_by_Sandro_Halank%25E2%2580%2593014.jpg) Metu withFC Barcelona in 2025 | |
| No. 10 – FC Barcelona | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward /center |
| League | Liga ACB EuroLeague |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1997-03-22)March 22, 1997 (age 28) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | Nigerian / American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Lawndale (Lawndale, California) |
| College | USC (2015–2018) |
| NBA draft | 2018: 2nd round, 49th overall pick |
| Drafted by | San Antonio Spurs |
| Playing career | 2018–present |
| Career history | |
| 2018–2020 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2018–2020 | →Austin Spurs |
| 2020–2023 | Sacramento Kings |
| 2023–2024 | Phoenix Suns |
| 2024 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2024–present | FC Barcelona |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Chimezie Chukwudum Metu// ⓘ (born March 22, 1997) is a Nigerian-American professionalbasketball player forFC Barcelona of theLiga ACB andEuroLeague. He played college basketball for theUSC Trojans.
Metu's attendedLawndale High School inLawndale, California. A four-star recruit, he was the No. 46 recruit according to Rivals.com. Metu committed to theUniversity of Southern California (USC) on May 12, 2014.[1]
As a freshman, Metu played in 34 games, starting 2. He averaged 6.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. He also had 54 blocks, which was the 2nd most blocks by a USC freshman sinceTaj Gibson. He also played 10 minutes in USC's loss to Providence in the first round of the2016 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
Metu started in all 36 games as a sophomore, averaging 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. He led the team to the 2nd round of the2017 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. He was named 2017 Pac-12 Most Improved Player, 2nd TeamAll-Pac-12 and All-Academic Honorable Mention.
Metu played in 34 games as a junior, starting 33. He averaged 15.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. On February 23, 2018, he was named in a federal document that linked him to an alleged $2,000 payment from a sports agency, but was cleared by USC.[2] On March 5, 2018, he was named 1st TeamAll-Pac-12 along with teammateJordan McLaughlin.[3] Being set to graduate in three years and after sitting out the2018 National Invitation Tournament to avoid injury, he declared for the2018 NBA draft.[4]
On June 21, 2018, Metu was drafted by theSan Antonio Spurs with the 49th pick in the2018 NBA draft. Metu was later included in the 2018NBA Summer League roster of theSan Antonio Spurs.[5] On September 4, 2018, Metu signed with theSan Antonio Spurs.[6] On October 20, 2018, Metu made his NBA debut, coming off from bench for about three minutes with two points, two rebounds and a block in a 108–121 loss toPortland Trail Blazers.[7]
On November 20, 2020, the Spurs waived Metu.[8]
On November 28, 2020, Metu signed with theSacramento Kings,[9] but was waived on December 22 after appearing in four pre-season games.[10] Two days later, he signed atwo-way contract with the Kings.[11] On April 28, 2021, the Kings signed him to a multi-year deal after making 28 appearances.[12]
On August 15, 2021, during a 86–70Las Vegas Summer League victory over theDallas Mavericks, Metu was ejected after throwing a punch at opposing forwardEugene Omoruyi.[13] The next day, the NBA suspended Metu for the Summer League championship game, which the Kings won.[14]
On December 29, 2021, Metu hit a game-winning three from the right corner at the buzzer to propel Sacramento to a 95–94 home victory over theDallas Mavericks.[15]
On July 4, 2023, Metu signed with thePhoenix Suns.[16] on a one year contract. On Christmas Day, Metu had a career-high double-double of 23 points and 19 rebounds off the bench in a 128–114 loss to theDallas Mavericks.
On February 8, 2024, Metu was traded to theMemphis Grizzlies in a three-team trade involving theBrooklyn Nets[17] and the next day, he was waived.[18]
On March 20, 2024, Metu signed a 10-day contract with theDetroit Pistons[19] and on March 30, he signed for the rest of the season.[20]
_by_Sandro_Halank%25E2%2580%2593131.jpg)
On July 30, 2024, Metu signed a one year contract withFC Barcelona.[21] Metu had an impressive first season in Europe with the Catalans. After missing more than a month of play due to a knee sprain in November,[22] Metu significantly improved his numbers with key performances againstValencia andCrvena Zvezda.[23] He averaged 11 points per game inEuroLeague[24] and 13.2 inLiga ACB,[25] becoming a key player inFC Barcelona's frontcourt. His performance sparked rumors about a possible contract extension with Barcelona or offers from other European clubs, such as alleged interest from rivalsReal Madrid.[26][27]
However, Metu was unable to finish the season, as he suffered a major injury in one of the final games of the regular season. On March 25, 2025, he had to be helped off the court afterrupturing his achilles tendon in aEuroLeague loss againstFC Bayern at home.[28] After the rupture of his achilles tendon was confirmed to be total, Metu would undergo surgery in his home country, with an expected recovery time of at least 9 months.[29]
On August 27, 2019, Metu was included in theNigerian final roster for the2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.[30]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | San Antonio | 29 | 0 | 5.0 | .328 | .000 | .765 | 1.2 | .4 | .2 | .1 | 1.8 |
| 2019–20 | San Antonio | 18 | 0 | 5.8 | .571 | .000 | .769 | 1.8 | .6 | .2 | .3 | 3.2 |
| 2020–21 | Sacramento | 36 | 6 | 13.6 | .508 | .351 | .721 | 3.1 | .8 | .4 | .5 | 6.3 |
| 2021–22 | Sacramento | 60 | 20 | 21.3 | .452 | .306 | .780 | 5.6 | 1.0 | .9 | .5 | 8.9 |
| 2022–23 | Sacramento | 66 | 0 | 10.4 | .589 | .237 | .740 | 3.0 | .6 | .3 | .3 | 4.9 |
| 2023–24 | Phoenix | 37 | 5 | 12.1 | .508 | .294 | .884 | 3.0 | .5 | .5 | .2 | 5.0 |
| 2023–24 | Detroit | 14 | 7 | 29.4 | .500 | .302 | .952 | 6.0 | 1.9 | 1.7 | .5 | 10.5 |
| Career | 260 | 38 | 13.7 | .495 | .298 | .787 | 3.5 | .8 | .5 | .4 | 5.9 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Sacramento | 3 | 0 | 2.0 | .000 | — | .667 | .3 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .7 |
| Career | 3 | 0 | 2.0 | .000 | — | .667 | .3 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .7 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | Barcelona | 24 | 2 | 20.0 | .624 | .364 | .750 | 4.8 | 1.0 | .6 | .6 | 11.0 | 11.8 |
| Career | 24 | 2 | 20.0 | .624 | .364 | .750 | 4.8 | 1.0 | .6 | .6 | 11.0 | 11.8 | |
| Year | Team | League | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 |  Barcelona | ACB | 20 | 20.0 | .698 | .431 | .660 | 3.8 | 1.0 | .7 | .6 | 13.2 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | USC | 34 | 2 | 18.5 | .518 | .000 | .513 | 3.6 | .5 | .6 | 1.6 | 6.4 |
| 2016–17 | USC | 36 | 36 | 31.3 | .552 | .500 | .741 | 7.8 | 1.4 | .8 | 1.5 | 14.8 |
| 2017–18 | USC | 34 | 33 | 31.0 | .523 | .300 | .730 | 7.4 | 1.6 | .8 | 1.7 | 15.7 |
| Career | 104 | 71 | 27.0 | .533 | .302 | .692 | 6.3 | 1.2 | .7 | 1.6 | 12.3 | |
Born inLos Angeles, he spent the first years of his life in California before moving toNigeria with his father at the age of six. He then lived in Nigeria the following six years. In Nigeria, he played soccer.[31]