Background
Okulaja was born in Nigeria, but moved to Berlin with his family at the age of 3.
Okulaja was born in Nigeria, but moved to Berlin with his family at the age of 3.
In 1995, he graduated from John F. Kennedy School in Berlin, before enrolling at the University of North Carolina.
The last team he played for were the Brose Baskets from Germany. The 6" 9", 235 lb (206 m, 107 kg) forward played college basketball in the United States at North Carolina and flirted briefly with the National Basketball Association before moving on to a successful international professional basketball career in Europe. Okulaja played college basketball at North Carolina from 1995 to 1999.
Okulaja has played professionally for a variety of Euroleague teams, including ALBA Berlin (1999–2000) and RheinEnergie Köln (2005–2006) in Germany.
Central Bank Girona (2000–2001 and 2003-2004), Barcelona (2001–2002), Unicaja Malaga (2002–2003) and Pamesa Valencia (2004–2005) in Spain. And Benetton Treviso in Italy (2004).
Okulaja had three different attempts to join the National Basketball Association. His first training camp experience was with the Philadelphia 76ers, then with the San Antonio Spurs, and finally the Utah Jazz, but was unable to make an National Basketball Association roster. In 2008, he was diagnosed with a spinal tumor and had to go into a one-year long therapy.
After it proved to be successful, Okulaja played one more season for the Brose Baskets.
On July 12, 2010, he announced his retirement from professional basketball. He played with the team at the European Championships in 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2001.
He competed with the German National Team in Japan at the 2006 International Basketball Federation World Basketball Championship tournament alongside National Basketball Association star Dirk Nowitzki.
In his senior season, he was named Most Valuable Player of the Tar Heels basketball team, and won a spot on the 1998-1999 All-Atlantic Coast Conference First Team. His ALBA Berlin team won the 1999-2000 German National (Bundesliga) championship. He won the "Rookie of the Year" award with Girona, and was an All-League First Team selection that year. In 2002, he won the award for "Most Spectacular Player" at the Spanish All-Star Game.
During the 1997-1998 National Collegiate Athletic Association season, he was a member of new coach Bill Guthridge"s successful "six starters" rotation with Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter, Editor Cota, Shammond Williams and Makhtar North"Diaye. Okulaja was also an experienced member of the Germany national basketball team
