Precious Achiuwa was born to Nigerian parents of Igbo descent. The player often stands as the shining star, captivating audiences with his basketball prowess.
Recently, Achiuwa has been praised for outplaying expectations and stepping up for the injury-ridden New York Knicks.
Let’s get to know the parents of Precious Achiuwa, who vastly supported his journey to the upper tier of basketball.
Precious Achiuwa, born September 19, 1999, is a Nigerian professional basketball player. He plays power forward for the New York Knicks of the NBA.
After moving to the States, Achiuwa played basketball for Our Saviour Lutheran School in New York as a freshman.
Similarly, he attended St. Benedict’s Preparatory School, and Montverde Academy before committing to play for the University of Memphis.
Achiuwa played collegiate basketball for the Memphis Tigers, where he was named AAC Player and Freshman of the Year.
After his remarkable freshman season, Achiuwa declared for the 2020 NBA Draft. He was drafted 20th overall in the first round by the Miami Heat.
The player was traded to the Toronto Raptors after his rookie year in Miami. Likewise, he spent the next two seasons with the Raptors before joining the Knicks in 2023.
Meet Precious Achiuwa Parents
Precious Achiuwa was born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, to his parents Donatus and Eunice Achiuwa.
As per reports both of his parents were Pentecostal ministers back in Nigeria. Thus, Achiuwa’s career is a reflection of the values instilled by his parents.
The player grew up in a relatively large family. He has three brothers, God’sgift, God’swill and Promise, and two sisters, Grace and Peace.
Therefore, his family had a profound influence on his development as both a player and a person.
Interestingly, his parents gave ‘Precious’ his name as it can be found in the Bible. The same goes for his five siblings.
Achiuwa also acknowledges the role of his parents in instilling the value of lending a hand to those in need.
“My dad worked with a lot of kids who really didn’t have a lot,” Achiuwa told ANDSCAPE.com in 2021.
As a result, the NBA star also enjoyed giving back to those kids. The Achiuwas made sure that the kids had clothes on their backs, and food on their table.
Later, Achiuwa’s parents also fully supported his move to the United States at the tender age of 14.
“I’m the baby and my parents were back home. It was difficult to move away from home. But they let me go at such a young age,” Achiuwa said.
Overall, Eunice and Donatus have been a source of guidance and inspiration for the player. In addition, their impact on Precious’ development cannot be understated.
Achiuwa Was Inspired By His Brother God’sgift
Precious’s older brother, God’sgift Achiuwa, had a noteworthy basketball career at St. John’s University from 2011 to 2014.
Reportedly, God’sgift began playing basketball in his early teens. He was discovered at a basketball camp in Nigeria by then-Erie Community College coach Alex Nwora in 2008.
The 6-foot-8 forward left Nigeria in 2009 to start his college basketball career after Nwora offered him a scholarship.
God’sgift eventually transferred to St. John’s and went on to become a defensive specialist during the 2011-12 and 2013-14 seasons.
It was he who secured a scholarship for Precious to attend Our Saviour Lutheran School in the Bronx.
Although leaving Nigeria wasn’t easy, God’sgift’s basketball roadmap and assistance made the process simpler for his brother.
