TEEN SIGNS ON
NEW KING OF THE HOOPS FOR TAIPANS IN 2020-21
EXCITING teenager Mojave King wants to earn every second of playing time he receives in the upcoming NBL season.
That attitude and determination played a significant role in the Snakes landing the athletic youngster under the Next Stars program, NBL coach of the year Mike Kelly revealed.
Kelly, entering his third campaign in FNQ, says signing King was much easier than previous Next Star recruiting conversations.
“When we agreed to terms with Mojave, he took a leap of faith, and we did as well,” Kelly said.
“He said that he wanted to earn his time on the court and I loved hearing that because in the past when we have talked to Next Stars, their management has kind of demanded certain roles.
“And, with Mojave, he said I am willing to come in and learn and fight for minutes. You know that he has belief in himself and he may have more responsibility with a smaller roster this season.”
The Brisbane product had a stack of American college offers and other interest from around the globe but declared preparing himself for the NBA was his intention in moving to FNQ.
“I would say it is more about opportunity to come here and learn from guys who are already pros and played against pros,” King said.
“I feel like that is going to do a better job of developing me for where I am trying to get to.
“That is the NBA, or being the best player I can be. I felt like playing against professionals, college would have been great as well, but I felt like the pro route was better.
“That is my long-term goal to get drafted to the NBA.”
The 196cm guard says he needs to have a conversation in the future about which role he will play with Cairns, but believes he is able to play both guard slots and even slide up to the three, on both ends of the floor.
King says the Taipans’ fast pace and transition game are what drew him to Cairns for the 2020-21 campaign, when it eventually starts.
King joins returning duo Majok Deng and Mirko Djeric as Snakes who have already signed for next season.
King’s father, Leonard, who played as an import in the New Zealand NBL throughout the 1990s, was also in Cairns yesterday as his son was unveiled as an official NBL player.