Barcelona basketball forward Tosan Evbuomwan has stepped away from the court temporarily after sustaining an oblique muscle injury.
The 23-year-old British international, currently in his first season with the Catalan club, is expected to remain sidelined for approximately three weeks, SPORT reported.
The injury occurred during a recent match against Breogán, marking a sudden pause in the forward’s integration into the roster. Despite the setback, Evbuomwan continues his recovery process at the Ciutat Esportiva, where he recently reflected on the career path that brought him from a football academy in Newcastle to professional basketball in Europe.
From Newcastle academy to basketball
Evbuomwan’s trajectory into professional sports was defined by a shift in perspective during his youth. While he spent his early formative years training within the Newcastle United football academy, he eventually reached a point where his interest in the sport began to wane.
“I started playing basketball at 14; before that, I grew up playing football, that was my sport, and I was in the Newcastle Academy,” Evbuomwan told SPORT. “But suddenly, I stopped loving football. It felt too serious, too fast. I was still young.
For me, especially at that age, it was always about enjoying it. And that is something my parents always instilled in me. It was never about chasing a career or anything, and I lost the love, I stopped enjoying it. That was enough to take a step back and walk away.”
The transition to basketball was influenced by his father, who had played the sport in Nigeria and continued to play after moving to England. Evbuomwan noted that the environment at home helped him rediscover the enjoyment he had missed in football, leading him to pursue the game alongside his friends.
The growth of British basketball
As one of the most prominent figures currently representing British basketball at a high level, Evbuomwan views the sport’s development in the United Kingdom with cautious optimism. While football, rugby, and cricket remain the primary sports in the country, he believes the basketball infrastructure is gradually evolving.
“I think we are getting high, we are building,” Evbuomwan said. “There are many people who care about it, who care about the right things in the sport, and we are starting to see the difference.”
He emphasized that the responsibility for further growth lies with the players as much as the administrators. According to Evbuomwan, active participation in the national team and maintaining a high profile in leagues like the NBA and the EuroLeague are essential for raising domestic awareness.
Reflecting on a challenging childhood
Evbuomwan’s personal history includes the loss of his mother when he was 11 years old. He credits his father with maintaining a stable environment for him and his brother during that period, describing his upbringing as a source of strength.
“I was very fortunate, I feel blessed,” he shared. “I had a good childhood, my parents raised my brother and me very well, I am very grateful to them. It was a stroke of luck to grow up in that environment, in that family environment; I have very good memories of my childhood.”
He expressed gratitude for the support of his family and friends, which helped him overcome the difficulties of his youth. The full interview, providing further insight into his transition to the Barcelona squad and his expectations for the season, is scheduled for publication by SPORT on Wednesday, November 11.
Evbuomwan’s return to the court remains dependent on the progression of his recovery from the abdominal injury. The club has not provided a specific date for his return to competition beyond the estimated three-week timeline.
