Jordan Nwora facts for kids
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Nwora with Anadolu Efes in 2024
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| No. 3 – Anadolu Efes | |
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| Small forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | September 9, 1998 Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | Nigerian / American |
| High school |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Louisville (2017–2020) |
| NBA Draft | 2020 / Round: 2 / Pick: 45th overall |
| Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks | |
| Pro career | 2020–present |
| League | BSL EuroLeague |
| Career history | |
| 2020–2023 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2021 | →Salt Lake City Stars |
| 2021–2022 | →Wisconsin Herd |
| 2023–2024 | Indiana Pacers |
| 2024 | Toronto Raptors |
| 2024–present | Anadolu Efes |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Jordan Ifeanyi Nwora (pronounced WOR-uh; born September 9, 1998) is a talented Nigerian-American professional basketball player. He currently plays for Anadolu Efes, a team in Turkey's top basketball league (BSL) and the EuroLeague. Before playing professionally, he played college basketball for the Louisville Cardinals. Jordan also proudly represents the Nigeria men's national basketball team internationally. He won an NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021. Later, he played for the Indiana Pacers and the Toronto Raptors.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
Jordan Nwora was born on September 9, 1998, in Buffalo, New York. His father is Nigerian, and his mother is American. Jordan's father, Alexander Nwora, is a basketball coach. He played a big role in helping Jordan develop his basketball skills from a young age.
High School Basketball Journey
Jordan started his high school basketball career at Amherst Central High School during the 2013–2014 season. After that, he moved to The Park School of Buffalo for two seasons. At The Park School, he was a fantastic shooter, making 42 percent of his three-point shots. He helped his team, the Pioneers, win the New York State Federation Class B championship.
During his first season at The Park School, he averaged 21.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.4 steals, and 1.4 assists per game. In his second season, his numbers got even better. He averaged 23.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.8 assists. He was recognized with First Team All-Centercourt honors in both his junior and senior years. Jordan then played one more year of prep basketball at Vermont Academy. There, he scored over 500 points, averaging 18.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in the 2016–2017 season.
College Career at Louisville
Jordan Nwora joined the Louisville Cardinals in 2018. In his first year, called his freshman season, he averaged 5.7 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.
During his second year, his sophomore season, Jordan became a regular starter for the team. He averaged 17.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. Because of his big improvement, he was named the Most Improved Player in the ACC. He was also recognized as the second Most Improved Player in the entire NCAA.
Before his junior season, Jordan was named the preseason ACC player of the year. On January 29, 2020, he had an amazing game against Boston College. He scored a career-high 37 points and grabbed nine rebounds, helping Louisville win 86–69. At the end of the regular season, Jordan was named to the First Team All-ACC. He finished second in the voting for the ACC Player of the Year award. As a junior, Jordan averaged 18 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, shooting 44% from the field.
After his junior year, Jordan decided to enter the 2020 NBA draft. He trained hard to prepare for the draft, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professional Basketball Journey
Playing for the Milwaukee Bucks (2020–2023)
The Milwaukee Bucks picked Jordan Nwora as the 45th overall player in the 2020 NBA draft. He officially signed with the Bucks on November 24, 2020. Early in his rookie season, he was sent to the Salt Lake City Stars in the NBA G League to get more playing time. He made his G League debut on February 10, 2021. Just three days later, he was called back to the Bucks due to an ankle injury.
On May 16, Jordan finished his rookie season with a fantastic game. He scored a career-high 34 points and grabbed 14 rebounds against the Chicago Bulls. During this rookie season, Jordan became an NBA champion! His team, the Milwaukee Bucks, defeated the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 NBA Finals. On December 18, 2021, he scored a season-high 28 points and had 11 rebounds in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Time with the Indiana Pacers (2023–2024)
On February 9, 2023, Jordan was traded to the Indiana Pacers. This trade involved four different teams: the Bucks, Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, and Phoenix Suns. He joined other talented players on the Pacers, including Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith.
Jordan made his Pacers debut on February 13, scoring 7 points and grabbing 3 rebounds. On February 25, he had a strong performance with 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in a win against the Orlando Magic. On March 13, he scored 20 points against the Detroit Pistons. On March 25, Jordan had his best game with the Pacers, scoring 33 points and grabbing six rebounds against the Atlanta Hawks. He scored 25 of those 33 points in just the second quarter, setting a new team record for most points in a single quarter!
Short Stint with the Toronto Raptors (2024)
On January 17, 2024, the Pacers traded Jordan Nwora to the Toronto Raptors. This trade also included other players and draft picks, with the Raptors sending Pascal Siakam to the Pacers.
Joining Anadolu Efes (2024–Present)
On August 5, 2024, Jordan Nwora signed a contract to play for Anadolu Efes. This team plays in Turkey's top league, the Basketbol Süper Ligi, and also competes in the EuroLeague. On October 29, 2024, Jordan was named the Hoops Agents Player of the Week. He had an outstanding game, scoring 35 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and making 3 assists to help his team win.
Representing Nigeria on the National Team
Jordan Nwora has proudly played for the D'Tigers, Nigeria's national basketball team. His father, Alexander Nwora, was the head coach of the team when Jordan first joined. This made them the first father and son to represent a Nigerian national team at the same time!
In the 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifiers, Jordan averaged 21.7 points, 8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. During a qualifier game in Lagos, Jordan scored an amazing 36 points against Mali. This broke the record for the highest-scoring Nigerian player in history, previously held by Ike Diogu. Jordan also led Nigeria in scoring at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, averaging 21 points per game. He scored a game-high 33 points in a tough loss to Germany during the preliminary round.
Personal Life and Family Connections
Jordan Nwora is the first son of Amy and Alexander Nwora. His father, Alexander, is a well-known basketball coach for Erie Community College and the Nigerian National Basketball Team. Jordan's godfather is basketball coach Richard Jacob, who helped bring his father from Nigeria to play college basketball in 1989.
Jordan has three siblings: Ronni, Caeli, and Lex. All of them are also interested in basketball. His sister, Ronni Nwora, has played for The Park School of Buffalo and Georgia Tech.
See also
In Spanish: Jordan Nwora para niños
