Breakers sign former NBA player

Mangok Mathiang playing for Louisville in 2017
Photo: AFP

The New Zealand Breakers have signed former Charlotte Hornets centre Mangok Mathiang for the next Australian NBL basketball season.

With Derek Pardon not returning the Breakers have gone to the same league to pick up Mathiang.

30-year-old Mathiang played four games for the Charlotte Hornets in 2017-18.

The South Sudan born Australian has most recently been playing in Israel.

He also has previous NBL experience, having played 25 games for the Illawarra Hawks in 2022/23, averaging 7.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.0 blocks.

“In my opinion, Mangok will be the most underrated player coming into the NBL this season”, said head coach Mody Maor.

“Mangok has completely healed from the leg injury that hampered him for two seasons.

“It was clear that playing last season for Illawarra, he was rounding into form before heading to the Middle East. In the last couple of months, Mangok has dominated the Israeli League.

“If he produces the type of numbers for us that he’s been posting in Israel, then we are talking about a strong candidate for NBL Defensive Player of the Year.”

Playing for Hapoel Eilat, the 208cm (6’10”) player averaged 11.1 points and 13.9 rebounds over 11 games.

History shows Pardon came to the Breakers as an unknown last season but quickly developed admiration across the NBL for his toughness.

The American Import left Auckland with All NBL 2nd Team honours and was named the Breakers Defensive Player of the Year.

Mangok is the seventh player confirmed on Mody Maor’s roster for NBL24 joining Tom Abercrombie, Will McDowell-White, Izayah Le’afa, Cam Gliddon, Dan Fotu, and Tom Vodanovich.

There are 12 players in an NBL roster, with each team allowed a maximum of three imports.

An NBL Next Star has a special exemption to sit outside the 12 senior professionals.