Career: Berlin (Germany-Bundesliga, 1993-95), North Carolina (USA-NCAA Div. 1, 1995-99), Berlin (Germany-Bundesliga, 1999-2000), Girona (Spain-ACB, 2000-01), Barcelona (Spain-ACB, 2001-02), Málaga (Spain-ACB, 2002-03), Badalona (Spain-ACB, 2003), Girona (Spain-Liga ACB, 2003-04), Treviso (Italy-Lega, 2004), Valencia (Spain-ACB, 2004-05), Köln (Germany-Bundesliga, 2006), Khimky Moscow (Russia-Superleague, 2006).

A healthy Ademola Okulaja is needed for Germany to really make noise in Japan. "Ade" represents Dirk Bauermann's second-best scoring option after Dirk Nowitzki. When healthy, the Nigeria native is one of the best forwards in Europe. He has a great attitude to go with his great basketball body. He goes aggressively to the basket and rebounds very well. He's turned himself into a good jump shooter and plays excellent defence. Add to that his experience of playing college basketball with NBA All-Stars Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison and his years of playing in the Euroleague, and it's no wonder Bauermann longs to have Okulaja in the mix in Japan. But Okulaja is battling chronic knee problems which kept him out of the 2005 EuroBasket. But the 31-year-old will be extra motivated after having to watch Germany's silver medal run at home.

Still a fan favourite, Okulaja was named to the 2006 Bundesliga All-Star Game even though he hadn't played a game up to that point. He played briefly for German champions RheinEnergie Köln before moving onto Russian side BC Khimky Moscow, where he averaged about 5 points and 3 rebounds in 19 games while helping the team to the EuroCup, Russian Superleague and Russian Cup finals.