taught myself to make beats. I’ve been learning since I was 13 or 14 on [a software] called FL Studio. I kind of just taught myself by messing around and trying new things. I’ll watch YouTube videos here and there, but I don’t rely on someone else teaching me. I make my beats a certain way so it’s kind of different than how people would traditionally make it so when I DJ, I feel like it’s the same thing. I’m mixing and doing things in my own style.
Where can fans find your music?
Agbaji: I’m going to start a TikTok beat page soon but I have a SoundCloud with a few beats on it already. My SoundCloud name is the same as my Instagram “YoungOch”.
Alright, I’ve got a culture-themed, lightning round game for you. Afrobeats or Amapiano?
Agbaji: Afrobeats.
Name your top 3 Afrobeats artists of all time.
Agbaji: WizKid, Burna Boy, Davido.
What song have you had on repeat as of lately?
Agbaji: “Goodbye (Warm Up)” by Ayrra Starr.
Jollof Rice or Pounded Yam?
Agbaji: Pounded yam with stew or egusi.
Plantain or Fried Yam? Fried Yam…or actually, plantain, plantain!
Editor’s Note: By Way of Africa is a series committed to highlighting the talent and stories from the African continent and its diaspora. African stories are worth telling, and the culture—all of the languages, tribes, and traditions—is worth celebrating. Embedded in these narratives is a profound testament to the diligence, discipline, and work ethic deeply ingrained in African heritage. Whether born on the continent or dispersed across the globe, the contributions of these stories to society resound uniquely, by way of Africa.
