JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) – Mojave King is making the most of his first run in international basketball. On a night when his team needed a spark, the 23-year-old guard erupted for 22 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 triples to steer New Zealand past Chinese Taipei and into the Quarter-Finals.
"This is my first time playing for the Tall Blacks and representing my country, so it’s been a learning experience for sure," King said. "We’ve got a lot of good vets that have done a really good job of guiding me through the process and preparing me to just keep it simple when I get out there. It’s been good to start winning games with the boys and building chemistry."
One of those vets, forward Tohi Smith-Milner, didn’t hold back in his praise.
"Mojave is an amazing player. What he can do on the basketball court is world class, and he’s obviously showing it on the stage," Smith-Milner said. "He is a great piece for this team."
The stage certainly didn’t seem too big for King. He played with a mix of composure and confidence, hitting big shots and finding teammates while also crashing the boards.
Guard Taylor Britt sees performances like this as part of the the Tall Blacks' DNA.
"We’ve got 12 guys that can play and it’s going to be whoever’s day in the game," Britt said. "We’re all happy for each other’s success, and to see those guys like Mojave step up like that in a game that really matters, it’s great."
King believes the formula is simple.
"If we play our game, then we can go toe to toe with anybody in the world," he said.
If his debut tournament is already producing nights like this, the Final Phase could be the stage where Mojave King’s rise truly takes flight.
FIBA