Mojave King became only the third Kiwi-born player to be picked in an NBA Draft in 2023, with the Los Angeles Lakers selecting the dynamic shooting guard at 47th overall pick. What was a promising start for the New Zealander in the NBA quickly descended into mild disappointment, as he was immediately traded to the Indiana Pacers.
Unfortunately, Mojave King never made an official NBA appearance for the Pacers, although he did have some success in the NBA G League. Only 21 years old, King has more than enough quality to force a move back into the NBA, however, for now, the Kiwi has been left assessing his options.
He’s far from the only player to shift between a few different teams in the pursuit of regular, top-level professional basketball. In fact, these types of players are regularly given the most attention by sports bettors in particular, as they can represent interesting opportunities for strategic wagering on things like the NBA Draft.
With sports betting platforms now offering various betting markets, players like Mojave King are great options for savvy betting fans who enjoy tracking a few particular players throughout their careers. His move to the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the original NBA teams, was a significant step forward increasing his appeal to bettors. However, in the event, King’s career has stalled somewhat.
What’s next for this talented baller? Keep reading to find out more.
Who is Mojave King?
First things first – who exactly is Mojave King? Born in Dunedin on New Zealand’s South Island in June 2002, he was named after the Mojave Desert – perhaps foreshadowing his career ambition to one day play in the NBA. But before he could move to America, King’s family relocated to Australia, when he was four.
The move was instigated by his father getting the coaching job at the Brisbane Spartans – something that left a lasting effect on young Mojave. He quickly rose through the ranks playing school basketball, making his debut for the Brisbane Capitals in 2018.
King did enough while only 16 to earn a call-up to the NBA Global Academy in Canberra. He played in the semi-professional NBL1 league before hooping for Queensland South at the Australian Under-18 Championship. King was the tournament top scorer with 26.6 points per game – a statistic that eventually earned him a move into proper, fully-fledged professional basketball.
Mojave King: a quick career history
Mojave King was only 17 when he signed his first professional contract, in March 2020. The Cairns Taipans recruited his services in the NBL with the intention of developing King for an eventual NBA Draft. In a mark of the Kiwi’s confidence, he turned down various NCAA Division I college teams to compete in professional basketball
A slightly underwhelming season at the Taipans ended with a transfer to the Adelaide 36ers in 2021, where King played out the rest of his NBA Next Stars contract. A brief stint back home in New Zealand at the Southland Sharks followed between April and September 2022, before the shooting guard joined NBA G League Ignite.
This move set Mojave King up to enter the NBA Draft 2023, where he was picked by Los Angeles Lakers and then traded to the Indiana Pacers – where WNBA starlet Caitlin Clark was drafted. Although he made an appearance in the 2023 NBA Summer League, King was deemed not yet good enough to play in the NBA proper.
As a result, he moved to the Indiana Mad Ants, a developmental feeder affiliate to the Pacers. He played 15 games in the 2023-2024 season, scoring 3.9 points every 8.9 minutes – a decent return, but not enough to turn heads in the NBA.
Where is Mojave King now?
So, what happened next? Well, King was seemingly frustrated at the lack of playing opportunities at the Indiana Mad Ants, reasoning that he would have to move elsewhere to get another shot at playing NBA basketball.
He signed for the New Zealand Breakers in April 2024, ready for another shot in the NBL – Australasia’s premier basketball competition. The season kicks off in September, where fans will get the first glimpse of the journeyman back on home soil.
Will we ever see Mojave King in the NBA?
It remains to be seen whether Mojave King will ever be able to make the jump to the NBA. Most experts agree he has the talent, but his game must mature and he’ll also need a decent stroke of luck to get there. Let’s hope he can do it!
