The SnaP: The Triple Double With Ben Uzoh

Welcome to the fourth episode of The SnaP, a SPort MAnagement (SPMA) Hub digital show, featuring voices from the sport industry, hosted by Anastasiya Romanska. The show probes a snapshot into their lives by providing a visual with auditory experience.

This week we’re talking with Ben Uzoh. Yup, that Ben Uzoh.

1. 2010–2011: New Jersey Nets
2. 2011: Springfield Armor
3. 2011: Lokomotiv Kuban
4. 2012: Rio Grande Valley Vipers
5. 2012: Cleveland Cavaliers
6. 2012: Toronto Raptors
7. 2012–2013: Springfield Armor
8. 2013–2014: Tulsa 66ers
9. 2014: Canton Charge
10. 2015: Lagos Islanders
11. 2017: Okapi Aalstar
12. 2019–2020: Paris

Ben Uzoh’s professional basketball career does not include his international playing experience on the Nigerian Men’s national team or his coaching experience.

Uzoh competed for the Nigerian men’s national basketball team at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio and has high hopes for a return in 2021 under new Head Coach Mike Brown.

Many Toronto Raptor fans know Ben Uzoh as the first player in 11 years for the franchise to record a triple double. On April 25, 2012, Ben Uzoh scored 12 points, dished out a career-high 12 assists and grabbed 11 rebounds for his first career triple-double. He led the Toronto Raptors in the season’s final game, 98-67 against the then-New Jersey Nets.

In this episode, Uzoh reflects on his time as a Raptor and looks back on their NBA Championship in 2019. While still playing professionally, Ben Uzoh has also taken on coaching roles, most recently being tabbed as an Assistant Coach with the Chicago Bulls G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls.

He reminds us that it’s important to build a brand for yourself and not just rely on the brand you represent on your team. Uzoh revealed that there was something physically affecting his play physically when he played in the G-League in 2014. It was Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS), a nerve disorder affecting arm movement. Without full arm movement, it’s hard to imagine someone playing basketball.

But Ben Uzoh hasn’t let TOS derail his basketball career. He’s only been pushing through, being himself “through it all.” In fact, he played a huge part in helping Nigeria win all eight games to qualify for the 2019 World Cup in China and for the Olympics in Tokyo 2021.

In case you read this first, click here to scroll back up to view the full episode of The SnaP.