NBA Africa’s first original five-part docuseries, “Born & Bred”, features 19-year-old power forward, Reuben Chinyelu, from Lagos, Nigeria, who is entering his freshman season with Washington State University in episode one titled ‘Basketball Chose Me’.
During his time at NBA Academy Africa, Chinyelu participated in several international showcases and events, including the 2022 NBA Academy Games in Atlanta, where he led NBA Academy Africa to a first-place finish.
During the 2023 BAL season, he helped lead Stade Malien (Mali) to a third-place finish after averaging the second-most rebounds and blocks on the team. Chinyelu is a natural leader and has an interest in art, creative writing and photography.
In this chat with OMOLOLA AJADI, Reuben Chinyelu talks about who and what inspired his deep love for the game of basketball.
Can you tell us how your Nigerian heritage shaped your approach to basketball? Are there specific cultural values you carry both on and off the court?
Yes, definitely. Because of the way I’ve been brought up, it’s kind of being disciplined, doing what you have to do when you have to do it, and trying to do things the right way—you know, how it’s meant to be. It keeps me going because I try to do what I have to do, do the right thing, and just keep going at it. Even when it’s not going as planned, I just keep trusting the process, just keep going at it and, you know, try to get the best out of every situation. So I’ll say my Nigerian heritage helped me a lot because it keeps me in check by making me disciplined to do what I have to do when I have to do it and do what’s right at the right moment.
Who are the players or mentors that have influenced your development as a basketball player?
I will say it always varies. It always changes because, when I started playing basketball, I was looking up to Michael Jordan. After all, that was the person that I liked, and everybody was talking about MJ MJ MJ. So, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kobe. But once I started growing into the game, I started looking up to so many other people like Akeem Olajuwon, Chris Webber, Giannis Antetokunmpo, and MB, so it just varies and just keeps changing. Right now, I will say a lot of players inspire me to just keep getting better. Getting to hear their story, seeing how they do things and then just trying to be myself and do the best I could. So it just keeps me going and I’ll say everybody’s stories just motivate me and inspire me just to keep getting better.
The documentary highlights your deep love for basketball. Can you share a specific moment or experience that solidified your passion for the sport?
A specific moment would be when we played the NBA Academy Games in Atlanta. We won the championship. It was really fun. You know, being around and playing with my brothers and everything, it was a fun moment because we came in and we did what we had to do; we played the game the way it was meant to be played. I really enjoyed that moment. It was a beautiful moment just to be around my brothers and do what we love doing.
I’d like you to tell us about your current season at Washington State.
Oh, it’s good. You know, I’ve been out here being around new people, new friends, and new teammates. It’s really nice. And then getting to know each other and playing together has been really good. So I’m enjoying every ounce of the moment and the love. Everything has been going well. It’s a beautiful season and we’re just looking forward to the future. You know, we just keep working and see what the future holds in stock for us.
