By Nick Friedell | ESPN Staff Writer

The Miami Heat are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014 because Nigerian-American Bam Adebayo saved the biggest performance of his life for the moment his team needed it most. The All-Star big man delivered an epic postseason performance with a career-high 32 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists in 39 minutes as the Heat finished off the Boston Celtics 125-113 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.

BY BRENDAN BRADFORD | Sporting News Australia

Israel Adesanya has retained his middleweight title with a utterly one-sided beatdown of Paulo Costa at UFC 253 on Fight Island. Adesanya dominated the fight from start to finish, ending proceedings in with a minute to fight in the second round after systematically breaking the Brazilian down.

BY ISHAAN BHATTACHARYA | Essentially Sports

Nigerian-born Kamaru Usman, the UFC Welterweight Champion of the World has received high praise from President Donald Trump who has called him “An Unbelievable Talent”

By Jake Donovan  | Boxing Scene

Nigerian Efe Ajagba hoped to make more of a statement in his first fight under new management. Instead, the heavyweight prospect had to settle for winning tonight and looking good the next time.

By TIM REYNOLDS | AP News

Giannis Antetokounmpo is a Greek born to Nigerian parents. The Milwaukee forward is the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season, receiving that award Friday. He got the Defensive Player of the Year award earlier in these NBA playoffs.

By BoxingScene Staff  

Heavyweight contender Nigerian-born Efe Ajagba is already eyeing some of the bigger names in the weight class – including IBF, WBA, WBO, IBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. Ajagba recently signed a promotional contract with Top Rank and hired James Prince as his manager.

By Justin Grasso | Sports Illustrated

The Philadelphia 76ers have granted the Chicago Bulls permission to interview Ime Udoka for the vacant head coach position, a source confirmed to Sports Illustrated on Monday night. Udoka, who spent the 2019-2020 NBA season as Brett Brown’s top assistant, has been on Chicago’s radar for quite some time now.

By Ebimo Amungo

Jesse Iwuji, the Nigerian-American US Naval Officer who is one of two black drivers in the top 3 tier of NASCAR has condemned the racial attack on fellow driver Bubba Wallace, describing it as “sickening”.

Jeff Metcalfe | azcentral

Promise Amukamara is something of a throwback to the days when women’s basketball players went overseas after college and only surfaced in the U.S. consciousness during an Olympic year.