David Okwera
September 3, 2021
Caleb Agada
- Nationality: CAN/NIG
- Date of Birth: 31/08/94
- Place of Birth: Lafia (Nigeria)
- Position: G/F
- Height (CM): 193
- Weight (KG): 95
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Ottawa (2012–2017)
- NBL DEBUT: 5/12/21
- AGE AT DEBUT: 27
- LAST NBL GAME: 2/05/22
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 27
- NBL History: Melbourne 2022
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Agada was born in Lafia, Nigeria, and moved to the Canadian city of Burlington, Ontario, at the age of six.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Caleb Agada made his NBL debut with the Melbourne United at 27 years of age. He scored 11 points in his first game.
After winning the 2021 championship, Melbourne lost its leading scorer Jock Landale to a NBA opportunity with San Antonio and starting point guard Mitch McCarron, who became the league’s highest paid local player as a result of signing a three-year deal with Adelaide. United then quickly turned their attention to rebuilding the roster for the NBL22 season, immediately re-signing Lual Acuil, David Barlow and Shea Ili, received a boost from the return of Jack White, who missed the second half of last season to a ACL injury, and added free agents Brad Newley (via Sydney) and Dion Prewster, who had just won the NZNBL MVP award. Next, United secured the biggest free agent of the year, inking NBA champion Matthew Dellavedova to a three-year deal. Lastly, Caleb Agada, who had just played for Nigeria at the Olympics was replaced import Scotty Hopson and talented young German Ariel Hukporti was added to the roster under the Next Stars program.
Outside of a 0-2 start, United were dominant all season, winning their next three games to end December and then losing only one game (5-1) in January while playing all of their games on the road.
In January 2022, Goulding reached 5,000 NBL points, becoming just the second active player to reach the milestone behind Daniel Johnson (Adelaide).
In February, United would win four of their five games and with a record of 12-4 sit atop of the NBL ladder where they would stay for the remainder of the season. Jo Lual Acuil (16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks) would lead the team in scoring and earn selection to the All-NBL First team while Chris Goulding (15.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) was named to the All-NBL Second Team. The impact of Shea Ili (8.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.4 steals) off the bench was also recognised around the league with him winning the Sixth Man of the Year award. Agada would appear in 29 games, while averaging 12.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.2 steals, helping United finish the year in first place (20-8).
Tasmania would finish fourth on the ladder in their first NBL season, setting up a semi final series against United. As expected, United defeated the JackJumpers in game one (74-63) but playing their first game of playoff basketball at home, Tasmania leveled the series (1-1) with a win in game two. Heading into the deciding game three, captain Goulding was deemed unfit to play, which allowed Tasmania to take clamp down on the defensive end. Without Goulding, United couldn’t buy a basket from outside, with Dellavedova (1-7), Agada (0-7), White (0-5) and Baba (0-2) shot a combined 1-21 from beyond the arc. Overall, United went 6-29 (20 per cent) from three, compared to the JackJumpers 10-32 (31 per cent). Still, United were able to keep it close, and it was only in the final moments that Tasmania secured the victory (76-73), ending Melbourne’s playoff run and making history by reaching a Grand Final in their debut season..
Caleb Agada played one season in the NBL. He averaged 12 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 29 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 27 | Melbourne | 20-8 (1) | 29 | 645.7 | 350 | 161 | 63 | 51 | 110 | 36 | 11 | 41 | 86 | 134 | 331 | 40% | 34 | 134 | 25% | 48 | 62 | 77% | 49% | 46% | 24 | Totals | 29 | 646 | 350 | 161 | 63 | 51 | 110 | 36 | 11 | 41 | 86 | 134 | 331 | 40.5% | 34 | 134 | 25.4% | 48 | 62 | 77.4% | 49% | 46% | 24 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 27 | Melbourne | 20-8 (1) | 29 | 22.3 | 12.1 | 5.6 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 3.0 | 4.6 | 11.4 | 40% | 1.2 | 4.6 | 25% | 1.7 | 2.1 | 77% | 49% | 46% | 24 | Total | 29 | 22.3 | 12.1 | 5.6 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 3.0 | 4.6 | 11.4 | 40.5% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 25.4% | 1.2 | 4.6 | 77.4% | 49% | 46% | 24 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 24 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
|---|
FIBA EXPERIENCE
Agada holds Nigerian citizenship and represented the Nigerian national basketball team during the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification games, during the February 2019 qualifying window in Lagos, he averaged 4.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists.
He was invited for the Nigerian 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup preliminary squad but he didnt make the final list of players.
In 2021, he represented Nigeria at the Tokyo Olympics. During the pre-Olympic exhibition games where Agada impressed scouts when he led the D’Tigers to a historic upset victory against Team USA scoring 17 points, including 3-of-3 from downtown. Nigeria finished the Olympic tournament in tenth place (0-3).
NBA EXPERIENCE
Agadas ability to get out in transition and score saw him earn him a spot on the Denver Nuggets Summer League team in 20221, where over 5 games he averaged 19.6 minutes per game, with 11.2 points, 2.4 assists and 2.2 steals.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Spain - CB Prat (2017–2018), Melilla Baloncesto (2018–2020) | Canada - Hamilton Honey Badgers (2018–2020) | Israel - Hapoel Be'er Sheva (2020–2022) | Ukraine - Prometey (2022–2023)
Agada joined CB Prat for the 2017–18 LEB Plata season in Spain, and he averaged 14.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists.
Agada joined Melilla Baloncesto for the 2018–19 LEB Oro season in Spain, and he averaged 12.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.
Agada returned to Melilla Baloncesto for the 2019–20 LEB Oro season in Spain, and he averaged 12.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists across 24 games.
Agada joined the Hamilton Honey Badgers for the 2018–19 Canadian Elite Basketball League season in Canada, and he played two games averaging 10.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists.
Agada returned to the Hamilton Honey Badgers for the 2019–20 Canadian Elite Basketball League season in Canada, and he averaged 14.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists.
Agada joined Hapoel Beer Sheva for the 2020–21 Israeli Premier League season in Israel, and he led the league in scoring with 22.9 points per game and steals with 2.4 per game while recording a 43-point game against Maccabi Tel Aviv and earning Player of the Week honours on 14 September after a 25-point, eight-rebound, six-assist performance against Maccabi Rishon LeZion.
Agada returned to Hapoel Beer Sheva for the 2021–22 Israeli Premier League season in Israel, and he averaged 22.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while being named Israeli Premier League MVP.
On 10 July 2022, Agada signed with Prometey for the 2022–23 Latvian-Estonian Basketball League and EuroCup season in Ukraine, and he averaged 15.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in EuroCup play while helping the club reach the EuroCup semifinals.
COLLEGE
Caleb Agada played university basketball for the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees from 2012–13 through 2016–17, establishing himself as one of the most impactful defensive players in Canadian university basketball during his five-year career.
Agada was a key member of multiple championship-level Ottawa teams, contributing to the Gee-Gees’ national U SPORTS titles in 2013 and 2016, with Ottawa consistently ranked among the top programs in the country throughout his tenure.
Renowned for his defensive presence, Agada was awarded U SPORTS Defensive Player of the Year honours in back-to-back seasons in 2015–16 and 2016–17, becoming one of the few players in program history to win the national defensive award more than once.
At the conference level, he was named an OUA First Team All-Star in three consecutive seasons from 2014–15 through 2016–17, reflecting his sustained two-way impact within Ontario University Athletics competition.
During the 2016–17 season, Agada averaged 14.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game as a fifth-year senior, earning Second Team All-Canadian honours while helping guide Ottawa to another deep postseason run.
Across his collegiate career, Agada appeared in more than 120 U SPORTS games and finished as the all-time U SPORTS career leader in blocked shots, recording over 320 blocks and cementing his reputation as one of the most dominant rim protectors in Canadian university basketball history.
In addition to his shot-blocking, Agada was consistently among Ottawa’s leaders in minutes played, rebounds, and defensive assignments, often tasked with guarding the opposition’s top frontcourt threats while also contributing offensively in transition and half-court sets.
AWARDS
- Israeli Basketball League Top Scorer (2021)
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2x U SPORTS Defensive Player of the Year (2016, 2017)
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3x OUA First Team All-Star (2015, 2016, 2017)
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2x OUA Defensive Player of the Year (2016, 2017)
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U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian (2017)
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U SPORTS Championship Tournament All-Star (2014)
Related
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