Joe Ingles
July 23, 2020
Bakari Hendrix
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 23/05/77
- Place of Birth: Portland, Oregon (USA)
- Position: PF
- Height (CM): 204
- Weight (KG): 104
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Solano CC (1994-1995) / Gonzaga (1995-1998)
- NBL DEBUT: 28/10/07
- AGE AT DEBUT: 30
- LAST NBL GAME: 9/02/08
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 30
- NBL History: South 2008
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Bakari Hendrix was born in Portland, Oregon (USA).
NBL EXPERIENCE
Bakari Hendrix made his NBL debut with the South Dragons at 30 years of age. He scored six points in his first game.
With Shane Heal now in place as player-coach, the South Dragons entered their second season having made several roster changes. Frank Drmic, Kavossy Franklin, and Rosell Ellis departed, replaced by Cortez Groves (via Wollongong), Nick Horvath (via Adelaide), and Luke Martin (via Cairns)
On April 11, 2007, Nick Horvath signed a two-year deal with the South Dragons. With Horvath applying for New Zealand citizenship, the Dragons planned to have him become a naturalised player mid-season—allowing them to add an additional import once his status changed
Horvath (12.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists) performed well across the first six games, but despite his solid play, the Dragons stumbled out of the gate, dropping their first six contests—including a one-point loss to Brisbane and a three-point heartbreaker against Melbourne
Horvath was then deactivated from the roster to make way for new import Bakari Hendrix. He continued to train with the team daily and remained under contract, with the expectation he would become naturalised and re-join the squad—but delays in the citizenship process meant he never returned to the active lineup
Hendrix arrived and, although relatively quiet in his debut, helped spark the team’s best stretch of the season. His first game was also the team’s first win—a 102-90 victory over New Zealand. He followed that up with 19 points and 7 rebounds in a 115-108 win over Wollongong, a 34-point outing in a narrow 103-97 loss to Townsville, and 24 points and 7 rebounds in a 106-95 win over Townsville. After starting the season 0-6, the Dragons produced a 4-3 record during Hendrix’s first seven games
That brief resurgence proved to be the team’s peak. The Dragons soon crashed back to earth, closing the season with 14 consecutive losses
The team’s poor form and internal instability quickly took a toll. In January, assistant coach Michelle Timms left the club, and by early February, player-coach Shane Heal was sacked after a 4-22 start to the season. Assistant Guy Molloy took over coaching duties for the remainder of the year
Hendrix (18.9 points and 6.8 rebounds) led the team in scoring. Cortez Groves (18.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.2 steals) anchored the backcourt attack, alongside player-coach Shane Heal (15.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists). Second-year star Joe Ingles (15.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.2 steals) continued his development with a strong all-around campaign. The only other bright spot came from Matthew Burston, who enjoyed a breakout year—boosting his numbers from 4.3 points and 3.1 rebounds to 11.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game
The Dragons finished dead last in the league with a 5-25 record, including a dismal 1–14 mark on the road
Bakari Hendrix played one season in the NBL. He averaged 18.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-08 | 30 | South | 5-25 (13) | 23 | 728 | 435 | 156 | 19 | 59 | 97 | 9 | 15 | 42 | 72 | 162 | 365 | 44% | 29 | 90 | 32% | 82 | 120 | 68% | 52% | 48% | 34 | Totals | 23 | 728 | 435 | 156 | 19 | 59 | 97 | 9 | 15 | 42 | 72 | 162 | 365 | 44.4% | 29 | 90 | 32.2% | 82 | 120 | 68.3% | 52% | 48% | 34 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-08 | 30 | South | 5-25 (13) | 23 | 31.7 | 18.9 | 6.8 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 7.0 | 15.9 | 44% | 1.3 | 3.9 | 32% | 3.6 | 5.2 | 68% | 52% | 48% | 34 | Total | 23 | 31.7 | 18.9 | 6.8 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 7.0 | 15.9 | 44.4% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 32.2% | 1.3 | 3.9 | 68.3% | 52% | 48% | 34 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 34 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
|---|
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Turkey - Türk Telekom (1998) | Greece - Iraklio (2000) | France - Besançon BCD (2000–2001) | Italy - Aurora Basket Jesi (2001–2002) | South Korea - Seoul Samsung Thunders (2004–2005) | Philippines - Coca-Cola Tigers (2005) | Portugal - Benfica (2005–2006) | New Zealand - Wellington Saints (2007) | Lebanon - Tebnin (2008)
Bakari Hendrix joined Türk Telekom B.K. for the 1998 Turkish league season, playing his first season in Turkey after finishing college and beginning what was described as a decade-long overseas run that took him to 14 teams in 11 countries from 1998 to 2009, with documented stops that included Greece, France, Italy, South Korea, the Philippines, New Zealand and Lebanon.
Hendrix moved to Greece in 2000 with Iraklio for the 2000–01 Greek Basket League season, appearing in 11 league games and averaging 17.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 35.2 minutes per game while shooting 42.1% from the field and 27.6% from three-point range.
He then played in France with Besançon BCD in 2000–01 before shifting to Italy in 2001–02 with Aurora Basket Jesi, continuing his European career across multiple domestic leagues as part of his early-2000s circuit through the continent.
In 2004–05, Hendrix had a stint in South Korea with the Seoul Samsung Thunders, adding the Korean Basketball League to his list of international destinations during the mid-stage of his professional run.
Hendrix played in the Philippines in 2005 as an import for the Coca-Cola Tigers in the Philippine Basketball Association, and in one documented appearance he logged 48 minutes while producing 43 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 assists with three three-pointers made, going 6-for-6 at the free-throw line.
Later in 2005–06, he played in Portugal with Benfica, extending his European stops beyond the leagues already noted in his broad international summary.
Hendrix joined the Wellington Saints for the 2007 season in New Zealand, a stint that was later recalled for an on-court altercation involving Auckland Stars forward Casey Frank, and he was also credited with leaving behind a pair of size-18 basketball shoes in Wellington that were eventually passed on to a young Steven Adams.
He played in Lebanon in 2008 with Tebnin, adding that country to the list of confirmed late-career stops during his multi-nation professional journey.
COLLEGE
Bakari Hendrix played college basketball at Solano Community College during the 1994-95 season before transferring to Gonzaga University, where he competed from 1995 through 1998.
During his 1994-95 season at Solano Community College, Hendrix established himself as a strong interior presence at the junior college level, earning All-Conference recognition and drawing Division I recruiting attention that led to his transfer to Gonzaga for the 1995-96 season.
Hendrix joined Gonzaga for the 1995-96 campaign and contributed as a newcomer in the West Coast Conference, helping the Bulldogs to a 21-9 overall record and a 10-4 mark in conference play. He appeared in 28 games that season, averaging 8.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting efficiently from the field and becoming part of a Gonzaga squad that earned a berth in the National Invitation Tournament.
In the 1996-97 season, Hendrix faced a tough start as he fractured his ankle in his sophomore year - limiting his season to just nine games. Despite the shortened campaign, he still averaged double figures in scoring during his appearances, and Gonzaga finished 15-12 overall that season while competing in the West Coast Conference.
Fully recovered for the 1997-98 season, Hendrix emerged as one of the premier forwards in the WCC. As a junior, he averaged 18.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting above 50 percent from the field, earning first team All-West Coast Conference honours. Gonzaga finished 18-10 overall and 9-5 in conference play that year, with Hendrix leading the team in scoring and serving as a focal point of the offense.
As a senior in 1997-98, Hendrix elevated his production further and was named first team All-West Coast Conference for the second consecutive season and was the 1998 WCC Player of the Year after averaging 19.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He led Gonzaga to a 24-7 overall record and a 12-2 conference mark, capturing the WCC Tournament championship and advancing to the NCAA Tournament. During that senior campaign, Hendrix scored 20 or more points in numerous contests and finished among the conference leaders in scoring and rebounding while maintaining strong field goal efficiency.
Across his Gonzaga career, Hendrix totaled more than 1,200 points despite the injury-shortened season, finishing as one of the program’s leading scorers of the late 1990s era. He closed his collegiate tenure as a two-time first team All-WCC selection and conference Player of the Year, capping a progression from junior college standout at Solano to one of the top players in the West Coast Conference.
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