Road to BAL: Thunder land award winning power forward's signature
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Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 28.10.24. | 11:35
The Kenyan champions are headed to the Elite 16 after finishing second in Group D qualifiers held in Kibaha, Tanzania
Ahead of their debut in the Road to BAL (Basketball Africa League) Elite 16, Nairobi City Thunder have bolstered their squad, signing 2022 BAL Defensive Player of the Year Ater James Majok (AJ).
AJ bagged silver in the inaugural BAL season in 2021 with Tunisians US Monastir, a side he has played for in the premier African men's club competition for three of the four seasons held so far. They lifted the 2022 title, Majok making the All-BAL first team.
Nairobi City Thunder out here doing the Lords work for Kenyan basketball....@roadtoBAL gonna be 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OQu6OBUwuX
— Matheka (@Lynmatheka) October 28, 2024
He featured for Petro de Luanda in the 2023 season as they lost the third-place playoffs to Mali's Stade Malien. The 37-year-old made the BAL All-Defensive Team. He was also named in the All-Defensive Second Team in the 2024 BAL.
"Welcome to Thunder, @iamatermajok. Our squad just got stronger as Majok joins us for the 2024-25 season, bringing skill, power, and international experience to the court. Together, we’re ready to make waves as we head into the #Elite16 and continue the #RoadToBAL journey (sic)," the club announced on social media.
The 6ft 11 in player with Australian and Lebanese passports and is of South Sudanese decent, was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2011 NBA draft with the 58th overall pick. He joined them for the 2012 NBA Summer League where in three games (1 start), he averaged 1.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 15 minutes per game.
He brings a wealth of experience to the Thunder side that saw their main centre player at the Road to BAL East Division Group phase, William Sydney Davis II pick an injury. He is, however, expected to recover in time for the competition.
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