An NBA basketball player from Newcastle has been making a huge impression for the Brooklyn Nets, after he signed with them on New Year’s Day. Tosan Evbuomwan, 23, attended Royal Grammar School, and was even in Newcastle United’s Youth Academy before he got into basketball.
His dad Isaac had played college basketball at the University of Lagos, and Tosan always had a hoop in his back garden, but his first passion was football. After falling out of love with it, and with the bonus of being exceptionally tall, he started the basketball team at RGS, before going on to play for the Newcastle Eagles under 18 team.
Soon after, US universities took notice of his impressive development, with Princeton signing the now 6 foot 7 Tosan in April of 2019, when he left his native North East for New Jersey. During his time playing for Princeton Tigers, Tosan was named as the unanimous Ivy League Player of the Year, a hugely prestigious award.
Then, in 2023, Tosan made a huge decision, forgoing the last year of his time at Princeton to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft. After a spell in Detroit, the Geordie star signed for the Memphis Grizzlies, making his debut at the top level of basketball on February 2 of last year against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Tosan Evbuomwan, the basketball star from Newcastle playing in the NBA for Brooklyn Nets
(Image: Getty Images)
After spending some time honing his skills in the NBA’s developmental league, Tosan signed a contract with the Brooklyn Nets on New Year’s Day, and has already featured in five games for the New York-based team.
Tosan is currently just one of three English players in the NBA, with his achievements all the more impressive given how rare it is for a player from the UK to reach such a high-level in the sport.
Just yesterday, Tosan scored a career high 22 points, as he continues to improve, despite the Brooklyn Nets suffering a narrow 112-111 loss to the Utah Jazz.
Speaking to the YESNetwork after joining the Brooklyn Nets, Tosan Evbuomwan, said: “I’m really pleased to have gotten the opportunity, and I feel blessed to be here and to meet everyone for the first time.
“This is what I work for, these sorts of opportunities, so everything that comes with it, I’m ready to take in my stride and attack it. I’m a versatile player on both sides of the court, and I’m all about the team and making sure we get as many wins as possible.”