Mika Vukona
July 23, 2020
AJ Davis
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 15/03/95
- Place of Birth: Buford, Georgia (USA)
- Position: G/F
- Height (CM): 206
- Weight (KG): 98
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Tennessee (2013/2014) / UCF (2015–2018)
- NBL DEBUT: 6/01/19
- AGE AT DEBUT: 23
- LAST NBL GAME: 2/03/19
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 23
- NBL History: Brisbane 2019
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Davis was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, while his father was playing for the Indiana Pacers. Throughout his father’s career, the family moved frequently before eventually settling in Atlanta after his retirement. Davis began high school at Greater Atlanta Christian School, where he helped the Spartans secure back-to-back Georgia High School Association (GHSA) state titles. He later transferred to Buford High School before his junior year.
FAMILY: Son of NBA star Antonio Davis. His twin sister, Kaela Davis, currently plays for the Dallas Wings of the WNBA.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Aj Davis made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 23 years of age. He scored two points in his first game.
During the off-season, and After finishing dead last in 2018, Brisbane said goodbye to Adam Gibson (to South East Melbourne), Shaun Bruce (to Sydney), and Anthony Petrie (retired) and went on a recruiting drive that brought in Boomers sharpshooter Cameron Gliddon (via Cairns), Jason Cadee (via Sydney), Matt Hodgson (via Adelaide), Tom Jervis (via Perth), and Mika Vukona (via New Zealand). The Bullets also welcomed back Rio Olympian and former Chicago Bull Cam Bairstow, who was returning after a knee reconstruction, added Makoto Hiejima under the NBL’s Asian Player rule, making him the first Japanese player to sign with an NBL team, and added NBA veteran Alonzo Gee (via Puerto Rico) as an import.
These key signings were meant to bolster Brisbane’s roster as they prepared for a tough start to the season, with 12 of their first 15 games coming against last season’s top-four playoff teams.
Four games into the season, Brisbane was forced to release Alonzo Gee (7.8 points 5.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists) after four matches when the veteran of 417 NBA games requested to go home to the US for ‘personal reasons’. A month later, import Stephen Holt (7.1 points 1.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists), concerned about his playing time (16.6 minutes per game), was granted a mutual release and left to pursue an opportunity in Europe. To fill the gap, Brisbane signed Lamar Patterson (via China) to replace Gee (October 2018) and Jeremy Kendle (6.0 points 1.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists), who had been training with the team throughout the season, to cover the loss of Holt.
In January, a 29-point loss to Cairns had Brisbane sitting middle of the ladder (9-9). During this time, Nnanna Egwu (0.0 points 2.3 rebounds) was brought in for three games as an injury replacement, and Kendle’s contract was extended for the rest of the season. Additionally, rarely used Japanese guard Makoto Hiejima was replaced by import AJ Davis (4.1 points 2.0 rebounds and 0.3 assists), who had spent time with Brisbane in the pre-season and made a lasting impression with the Bullets coaching staff, to further improve the roster.
“AJ is a versatile player … he plays hard and competes on every possession,” Bullets general manager Richard Clarke said.
“AJ gives us extra depth and defensive versatility, and allows us to change up our line up and throw some different looks and challenges at teams, which we felt would really help us in the battle for playoff spots.”
Despite the ups and downs, AJ Davis (4.1 points 2.0 rebounds and 0.3 assists) delivered a solid season for the Bullets in his limited appearances. His best games of the regular season included 8 points 1 rebound and 1 assist against Sydney (3 Feb 2019), 6 points 2 rebounds and 1 assist against Cairns (19 Jan 2019), and 6 points 3 rebounds and 1 block against Sydney (1 Feb 2019).
Alongside AJ Davis, Brisbane was led offensively by Lamar Patterson (17.8 points 6.2 rebounds 3.8 assists and 1.3 steals), Cameron Gliddon (13.7 points 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists), and Cam Bairstow (11.6 points 5.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists). Reuben Te Rangi (9.9 points 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists) won the league’s Most Improved Player and Sixth Man of the Year awards.
Brisbane finished the regular season tied with Adelaide (14-14) but secured the fourth spot due to a higher points percentage and advanced to the playoffs.
In Game 1, Terrico White (24 points 3 rebounds and 1 assist) and Bryce Cotton (19 points 2 rebounds and 10 assists) led Perth to a dominant victory (89-59). Cam Gliddon (18 points 4 rebounds and 2 assists) was Brisbane’s top scorer. AJ Davis contributed 7 points 6 rebounds and 1 steal.
In Game 2 (84-79), Terrico White (24 points 3 rebounds) and Bryce Cotton (19 points 10 assists 3 rebounds) again led Perth. Despite strong efforts from Lamar Patterson (19 points 5 rebounds 4 assists and 3 steals), Brisbane was unable to stop Perth from advancing to the Grand Final. AJ Davis contributed 8 points 4 rebounds and 1 block in the final game.
Aj Davis played one season in the NBL. He averaged 4 points, 2 rebounds, and 0.2 assists in 11 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 24 | Brisbane | 14-14 (4) | 11 | 137.9 | 45 | 22 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 22 | 19 | 49 | 39% | 0 | 10 | 0% | 7 | 8 | 88% | 43% | 39% | 8 | Totals | 11 | 138 | 45 | 22 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 22 | 19 | 49 | 38.8% | 0 | 10 | 0.0% | 7 | 8 | 87.5% | 43% | 39% | 8 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 24 | Brisbane | 14-14 (4) | 11 | 12.5 | 4.1 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 4.5 | 39% | 0.0 | 0.9 | 0% | 0.6 | 0.7 | 88% | 43% | 39% | 8 | Total | 11 | 12.5 | 4.1 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 4.5 | 38.8% | 0.0 | 0.0% | 0.9 | 87.5% | 43% | 39% | 8 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
USA
2019
In March 2019, Davis was acquired by the Delaware Blue Coats in the NBA G League. He also joined the Philadelphia 76ers Summer League team.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Kosovo - Prishtina (2018) | Nicaragua - Real Estelí (2020) | Sweden - BC Luleå (2020–2021) | Greece - Charilaos Trikoupis (2021), Apollon Patras (2022–2023) | Dominican Republic - Mauricio Báez club (2021) | Germany - Nürnberg Falcons (2021–2022) | Canada - Niagara River Lions (2022, 2023, 2024–2025) | Belgium - Leuven Bears (2023–2024)
KOSOVO
2018
Davis signed with KB Prishtina in Kosovos Basketball Superleague in September 2018. He averaged 8.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists over nine Superleague games.
NICARAGUA
2020
In January 2020, Davis signed with Real Estelí Baloncesto in Nicaragua.
SWEDEN
2020
Davis signed with BC Luleå in the Swedish league in September 2020.
GREECE
2021
Davis joined Charilaos Trikoupis in Greece for the latter half of the 2020-2021 season.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
2021
Davis helped Mauricio Báez club win the Dominican Torneo Superior de Baloncesto championship with a 26-point game in the final.
CANADA
2022
Davis joined the Niagara River Lions of the CEBL in April 2022.
GREECE
2022–2023
In August 2022, Davis signed with Apollon Patras, averaging 9.3 points and 5.9 rebounds across 22 games.
CANADA
2023
In March 2023, Davis returned to the Niagara River Lions.
BELGIUM
2023
In December 2023, Davis signed with Leuven Bears in the BNXT League.
CANADA
2024
In February 2024, Davis rejoined the Niagara River Lions for his third stint with the team.
COLLEGE
A.J. Davis began his collegiate career at Tennessee in 2013–14, appearing in 25 games with one start and averaging 1.3 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 9.4 minutes per game while shooting .400 from the field.
During that freshman season, Davis saw late-game NCAA Tournament minutes for Tennessee, grabbing a rebound in the final minute of the First Four win over Iowa on March 19, 2014 and recording a rebound and an assist in the final minute of the third-round win over Mercer on March 23, 2014.
After the season, he announced his transfer to the University of Central Florida and sat out the 2014–15 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
Davis then played three seasons on the court for UCF from 2015–16 through 2017–18, building into a high-usage, multi-skill forward who finished his collegiate career with 1,030 points across Tennessee and UCF combined, including 997 points at UCF.
As a redshirt sophomore in 2015–16, Davis led UCF in both scoring and rebounds at 12.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, added 2.9 assists per game, reached double figures in 18 of 30 games with five 20-point performances, and made 122 free throws, a UCF single-season mark that matched the program’s 10th-best total.
In 2016–17, he appeared in 31 games and started 29, averaging 8.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while recording four double-doubles, producing a season-high 18 points at Tulane, and tying a career high with 15 rebounds against East Carolina.
As a redshirt senior in 2017–18, Davis delivered his best all-around season, averaging 12.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game across 33 starts while earning honorable mention All-American Athletic Conference, finishing third in the AAC in rebounds per game and leading the league in defensive rebounds per game.
That final season included eight double-doubles and a series of signature games, highlighted by a career-high 31 points with 14 rebounds against Wichita State on March 1, 2018, 20 points on 9-of-10 shooting against Memphis on February 11, 2018, and 26 points against South Florida on February 14, 2018.
Across his UCF career, Davis ranked among the program’s leaders by finishing eighth in school history with 633 rebounds and seventh with 319 made free throws, and following his senior season he participated in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament as he transitioned toward professional basketball.
AWARDS
- CEBL champion (2024)
- TBS champion (2021)
- Kosovo Supercup winner (2018)
Related
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