Mitchell Clarke
April 19, 2022
John Mooney
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 20/03/98
- Place of Birth: Altamonte Springs, Florida (USA)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 206
- Weight (KG): 111
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Notre Dame (2016–2020)
- NBL DEBUT: 24/01/21
- AGE AT DEBUT: 22
- LAST NBL GAME: 25/06/21
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 23
- NBL History: Perth 2021
- Championships: 0
- None
NICKNAME/S: Mr. Double-Double, Moon-man, Moondog
BIO: John Mooney was born in Altamonte Springs, Florida (USA) and attended Lake Brantley High School, where he emerged as one of the top big men in the state. In his senior year, he dominated with averages of 24.8 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks per game, earning First Team All-State honors.
Mooney is the son of Margaret and Kevin Mooney, a builder and former Division II golfer at Spring Hill College. He grew up alongside two older siblings, Brendan and Caitlin. His competitive journey began early—playing AAU basketball with Nike Team Florida from the eighth grade, where he teamed up with Bryan Donovan, son of Florida Gators coach Billy Donovan.
Originally committed to play under Donovan at the University of Florida, Mooney reopened his recruitment when Donovan left for the NBA to coach the Oklahoma City Thunder. After considering programs including Indiana, Kansas, Georgia Tech, Alabama, and Florida State, Mooney ultimately chose Notre Dame. His father sought Donovan’s advice, which led to Notre Dame coach Mike Brey scouting Mooney and securing his commitment following an official visit.
FAMILY: Mooney is the son of Margaret and Kevin Mooney, a builder/contractor for an appliance company who played Division II golf at Spring Hill College. He has two older siblings, Brendan and Caitlin. Mooney began playing for Nike Team Florida in AAU play alongside Florida coach Billy Donovan’s son Bryan in eighth grade.
NBL EXPERIENCE
John Mooney made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 22 years of age. He scored 13 points in his first game.
Perth entered NBL21 as back-to-back champions after Sydney withdrew from the remaining games of the previous Grand Final series amid COVID-19 concerns. Damian Martin (retired), Terrico White (overseas), Nick Kay (to Spain) and Rhys Vague (to Japan) departed, while the NBL’s reduction of import spots from three to two left Perth unable to retain Miles Plumlee. Coach Trevor Gleeson added John Mooney (via Notre Dame), Todd Blanchfield (via Illawarra) and Kevin White (via Adelaide), with Corey Shervill and Andrew Ferguson joining as development players and Tom Jervis returning from retirement. Majok Majok was ruled out for the season after rupturing his Achilles before the campaign, while the season was twice delayed and eventually began without a permanent schedule as the league dealt with COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Perth opened its title defence at RAC Arena on January 24, where Mooney (13 points, 14 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block) recorded a double-double on debut as the Wildcats defeated South East Melbourne 88-76, with Cotton (27 points, 7 assists, and 5 steals) and Blanchfield (16 points and 4 rebounds) providing support, while Mitchell Creek (17 points and 5 rebounds) led the Phoenix. Mooney’s rebound total was initially recorded as 15 and reported as a club record for a Wildcats debut before being corrected to 14 the following day.
Mooney (16.9 points and 11.4 rebounds across 42 games) had signed a one-year deal with Perth on August 14 after completing his college career at Notre Dame. Still eligible for the NBA Draft when he signed, Mooney revealed he had spoken with 11 NBA teams but remained committed to joining Perth if he was not selected. “Everything is so uncertain but fortunately I’ve been able to talk to 11 NBA teams to date. If I get drafted, great, if not I’m going to come over to Perth and work my tail off to help my team compete for another championship,” said Mooney.
Perth struggled to find momentum early and sat seventh after five rounds before relocating to Melbourne for the eight-game NBL Cup. Mooney (30 points, 18 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) produced his best game of the season against Sydney on February 23, making 12 of 13 shots from the field and three of four three-pointers as Perth defeated the Kings 113-106, with Cotton (30 points, 3 rebounds, and 9 assists) and Blanchfield (17 points) providing support, while Casper Ware (34 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Sydney. Perth won seven of its eight NBL Cup games to claim the inaugural tournament and $150,000 in prize money, using the run to climb back towards the top of the ladder.
Mooney (30 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) matched his season-high in scoring against Melbourne on May 5, making four of five three-pointers as Perth ended United’s 11-game winning streak with an 82-69 win at John Cain Arena, with Cotton (16 points and 10 assists) and Blanchfield (9 points and 5 rebounds) providing support, while Jock Landale (11 points and 4 rebounds) led Melbourne. The performance gave Mooney a double-double against every other NBL team during his first professional season.
Perth added Will Magnay (via New Orleans) in May as a nominated replacement player, strengthening its frontcourt for the final month of the season. The Wildcats’ title push then suffered a major setback when Cotton (23.5 points, 5.7 assists, and 1.5 steals across 32 games) required emergency surgery on a quadriceps haematoma late in May, ruling him out of Perth’s final four regular-season games and the entire postseason.
With Cotton sidelined, Perth closed the regular season against Melbourne on June 4, where Mooney (7 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals), Blanchfield (15 points) and Travers (10 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists) were unable to prevent a 78-64 loss, while Jo Lual-Acuil (16 points and 2 blocks) led United. Melbourne finished first with a 28-8 record, while Perth finished second at 25-11.
Mooney did not miss a game during the season, appearing in all 36 regular-season games and all six playoff games. He finished with 27 double-doubles, the second-most in a season by a Wildcat, became the first Perth player to average a double-double since Paul Rogers in 2007 and his 11.4 rebounds per game ranked eighth in club history. Although it was his first professional season, Mooney was ineligible for the NBL Rookie of the Year award because imports were excluded from consideration.
Blanchfield (15.2 points and 4.1 rebounds across 41 games) set a Wildcats record for most three-pointers made in a season, while Norton (8.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists across 41 games), Wagstaff (6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds across 41 games) and Steindl (6.4 points across 38 games) were Perth’s other main contributors alongside Cotton. Mooney and Cotton were both named to the All-NBL First Team, Cotton won his third NBL MVP award in four seasons and Gleeson was named Coach of the Year. Mooney later won the Gordon Ellis Medal as Perth’s club MVP, becoming the first player since James Ennis in 2014 and only the second Wildcat to win the award during his first professional season, while Norton won the Best Defensive Player and Players’ Player awards, Travers (4.9 points and 3.2 rebounds across 40 games) was named Most Improved Player, Jervis (1.3 points across 36 games) received the Coaches’ Award and Cotton was named Members MVP.
Perth opened the semifinals at RAC Arena with a 74-72 loss to Illawarra, where Mooney (13 points, 15 rebounds, and 1 steal), Blanchfield (24 points) and Travers (12 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block) led the Wildcats, while Justinian Jessup (17 points) and Justin Simon (16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) led the Hawks.
Game two moved to WIN Entertainment Centre, where Mooney (18 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assists), Travers (13 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) and Steindl (12 points and 3 assists) led Perth to a 79-71 win, while Tyler Harvey (24 points and 4 steals) and Jessup (11 points and 1 block) led Illawarra. Norton (2 points and 1 steal) left the game after suffering a hip injury, further weakening Perth’s backcourt.
Game three returned to RAC Arena, where Mooney (16 points, 15 rebounds, and 1 block), Blanchfield (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Norton (15 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) led Perth to another 79-71 win, while Sam Froling (14 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks) and Simon (9 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists) were best for Illawarra as the Wildcats advanced to the Grand Final.
Perth then faced first-placed Melbourne United with Cotton unavailable and Norton battling the hip injury, while COVID-19 travel restrictions meant the first two games were played at RAC Arena. White (3.4 points across 39 games) responded with the best three-game scoring stretch of his career during the series.
Melbourne took game one 73-70, with Mooney (8 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals), Blanchfield (27 points and 7 rebounds) and White (10 points and 5 rebounds) leading Perth, while Chris Goulding (23 points and 2 steals) and Landale (17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) led United.
Game two saw Melbourne win 83-74 behind Goulding (21 points) and Landale (12 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block), while Mooney (17 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists), Blanchfield (13 points and 8 rebounds) and White (12 points) led Perth.
Game three moved to John Cain Arena in front of a COVID-capped crowd of 5,000, where Mooney (14 points, 13 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block), White (14 points) and Blanchfield (11 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 steal) led Perth, while Landale (15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) and Goulding (14 points and 4 rebounds) led Melbourne. Norton (4 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) was unable to continue after playing only nine minutes as Melbourne completed the sweep with an 81-76 win, claimed its sixth NBL championship and Landale was named Grand Final MVP.
John Mooney played one season in the NBL. He averaged 16.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 42 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 33rd in rebounds per game.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 23 | Perth | 25-11 (2) | 42 | 1,373.4 | 710 | 479 | 121 | 143 | 336 | 48 | 28 | 67 | 86 | 290 | 547 | 53% | 29 | 64 | 45% | 101 | 138 | 73% | 58% | 56% | 30 | Totals | 42 | 1373 | 710 | 479 | 121 | 143 | 336 | 48 | 28 | 67 | 86 | 290 | 547 | 53.0% | 29 | 64 | 45.3% | 101 | 138 | 73.2% | 58% | 56% | 30 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 23 | Perth | 25-11 (2) | 42 | 32.7 | 16.9 | 11.4 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 8.0 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 6.9 | 13.0 | 53% | 0.7 | 1.5 | 45% | 2.4 | 3.3 | 73% | 58% | 56% | 30 | Total | 42 | 32.7 | 16.9 | 11.4 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 8.0 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 6.9 | 13.0 | 53.0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 45.3% | 0.7 | 1.5 | 73.2% | 58% | 56% | 30 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 30 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
|---|
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Japan - Chiba (2021-2026)
After one standout season in Australia’s NBL, John Mooney took his talents to Japan, signing with the Chiba Jets Funabashi of the B.League on July 15, 2021, joining a core that included Yuki Togashi as the Jets entered the 2021–22 season in Japan’s top-tier competition.
During the 2021–22 season with Chiba, Mooney helped the Jets finish first in the regular season, win the Eastern Conference title, and advance to the B.League quarterfinals while establishing himself as a primary interior presence in B.League play.
Mooney re-signed with Chiba for the 2022–23 season and again played a major role as the Jets repeated as regular season and conference champions, and across 61 B.League games he totaled 899 points, 722 rebounds, 144 assists, 70 steals, and 60 blocks, which equated to 14.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, before the club reached the B.League Grand Final and won the 2023 Emperor’s Cup during the same campaign.
Mooney returned for a third season in 2023–24 as Chiba finished third in the league and again reached the semifinals, and the Jets also defended their Emperor’s Cup title and won the East Asia Super League championship, with Mooney starring alongside Xavier Cooks and Chris Smith while being named to the EASL Best Five after averaging 21.7 points and 15.3 rebounds per game across six EASL games and recording a 16-point, 16-rebound double-double in the EASL title game against the Seoul SK Knights.
In 2024–25, Mooney helped guide Chiba to a second-place regular season finish and another semifinal appearance, and while the Jets exited the Emperor’s Cup in the quarterfinals he appeared in 43 B.League games and averaged 12.0 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per contest, finishing as the team’s leading rebounder during the league season.
In May 2025, Mooney re-signed with Chiba for a fifth straight year, committing to the 2025–26 campaign as a continuing frontcourt cornerstone for the Jets in the B.League.
COLLEGE
John Mooney played four seasons at the University of Notre Dame from 2016–17 to 2019–20, developing from a limited-minute freshman into one of the ACC’s most consistent double-double big men under head coach Mike Brey, finishing his career with 112 games played, 1,134 points, and 894 rebounds.
After limited minutes as a freshman behind Bonzie Colson, Mooney began showing signs of promise as a sophomore in 2017–18, improving into a rotation forward who averaged 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game before producing a late-season breakout that included a 15-point, 11-rebound performance against Virginia Tech for his first career double-double.
Mooney’s junior season in 2018–19 became his major leap, as he earned Third Team All-ACC honours while finishing as the ACC’s leading rebounder at 11.2 rebounds per game and recording 19 double-doubles, including 13 in conference play, the most by an ACC player in league games since Tim Duncan’s 1996–97 season.
During 2018–19, he averaged 14.1 points and 11.2 rebounds across 33 games, ranked among the national leaders in rebounding, and produced a signature all-around line of 20 points, 18 rebounds, and five assists against Clemson on March 6, 2019, alongside other major outputs such as 27 points and 12 rebounds versus Boston College.
Mooney finished the 2018–19 season with 348 total rebounds, one of Notre Dame’s top single-season totals in the Mike Brey era, and his year-over-year jump was emphasised by Notre Dame noting his scoring rise from 5.6 points per game in 2017–18 to 14.1 in 2018–19 while his rebounding climbed from 3.9 to 11.2.
As a senior in 2019–20, Mooney cemented his status as one of college basketball’s premier rebounders and interior scorers, earning First Team All-ACC recognition and becoming a national pace-setter for double-doubles while averaging 16.2 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game across 31 contests.
He led the NCAA with 25 double-doubles, became the first ACC player to post consecutive seasons with 13 or more double-doubles in conference play, and produced 45 total double-doubles across his final two seasons, the most in Division I over that two-year stretch.
Mooney’s senior year included multiple defining single-game events, including a stretch where he recorded 12 consecutive double-doubles to break Notre Dame’s school record for consecutive double-doubles, and he delivered a noted comeback performance against Syracuse that featured 28 points and 14 rebounds, including the go-ahead basket in the final minute.
Across 2019–20, his honours extended beyond All-ACC, as he was named NABC All-District First Team, earned USBWA All-District selection, and was a top-10 finalist for the Karl Malone Award, while also landing on major watch lists during the season including the USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy Watch List.
Mooney collected multiple weekly and event awards during his senior season, including ACC Player of the Week and Lute Olson National Player of the Week recognition tied to his early-season production, and he was named Most Valuable Player of the Men Against Breast Cancer Invitational after averaging 15.8 points and 14.3 rebounds per game across the event.
By the end of his Notre Dame career, Mooney had positioned himself among the program’s modern-era rebounding benchmarks, finishing with 894 rebounds and two straight seasons as an ACC rebounding leader while becoming a defining frontcourt presence for Notre Dame across 2018–19 and 2019–20.
AWARDS
- 1x All-NBL First Team- First-team All-ACC (2020)
-
Third-team All-ACC (2019)
Related
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