Kuany Kuany (Born 2000)
January 30, 2025
Kuany Kuany
- Nationality: AUS/SSD
- Date of Birth: 8/07/94
- Place of Birth: Aweil (South Sudan)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 201
- Weight (KG): 91
- Junior Assoc: VIC - Waverly
- College: Charminade (2013-2017)
- NBL DEBUT: 6/10/17
- AGE AT DEBUT: 23
- LAST NBL GAME: 17/11/19
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 25
- NBL History: Cairns 2018-19 | Sydney 2020
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Kuany Kuany was born in Aweil (South Sudan). before moving to Australia where his family settled in Melbourne.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Kuany Kuany made his NBL debut with the Cairns Taipans at 23 years of age. He scored two points in his first game.
During his first season in the NBL, Kuany averaged 0.3 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.3 assists as the Taipans finished in sixth place (11-17).
2018/19
After finishing sixth with an 11-17 record the previous season, Cairns moved in a new direction, parting ways with long-time coach Aaron Fearne and appointing Mike Kelly. Cameron Gliddon (to Brisbane), Mitchell McCarron (to Melbourne), Jarrad Weeks (to New Zealand) and Stephen Weigh (retired) departed, while Kuany returned alongside Nathan Jawai and Alex Loughton. Kelly added Rob Loe (via New Zealand), Lucas Walker (via Perth), Jarrod Kenny (via Perth), Dexter Kernich-Drew (via Perth), Mitch Young (via Brisbane) and imports Melo Trimble, Devon Hall and DJ Newbill (via New Zealand). Cairns opened the season with an 88-70 win over Brisbane before losing its next 14 games.
Kuany (2.2 points across 21 games) provided depth off the bench and did not start a game. No injury was reported during the season, with his seven non-appearances coming during a year in which he struggled for consistent court time.
Kuany’s best game came against New Zealand on November 9, where he made all five of his shots and finished with 10 points and 6 rebounds in 12 minutes. Trimble (23 points) and Newbill (11 points and 4 rebounds) were the other Taipans to reach double figures, but Corey Webster (25 points) and Patrick Richard (21 points) led the Breakers to a 104-81 win.
Another opportunity came against Sydney on December 20, where Kuany (10 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals) produced a breakout performance off the bench as Cairns suffered its 12th consecutive loss, falling 81-70. Trimble (14 points and 6 assists) led Cairns, while Jerome Randle (22 points and 7 assists) and Andrew Bogut (10 points, 16 rebounds, and 7 assists) led Sydney.
Trimble (21.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals across 27 games) was named to the All-NBL Second Team and won Cairns’ club MVP, while Newbill (14.3 points and 4 rebounds across 27 games), Jawai (10 points and 5.2 rebounds across 27 games), Hall (8.8 points and 4.3 rebounds across 28 games), Loe (7.5 points and 4.8 rebounds across 28 games), Loughton (6.5 points across 25 games) and Walker (6.1 points and 4 rebounds across 26 games) were the team’s other major contributors.
Cairns closed the season against Sydney on February 16, where Kuany (2 points) played five minutes off the bench as Trimble (21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Loughton (17 points and 3 rebounds) led the Taipans, while Bogut (12 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 blocks) helped the Kings win 89-84, leaving Cairns last with a 6-22 record.
SYDNEY KINGS
2019/20
After Sydney was eliminated by Melbourne in the 2019 semifinals and replaced Andrew Gaze with Australian Boomers assistant Will Weaver, the Kings re-signed Kevin Lisch and added Casper Ware (via Melbourne), Jae’Sean Tate (via Antwerp), Shaun Bruce (via Adelaide), Lucas Walker (via Cairns) and Next Star Didi Louzada. After spending the previous two seasons with Cairns and playing with Ballarat during the off-season, Kuany Kuany (via Cairns) joined Sydney on a one-year deal.
Kuany (0 points and 1 assist) made his Kings debut in Cairns on October 4, playing two minutes as Sydney opened the season with a 79-71 victory behind Ware (23 points and 5 assists) and Lisch (18 points), while Kouat Noi (14 points and 12 rebounds) led Cairns.
Kuany (1.3 points across 7 games) remained at the end of Weaver’s rotation and no injury was identified as the reason for his limited appearances. His best game came against Brisbane on October 26, where Kuany (3 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist) made a three-pointer in seven minutes as Sydney defeated the Bullets 94-79 and improved to 5-0, with Ware (17 points and 5 assists) and Louzada (14 points) leading the Kings while Nathan Sobey (21 points) was Brisbane’s leading scorer.
Kuany (3 points) again scored late against Perth on November 10, making his only field-goal attempt as Sydney defeated the defending champion Wildcats 104-85 and improved to 8-1. Louzada (28 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) and Ware (23 points and 3 assists) led Sydney, while Bryce Cotton (36 points) was Perth’s best.
After seven appearances, Sydney waived Kuany on November 27 to create a roster spot for Xavier Cooks (via Strasbourg), ending his season rather than an injury preventing him from returning. The Kings paid out the remainder of his contract, with CEO Chris Pongrass saying, “It’s a bitter-sweet situation we are often confronted with in professional sport.”
Ware (18.2 points and 3.7 assists across 33 games) led Sydney in scoring, Tate (17 points and 5.7 rebounds across 33 games) was named to the All-NBL First Team and won the Kings’ club MVP, while Newley (11.7 points and 4.5 rebounds across 33 games), Louzada (9.9 points and 3.6 rebounds across 25 games), Bogut (8.2 points and 8.7 rebounds across 30 games), Kickert (7.9 points across 33 games), Bruce (7 points and 3.1 assists across 33 games) and Cooks (6.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 19 games) helped Sydney finish first with a 20-8 record, with Ware and Bogut named to the All-NBL Second Team.
Kuany did not return to the NBL after being released. Sydney defeated Melbourne 2-1 in the semifinals before facing Perth in the Grand Final, losing game one 88-86, winning game two 97-83 and falling 111-96 in game three before withdrawing from the series amid the COVID-19 outbreak, with Perth awarded the championship while leading 2-1.
Kuany Kuany played three seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Cairns Taipans and the Sydney Kings. He averaged 1.6 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.2 assists in 35 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 25 | Sydney | 20-8 (1) | 7 | 19.9 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 30% | 3 | 5 | 60% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 45% | 45% | 3 |
| 2018-19 | 24 | Cairns | 6-22 (8) | 21 | 119.2 | 47 | 30 | 4 | 10 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 17 | 39 | 44% | 1 | 11 | 9% | 12 | 16 | 75% | 50% | 45% | 10 |
| 2017-18 | 23 | Cairns | 11-17 (6) | 7 | 22.2 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 11% | 0 | 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 11% | 0% | 2 | Totals | 35 | 161 | 58 | 40 | 8 | 14 | 26 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 58 | 36.2% | 4 | 20 | 20.0% | 13 | 21 | 61.9% | 43% | 40% | 10 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 25 | Sydney | 20-8 (1) | 7 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 30% | 0.4 | 0.7 | 60% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 45% | 45% | 3 |
| 2018-19 | 24 | Cairns | 6-22 (8) | 21 | 5.7 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 44% | 0.0 | 0.5 | 9% | 0.6 | 0.8 | 75% | 50% | 45% | 10 |
| 2017-18 | 23 | Cairns | 11-17 (6) | 7 | 3.2 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 11% | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 11% | 0% | 2 | Total | 35 | 4.6 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 36.2% | 0.0 | 20.0% | 0.1 | 0.6 | 61.9% | 43% | 40% | 10 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 10 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Cairns (2017–2018), Ballarat (2019), Sandringham (2021), Bendigo (2022), Keilor (2023–2024)
Kuany joined Cairns for the 2017 Queensland Basketball League season after leaving Chaminade, and he was assigned to the Cairns Marlins as the Taipans’ development player, debuting with seven points and four rebounds in 13 minutes against Townsville.
Kuany Kuany joined Cairns again for the 2018 Queensland Basketball League season, continuing with the Marlins for a second straight year before moving to Ballarat the following year.
Kuany Kuany joined Ballarat for the 2019 NBL1 season, and he averaged 15.8 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game for the Ballarat Miners. In the same season he also averaged two assists per game and received the Brian Goorjian Coaches Award.
Kuany Kuany joined Sandringham for the 2021 NBL1 South season, where he averaged 20.2 points per game in 12 games for the Sabres and produced a standout 24-point, 17-rebound performance against Nunawading.
Kuany Kuany joined Bendigo for the 2022 NBL1 South season, and he earned NBL1 South All-Star Five honours while helping the Braves reach the finals after averaging 21 points, six rebounds and three assists per game. He also delivered 22 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in Bendigo’s finals win over Knox.
Kuany Kuany joined Keilor for the 2023 NBL1 South season, arriving after his Bendigo campaign and producing 28 points and six rebounds in one of his best games of the year against Dandenong while also scoring 23 points in a win over Waverley.
Kuany Kuany joined Keilor again for the 2024 NBL1 South season, and he won the Keilor Thunder men’s ANZAC Round Medal after finishing with 31 points, seven rebounds and four assists against Waverley while hitting seven three-pointers.
FIBA EXPERIENCE
Kuany Kuany has represented the South Sudan national team, establishing himself as a key contributor during the program’s rise on the international stage.
At AfroBasket 2021, he averaged 11.8 points and 5.5 rebounds as a starter, helping South Sudan reach the quarterfinals in its first major tournament appearance.
He also featured during the 2022 FIBA World Cup qualifying windows, playing a role in South Sudan securing its first-ever qualification for the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
In August 2023, Kuany was named in the South Sudan squad for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, where the ‘Bright Stars’ made history by recording their first World Cup win with a victory over China in Manila.
South Sudan went on to finish as the top-ranked African team at the tournament after defeating Angola in their final game, earning qualification for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
In 2024, Kuany was appointed captain of South Sudan’s first Olympic basketball team, which included fellow players Sunday Dech, Bul Kuol, Majok Deng, and Jackson Makoi, and he was also selected as the nation’s co-flag bearer for the Paris Olympics alongside track athlete Lucia Moris.
FIBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 2023 | 29 | 5 | 119 | 35 | 13 | 16 | 3 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 12 | 34 | 35.3% | 9 | 27 | 33.3% | 2 | 2 | 100.0% | Total | 5 | 119 | 35 | 13 | 16 | 3 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 12 | 34 | 35% | 9 | 27 | 33% | 2 | 2 | 100% |
FIBA PER GAME STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 30 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% |
| 2023 | 29 | 5 | 23.8 | 7.0 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 6.8 | 35.3% | 1.8 | 5.4 | 33.3% | 0.4 | 0.4 | 100.0% | Total | 5 | 23.8 | 7.0 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 6.8 | 35% | 1.8 | 5.4 | 33% | 0.4 | 0.4 | 100% |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Finland - Kauhajoki Karhu Basket (2022–2023) | Croatia - Vrijednosnice Osijek (2021–2022)
Kuany joined Vrijednosnice Osijek for the 2021–22 Croatian League season in Croatia, and he averaged 13.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.9 steals across 28 games while leading the team in rebounds and steals.
Kuany joined Kauhajoki Karhu Basket for the 2022–23 Korisliiga season in Finland after signing a one-year deal on 28 July 2022, and he averaged 7.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists across 12 Korisliiga games.
With Kauhajoki Karhu Basket in 2022–23, Kuany also played in the FIBA Europe Cup and averaged 11.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists across 11 games while shooting 54.0 percent from three-point range.
COLLEGE
Kuany Kuany attended Chaminade University of Honolulu from 2013–14 through 2016–17, becoming one of the most accomplished men’s basketball players in program history across four seasons in the Pacific West Conference.
He made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2013–14, playing 32 games with 27 starts and averaging 14.0 points per game, with 447 total points on 53.4% shooting, plus 8.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists per night while logging 957 minutes.
That first season also produced a standout single-game record performance when Kuany grabbed 22 rebounds against Azusa Pacific University on February 3, 2014, a figure listed in Chaminade’s men’s basketball media guide record book.
As a sophomore in 2014–15, Kuany started all 26 games and raised his output to 15.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, with a notable jump in perimeter efficiency (47.2% from three in that season’s split data) while remaining one of the Silverswords’ primary scoring options.
His junior year in 2015–16 was his statistical peak at Chaminade, again starting every game he played (27), averaging 16.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, and shooting 59.9% from the field while also lifting his playmaking to 2.9 assists per contest.
In 2016–17, Kuany started all 26 games as a senior and averaged 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, earning All-PacWest Third Team recognition and being named Chaminade’s Most Inspirational Player, with his best scoring night coming on Senior Night when he poured in a season-high 28 points against No. 8 Hawaiʻi Pacific University.
Across his four-year Chaminade career, he finished with 1,600 points and 876 rebounds, with a 7.9 rebounds-per-game career average listed among the program’s all-time leaders, and his 106 career starts were noted as the most by a Silversword since the category began being tracked in 1996.
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