Whodunit Wednesday: NFL and NBA

Most people, when they think of Belgian or Dutch sport personalities, will settle on the various well-known soccer players: Virgil van Dyke, Kevin de Bruyne or more. But soccer is not the only sport where you can find Dutch pr Belgian players. The very American sports of football (NFL) or basketball (NBA) are also home to some Dutch or Belgian players. 

Thomas Odukoya was born in Almere, the Netherlands. He became the first Dutch player to play in the NFL for 24 years when he signed with the Tennessee Titans in 2024 as a tight end. He is currently part of the practice squad for the Kansas City Chiefs, having also played for the New England Patriots in 2025. Although you will hear plenty of Dutch sounding names in the NFL, Odukoya is currently the only actual Dutch player. 

In the NBA people will be even more familiar with the names of Toumani Camara and Ajay Mitchell. Camara (born in Brussels) has made his name known with the Portland Trail Blazers the last few years as a 6’7’’ forward. He has already started with three three-pointers in five games to help Portland to move toward the top of the Western Conference at the beginning of this season. 

Ajay Mitchell, from Ans, is a point guard with the OKC Thunder (in the same conference as the Trail Blazers). In 2025 he became an NBA champion with the Thunder. Both players have not yet played for the Belgian national team since they remain active at the same time with their NBA teams. 

(Photo of NBA champion Ajay Mitchell with the OKC Thunder in 2025)