Winnipeg hoopster Omoerah earns position on NBA staff

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This article was published 19/10/2023 (724 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg’s Keith Omoerah has made it to the NBA.

The New Orleans Pelicans recently hired the former University of Manitoba Bison as a video and player development assistant, making the 31-year-old the first Manitoban to land a job on an NBA team’s staff.

After finishing his U Sports career at the U of M in 2017, the 6-5 guard played professional hoops in six different countries, most recently with Union Poitiers Basket in the France Pro-B League.

“It’s crazy, it’s surreal. It’s still one of those pinch me type of moments. I am very well aware of how fortunate I am to be in this position, and I don’t take that lightly, but I am ecstatic to be in the position that I’m in,” Omoerah said over the phone from New Orleans. He started with the Pelicans at the beginning of training camp.

“(Bisons head coach) Kirby Schepp said one line to me at the beginning of my career overseas that stuck with me ever since. He said, ‘Use the game of basketball, don’t let basketball use you.’ And I think being fortunate enough to make the connections that I’ve made and play at the levels I’ve played at have led me to this moment.”

It was a connection with James Laughlin, a former assistant coach/video co-ordinator with the Golden State Warriors who’s now the coaches chief of staff for the Pelicans, that started it all. Two years ago, Omoerah — whose father was born and raised in Nigeria before relocating to Winnipeg — was in San Francisco trying out for the Nigerian national team ahead of the Tokyo Olympics when he met Laughlin, the program’s player development coach and video co-ordinator. They hit it off over the two weeks, leading to Laughlin contacting Omoerah this summer about a possible gig in New Orleans. Omoerah was training in Winnipeg with plans to return overseas, but he couldn’t say no. He applied, and the rest is history.

His days now consist of putting in hours in the film room and hopping on the court to help head coach Willie Green and notable players such as Zion Williamson, Jonas Valunciunas, CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram get ready for the 2023-24 season.

Omoerah’s days of playing in Europe are over, but he’s not officially retired. If possible, he’d like to suit up for the Winnipeg Sea Bears of the Canadian Elite Basketball League this summer.

“One thing I always wanted to do before I finished playing was play in front of my family and friends again since that’s something I haven’t done since I graduated from the U of M. If an opportunity was able to arise and work out, I think that’s how I’d like to cap my playing career,” said Omoerah, who averaged 9.5 points and seven rebounds last season. The other stops in his career include Norway, Iran, Ukraine, Spain and Sweden.

“Last year it was something that was discussed, but my team in France made it to the finals so I was there until the beginning of July, so it just didn’t work out with the timing of getting back home.”

Schepp couldn’t be prouder of his former player for making Manitoba history.

Omoerah played for Nigeria at the African Championships in 2021 and the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in 2023.

“Honestly, I’m as proud as I am if one of my own kids does something. He’s worked really hard and it’s a great opportunity for him to continue his career in basketball,” said Schepp.

“He certainly has a lot to learn in that role, but Keith has a natural charisma and way with people that I think will be outstanding. He has a really great way about building relationships. He was always a natural leader, I mean, I knew Keith when he was 16 years old, and he had that charisma and leadership about him… I think he’s going to be a star at it.”

Omoerah doesn’t know where the role will take him — Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra started out as a video co-ordinator before developing into one of the most respected coaches in the game — but he feels he’s right where he belongs.

“When I first came down here, it was a honeymoon phase with how much I was enjoying the work and enjoying the city, but really that hasn’t dispensed at all,” said Omoerah.

“I’m absolutely loving the opportunity and love being a part of this organization. I couldn’t be more thrilled and thankful to be down here.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

X: @TaylorAllen31