OCTOBER 27, 2013
Diogu (right) in action for Nigeria
It was no joke to power forward Ike Diogu, member of Nigeria’s Olympic basketball team.
Diogu, emerging as a legitimate candidate to make the Knicks roster, knows his squad became an international punchline at the London Olympics in 2012. Team USA and Carmelo Anthony rung up a record-setting Olympics rout, 156-73, against Nigeria with Anthony hitting 10 of 12 three-pointers and setting the USA scoring record with 37 points.
Nigeria was making its first Olympic basketball appearance after rolling through the qualifiers for the first time.
“I think a lot of people want to joke about the game,’’ Diogu told The Post. “For us, it was the start of something. We didn’t have anything to be embarrassed about. Obvoiusly, we didn’t play our best basketball, but in Nigeria, to 260 million people, that game meant a lot just to be on that stage with them.’’
The US Olympic team set several scoring records that night in London, including the most points in an Olympic contest. Anthony set the scoring record by the third quarter.
“It was our first go-around,’’ Diogu said. “Obviously, guys were a little bit intimidated. At the end of the day, we did something that hasn’t been done in Nigerian history. We made history in Nigeria. As Nigerians, we accomplished something that’s never been done before. For our parents and relatives back in Nigeria, it was a true blessing.’’
It is not a laughing matter to Diogu, who has yet to talk to Anthony about that game. Diogu guarded Anthony on several possessions as Anthony stuck jumper after jumper over him.
“Not a lot to talk about,’’ Diogu said. “They set a record. He set a record.’’
Diogu, who was raised in Buffalo, is opening eyes now as the Knicks’ most rugged player the past two preseason games, playing bigger than his 6-foot-8 stature. The broad-shouldered Diogu, 30, broke into the NBA in 2005-06 with Golden State. He had brief stints with Indiana, Sacramento, the Clippers and San Antonio, but hasn’t made an NBA roster since 2011. Last season, he played in China and Puerto Rico.
“Ike was the only one who really held up in London,’’ said former Knicks European scout Tim Shea, an assistant coach for Nigeria. “He’s a valuable piece to a smart coach. He’s a talent who should be playing in the NBA.”
Knicks coach Mike Woodson is in desperate need of a back-up center, and has said one of the three — Diogu, 6-foot-11 center Cole Aldrich or Josh Powell — will make the club. Diogu by far has been most impressive the past two games, logging a combined 31 points and 16 rebounds. There’s still an outside chance the Knicks release the 6-foot-10 Jeremy Tyler, rehabbing slowly from foot surgery. That could open up a second big-man spot.
“He’s played pretty good too the last two games,’’ Woodson said following Thursday’s 98-89 preseason win in Baltimore over the Wizards. “ I like the fact he’s physical and can score a bit. And he’s not a bad rebounder. That’s always a plus for me.’’
Diogu isn’t sure where he stands.
“I would like to say that I have some idea what direction they’re going to go,’’ said Diogu. “But coaches have been pretty mum on everything. All you can do is try to make the decision as tough as possible.”
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