BIO: Gorjak Gak was born in St Clair (NSW) and was raised the city of Sydney. He later moved to the US and attended Victory Rock Prep in Sarasota, Florida.

Capable of making big defensive plays and swatting opponents into the stands, whilst measuring in at 211cm he is listed as having a 7-foot-4 wingspan.

FAMILY: Gorjok’s brother, Akoldah Gak also played 68 games in the NBL.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Gorjok Gak made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 26 years of age. He scored seven points in his first game.

On 6 July 2022, Gorjak Gak signed a one-year deal with the Brisbane Bullets, joining a reloaded roster that included Boomers star Aron Baynes and NBA veteran Tyler Johnson, former Phoenix Suns teammates. The Bullets, who had finished second-last the previous season, bolstered their lineup further with Devondrick Walker (via NBL1), Harry Froling (via Illawarra), Rasmus Bach (via New Zealand), and DJ Mitchell, the son of former Bullets import Mike Mitchell, alongside returning players Jason Cadee, Tyrell Harrison, Tanner Krebs, and captain Nathan Sobey.

Brisbane’s off-season acquisitions sparked optimism, with many predicting a top-four finish, though concerns lingered over Sobey’s recovery from a knee injury and Baynes’ return from a life-altering neck injury. Unfortunately, six games into the season, the Bullets were still winless, with Baynes (11.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists) and Sobey (15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists) struggling to find their pre-injury forms.

Brisbane finally broke their losing streak with consecutive wins against Illawarra. The first win (82-56) featured a standout performance by Baynes with 17 points and 14 rebounds, while the second victory (86-61) saw Sobey score a career-high 22 first-half points. The team extended their streak with a narrow win over Tasmania (74-72), but the momentum halted when the club released underperforming import Walker (9.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists) and dismissed head coach James Duncan.

Andrew White replaced Walker, and General Manager Sam Mackinnon stepped in as interim coach before assistant coach Greg Vanderjagt took over for the season’s remainder. Meanwhile, internal tensions between CEO Peter McLennan and Mackinnon emerged, with Brisbane suffering heavy losses, including a 37-point defeat to New Zealand and a record 49-point loss to Sydney. The Bullets finished second-last again (8-20), with three of their wins coming against Illawarra, who recorded their worst season ever.

Despite Tyler Johnson (15.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals) being nominated for Sixth Man of the Year, the season fell short of expectations, leading to a major roster shakeup. In 25 games, Gak averaged 4.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists, with his best performance coming in Round 13 against Melbourne United, where he posted 18 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block.

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX
2023/24
On 10 April 2023, Gak signed a one-year contract with the South East Melbourne Phoenix. CEO Tommy Greer expressed excitement about Gak’s potential impact, noting that he would “fill a key role for the team next season playing behind Alan Williams” and bring a new dimension defensively with his rim protection and agility.

Gak played 15 minutes per game across 17 appearances in an injury-interrupted NBL24 season, contributing to the Phoenix’s interior defense and fast-break plays.

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS
2024/25
For NBL25, Gak joined the Tasmania JackJumpers, stepping in as backup center for Will Magnay following Marcus Lee’s departure. Head Coach Scott Roth highlighted Gak’s athleticism, rebounding, and shot-blocking abilities, emphasizing his “next man up mentality” shown in his previous season with Phoenix. Roth added, “A great rebounder, shot blocker and will provide that extra rim protection for us.”

Gorjok Gak currently plays for the Tasmania JackJumpers and has played 66 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 4.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.6 assists since entering the league in 2022.

CURRENT CONTRACT:

Tasmania JackJumpers – 2 Year Deal (2024-26)
2nd Year Team Option

Dan Boyce (829 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.