By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Chinanu Onuaku has played in six Basketball Champions League games, averaging 17.5 points per contest, but has yet to enjoy a win.
Inside a career with multiple stops all around the world, including seven NBA appearances with the Houston Rockets from 2016 to 2018, he is a strong presence in the paint and widely known for his underhand free throws, which have been working for him in the BCL as well, between his introduction with Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari and the current assignment with Bnei PenLink Herzliya. However, the wins eluding him perhaps creates an even weirder situation for the 28-year-old forward/center.
Returning to action on Tuesday in Opava, after missing Round 3 of the 2025-26 Regular Season of Israel’s Winner League opposite Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv in Hayovel on Saturday due to a minor injury, he scored a game-high 21 points with 7/9 free throws and 7/12 two-pointers, but his side fell short in a close game versus Trapani Shark. The first European win in team history for the Italian club added to his personal, unprecedented losing streak.
In 2022, Onuaku tallied 18.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game over three BCL appearances with Sassari, but was forced to the wrong end of battles with Unicaja, PAOK mateco, and JDA Dijon. The trend continued against Tofas, La Laguna Tenerife, and Trapani this season, despite his 17.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.7 blocks per contest. Overall, he has scored at least 13 points in every outing, and his 21 points on Tuesday matched his individual best in the league.
After playing in Palaserradimigni with Sassari on October 5, 2022, the remaining showings were away from his team’s home court, stretching from Greece and France to Bulgaria, Spain, and Czechia.
There is always room for improvement, especially in cases where losses cover the entire board. The bottom half of a six-game schedule in Group D of the Regular Season in the BCL Season X, powered by Ameresco SUNEL, presents more opportunities to finally snap the streak, with the team coached by Yehu Orland looking to clinch a berth in the Round of 16.
Bnei Herzliya will be on the road opposite Shark on November 11 in Gameday 4, Tofas on December 9 in Gameday 5, and Tenerife on December 16 in Gameday 6. With a direct ticket to the Round of 16 attached to the top seed and the middle seeds heading to a best-of-three Play-In series, the 0-3 record is a hurdle for the second half of the schedule.
A six-game losing streak across all competitions has also shaped a disappointing 0-2 start in the domestic league, besides the 0-3 tally in the Champions League. Despite sitting out the recent game against Maccabi, frustrated Onuaku shouted at team president Eldad Akunis, with the heated incident resulting in a fine by the team.
Back to Herzliya
In 2016, fresh from a productive NCAA career with Louisville, with several solid showings, a promising prospect in Onuaku was drafted by the Rockets with the 37th overall pick of the annual NBA draft. Expanding the granny-style technique in free throws to the NBA was among his highlights. After sporadic appearances with the Rockets and more action with the affiliate Rio Grande Valley Vipers through two years, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks and waived. He went on to sign with the Portland Trail Blazers, but was waived once more, shortly before the start of the 2018-19 Regular Season.
From there, he has been pursuing options in other leagues across the globe. His breakout was with Herzliya, being named the Most Valuable Player of the 2021-22 edition of Israel’s Winner League and leading his side to the Midgal State Cup championship. Following the ensuing Champions League spell with Sassari, he took his talents to the 7DAYS EuroCup with Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv and Joventut Badalona, bounced back for a second stint in South Korea, and also played in Puerto Rico. Last April, he reunited with Herzliya and stayed for the 2025-26 campaign.