Al-Farouq is coming off of a promising season with the Portland Trail Blazers. In his best NBA season to date, he averaged 10 PPG and shot a career high 36% from three. Aminu reportedly took part in Team Nigeria’s training camp leading up to the 2016 Olympic Games, but according to the team, he will not play this summer due to challenges with the team:
Al-Farouq Aminu is not with the team and his status for Rio is doubtful due to insurance issue.
— Nigeria Basketball (@NigeriaBasket) July 31, 2016
Aminu states he will not participate “due to continued and unresolved organizational challenges with the Nigerian Basketball Federation”
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) August 1, 2016
Aminu’s Portland and Nigerian teammate Festus Ezeli also is not playing for the team for the same reason. The NBBF does not provide insurance to their players if they fall to injury, so neither Aminu nor Ezeli will take their chances. Aminu helped lead the team to the 2012 London Games, playing alongside his brother, Alade. It will be tough for Nigeria this year without these two NBA talents, but either way it did not look like they would beat a stacked Team USA. This tournament is Team USA’s to lose, and Nigeria was not going to be the team to beat them.
