Lakers draftee King joins NZ Breakers
We are betting that Mojave’s best basketball is ahead of him. Breakers coach Mody Maor
Coach Mody Maor believes the Breakers can maximise the talent and consistency of Mojave King, who was drafted into the NBA last year but failed to take the court.
After securing the services of import point guard Parker JacksonCartwright, the Breakers confirmed the signing of shooting guard King this week.
King was the third New Zealandborn athlete to be drafted by an NBA team when he heard his name called by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 47th pick in the 2023 draft.
His draft rights were immediately traded to the Indiana Pacers, and he spent last season playing for the Indiana Mad Ants in the G-League, the NBA’s development league.
The 21-year-old has shown glimpses of his capabilities in the United States but has struggled with consistency at times. It’s an element of his game Maor believes can be addressed through the one-year deal.
“We are betting that Mojave’s best basketball is ahead of him. He’s been in the process of finding the right basketball home for some time,” says Maor.
“We feel there is much more to Mojave on both sides of the court. He has incredible natural gifts, size, feel, shooting and athletic abilities but they haven’t been consistently displayed in a winning basketball environment yet.
“There’s a wealth of untapped potential, which is something that we are very interested in seeing inside our system and environment.”
Dunedin-born King has previously played in the Australian NBL for the Cairns Taipans and Adelaide 36ers, and the New Zealand NBL for the Southland Sharks in 2022.
It is understood the Breakers also have deals in place with former NBA forward Jonah Bolden and veteran guard Mitch McCarron, though the club is yet to confirm those signings.
Like King, they would be savvy moves by the club, as they provide quality production with the club’s remaining two import spots open.
The signing comes as guards Will McDowell-White and Izayah Le’afa look set to take their talents elsewhere.
McDowell-White reportedly declined his player option with the Breakers and will test the free agent market, while Le’afa is reported to have signed a two-year deal with the Sydney Kings.
King is the fourth player to be confirmed in the Breakers’ 11-man squad for NBL25, joining marque signing and All NBL First Teamer JacksonCartwright, new Kiwi signing Sam Mennenga and returning Dane Pineau.
Speaking from Indianapolis, King said he had decided to join the Breakers after positive conversations with Maor.
“Mody is a big reason I decided to sign. His vision and the way he’s going to try to make the team play next season is everything I want to be a part of in my basketball career.”