Melbourne United Multicultural Stories: Caleb Agada

Adjusting to a new environment is something every professional basketball player has to deal with.

Whether it be joining a new team in a foreign country or playing on the road in an opponent's stadium, how you deal with the constant flux of professional basketball is key to success.

For import guard Caleb Agada, the need to adjust came early in life.

Born in Nigeria, Agada and his family moved to Canada when he was six years old, shifting from one extreme to another weather-wise.

“It was crazy, I was so young I didn’t really understand what was happening, but Nigeria was just super super hot, and Canada was very very cold,” he laughed.

Growing up in Canada, Caleb embraced the wintery delight that was in abundance in the Great White North.

“Tobogganing, building snowmen, just the winter was my favourite part growing up at least, but once I got older, I’m not really into the cold any more.”

These memories differed from ones from Nigeria, with family front of mind for Agada when thinking about the joy associated with his homeland.

“I have a lot of pride in Nigeria being born there, I have so much family there, that’s where my parents are from, there’s just so much culture back there,

“My favourite memory is just growing up with my family. We had a large family, a lot of cousins that I was super close with.”

That pride only became more special for Agada when he suited up for D'Tigers in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Being able to play for Nigeria on the world stage was huge for the scoring guard, as was the support he received from the nation he was representing.

“It was amazing, I just got a lot of messages from young kids telling me how much they loved basketball and that they were going to pursue it.

“For me to be able to inspire kids to do what they want, I feel like that’s the biggest accomplishment.”

Attached to his pride for Nigeria is his love for the food he grew up eating, which he will never hesitate to defend as the best cuisine in the world.

“That’s the best part,” he chuckled

“Nigerian cuisine, the best food on the planet. Obviously I’m biassed, but every country I go to, I try to find some African or West African restaurants.

“We have the best jollof in Africa, we got fufu, we got different types of stews and soups, but jollof is the staple.”

Agada has been key for United across NBL22 thus far, entering the starting lineup early in the season and impacting winning in a huge way ever since.

To watch the man they call “To Hard To Guard”, tickets remain available for The Multicultural Game, happening this Sunday at 1pm at John Cain Arena.