Wikipedia

Daniel Oturu

Akinfayoshe Daniel Oturu (born September 20, 1999) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player for Anadolu Efes of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) and the EuroLeague, on a loan from Yukatel Merkezefendi. He played college basketball for the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Daniel Oturu
Oturu with Anadolu Efes in 2024
No. 25 – Anadolu Efes
PositionCenter
LeagueBasketbol Süper Ligi
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1999-09-20) September 20, 1999 (age 25)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
NationalityAmerican / Nigerian
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High schoolCretin-Derham Hall
(Saint Paul, Minnesota)
CollegeMinnesota (2018–2020)
NBA draft2020: 2nd round, 33rd overall pick
Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves
Playing career2020–present
Career history
2020–2021Los Angeles Clippers
2021–2023Windy City Bulls
2021–2022Toronto Raptors
2023Yukatel Merkezefendi
2023–presentAnadolu Efes
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Oturu with Minnesota in 2019

High school career

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Oturu played basketball for Cretin-Derham Hall High School in Saint Paul, Minnesota for four years. He grew from 6'6 as a freshman to 6'9 as a junior and developed good hand-eye coordination and navigation on the court.[1] As a senior, he averaged 18.8 points, 11.5 rebounds and 6.1 blocks per game and became his school's all-time leader in each of the three categories.[2] In his final season, Oturu led his team to a Class 4A state championship over Apple Valley High School, scoring a game-winning dunk with 0.5 seconds left in regulation. Despite his strong play, he was excluded from the all-tournament team for sportsmanship reasons, as he had received a technical foul for shoving opposing player, Tre Jones, in the first half.[3] Oturu was invited to play for the World Select team, representing his parents' home country of Nigeria, at the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon.[4] He was considered a four-star recruit and committed to play college basketball for Minnesota over offers from Kansas, among others.[5]

College career

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Oturu had shoulder surgery prior to his freshman season.[1] On December 24, 2018, Oturu was named Big Ten freshman of the week after scoring 20 points and pulling down 11 rebounds in a 86–67 win over North Carolina A&T.[6] He tied his season-high of 20 points in a 68–64 loss to Rutgers on February 24, 2019.[7] Despite Oturu's strong play, he was not named in the Big Ten Freshman Team, which he cited as motivation.[8] Oturu averaged 10.8 points per game and led Big Ten freshman in rebounding with 7.0 per game, blocked shots with 46, and field goal percentage with 55 percent. In the offseason, Oturu worked on bulking up to help replace the loss of Jordan Murphy.[9] During his sophomore season he was named Big Ten player of the week on December 30, after posting 21 points and a career-high 20 rebounds in an 89–62 win against Florida International, shooting 8-of-12 from the floor.[10] On January 12, 2020, Oturu scored a career-high 30 points in a 75–67 upset of Michigan despite playing with a shoulder injury.[11] He was named Big Ten Player of the Week on January 13.[12] At the close of the regular season, Oturu was named to the Second Team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media and to the All-Defensive Team.[13]

Professional career

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Los Angeles Clippers (2020–2021)

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Oturu was selected with the 33rd pick in the 2020 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, becoming the first University of Minnesota player to be drafted since Kris Humphries in 2004.[14] Oturu was subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.[15] On November 28, 2020, the Los Angeles Clippers announced that they had signed with Oturu.[16]

Windy City Bulls (2021)

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On August 16, 2021, Oturu was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies,[17] who waived him on September 23.[18] Four days later, he signed with the Chicago Bulls,[19] but was waived on October 11.[20] Oturu joined the Windy City Bulls as an affiliate player.[21]

Toronto Raptors (2021–2022)

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On December 26, 2021, Oturu signed a 10-day contract with the Toronto Raptors.[22]

Return to Windy City Bulls (2022–2023)

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On January 3, 2022, Oturu was reacquired and activated by the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League.[23]

Yukatel Merkezefendi (2023–present)

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On July 26, 2023, Oturu signed with Yukatel Merkezefendi of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi.[24]

Loan to Anadolu Efes (2023–present)

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On December 4, 2023, Oturu has been loaned to Anadolu Efes of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL).[25]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  PIR  Performance Index Rating
 Bold  Career high

NBA

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Regular season

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 L.A. Clippers 30 0 5.4 .423 .200 .750 1.6 .3 .1 .2 1.8
2021–22 Toronto 3 0 9.0 .500 .000 .600 1.7 .0 .0 .7 3.0
Career 33 0 5.7 .431 .167 .706 1.6 .3 .1 .3 1.9

Playoffs

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021 L.A. Clippers 8 0 1.9 .400 .000 .500 .5 — — .1 .6
Career 8 0 1.9 .400 .000 .500 .5 — — .1 .6

EuroLeague

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2023–24 Anadolu Efes 22 3 15.5 .684 — .585 3.9 .5 .3 .9 7.2 8.8
Career 22 3 15.5 .684 — .585 3.9 .5 .3 .9 7.2 8.8

Domestic leagues

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Year Team League GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021–22   Windy City Bulls G League 29 22.2 .573 .237 .570 7.0 .9 .5 .5 13.3
2022–23   Windy City Bulls G League 24 17.5 .612 .125 .524 5.8 .5 .5 .5 11.2
2023–24   M. B. Denizli TBSL 10 32.9 .652 — .631 9.6 1.4 1.1 1.6 20.3
2023–24   Anadolu Efes TBSL 21 25.7 .644 .000 .631 5.8 1.5 .5 1.1 15.0

College

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Minnesota 35 31 23.8 .551 .500 .615 7.0 .5 .5 1.3 10.8
2019–20 Minnesota 31 31 33.9 .563 .365 .707 11.3 1.1 .5 2.5 20.1
Career 66 62 28.5 .558 .370 .671 9.0 .8 .5 1.8 15.2

Personal life

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Both of Oturu's parents are natives of Nigeria. His mother, Deborah, is from Ife and his father, Francis, is from Fadeyi, a suburb of Lagos.[26] Francis played table tennis for the Nigerian national team and moved to the United States because of his table tennis career. Oturu has an older sister, Eunice. As well as a two younger siblings named David, and Priscilla.[1]

Oturu was given his middle name, Daniel, by his mother, who viewed it as a strong biblical name. His first name, Akinfayoshe, combines the Yoruba words "Akin" (hero) and "fayoshe" (joy and happiness).[26]

Oturu comes from a Christian family. Both of his parents are ministers at a branch of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries in Saint Paul, Minnesota.[26] His favorite NBA player was Kobe Bryant, and he cites Joel Embiid as a role model.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Greder, Andy (February 4, 2019). "Gophers: Before basketball in Woodbury, Oturus were playing ping pong in Nigeria". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  2. ^ Mizutani, Dane (March 20, 2018). "CDH's Daniel Oturu shines on and off court". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  3. ^ Rand, Michael (March 26, 2018). "'Sportsmanship' kept dominant Oturu off boys' basketball all-tournament team". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  4. ^ Fuller, Marcus (April 3, 2018). "Gophers recruit Daniel Oturu makes Nike Summit World Select team". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  5. ^ Owen, Dan (January 19, 2017). "2018 PF Daniel Oturu Commits to Gophers". CBSSports.com. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  6. ^ Fuller, Marcus (December 24, 2019). "Gophers center Daniel Oturu named Big Ten freshman of the week". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  7. ^ "Mathis scores 18 to help Rutgers beat Minnesota 68–64". ESPN. Associated Press. February 24, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  8. ^ Fuller, Marcus (March 12, 2019). "Gophers' Daniel Oturu motivated by not making All-Big Ten freshman team". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  9. ^ Fuller, Marcus (September 25, 2019). "Richard Pitino wants bigger Oturu to be more physical, shoot some threes". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  10. ^ "Illinois and Minnesota Claim Weekly Men's Basketball Honors". Big Ten Conference. December 30, 2019. Archived from the original on December 30, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  11. ^ "Oturu scores 30 as Minnesota beats No. 19 Michigan 75–67". ESPN. Associated Press. January 12, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  12. ^ "Illinois, Minnesota and Purdue Claim Weekly Men's Basketball Honors". Big Ten Conference. January 13, 2020. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  13. ^ "Big Ten Unveils Men's Basketball Postseason Honors on BTN" (Press release). Big Ten Conference. March 9, 2020. Archived from the original on March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  14. ^ Fuller, Marcus (November 19, 2020). "State of hoops: Modern record four Minnesotans taken in draft". Star Tribune. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  15. ^ "LA Clippers Acquire Draft Rights to Daniel Oturu". nba.com. November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  16. ^ "LA Clippers Sign Daniel Oturu". nba.com. November 28, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  17. ^ "Grizzlies acquire Patrick Beverley, Rajon Rondo and Daniel Oturu from Clippers". NBA.com. August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  18. ^ "Memphis Grizzlies announce 2021 training camp roster". NBA.com. September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  19. ^ "BULLS ADD CENTER DANIEL OTURU, COMPLETE TRAINING CAMP ROSTER". NBA.com. September 27, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  20. ^ @chicagobulls (October 11, 2021). "Transactions: We have waived guard Ethan Thompson & center Daniel Oturu" (Tweet). Retrieved October 11, 2021 – via Twitter.
  21. ^ Brown, Kyle (October 25, 2021). "Windy City Bulls Announce Opening Night Roster". NBA.com. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  22. ^ "RAPTORS SIGN OTURU TO 10-DAY CONTRACT". NBA.com. December 26, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  23. ^ "2021-22 NBA G League transactions". NBA.com. January 3, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  24. ^ Skerletic, Dario (July 26, 2023). "Merkezefendi signs Jalen Hudson, Vrenz Bleijenbergh and Daniel Oturu". Sportando.basketball. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  25. ^ "Anadolu Efes welcomes Daniel Oturu on loan". Sportando. December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  26. ^ a b c Fuller, Marcus (November 3, 2019). "For Gophers basketball player Daniel Oturu, home is where the heart is". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
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