The Adelaide 36ers have strengthened their frontcourt, signing former NBA centre Mangok Mathiang for the remainder of the Hungry Jack\u2019s NBL27 Season.<\/p>\n
The 208cm big man, who\u2019s played with the Illawarra Hawks and New Zealand Breakers previously, joins the Sixers following the retirement of Isaac Humphries.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t want to rush the process of finding a replacement player,\u201d 36ers General Manager of Basketball Operations Matt Weston said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to bring in someone of really high value, and in Mangok we have that.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe brings experience in the League, big-time experience in Europe, Asia and Africa, as well as in the international space, and he\u2019s going to play the role we\u2019re after.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need that guy off the bench who does the hard yards.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat means rebounding, setting screens, defending, and putting heat on the rim.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose are the four things we\u2019re looking for, and we know Mangok can provide.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got great size and physical presence, and, per minute, his rebounding numbers are about the same as Nick Rakocevic\u2019s, so that will help us control the glass on both ends.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prior to his time in the NBL, the Melbourne-born talent spent four seasons at the University of Louisville and the 2017\u201318 NBA campaign with the Charlotte Hornets.<\/p>\n
As well as playing in the United States, the South Sudanese international has played in Italy, Turkey, Israel, China and most recently Rwanda, where he played for the RSSB Tigers in the Basketball Africa League.<\/p>\n
In May, Mathiang scored 11 points and pulled down 14 rebounds in the BAL Final, helping his side to championship success, and he was named the competition\u2019s Dikembe Mutombo Defensive Player of the Year.<\/p>\n
Mathiang is in the mix to make his Sixers debut when Adelaide travels to John Cain Arena on Saturday to face South East Melbourne.<\/p>\n
That Round 6 fixture tips off at 7.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN, 9 (in Melbourne and Adelaide), 9Go! and 9Now.<\/p>\n