South Sudan’s NBA Players: Featuring Wenyen Gabriel

South Sudan’s NBA Players journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics is led via Wenyen Gabriel and three different key players under train Royal Ivey. This is their first time within the Olympics, and they purpose to do more than simply take part. Even even though the percentages are against them, the group hopes to surprise absolutely everyone with their overall performance.
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No one predicted South Sudan, the best African country in guys’s basketball to qualify for the Olympics, to face a risk in opposition to Team USA in an exhibition sport. While, Team USA had NBA superstars LeBron James and Steph Curry, making them the most proficient group.


However, South Sudan wasn’t intimidated. According to Luol Deng, the president of the country’s basketball federation, the team played for “more than basketball.” They narrowly lost 101-100 to the highly-rated Americans, but after that performance, no one will underestimate them again.

South Sudan’s Key NBA Players for the Olympics

4. Khaman Maluach: Key Player

Khaman Maluach isn’t in the NBA yet, but he could be South Sudan’s next big star. He stood out at the NBA Academy Africa and was chosen to play in “Basketball Without Borders” in Johannesburg last year. His impressive performance there earned him the tournament MVP award.

Khaman Maluach made his international debut in the 2023 FIBA World Cup at just 16 years old. He will be playing college basketball with the Duke Blue Devils. At 7-foot-2, he adds strong depth to South Sudan’s front line.

3. JT Thor: Key Player

Jokhow Panom “JT” Thor played high school and college basketball in the USA. The 6-foot-10 forward left Auburn after one season to join the NBA. He changed into picked 37th by means of the Detroit Pistons in the 2021 draft however turned into traded to the Charlotte Hornets, in which he played for 3 seasons.

Thor had constrained gambling time with the Hornets, averaging 3.2 points and a pair of.1 rebounds in one hundred sixty five NBA video games. Next season, he’ll play for the Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets’ G League affiliate group.


Against Team USA, Thor had a great game, scoring 14 points, grabbing two rebounds, making two assists, and getting one steal and one block. South Sudan coach Royal Ivey will count on him to provide a strong boost off the bench.

2. Carlik Jones: Key Player

Carlik Jones’ mother is from South Sudan, allowing him to join the team for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Jones grew up in the USA, playing high school and college basketball. He played at Radford and Louisville before entering the 2021 NBA Draft.

Jones went undrafted and performed for the Texas Legends, the Dallas Mavericks’ G League crew. The 6-foot-1 point shield sooner or later played for the Mavericks, then the Denver Nuggets, and ultimate played inside the NBA with the Chicago Bulls at some stage in the 2022-23 season.

Against Team USA, Carlik Jones had an excellent sport. He amazed each person with 15 factors, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, showing his abilties along his South Sudan teammates.

Jones became the fine guard in a sport featuring stars like Steph Curry, Jrue Holiday, Tyrese Haliburton, and Anthony Edwards.


1. Wenyen Gabriel: Key Player

Wenyen Gabriel is the most well-known player on South Sudan’s team. He played two seasons with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, becoming a household name in Africa.

Gabriel is an NBA journeyman, playing for six other teams. After two seasons with the Lakers, he briefly played for the Memphis Grizzlies but only appeared in five games last season. He now plays for Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Wenyen Gabriel is South Sudan’s heart and soul. His comments about his country and the Bright Stars after the loss to Team USA are still resonating. He is the leader of the East Africans, both on and off the court.