Kenyan-American guard Albert Odero will be part of the squad that Kenyan champions Nairobi City Thunder will use during the 2026 season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL), which tips off on March 27 in Pretoria. The 28-year-old guard is enjoying a stellar start to the season in the Rwanda Basketball League with Tigers Basketball Club, thanks to his impressive scoring form. Nairobi City Thunder will be hoping to rely on the star guard’s experience, scoring firepower, and leadership as they aim to mount a serious challenge in the Kalahari Conference, scheduled to run from March 27 to April 5. The Kalahari Conference will feature six teams: hosts Johannesburg Giants, Al Ahly Tripoli, APR BBC, Dar City, Nairobi City Thunder, and Petro de Luanda. Odero is no stranger to Kenyan basketball, where he has gained attention for both positive performances and controversy. In June 2024, he was suspended by the Kenya Anti-Doping Agency (ADAK) after testing positive for cannabinoids during a doping test. He made his debut for the Kenya men's national basketball team in 2020. He featured in four games during the AfroBasket 2021 qualifiers and later represented Kenya at the FIBA 3x3 Africa Cup 2023. He previously played professionally in Cape Verde, Spain, and the United States. He also played college basketball at Binghamton University, where he represented the Binghamton Bearcats from 2017 to 2019 in the NCAA.
