Rivers Hoopers have retired captain Victor Anthony Koko's jersey No. 15 after the player announced his retirement from professional basketball. The club confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that the iconic number will hang in the rafters and never be worn by another player.
Koko's retirement came a day after the KingsMen clinched the 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League title with an unbeaten run through the Final Four playoffs in Port Harcourt, capped by a 92-90 overtime victory over Maktown Flyers on Tuesday.
Born in Port Harcourt, the 6ft 9in centre/power forward joined Rivers Hoopers in 2009 and won seven league titles with the club, alongside another with Mark Mentors in 2015. He was named Final MVP in 2021 and helped Hoopers win bronze at the 2024 Basketball Africa League.
Koko also represented Nigeria at the 2019 FIBA AfroCan, the 2021 AfroBasket and the 2019 FIBA 3x3 Africa Cup.
