Education
After Zidek graduated, Nwankwo anticipated a larger role in 1995-1996. However, freshman Jelani McCoy became the starting center instead.
After Zidek graduated, Nwankwo anticipated a larger role in 1995-1996. However, freshman Jelani McCoy became the starting center instead.
From Houston, Texas, he played college basketball with the University of California, Los Angeles Bruins, winning a national championship in 1995. In his second year as a reserve behind center George Zidek, he played in a career-high 23 games, averaging 2.7 points and 1.6 rebounds. Seeking more playing time, Nwankwo transferred to Long Beach State in January 1996.
Nwankwo began his professional career in Venezuela with the Cocodrilos de Caracas.
After a very successful stint where he was the league Most Valuable Player he then moved to Puerto Rico where he was an Most Valuable Player candidate in Puerto Rico, with Quebradillas Pirates of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (Bachelor of science in nursing ) from 1998-1999. In 1998 Nwankwo also played his first season in Turkey where he would play for the next two seasons.
He played with Tuborg where he led the league in rebounds at 10. 1 per game. He returned to Tuborg the following year until a knee injury cut his season short.
He then signed in Poland with Prokom Trefl Sopot.
Nwankwo signed with the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association in 2000, the following year he signed with the Houston Rockets. From 2001-2003, Nwankwo played for several European clubs including MBC Dynamo Moscow of the Russian Superleague. In 2003 Nwankwo joined the Huntsville Flight (now Albuquerque Thunderbirds) of the National Basketball Development League.
2004 saw Nwankwo return to Turkey, where he played with Darüşşafaka South.K. of the Turkish Basketball League (TBL).
Since 2005, Nwankwo has played in the Portuguese Basketball League (LCB) (2005 with Civil Aeronautics Board Madeira and since 2006 with California Queluz. Nwankwo signed to play with an National Basketball Association squad every year from 2000-2004 except 2003, with the Miami Heat (2000), Houston Rockets (2001), Cleveland Cavaliers (2002) and the Los Angeles Lakers (2004) seasons.
Although born in the United States, Nwankwo has represented the land of his ancestry, Nigeria, in international competition. He played for Nigeria at the International Basketball Federation Africa Championship 2003 and 2006 International Basketball Federation World Championship.
His name "Ikenna" means "The Father"s Strength" in Igbo.
