They say you can tell everything about a player by how they carry their name. With Precious Achiuwa, it’s the other way round, because it’s his name that carries legacy, faith, fire, and most importantly family. Knicks fans may know about the hustle, the rebounds, the absolute raw power in the paint. But what they might know is that behind every second-chance bucket is a first-chance story—one that started in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, under the watchful eyes of two devoted parents, Eunice and Donatus Achiuwa.
This story is just not about stats. It’s about sacrifice. It’s about leaving home earlier than most people do. It’s about taking a leap of faith, all because of the roots that don’t often make headlines, but do make the man.
Who are the parents of Precious Achiuwa? What’s their nationality?
Precious was born on September 19, 1999, in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, to Eunice and Donatus Achiuwa—both devout Pentecostal ministers of Igbo descent. The Achiuwa family didn’t have wealth, but they had something that went even deeper: faith, purpose, and community.
Every one of their six kids has a name pulled from the pages of Scripture—Promise, Grace, God’sgift, Peace, God’swill, and of course, Precious. These names are obviously very symbolic but even more than that these names are definitely daily reminders of what this family stood for.
Though the family eventually gained dual citizenship, their connection to Nigeria has never thinned. When Precious played for Nigeria in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, it was never just about patriotism. It was deeply personal, in terms of honoring his roots.
He left home at 14. A tough decision for any teenager—but tougher still for his parents. “They let me go,” he once said. That one sentence carries a world of trust and sacrifice.
Who is Precious Achiuwa’s father, Donatus Achiuwa?
Donatus Achiuwa isn’t a name Knicks fans will find in box scores, but his fingerprints are all over Precious’s life. A man of faith and purpose, Donatus worked as a Pentecostal minister in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, alongside his wife Eunice, and dedicated much of his time to helping underprivileged kids find stability and dignity.
“My dad worked with a lot of kids who really didn’t have a lot,” Precious shared. “I enjoyed giving back, taking care of them, making sure they had food, clothes—just basic things we sometimes take for granted.”
Those values didn’t just stay in Port Harcourt. You can see them in the way Precious launched his foundation, WHAT IF UNLIMITED, and hosted a youth camp back in Nigeria—feeding, mentoring, and pouring into hundreds of kids the way his father once did. Even after Donatus passed away sometime around 2019-20, his influence remained deeply rooted in Precious’s life.
Who is Precious Achiuwa’s mother, Eunice Achiuwa?
Eunice Achiuwa, like her late husband Donatus, is a Pentecostal minister. But to Precious, she’s never just been a title—she’s been the pulse of home, the echo of prayer in his daily grind, the steady drumbeat that kept him going across continents.
“I talk to her almost every day,” he once shared. Not out of routine, but reverence. Those phone calls were more than check-ins. They were recalibrations. A reminder of who he was—long before the five-star ratings and NBA buzz. Especially in those early days, when he was barely a teenager living in the Bronx, four hours a day on buses and subways just to chase a dream. Alone, except not really.
Because Eunice was always there—in spirit, in voice, in unwavering faith. She didn’t need to be courtside to be present. Her strength traveled oceans. Her prayers wrapped themselves around his tired body after grueling workouts. Her voice steadied his when the spotlight grew loud, and life grew quiet.
She let her son go at 14, not because it was easy—but because she believed in the purpose behind the pain. When God’sgift, Precious’s older brother, brought him to New York, it was Eunice’s blessing that made it possible. She knew this wasn’t just about basketball. It was about building a future with purpose.
Now, years later, even as Precious trains for the highest level of the game, it’s her he calls. The miles never mattered. The time zones never did. For a boy who’s lived in Nigeria, Queens, Memphis, and more—the most constant thing has always been his mother’s quiet, unshakeable faith.
How many siblings does Achiuwa have?
Precious is the youngest of six siblings: brothers God’sgift, God’swill, Promise and sisters Grace and Peace. That lineup? That’s not just a family—it’s a movement. His brother God’sgift Achiuwa is the reason he’s in the U.S. today. He made the first leap—leaving Nigeria to play college basketball at Erie Community College and later St. John’s. When it came time for Precious to follow, it was God’sgift who pointed the way.
“Trusting my brother, that’s what really led to that decision,” Precious recalled. And trust he did—relocating in eighth grade to the U.S., chasing the dream his brother had made tangible. Once here, it was clear he had the fire. AAU coach Oz Cross still remembers the weekly Sunday night calls from Precious: “Coach, what’s the workout plan for the week?” That drive never let up.
Oct 13, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Precious Achiuwa (5) dribbles up court during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
By 10th grade, he was dominating at St. Benedict’s Prep. A McDonald’s All-American. A top-15 recruit nationally. And every step of the way, family was his foundation. When Draft night came, it wasn’t about solo glory. His suit was stitched with the names of every sibling. His head wrapped in Aso Oke, a proud nod to his Nigerian roots. It was a moment of arrival—for all of them.
Even today, when he hosts youth camps in Nigeria, his siblings are right there beside him. Coaching, feeding, guiding. It’s a team, always. Precious Achiuwa’s story isn’t about talent alone. It’s about what happens when talent is paired with sacrifice, spiritual strength, and the kind of family that turns faith into fuel.
For the Knicks, he’s a spark plug. For Nigeria, he’s a symbol. But for the Achiuwa family? He’s exactly who they always knew he could be.
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