Auburn basketball: Former Tigers standout Chuma Okeke venturing into music
Former Auburn basketball star Chuma Okeke is taking his talents to a new medium.
Chuma Okeke’s basketball skills are undeniable. With a strong, 6-foot-8, 230-pound frame, elite athleticism and an excellent touch around the basket and from beyond the arc, a successful NBA career should be in the former Auburn star’s future.
While Okeke had to sit out his rookie season in the NBA as he recovered from an ACL injury he suffered during the Tigers’ 2019 March Madness run, that free time has apparently allowed him to pursue his other passions and showcase his talents in other areas besides basketball.
On Tuesday, the 21-year-old NBA forward announced via his Instagram that he would be releasing a six-track music album titled “M.F.E” under the artist name “Chum.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDxYVXZAR1W/
The album will reportedly be released on Tuesday, August 18 which also happens to be Okeke’s 22nd birthday.
As for his basketball career, the combo forward spent two seasons at Auburn before leaving for the NBA.
In his two seasons on the Plains, Okeke averaged 9.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists,1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from deep.
Okeke saw his NBA draft stock skyrocket from his freshman to sophomore year and prior to his injury, Okeke was playing the best basketball of his career.
Despite the serious injury, Okeke would go on to be drafted No. 16 overall by the Orlando Magic in 2019. With that, Okeke became the first Auburn player drafted in the NBA since Jamison Brewer in 2001 and their first top-20 pick since Chris Morris in 1988.
Still recovering from the injury he sent in March, Okeke spent the season rehabbing while also training with the team’s G-League affiliate, the Lakeland Magic.
Without Okeke, the Magic have compiled a 32-40 overall record and are set to make the playoffs for the second-straight season as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
The former Auburn star isn’t the only NBA player that has dipped into the music realm either. Players like Portland Trailblazers star Damian Lillard and Victor Oladipo have both released musical albums throughout their careers.