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{{short description|New Zealand-American basketball player}}
{{Short description|New Zealand-American basketball player (born 2002)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2020}}
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| caption = King with the NBA Global Academy in 2020
| caption = King with the NBA Global Academy in 2020
| position = [[Shooting guard]]
| position = [[Shooting guard]]
| height_cm = 195
| height_ft = 6
| weight_kg = 88
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 195
| league = [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]
| league = [[National Basketball League (Australia)|NBL]]
⚫
| team = Indiana Pacers
| team = New Zealand Breakers
| number =
| number =
| nationality = New Zealand / American
| nationality = New Zealand / American
Line 35: Line 36:
| years6 = [[2022–23 NBA G League season|2022–2023]]
| years6 = [[2022–23 NBA G League season|2022–2023]]
| team6 = [[NBA G League Ignite]]
| team6 = [[NBA G League Ignite]]
| years7 = [[2023–24 NBA G League season|2023–2024]]
⚫
| team7 = [[Indiana Mad Ants]]
| years8 = 2024–present
| team8 = [[New Zealand Breakers]]
| highlights =
| highlights =
* [[NBA G League]] Next Up Game ([[2022–23 NBA G League season|2023]])
* [[NBA G League]] Next Up Game ([[2022–23 NBA G League season|2023]])
| medaltemplates =
| medaltemplates =
}}
}}
'''Mojave King''' (born 11 June 2002) is a New Zealand-American professional [[basketball]] player who last played for the [[NBA G League Ignite]] of the [[NBA G League]]. He was selected by the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] with the 47th overall pick in the [[2023 NBA draft]].
'''Mojave King''' ({{IPAc-en|m|ə|ˈ|h|ɑː|v|i}} {{respell|mə|HAH|vee}};<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ0RvJsMwZM&t=1s&ab_channel=NBAGLeague|title=Pre-Draft Journey: Mojave King|publisher=[[NBA G League]]|date=June 11, 2023|accessdate=December 4, 2023|time=0:00|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> born 11 June 2002) is a New Zealand-American professional [[basketball]] player for the [[New Zealand Breakers]] of the Australian [[National Basketball League (Australia)|National Basketball League]] (NBL). He began his career in the Australian NBL in 2020, playing his first season for the [[Cairns Taipans]]. After a season with the [[Adelaide 36ers]], he joined the [[NBA G League Ignite]] in 2022. He was selected by the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] with the 47th overall pick in the [[2023 NBA draft]].


==Early life and career==
==Early life and career==
King was born in [[Dunedin]], New Zealand.<ref name="cheshire">{{cite web |last1=Cheshire |first1=Jeff |title=Young Dunedin-born player turning heads in US |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/young-dunedin-born-player-turning-heads-us |website=[[Otago Daily Times]] |access-date=1 April 2020 |date=10 April 2019}}</ref> He was named after the [[Mojave Desert]] in the southwestern [[United States]].<ref name="glier">{{cite web |last1=Glier |first1=Ray |title=From Down Under, With a Nod to the Mojave Desert, Comes a New Hoops Star |url=https://www.ozy.com/the-huddle/from-down-under-with-a-nod-to-the-mojave-desert-comes-a-new-hoops-star/95703/ |website=[[OZY Media]] |access-date=1 April 2020 |date=8 August 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808052632/https://www.ozy.com/the-huddle/from-down-under-with-a-nod-to-the-mojave-desert-comes-a-new-hoops-star/95703/ |archive-date=8 August 2019}}</ref>
King was born in [[Dunedin]], New Zealand.<ref name="cheshire">{{cite web |last1=Cheshire |first1=Jeff |title=Young Dunedin-born player turning heads in US |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/young-dunedin-born-player-turning-heads-us |website=[[Otago Daily Times]] |access-date=1 April 2020 |date=10 April 2019}}</ref> He was named after the [[Mojave Desert]] in the southwestern [[United States]].<ref name="glier">{{cite web |last1=Glier |first1=Ray |title=From Down Under, With a Nod to the Mojave Desert, Comes a New Hoops Star |url=https://www.ozy.com/the-huddle/from-down-under-with-a-nod-to-the-mojave-desert-comes-a-new-hoops-star/95703/ |website=[[OZY Media]] |access-date=1 April 2020 |date=8 August 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808052632/https://www.ozy.com/the-huddle/from-down-under-with-a-nod-to-the-mojave-desert-comes-a-new-hoops-star/95703/ |archive-date=8 August 2019}}</ref>


In 2007, at the age of four, Mojave moved with his family to [[Mackay, Queensland]], when his father accepted a role to coach the Mackay Meteors in Australia's semi-professional [[NBL1 North|Queensland Basketball League]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Payne |first1=Charlie |title=Gypsy king moving on from Mackay |url=https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/gypsy-king-moving-on-from-mackay/742984/ |publisher=Daily Mercury |access-date=14 January 2020 |date=13 January 2011}}</ref> The family settled in [[Brisbane]] four years later when King's father accepted a position to coach the Brisbane Spartans in the [[South East Australian Basketball League]].<ref name="pick">{{cite web |title=Meet Mojave King: Brisbane's next NBA prospect |url=https://pickandroll.com.au/mojave-king-brisbanes-next-nba-prospect/ |publisher=The Pick and Roll |access-date=1 April 2020 |date=11 November 2019}}</ref> Mojave attended [[Brisbane State High School]] as a teenager.<ref name=pick/>
In 2007, at the age of four, King moved with his family to [[Mackay, Queensland]], when his father accepted a role to coach the Mackay Meteors in Australia's semi-professional [[NBL1 North|Queensland Basketball League]] (QBL).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Payne |first1=Charlie |title=Gypsy king moving on from Mackay |url=https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/gypsy-king-moving-on-from-mackay/742984/ |publisher=Daily Mercury |access-date=14 January 2020 |date=13 January 2011}}</ref> The family settled in [[Brisbane]] four years later when King's father accepted a position to coach the Brisbane Spartans in the [[South East Australian Basketball League]].<ref name="pick">{{cite web |title=Meet Mojave King: Brisbane's next NBA prospect |url=https://pickandroll.com.au/mojave-king-brisbanes-next-nba-prospect/ |publisher=The Pick and Roll |access-date=1 April 2020 |date=11 November 2019}}</ref> There he attended [[Brisbane State High School]].<ref name=pick/>


In 2018, King played one game in the QBL for the [[Brisbane Capitals]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://websites.mygameday.app/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&client=0-4144-52754-480639-17259150&pID=206245989|title=Player statistics for Mojave King|work=Queensland Basketball League|access-date=23 June 2023}}</ref>
⚫
In January 2019, King joined the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] Global Academy, a training center at the [[Australian Institute of Sport]] in [[Canberra]]. In association with the academy, he played for BA Centre of Excellence in the [[NBL1]], an Australian semi-professional league.<ref name=pick/> Later that year, King represented Queensland South at the Australian Under-18 Championships, where he led the competition in scoring with 26.6 points per game.<ref name=pick/> At the NBA Academy Games in [[Atlanta|Atlanta, Georgia]] in July 2019, he averaged a tournament-high 19.2 points per game.<ref name=glier/>

⚫
In 2019, King joined the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] Global Academy, a training centre at the [[Australian Institute of Sport]] in [[Canberra]]. In association with the academy, he played for the [[Australian Institute of Sport#Basketball program|BA Centre of Excellence]] in the [[NBL1]], an Australian semi-professional league.<ref name=pick/> Later that year, King represented Queensland South at the Australian Under-18 Championships, where he led the competition in scoring with 26.6 points per game.<ref name=pick/> At the NBA Academy Games in [[Atlanta|Atlanta, Georgia]] in July 2019, he averaged a tournament-high 19.2 points per game.<ref name=glier/>


==Professional career==
==Professional career==
===Cairns Taipans (2020–2021)===
On 12 March 2020, at the age of 17, King signed with the [[Cairns Taipans]] of the [[National Basketball League (Australia)|National Basketball League]] (NBL) as a part of the league's [[NBL Next Stars Program|Next Stars program]] to develop [[NBA draft]] prospects.<ref name="nbl">{{cite web |title=Mojave King Joins Cairns Taipans as NBL Next Star |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/mojave-king-joins-cairns-taipans-as-nbl-next-star |publisher=[[National Basketball League (Australia)|NBL]] |access-date=1 April 2020 |date=12 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/basketball/nbl/mojave-king-signs-with-cairns-taipans-as-part-of-nbls-next-stars-program/news-story/a4da7750f106d4050089bada8f8834bc | title=Mojave King signs with Cairns Taipans as part of NBL's Next Stars program | date=13 March 2020 | work=Fox Sports | first=Olgun | last=Uluc | access-date=15 June 2020 }}</ref> By joining the NBL, he turned down offers from several [[NCAA Division I]] programs, including [[Arizona Wildcats men's basketball|Arizona]], [[Baylor Bears basketball|Baylor]], [[Oregon Ducks men's basketball|Oregon]] and [[Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball|Virginia]].<ref name="daniels">{{cite web |last1=Daniels |first1=Evan |title=Mojave King bypasses college options to sign with NBL |url=https://247sports.com/college/basketball/recruiting/Article/Mojav-King-Arizona-Baylor-NBL-144965539/ |publisher=[[247Sports.com|247Sports]] |access-date=1 April 2020 |date=12 March 2020}}</ref> During the [[2020–21 NBL season|2020–21 season]], King averaged 6.2 points and 2.4 rebounds.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mojave King |url=https://www.nbl.com.au/player/3713/1570492/mojave-king |website=www.NBL.com.au |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref>
On 12 March 2020, at the age of 17, King signed with the [[Cairns Taipans]] of the [[National Basketball League (Australia)|National Basketball League]] (NBL) as a part of the league's [[NBL Next Stars Program|Next Stars program]] to develop [[NBA draft]] prospects.<ref name="nbl">{{cite web|title=Mojave King Joins Cairns Taipans as NBL Next Star|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/mojave-king-joins-cairns-taipans-as-nbl-next-star|website=NBL.com.au|date=12 March 2020|access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Olgun|last=Uluc|title=Mojave King signs with Cairns Taipans as part of NBL's Next Stars program|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/basketball/nbl/mojave-king-signs-with-cairns-taipans-as-part-of-nbls-next-stars-program/news-story/a4da7750f106d4050089bada8f8834bc|work=Fox Sports|date=13 March 2020|access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref> By joining the NBL, he turned down offers from several [[NCAA Division I]] programs, including [[Arizona Wildcats men's basketball|Arizona]], [[Baylor Bears basketball|Baylor]], [[Oregon Ducks men's basketball|Oregon]] and [[Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball|Virginia]].<ref name="daniels">{{cite web|first=Evan|last=Daniels|title=Mojave King bypasses college options to sign with NBL|url=https://247sports.com/college/basketball/recruiting/Article/Mojav-King-Arizona-Baylor-NBL-144965539/|website=247Sports.com|date=12 March 2020|access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref> During the [[2020–21 NBL season|2020–21 season]], King averaged 6.2 points and 2.4 rebounds.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mojave King|url=https://www.nbl.com.au/player/3713/1570492/mojave-king|website=NBL.com.au|access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref>


===Adelaide 36ers (2021–2022)===
On 14 July 2021, King was transferred to the [[Adelaide 36ers]] for the final year of his Next Stars contract.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mojave King Moves to Adelaide 36ers for NBL22 |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/mojave-king-moves-to-adelaide-36ers-for-nbl22 |website=NBL.com.au |access-date=14 July 2021 |date=14 July 2021}}</ref>
On 14 July 2021, King was transferred to the [[Adelaide 36ers]] for the final year of his Next Stars contract.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mojave King Moves to Adelaide 36ers for NBL22|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/mojave-king-moves-to-adelaide-36ers-for-nbl22|website=NBL.com.au|date=14 July 2021|access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref>


===Southland Sharks (2022)===
On 19 April 2022, King signed with the [[Southland Sharks]] for the [[2022 New Zealand NBL season]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Sharks score coup to sign NBA prospect King |url=https://www.sharksbasketball.co.nz/single-post/sharks-score-coup-to-sign-nba-prospect-king |website=sharksbasketball.co.nz |access-date=19 April 2022 |date=19 April 2022}}</ref>
On 19 April 2022, King signed with the [[Southland Sharks]] for the [[2022 New Zealand NBL season]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Sharks score coup to sign NBA prospect King|url=https://www.sharksbasketball.co.nz/single-post/sharks-score-coup-to-sign-nba-prospect-king|website=SharksBasketball.co.nz|date=19 April 2022|access-date=19 April 2022}}</ref>


===NBA G League Ignite (2022–2023)===
On 7 September 2022, King signed a contract with the [[NBA G League Ignite]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mojave King, Leonard Miller Sign With NBA G League Ignite|url=https://ignite.gleague.nba.com/news/mojave-king-leonard-miller-sign-with-nba-g-league-ignite/|date=7 September 2022|access-date=18 September 2022|website=ignite.gleague.nba.com}}</ref> He was named to the G League's inaugural Next Up Game for the 2022–23 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wolves' Garza And Ignite's Henderson Named Captains For NBA G League Next Up Game |url=https://gleague.nba.com/news/wolves-garza-and-ignites-henderson-named-captains-for-nba-g-league-next-up-game |access-date=8 March 2023 |date=8 February 2023 |website=NBA G League}}</ref>
On 7 September 2022, King signed a contract with the [[NBA G League Ignite]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mojave King, Leonard Miller Sign With NBA G League Ignite|url=https://ignite.gleague.nba.com/news/mojave-king-leonard-miller-sign-with-nba-g-league-ignite/|website=NBA.com|date=7 September 2022|access-date=18 September 2022}}</ref> He was named to the G League's inaugural Next Up Game for the 2022–23 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wolves' Garza And Ignite's Henderson Named Captains For NBA G League Next Up Game|url=https://gleague.nba.com/news/wolves-garza-and-ignites-henderson-named-captains-for-nba-g-league-next-up-game|website=NBA.com|date=8 February 2023|access-date=8 March 2023}}</ref>


===Indiana Mad Ants (2023–2024)===
King was selected with the 47th overall pick in the [[2023 NBA draft]] by the [[Los Angeles Lakers]]. His draft rights were then immediately traded to the [[Indiana Pacers]]. He became just the third New Zealand-born player to be picked in the NBA draft, following [[Sean Marks]] and [[Steven Adams]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Labuschagne |first=Reece |title=Basketball: New Zealand-born Mojave King drafted into NBA, becomes just third all time |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2023/06/basketball-new-zealand-born-mojave-king-drafted-into-nba-becomes-just-fourth-all-time.html |access-date=23 June 2023 |date=23 June 2023 |website=newshub.co.nz}}</ref>
King was selected with the 47th overall pick in the [[2023 NBA draft]] by the [[Los Angeles Lakers]]. His draft rights were then immediately traded to the [[Indiana Pacers]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Indiana Pacers Agree in Principle to Acquire Draft Rights to Jarace Walker|url=https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/indiana-pacers-agree-in-principle-to-acquire-draft-rights-to-jarace-walker-2|website=NBA.com|date=23 June 2023|access-date=29 October 2023}}</ref> He became just the third New Zealand-born player to be picked in the NBA draft, following [[Sean Marks]] and [[Steven Adams]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Reece|last=Labuschagne|title=Basketball: New Zealand-born Mojave King drafted into NBA, becomes just third all time|url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2023/06/basketball-new-zealand-born-mojave-king-drafted-into-nba-becomes-just-fourth-all-time.html|website=[[Newshub]]|date=23 June 2023|access-date=23 June 2023}}</ref> He subsequently played for the Pacers in the [[2023 NBA Summer League]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mojave King|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Mojave-King/Summary/138963|work=RealGM.com|access-date=26 October 2023}}</ref> In October 2023, he joined the [[Indiana Mad Ants]], the Pacers' [[NBA G League]] affiliate.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mad Ants announce 2023 Training Camp Roster|url=https://fortwayne.gleague.nba.com/news/mad-ants-announce-2023-training-camp-roster|website=NBA.com|date=28 October 2023|access-date=29 October 2023}}</ref> He appeared in 15 games for the Mad Ants in the [[2023–24 NBA G League season]], averaging 3.9 points in 8.9 minutes per game.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mojave King|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Mojave-King/Summary/138963|website=RealGM.com|access-date=18 April 2024}}</ref>


===New Zealand Breakers (2024–present)===
==National team==
On 18 April 2024, King signed with the [[New Zealand Breakers]] for the [[2024–25 NBL season]].<ref>{{cite web|title=NBA draftee heads to Breakers|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/nba-draftee-heads-to-breakers|website=NBL.com.au|date=18 April 2024|access-date=18 April 2024}}</ref>
⚫
King is a [[Multiple citizenship|dual citizen]] of New Zealand and the United States.<ref name=pickandroll>{{cite web |title=Meet Mojave King: Brisbane's next NBA prospect |url=https://pickandroll.com.au/p/mojave-king-brisbanes-next-nba-prospect?s=r |website=pickandroll.com.au |date=11 November 2019 |access-date=19 April 2022}}</ref> As of 2019, he did not hold an Australian passport.<ref name="pickandroll" /> He has signalled his intentions to represent the [[Australia men's national basketball team|Australian national team]].<ref name="pickandroll" /><ref name=santamaria>{{cite web |last1=Santamaria |first1=Liam |title=Meet Mojave King: Australian Basketball's Next Big Thing |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/article/meet-mojave-king-australian-basketballs-next-big-thing |publisher=[[National Basketball League (Australia)|NBL]] |access-date=1 April 2020 |date=11 April 2019 |archive-date=16 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316183300/https://nbl.com.au/news/article/meet-mojave-king-australian-basketballs-next-big-thing |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
King is the son of Tracey and [[Leonard King (basketball)|Leonard King]]. His father, Leonard, is from the United States and is of Native American and African American descent.<ref name=glier/> Leonard played and coached professionally in New Zealand.<ref name=glier/><ref name=cheshire/><ref>{{cite web |last=Kossatch |first=Nick |title=Elite coach praises local basketball talent |url=https://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/news/elite-coach-praises-local-basketball-talent/2863866/|website=Gladstone Observer |access-date=24 April 2020 |date=6 December 2015}}</ref> King's mother, Tracey, is a New Zealand native and played NCAA basketball for [[Duquesne Dukes women's basketball|Duquesne]].<ref name=santamaria/> His older sister, Tylah, played for [[Pacific Tigers women's basketball|Pacific]] in the NCAA.<ref name=glier/> King's maternal grandfather, John Paul, coached basketball in [[Otago]] for over 50 years and is one of the region's most prominent basketball figures.<ref name=cheshire/>
King is the son of [[Leonard King (basketball)|Leonard]] and Tracey King ({{née|Paul}}).<ref name=cheshire/> His father is from the United States and played in New Zealand and coached in Australia.<ref name=cheshire/><ref name=glier/><ref>{{cite web |last=Kossatch |first=Nick |title=Elite coach praises local basketball talent |url=https://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/news/elite-coach-praises-local-basketball-talent/2863866/|website=Gladstone Observer |access-date=24 April 2020 |date=6 December 2015}}</ref> His mother is a New Zealand native and played NCAA basketball for [[Duquesne Dukes women's basketball|Duquesne]].<ref name=santamaria/> His older sister, Tylah, played for [[Pacific Tigers women's basketball|Pacific]] in the NCAA.<ref name=glier/> King's maternal grandfather, John Paul, coached basketball in [[Otago]] for over 50 years and is one of the region's most prominent basketball figures.<ref name=cheshire/>

===Nationality and citizenship===
⚫
King is a [[Multiple citizenship|dual citizen]] of New Zealand and the United States.<ref name=pickandroll>{{cite web |title=Meet Mojave King: Brisbane's next NBA prospect |url=https://pickandroll.com.au/p/mojave-king-brisbanes-next-nba-prospect?s=r |website=pickandroll.com.au |date=11 November 2019 |access-date=19 April 2022}}</ref> As of 2019, he did not hold an Australian passport.<ref name="pickandroll" /> He has signalled his intentions to represent the [[Australia men's national basketball team|Australian national team]].<ref name="pickandroll" /><ref name=santamaria>{{cite web |last1=Santamaria |first1=Liam |title=Meet Mojave King: Australian Basketball's Next Big Thing |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/meet-mojave-king-australian-basketballs-next-big-thing |website=NBL.com.au |access-date=23 June 2023 |date=11 April 2019 |archive-date=23 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623131639/https://nbl.com.au/news/meet-mojave-king-australian-basketballs-next-big-thing |url-status=live}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{commons category}}
*[https://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Mojave-King/Australia/Cairns-Taipans/510890? Eurobasket profile]
*[https://gleague.nba.com/player/1631340/mojave-king NBA G League profile]
*[https://basketball.realgm.com/player/wd/Summary/138963 RealGM profile]
*[https://nbl.com.au/player/3713/1570492/mojave-king NBL profile]


{{New Zealand Breakers current roster}}
{{2023 NBA draft}}
{{2023 NBA draft}}


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[[Category:Basketball players from Brisbane]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Brisbane]]
[[Category:Cairns Taipans players]]
[[Category:Cairns Taipans players]]
[[Category:NBA G League Ignite players]]
[[Category:Indiana Mad Ants players]]
⚫
[[Category:New Zealand emigrants]]
[[Category:Immigrants to Australia]]
[[Category:Immigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Lakers draft picks]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Lakers draft picks]]
[[Category:NBA G League Ignite players]]
⚫
[[Category:New Zealand emigrants to Australia]]
[[Category:New Zealand men's basketball players]]
[[Category:New Zealand men's basketball players]]
[[Category:New Zealand people of American descent]]
[[Category:Shooting guards]]
[[Category:Shooting guards]]
[[Category:Southland Sharks players]]
[[Category:Southland Sharks players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Dunedin]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Dunedin]]
[[Category:People educated at Brisbane State High School]]

Latest revision as of 01:09, 1 July 2024

Mojave King
King with the NBA Global Academy in 2020
New Zealand Breakers
PositionShooting guard
LeagueNBL
Personal information
Born (2002-06-11) 11 June 2002 (age 22)
Dunedin, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealand / American
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High schoolBrisbane State
(Brisbane, Queensland)
NBA draft2023: 2nd round, 47th overall pick
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018Brisbane Capitals
2019BA Centre of Excellence
2020–2021Cairns Taipans
2021–2022Adelaide 36ers
2022Southland Sharks
2022–2023NBA G League Ignite
2023–2024Indiana Mad Ants
2024–presentNew Zealand Breakers
Career highlights and awards
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at NBA.com
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at Basketball-Reference.com

Mojave King (/məˈhɑːvi/ mə-HAH-vee;[1] born 11 June 2002) is a New Zealand-American professional basketball player for the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He began his career in the Australian NBL in 2020, playing his first season for the Cairns Taipans. After a season with the Adelaide 36ers, he joined the NBA G League Ignite in 2022. He was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 47th overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft.

Early life and career

[edit]

King was born in Dunedin, New Zealand.[2] He was named after the Mojave Desert in the southwestern United States.[3]

In 2007, at the age of four, King moved with his family to Mackay, Queensland, when his father accepted a role to coach the Mackay Meteors in Australia's semi-professional Queensland Basketball League (QBL).[4] The family settled in Brisbane four years later when King's father accepted a position to coach the Brisbane Spartans in the South East Australian Basketball League.[5] There he attended Brisbane State High School.[5]

In 2018, King played one game in the QBL for the Brisbane Capitals.[6]

In 2019, King joined the NBA Global Academy, a training centre at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. In association with the academy, he played for the BA Centre of Excellence in the NBL1, an Australian semi-professional league.[5] Later that year, King represented Queensland South at the Australian Under-18 Championships, where he led the competition in scoring with 26.6 points per game.[5] At the NBA Academy Games in Atlanta, Georgia in July 2019, he averaged a tournament-high 19.2 points per game.[3]

Professional career

[edit]

Cairns Taipans (2020–2021)

[edit]

On 12 March 2020, at the age of 17, King signed with the Cairns Taipans of the National Basketball League (NBL) as a part of the league's Next Stars program to develop NBA draft prospects.[7][8] By joining the NBL, he turned down offers from several NCAA Division I programs, including Arizona, Baylor, Oregon and Virginia.[9] During the 2020–21 season, King averaged 6.2 points and 2.4 rebounds.[10]

Adelaide 36ers (2021–2022)

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On 14 July 2021, King was transferred to the Adelaide 36ers for the final year of his Next Stars contract.[11]

Southland Sharks (2022)

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On 19 April 2022, King signed with the Southland Sharks for the 2022 New Zealand NBL season.[12]

NBA G League Ignite (2022–2023)

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On 7 September 2022, King signed a contract with the NBA G League Ignite.[13] He was named to the G League's inaugural Next Up Game for the 2022–23 season.[14]

Indiana Mad Ants (2023–2024)

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King was selected with the 47th overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. His draft rights were then immediately traded to the Indiana Pacers.[15] He became just the third New Zealand-born player to be picked in the NBA draft, following Sean Marks and Steven Adams.[16] He subsequently played for the Pacers in the 2023 NBA Summer League.[17] In October 2023, he joined the Indiana Mad Ants, the Pacers' NBA G League affiliate.[18] He appeared in 15 games for the Mad Ants in the 2023–24 NBA G League season, averaging 3.9 points in 8.9 minutes per game.[19]

New Zealand Breakers (2024–present)

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On 18 April 2024, King signed with the New Zealand Breakers for the 2024–25 NBL season.[20]

Personal life

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King is the son of Leonard and Tracey King (née Paul).[2] His father is from the United States and played in New Zealand and coached in Australia.[2][3][21] His mother is a New Zealand native and played NCAA basketball for Duquesne.[22] His older sister, Tylah, played for Pacific in the NCAA.[3] King's maternal grandfather, John Paul, coached basketball in Otago for over 50 years and is one of the region's most prominent basketball figures.[2]

Nationality and citizenship

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King is a dual citizen of New Zealand and the United States.[23] As of 2019, he did not hold an Australian passport.[23] He has signalled his intentions to represent the Australian national team.[23][22]

References

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  1. ^ Pre-Draft Journey: Mojave King. NBA G League. 11 June 2023. Event occurs at 0:00. Retrieved 4 December 2023 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ a b c d Cheshire, Jeff (10 April 2019). "Young Dunedin-born player turning heads in US". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d Glier, Ray (8 August 2019). "From Down Under, With a Nod to the Mojave Desert, Comes a New Hoops Star". OZY Media. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  4. ^ Payne, Charlie (13 January 2011). "Gypsy king moving on from Mackay". Daily Mercury. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d "Meet Mojave King: Brisbane's next NBA prospect". The Pick and Roll. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Player statistics for Mojave King". Queensland Basketball League. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Mojave King Joins Cairns Taipans as NBL Next Star". NBL.com.au. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  8. ^ Uluc, Olgun (13 March 2020). "Mojave King signs with Cairns Taipans as part of NBL's Next Stars program". Fox Sports. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  9. ^ Daniels, Evan (12 March 2020). "Mojave King bypasses college options to sign with NBL". 247Sports.com. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Mojave King". NBL.com.au. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Mojave King Moves to Adelaide 36ers for NBL22". NBL.com.au. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Sharks score coup to sign NBA prospect King". SharksBasketball.co.nz. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  13. ^ "Mojave King, Leonard Miller Sign With NBA G League Ignite". NBA.com. 7 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  14. ^ "Wolves' Garza And Ignite's Henderson Named Captains For NBA G League Next Up Game". NBA.com. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  15. ^ "Indiana Pacers Agree in Principle to Acquire Draft Rights to Jarace Walker". NBA.com. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  16. ^ Labuschagne, Reece (23 June 2023). "Basketball: New Zealand-born Mojave King drafted into NBA, becomes just third all time". Newshub. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  17. ^ "Mojave King". RealGM.com. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Mad Ants announce 2023 Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  19. ^ "Mojave King". RealGM.com. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  20. ^ "NBA draftee heads to Breakers". NBL.com.au. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  21. ^ Kossatch, Nick (6 December 2015). "Elite coach praises local basketball talent". Gladstone Observer. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  22. ^ a b Santamaria, Liam (11 April 2019). "Meet Mojave King: Australian Basketball's Next Big Thing". NBL.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  23. ^ a b c "Meet Mojave King: Brisbane's next NBA prospect". pickandroll.com.au. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
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