‘Rueben is my guy’: Former Warriors center Festus Ezeli celebrates as protege Rueben Chinyelu heads to Final Four

SAN FRANCISCO — These days, Festus Ezeli defines himself by what he accomplishes off the court. 

The former Golden State Warriors big man enjoyed a successful five-year professional career in the NBA, highlighted by a championship with Golden State in 2015. But shortly thereafter, knee injuries took their toll, and his promising future in the association was cut short. 

So he pivoted to a career in media and social outreach, the latter of which has taken him on goodwill visits to Africa to check in with the NBA and other basketball organizations involved in the development of talented young players on the continent. While there, he met Florida center Rueben Chinyelu, a fellow Nigeria native.

The two struck up a relationship that has since blossomed into a dear friendship. And on Saturday, Ezeli was there to watch Chinyelu as Florida, the top seed in the NCAA Tournament’s West Regional, cut down the nets after a thrilling 84-79 win on the Warriors’ home floor in San Francisco. 

“Rueben is my guy,” Ezeli told the Bay Area News Group. “A fellow Nigerian, playing college ball in the SEC, where I got to play at Vanderbilt. We met last year, the year before, in Rwanda. I’m really proud of him and what he’s doing. Such a great kid. For me, with my platform now, I think so much about being the mentor for young kids who are like me, who need a big brother.”

Ezeli had a solid college career with the Commodores – after all, it got him selected by the Warriors with the final pick of the first round in the 2012 NBA draft. But he never accomplished what Chinyelu has by earning a spot in the NCAA semifinals in San Antonio. 

“I’m really proud of the work he’s doing,” Ezeli said. “He’s doing an incredible job, and to see him in the Final Four, something I didn’t get to accomplish, I feel like I get to live through him right now.”

Chinyelu was born in Enugu Agidi, a village in Anambra State in the southern part of Nigeria. He attended the NBA Academy in Senegal before matriculating at Washington State, then transferring to Florida prior to the 2024-25 season.

Now, he’s an NBA prospect and a member of a team that could claim a national championship with two more victories in San Antonio next weekend. He’s also got a good influence in his corner, with Ezeli dispensing the wisdom he’s learned from traveling a similar path.

“I met him at Basketball Africa League, last season’s finals,” Chinyelu said. “So I went there and I saw him. It was pretty good talking to him, getting some experience, some talk, a lot of advice from a big brother. It’s a big thing being able to hear advice from him.”

For Chinyelu, who hopes to follow in Ezeli’s NBA footsteps one day very soon, Ezeli’s guidance is irreplaceable.

“He’s trying everything to touch base everywhere in Africa and help kids the way he can, whether it be in basketball or off the court,” Chinyelu said. “For me, the key is being able to have that emotion, passion to do good. It’s difficult back in Africa now. There’s no facilities. We need to get things equipped there, because there’s a lot of talent in there. So being able to see him visualize that, it’s so beautiful and so inspiring and so empowering. 

“I’m loving it, because that’s what you want to see.”

Ezeli’s insight and empathy comes from a place Chinyelu can relate to. Ezeli was born in Benin City, graduated high school at age 14 and moved to Yuba City in 2004. A roundabout path took him from Jesuit High in Sacramento to Yuba Community College, and eventually to Vanderbilt, where he remained for five seasons.

Chinyelu has spent two years in college so far, and if his development continues at its current rate, this could be his last season at the NCAA level.

“A Nigerian playing in the SEC, young, raw, big man – a lot of things in common,” Ezeli said. “He has an incredible work ethic and is just a really nice kid. People like that are easy to root for. And I’m really excited to see where he goes from here, because if you start off your sophomore year in college and you’re cutting nets in the Final Four, the sky’s the limit.”

Chinyelu hopes to test the NBA waters after this season, but for now, he’s keeping his full focus on the Gators’ next game. Florida will face the winner of Sunday’s Elite Eight contest between Auburn and Michigan State on Saturday in San Antonio.

But when the time comes, Chinyelu hopes to follow in Ezeli’s footsteps not only on the court, but in the broader world as well. 

“You want to see people come overseas, work, but still remember their roots, remember where they came from, remember their hometown,” Chinyelu said. “So being able to see him go and coming back to trying to reach back home, to do whatever you can do, is something that I really appreciate. I can’t thank him enough.”