NICKNAME/S: Jook

BIO: Born in Rumbek, South Sudan, Majok came to Australia as a eight-year-old, his family settling in Perth. As a youth he initially played soccer before developing a liking for basketball during his high school years spent at Kingsway Christian College.

After drawing interest from overseas scouts, he moved to the United States and played two years of high school ball at Northfield Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts.

Majok played two years at Northfield Mount Hermon for coach John Carroll, leading his team to the finals of the prep school national tournament in the 2009/10 season. Majok was named to the All-New England Preparatory School Athletic Council Second Team and Northfield Mount Hermon compiled a 59-11 record during his two seasons there.

He went on to play college basketball with Midland College (2010- 2012) and Ball State (2012-2014).

FAMILY: Son of Maker Majok and Hellen Majwec. He is also cousins with NBL player Majok Majok

NBL EXPERIENCE

Majok Majok made his NBL debut with the Melbourne United at 22 years of age. He scored eight points in his first game.

Returning from a season in Slovenia, Majok Majok signed with Melbourne United on 9 July 2015. He played an important role in helping Melbourne achieve a league-best regular-season record (18–10), averaging 5.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 0.5 assists. Despite finishing atop the ladder under new coach Dean Demopoulos, Melbourne fell short in the semifinals, being swept by the New Zealand Breakers in two games.

2016/17
With the NBL allowing three imports per team, Melbourne reshaped their roster, adding Cedric Jackson, Ramone Moore, and Devin Williams, while Tai Wesley joined under the Asian player rule. David Andersen also came in to replace Daniel Kickert (who departed for Sydney), adding a veteran presence to the squad. United struggled initially under Demopoulos in his second year, starting 3-7. Jackson (10.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.4 steals) was released due to attitude issues and lack of buy-in to the defensive system.

Casper Ware arrived as Jackson’s replacement and had an immediate impact. Around this time, Chris Goulding (17.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists) returned from injury, while David Barlow (5.1 points, 2.7 rebounds) made his long-awaited comeback after missing two seasons. United surged late in the season, winning 10 of their final 18 games.

Devin Williams, however, struggled (3.2 points, 4.0 rebounds) and was eventually cut, with Josh Boone (10.1 points, 9.3 rebounds) joining the squad to provide a rebounding boost. Boone quickly established himself, finishing as the league’s top rebounder and leading United in advanced metrics like PER and eFG%. Majok Majok, consistent throughout the season, averaged 5.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks, one of only two players to appear in all 28 games, alongside Wesley (8.8 points and 3.5 rebounds). Despite strong individual performances, Melbourne’s offensive struggles and second-worst true shooting percentage kept them from playoff contention, ending with a sixth-place finish (13-15).

Ware’s All-NBL First Team selection and Melbourne’s late-season momentum excited fans for the future. However, after ongoing player-management tensions, Demopoulos and Melbourne parted ways at season’s end.

2017/18
With Dean Vickerman at the helm, United aimed to reset under a new culture. Vickerman, coming from Sydney, signed on for two years and quickly re-signed key players David Barlow, Josh Boone, and Casper Ware. He brought in Craig Moller from Sydney and added Casey Prather (from Perth) as the third import. Melbourne won their season opener against Adelaide (99–97), led by Prather’s 20 points, but only managed five wins in their first ten games.

On December 16, Prather dislocated his elbow during a win over Illawarra, sidelining him for at least eight weeks. Melbourne signed former NBA player Carrick Felix as an injury replacement, and United went on an impressive run, closing out the regular season 15-3.

Majok Majok contributed 2.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.2 assists, with United finishing first and setting up a semifinal clash with New Zealand. United swept the Breakers in two games, with Prather leading the scoring in both outings, securing a place in the Grand Final against the Adelaide 36ers, who eliminated reigning champions Perth.

The Grand Final series opener saw a standout performance from Casper Ware (20 points) before he exited with a hip injury. Chris Goulding picked up the slack, scoring 26 points in a 107-96 victory. In Game two, Adelaide bounced back with a 110-95 win, led by Majok Deng (18 points) and Mitch Creek (17 points), while Prather topped Melbourne with 20 points.

Game three in Melbourne saw tensions rise with Nathan Sobey ejected following a halftime confrontation. Melbourne narrowly won (101-98) after a missed three-pointer from Deng in the final seconds. Game four saw Adelaide storm back to even the series, securing a 90-81 win behind Johnson’s 29 points and 10 rebounds.

In the deciding Game five, Goulding, Ware, and Prather each turned in strong performances, propelling Melbourne to a 100-82 victory before a packed Hisense Arena, clinching United’s first title since rebranding. Chris Goulding earned Finals MVP honors, averaging 16.6 points and 3.6 rebounds. Prather’s third consecutive NBL championship made him the first player in NBL history to win three titles in his first three seasons.

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS
2018/19
On 4 May 2018, Majok Majok joined the New Zealand Breakers on a one-year contract amid a transformative phase for the franchise. A consortium led by former NBA player Matt Walsh acquired majority ownership through Breakers Basketball Ltd, ending a 13-year tenure by previous owners Liz and Paul Blackwell.

The Breakers saw significant personnel changes, as some of their longest-serving members moved on. Paul Henare ended his 15-year association with the team, Kirk Penney retired, and stalwarts Alex Pledger (to Melbourne), Mika Vukona (to Brisbane), and rising talent Robert Loe (to Cairns) also departed.

Taking over as captain was Thomas Abercrombie, and former Breakers player Kevin Braswell was appointed head coach. Braswell set about reshaping the roster, re-signing Tai Wesley from Melbourne and securing Tall Blacks star Corey Webster (returning from Europe). Jarrad Weeks, Patrick Richard, Armani Moore, and Shawn Long were brought in, while Majok Majok and Weeks rounded out the roster’s local talent.

The Breakers kicked off their preseason with an NBLxNBA exhibition game against the Phoenix Suns. Despite being heavy underdogs, New Zealand showed resilience, making a late push to cut the deficit to four in the final minutes before narrowly falling 91–86. Corey Webster (27 points, 7 assists) and Tai Wesley (15 points, 7 rebounds) led the Breakers, while the Suns, missing star Devin Booker, were spearheaded by Deandre Ayton (21 points, 15 rebounds) and Trevor Ariza (16 points, 6 assists).

Once the regular season began, inconsistency plagued the Breakers, compounded by injuries and roster instability. A five-game losing streak in November and December left them struggling, with only four wins from their first twelve games.

The Breakers’ underwhelming season saw declines from core players, including Corey Webster (10.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists) and Thomas Abercrombie (8.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists). Imports Patrick Richard (11.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists) and Armani Moore (7.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists) also failed to meet expectations. Majok Majok (2 points, 1.5 rebounds) played a limited role, with his best games including a 10-point, 3-rebound, and 1-block effort on perfect shooting (4-of-4) against Cairns (9 Nov 2018) and a 6-point, 2-rebound outing against Melbourne (14 Oct 2018).

Shawn Long emerged as the standout, finishing second in league rebounding and blocks (18.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.5 blocks) and earning All-NBL Second Team honors along with the Breakers’ Club MVP award. Jarrad Weeks (10.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists) had a career-best season, finishing runner-up for Best Sixth Man and Most Improved Player awards.

Despite their efforts, New Zealand ended with a 12-16 record, finishing sixth and missing the playoffs.

PERTH WILDCATS
2019/20
In the 2019 off-season, Perth Wildcats re-signed long-time head coach Trevor Gleeson (three-year deal) and retained championship-winning veterans Damian Martin, Jesse Wagstaff, and import Terrico White. Majok Majok joined the Wildcats, filling a big man vacancy alongside new addition Dario Hunt, replacing Tom Jervis and Angus Brandt.

Perth opened the season 5–1, but mid-season setbacks saw them drop to 8-5 by round 10. The Wildcats rebounded with four straight wins, closing December at 13–6. Key milestones included Damian Martin’s 300th game, though a heel injury sidelined him in January. After consecutive losses in early 2020, Perth replaced Hunt (8.6 points, 5.9 rebounds) with former NBA player Miles Plumlee (9.0 points, 6.7 rebounds), who provided the interior presence the Wildcats needed, highlighted by his 23-point, 18-rebound performance in a narrow 80–79 win over New Zealand.

The Wildcats clinched a playoff spot with a strong finish (19-9) and entered the playoffs as the second seed. Nick Kay (15 points, 7.6 rebounds) and Bryce Cotton (22.6 points, 3.9 rebounds) shone, with Cotton becoming the first import to lead the league in scoring for three straight seasons.

Perth defeated Cairns in the semifinals (2-1), then met the Sydney Kings in the Grand Final. Game one saw Cotton (32 points) and Kay (14 points) lead the Wildcats to an 88–86 victory. The series was interrupted due to COVID-19, forcing remaining games to be played without fans. Sydney won Game two (1-1) behind Andrew Bogut’s season-best performance (24 points, 14 rebounds).

In Game three, Kay’s career-high 30 points and Cotton’s 31 helped Perth secure a 2-1 lead with a 111–96 win. Sydney ultimately withdrew from the series due to pandemic concerns, and Perth was awarded the championship. Cotton, who averaged 30 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in the series, was named Grand Final MVP, making Wildcats history as the first to win league MVP, Grand Final MVP, and a title in the same season.

Majok Majok averaged 3.3 points, 3.5 rebounds in a limited role, backing up Kay and Plumlee in the rotation.

2020/21
Perth exercised their option on Majok’s contract for the 2020/21 season, but he suffered an Achilles injury in November 2020, sidelining him for the entire season.

2021/22
After completing his rehab in Perth, Majok Majok re-signed with the Wildcats on July 6, 2021, for a two-year term. This season marked the end of an era as head coach Trevor Gleeson, who led the Wildcats to five championships in seven years, accepted an opportunity to join the Toronto Raptors’ coaching staff in the NBA.

Adding to the shift, Perth lost several key rotation players to the new Tasmania JackJumpers, with mid-season addition Will Magnay and a portion of the bench (Clint Steindl, Jarrad Weeks, and Jarred Bairstow) signing multi-year deals to play under former Wildcats assistant Scott Roth.

In response, Perth moved to restructure the roster, appointing Scott Morrison from the U.S. as head coach to replace Gleeson and adding imports Vic Law (from Brisbane) and Michael Frazier III, with Matthew Hodgson (via Brisbane) filling the final roster spot. Majok adjusted well to Morrison’s system, putting up averages of 5.3 points and 5.3 rebounds as Perth maintained a top-four position throughout most of the season. By the time their extended road stint wrapped up, Perth sat second on the ladder (13–6) and prepared for a final push, with their last nine games scheduled at home.

Upon returning to WA, Perth made the call to replace Frazier with John Brown III, who arrived and began training only for his former team to deny him clearance, making him ineligible for the playoffs. This left Perth in the delicate situation of asking Frazier to rejoin the rotation while Brown returned to the United States.

Injuries plagued the Wildcats’ roster toward season’s end, with Law suffering a season-ending knee injury and Cotton missing multiple games. These setbacks saw Perth win only three of their final games before the season finale against South East Melbourne Phoenix. Heading into the game in fourth place with playoffs on the line, the Wildcats appeared poised to secure their 37th consecutive finals appearance after building an eight-point second-half lead. However, the Phoenix mounted a comeback, clinching a two-point overtime win to snap Perth’s historic streak, which had begun in 1986.

2022/23
With Perth missing the playoffs for the first time in 35 years, Scott Morrison stepped down after one season to return home for family reasons. The Wildcats named former Townsville Crocodiles star John Rillie as head coach, signing him to a three-year deal.

Perth kept much of their roster intact, with only Kevin White (to Illawarra) and Matt Hodgson (to Taiwan) departing. The team re-signed Bryce Cotton (three-year deal), Todd Blanchfield (three-year deal), and Jesse Wagstaff (one-year deal), while promoting Kyle Zunic from development player to the main roster. In addition, the Wildcats signed Corey Webster, who had previously joined the team in 2017 but left before the season started. They rounded out their roster with imports TaShawn Thomas (via France) and Brady Manek (via North Carolina) for extra offensive firepower.

Rillie’s Wildcats started strong, winning three straight games and taking the top spot on the NBL ladder before a five-game skid dropped them to seventh, a position they would hover around until the season’s final month.

With six games remaining, Perth added Tai Webster after he left his team in Turkey, reuniting him with brother Corey. Corey Shervill was released to make space for Webster on the roster.

In the final three games, Perth faced setbacks, losing to Tasmania (102–94) as the JackJumpers outscored them 27–15 in the last quarter. A crucial loss to the Cairns Taipans (84–71) left Perth needing a victory over league-leading Sydney in the season’s last round to stay alive. In a thrilling upset (96–84), Perth clinched sixth place (15–13) and advanced to the NBL’s inaugural play-in tournament. After defeating South East Melbourne Phoenix, they fell to Cairns, missing the semifinals for the second consecutive season.

Majok played in 23 games, averaging 2.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.3 assists.

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS
2023/24
Without a contract extension from Perth, Majok couldn’t secure a full-time roster spot with another NBL team. He signed a short-term injury replacement deal with Tasmania, filling in for Will Magnay.

Majok Majok currently plays for the South East Melbourne Phoenix and has played 185 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 3.8 points, 4 rebounds, and 0.4 assists since entering the league in 2015.

CURRENT CONTRACT:

South East Melbourne Phoenix – 1 Year Deal (2024-25)

HIGHLIGHTS:

When your team mates decide to heckle you during an interview ????@majok55majok @MelbUnitedHQ @SBSNews pic.twitter.com/rA8BEIjWJ8

— Abby Dinham (@abbydinham) November 21, 2016

Dan Boyce (823 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.