BIO: Atem was born in Bor, South Sudan.
He and his family spent four years in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya before moving to Sydney, Australia, where he was introduced to basketball by his high school teacher.
He started to take the sport seriously when he was offered a scholarship to Illawarra Sports High School in Wollongong, and From there, he earned a scholarship to Northern Oklahoma College in the United States.
Atem Atem made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 22 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.
Atem Atem played one season in the NBL.
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | 23 | Adelaide | 17-11 (3) | 4 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0 | Totals | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0% | 0% | 0 |
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | 23 | Adelaide | 17-11 (3) | 4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0 | Total | 4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0% | 0% | 0 |
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|---|
Atem made his Australian state league debut in 2014, playing a handful of games for the Ipswich Force in the Queensland Basketball League (QBL).
He spent the majority of the year with the Forces Southern Basketball League (SBL) affiliate team and was named the MVP of the SBL team.
Across four games in the 2017 qualifiers, Atem averaged 9.8 points and 9.3 rebounds in 30.2 minutes per game, with his event totals listed at 39 points and 37 rebounds while shooting 15-for-38 from the field, 4-for-15 on three-pointers, and 5-for-7 at the foul line, and he was credited with 4 assists and 3 steals across the window.
His game log in that March stretch included a 9-point, 9-rebound, 2-assist performance in 31 minutes against Egypt on 12 March 2017, a 6-point, 9-rebound outing against Kenya on 14 March, a 20-point, 8-rebound game against Rwanda on 15 March, and a 4-point, 11-rebound, 2-assist effort in the classification game against Kenya on 17 March 2017, and he appeared alongside other South Sudan players from that same qualifying roster such as Teny Bak Puot and Riak Bol Bol, with Simon Mayen Malok also listed among South Sudan participants in the event records.
Major international databases and player pages checked for Atem Atem’s career history did not verify any club stints outside Australia and the United States, so the only non-USA and non-Australia tenure that could be confirmed from the available records was his South Sudan national team appearance in the 2017 FIBA AfroBasket Qualifiers.
Atem played college basketball at Northern Oklahoma College during the 2012–13 season, joining the Jets’ men’s basketball program in the NJCAA Division I ranks (Northern Oklahoma College–Enid).
Atem was on the 2012/13 roster at North Oklahoma College, but he was forced to redshirt the season, which made him rethink his commitment and ultimately led to him deciding not to return to the program for the 2013/14 season.
With the redshirt year meaning he did not log official game statistics for the 2012–13 season, his U.S. college experience is primarily documented as a rostered, non-participating year before returning to Australia rather than continuing into a second season at Northern Oklahoma College.
Whilst we try to source as much information as we can for every player who has ever played in the NBL some information on a player profile may be missing. If you have additional information on a player you'd like us to add to a profile, please send it to us using the enquiry form below.
Submissions are then sent to info@aussiehoopla.com
We wrap up our seven-part deep dive into one of Aussie hoops’ fiercest rivalries — Sydney vs Illawarra — as the modern era turns the heat all the way up and the Freeway Series swings wildly from season to season. Host Dan Boyce picks things up after the Hawks’ rebirth under new ownership and Brian Goorjian — a fresh start that quickly turns into a brutal reality check, including the worst season in franchise history (3–25) — before Illawarra pulls off one of the great…
READ MOREThe conversation around NBL expansion has intensified in recent years, with the league publicly confirming discussions with potential markets such as Canberra, the Gold Coast, and Darwin. However, one city that continues to quietly build momentum as a realistic candidate for a future franchise is Newcastle. While it may not always dominate the expansion headlines, the pieces required for an NBL return are slowly aligning, and according to former owner of the Illawarra Hawks, Dorry Kordahi, the push for a Newcastle team is very real.…
READ MOREMost 16-year-olds would take the bag. Luke Paul wants to take a beating. In an era where high school recruits are chasing six-figure Instagram followings and seven-figure NIL deals, Luke Paul just did the unthinkable. The 16-year-old Australian talent is a 6'6" point guard widely tipped as a future NBA lottery pick who reportedly turned down US college offers worth up to $3 million to stay home. He didn't do it for comfort. He didn't do it for safety. According to Paul, he did it…
READ MOREWith one game remaining in the regular season and finals seeding on the line, South East Melbourne moved a step closer to the top two with a 120–104 win over the Tasmania JackJumpers at John Cain Arena. The Phoenix overcame a career-high 36-point outing from Majok Deng, with Angus Glover leading the way with 21 points and seven three-pointers as the home side’s firepower proved too much. Despite the result, coach Josh King said his group still needs to produce a complete four-quarter performance, particularly…
READ MOREIn recent weeks, NBL Pride Round has been accompanied by a wave of opinion pieces — including Michael Randall’s “Pride Round: Why the NBL should be proud it won’t ever ‘shut up and dribble’” — praising the initiative while dismissing its critics. This has been something I’ve been thinking about and discussing with people since Indigenous Round.I think we all need a little perspective sometimes. https://t.co/2D65bvtS5K — Michael Randall (@MickRandallHS) February 3, 2026 But the argument that any criticism of the National Basketball League’s social-issue…
READ MOREWe continue diving deeper into one of Aussie hoops’ fiercest rivalries — Sydney vs Illawarra — picking things up as LaMelo Ball and his Rookie of the Year season in 2019 propelled the Hawks into the global spotlight, setting NBL viewership and attendance records, while the Kings reloaded under Will Weaver and pushed for a championship in a season that ended in chaos. Host Dan Boyce breaks down LaMelo’s viral debut, his back-to-back triple-doubles, and the impact of Aaron Brooks’ season-ending injury on Illawarra’s playoff…
READ MOREKeanu Pinder has hit a new gear in Japan. As Akita’s starting big, he is producing like a franchise option, and that level of form is putting him back in the Boomers conversation. Pinder is in the midst of a prime career stretch that has seen him exceed the 2 time NBL "Most Improved Player" form that first made him a star in Cairns.The primary storyline defining Pinder’s 2025-26 campaign is a shift in usage. In Perth, Pinder was often a secondary option behind heavy…
READ MOREBelow is an up-to-date roster for each NBL team and a list of rumours and potential signings derived from discussions with NBL staff and media. Players listed as contracted come from information supplied by the National Basketball League. * = Denotes import player ** = Naturalised Australian DP = a member of the team's development roster SRP = the previously named Asian player exception denoting an Asian player who qualifies as a local in the NBL. MP = Marquee players listed as known Click here…
READ MOREDi balik gemerlap dunia taruhan, SEKOLAHTOTO menghadirkan sensasi bermain di pusat keberuntungan Asia dengan nuansa eksklusi yang memikat.
