BIO: Mojave King was born in Dunedin (New Zealand). King received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2019. He spent one year there and played for the program’s state league team.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Mojave King made his NBL debut with the Cairns Taipans at 18 years of age. He scored seven points in his first game.

Mojave King entered the NBL as part of the league’s Next Stars program, signing with the Cairns Taipans to develop his NBA draft prospects. By joining the NBL, King turned down offers from several top NCAA Division I programs, including Arizona, Baylor, Oregon, and Virginia. In his rookie season, King showed flashes of his potential, averaging 6.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 0.5 assists. However, the Taipans struggled throughout the season, finishing in ninth place with an 8-28 record. Despite the team’s poor performance, King gained valuable experience as he transitioned to professional basketball.

CAIRNS TAIPANS
2020/21
After finishing third with a 16-12 record and falling one win short of the Grand Final the previous season, Cairns entered NBL21 looking to build on its breakthrough year under coach Mike Kelly. The NBL reducing the import limit from three to two saw DJ Newbill (to Japan) depart, while the majority of the previous season’s roster returned. Cairns also added a New Zealand wing after six seasons with the Breakers and secured its first player through the NBL Next Stars program, with the highly-rated guard choosing the professional pathway after turning down college offers from Arizona, Baylor, Oregon and Virginia.

The Next Star joined Cairns to develop his NBA draft prospects and said prior to the season that his goal was to be selected “as high as possible” in the 2021 NBA Draft. He provided an early glimpse of his potential during the preseason, scoring 21 points off the bench and making three three-pointers in 20 minutes during a 97-81 loss to Melbourne United.

Mojave King (7 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) made his NBL debut against Sydney at the Cairns Pop-Up Arena on January 16. Machado (17 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 steal) and Djeric (15 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists) led Cairns, while Casper Ware (18 points) led Sydney as the Taipans recovered from six points down entering the fourth quarter and held the Kings scoreless over the final two minutes to win 87-86.

King (6.2 points across 30 games) made nine starts during his rookie season, with his opportunities fluctuating as Kelly balanced his development against the team’s immediate need to win. King did not play in three games during the NBL Cup on February 20, February 22 and March 4, with no injury reported for those absences. Cairns later addressed the discussion surrounding his playing time, noting that rotation decisions were being made in the best interests of winning games, while Kelly praised King for continuing to work despite playing limited minutes.

With the Taipans captain sidelined by a corked leg, King (14 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) made his first NBL start against Adelaide at the Cairns Pop-Up Arena on April 14. Oliver (25 points, 17 rebounds, and 1 block) and Ngatai (15 points) led Cairns, while Daniel Johnson (24 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) was Adelaide’s best as the Taipans recovered from 16 points down and King finished the comeback with a breakaway dunk to seal a 91-88 win.

King’s best game of the season came against Brisbane at the Cairns Pop-Up Arena on May 26, where he made 9-of-15 from the field and four three-pointers to finish with a season-high 25 points and 1 rebound. The captain (23 points, 2 rebounds, 12 assists, and 2 steals) and Deng (12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) provided support, while Nathan Sobey (21 points, 5 rebounds, and 10 assists) led Brisbane to a 101-96 win. The performance was the second-highest scoring game by an 18-year-old in the NBL across the previous 25 years, with King joining LaMelo Ball and Joe Ingles as the only players over that period to score at least 20 points before turning 19.

“I felt good. I was just trying to bring a lot of energy, run the lanes super hard and try to make the right plays offensively,” King said after the game.

King also suffered a left ankle sprain against Brisbane, which ended his season. He missed Cairns’ May 28 game against South East Melbourne and did not travel for the final road trip, also sitting out the games against Melbourne and New Zealand after the sprain failed to heal as quickly as expected. The ankle injury accounted for his final three missed games, while his other three non-appearances during the season were not injury-related.

Oliver (17.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks across 24 games) led Cairns in scoring and rebounding before being waived on compassionate grounds after complications with his wife’s pregnancy required him to return to the United States. Machado (15.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 7 assists across 35 games) remained the team’s primary playmaker, while Deng (12 points and 4.5 rebounds across 20 games) missed 16 games after suffering a partial tear of his left MCL and Noi (10.1 points and 4.4 rebounds across 18 games) missed the final 18 games after suffering a PCL tear. Djeric (8.6 points across 34 games) made a career-high 66 three-pointers, Jawai (8.3 points and 3.8 rebounds across 36 games) recorded four 20-point games for the first time since his rookie NBL season, while Ngatai (6.7 points across 36 games), Venky Jois (6.4 points and 5.1 rebounds across 10 games), Tad Dufelmeier Jr (6 points across 21 games) and Fabijan Krslovic (5.1 points and 3.4 rebounds across 32 games) provided support.

King remained sidelined when Cairns closed its season against New Zealand at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua on June 2. Machado (21 points, 4 rebounds, 11 assists, and 1 steal) and Jawai (14 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) led Cairns, while Tai Webster (23 points and 6 rebounds) led New Zealand to an 84-78 win as Cairns finished ninth with an 8-28 record.

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS
2024/25
New Zealand entered the off-season after finishing sixth with a 13-15 record, defeating Sydney 83-76 in the first play-in game before an 88-85 loss to Illawarra ended its season. Anthony Lamb (to Trento), William McDowell-White (to Berlin), Izayah Le’Afa (to Sydney), Justinian Jessup (to Ulm), Finn Delany (to Shizuoka), Mantas Rubstavicius (to Panevezys), Zylan Cheatham (to Nagoya), Mangok Mathiang (to Ningbo), Dan Fotu and Dom Kelman-Poto exited the team, while Thomas Abercrombie and Cameron Gliddon retired. Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Max Darling, Dane Pineau, Carlin Davison and Alex McNaught returned.

Head coach Mody Maor (to Nagasaki) was replaced by Petteri Koponen (via Helsinki), who added Mojave King (via Indiana), Matt Mooney (via Trento), Sam Mennenga (via Cairns), Mitch McCarron (via Adelaide), Jonah Bolden (via Sydney), Sean Bairstow (via Richmond), Grant Anticevich (via Gottingen), Freddie Gillespie (via Belgrade), Karim Lopez (via Badalona) and Kaia Isaac (via Canterbury).

The former Next Star returned to the NBL on a one-year deal after spending the previous two seasons in the United States, where he was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers and traded to Indiana before averaging 3.9 points across 15 games with the Mad Ants. His decision to sign had been heavily influenced by Maor before the coach’s departure, with the new addition saying, “Mody is a big reason why I decided to sign.”

During the preseason, the former NBA draftee (22 points) top-scored for New Zealand in a 120-76 loss to Sydney before scoring 14 points against Perth and 18 points against Adelaide during the NBL Blitz. Jackson-Cartwright (21 points) and McCarron (17 points) also contributed against the Wildcats, but Bryce Cotton (32 points) and Keanu Pinder (25 points and 8 rebounds) led Perth to a 108-102 win. Watch highlights

The Breakers completed their Blitz campaign with a 98-91 loss to Adelaide, where the former NBA draftee (18 points), Mooney (20 points) and Jackson-Cartwright (21 points and 8 assists) led New Zealand, while Kendric Davis (23 points), Isaac Humphries (20 points and 11 rebounds) and Dejan Vasiljevic (15 points) led the 36ers. Watch highlights

New Zealand opened the regular season at HoopsFest in Perth with a 91-87 win over Brisbane, where the new addition (12 points, 1 assist, and 2 steals) shot 5-of-7 from the field and 2-of-2 from three. Mennenga (22 points and 7 rebounds) and Jackson-Cartwright (20 points, 3 rebounds, 11 assists, and 1 steal) led the Breakers, while Keandre Cook (25 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) was Brisbane’s best as New Zealand held on after building a 26-point lead.

King (8.5 points across 17 games) made seven starts during his return to the NBL, providing athletic scoring from the wing and taking many of New Zealand’s most difficult perimeter assignments during an injury-interrupted campaign.

After New Zealand opened the season 2-0, King joined the Breakers for three games against NBA opposition in the United States. King (11 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists) made three three-pointers against Utah before producing 15 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block against Philadelphia. He completed the tour with 16 points and 5 rebounds against Oklahoma City, making five three-pointers and combining with Mooney for seven during the first half as New Zealand entered half-time level with the Thunder.

A quad complaint sidelined King after his first four regular-season appearances, ruling him out against South East Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Tasmania before he remained unused after being listed as a game-time decision against Cairns. The Breakers overcame their early injury problems to enter the FIBA break sitting second with a 7-3 record.

During the break, Gillespie (6.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks across 9 games) requested his release (to Milan) and was replaced by Fall (via Nanjing), who joined New Zealand on a contract through the end of the 2025/26 season.

King returned against Illawarra on November 28 and finished with 11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. Jackson-Cartwright (19 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) and Mennenga (9 points and 6 rebounds) provided the Breakers’ other main contributions, while Lachlan Olbrich (21 points and 3 rebounds) led the Hawks to a 109-71 win.

King was listed but not used against Sydney on December 20, with no injury reason confirmed for his absence. Jackson-Cartwright (25 points, 3 rebounds, and 8 assists) and Lopez (18 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) led New Zealand, while Kouat Noi (26 points and 4 rebounds) powered a closing 16-3 run as Sydney won 92-84.

The Breakers’ losing streak reached eight games on Christmas Day when Tasmania defeated New Zealand 97-82. King (12 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) delivered one of his strongest all-around performances, while Jackson-Cartwright (23 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) and Fall (11 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks) also contributed for New Zealand, and Jordon Crawford (26 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals) and Majok Deng (20 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led the JackJumpers.

New Zealand returned to the winner’s list against Cairns on New Year’s Eve, where King (6 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) contributed at both ends of the floor. Mooney (23 points, 3 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 steals) and Fall (21 points, 12 rebounds, and 1 block) led the Breakers, while Tanner Groves (21 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 block) was Cairns’ best as New Zealand won 92-68.

Five days later, King (5 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists) suffered a calf strain during the first half against Perth and was unable to return. Fall (28 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks) and Mooney (28 points, 2 rebounds, and 6 assists) led New Zealand, while Cotton (30 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) helped the Wildcats defeat the Breakers 96-86.

The calf injury ruled King out against Brisbane, Illawarra, Melbourne and Tasmania before he was listed but remained unused against South East Melbourne on January 18. He returned against Brisbane in Christchurch on January 24 and finished with 4 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal in 12 minutes. Mooney (24 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals) and Jackson-Cartwright (19 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists, and 1 steal) led New Zealand, while Cook (26 points, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) led Brisbane to a 93-87 win.

King’s best game of the season came against Adelaide two days later, where he shot 7-of-12 from the field and made 5-of-8 three-pointers to finish with 20 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. Mooney (14 points, 2 rebounds, 9 assists, and 1 steal) and Bolden (10 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) provided support, but Montrezl Harrell (26 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 blocks) and Davis (23 points, 5 rebounds, 13 assists, and 2 steals) led the 36ers to a 94-78 win which officially eliminated New Zealand from postseason contention. Watch highlights

“I’m definitely having the most fun that I’ve had in the NBL,” King said, while acknowledging the two injuries had interrupted his rhythm during the season.

King (16 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks) remained in strong form against Cairns in New Zealand’s final victory. Mooney (24 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals) and Fall (14 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists) led the Breakers, while Sam Waardenburg (16 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Pedro Bradshaw (16 points and 3 steals) led Cairns as New Zealand won 99-92. Watch highlights

Jackson-Cartwright (18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.6 steals across 21 games) and Mooney (16.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.6 steals across 29 games) led New Zealand’s backcourt, while Mennenga (11.7 points and 5.3 rebounds across 29 games), Fall (11.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks across 18 games), Lopez (9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds across 25 games), Bolden (6 points and 5.7 rebounds across 24 games) and Darling (5.3 points across 21 games) provided the other main contributions.

Jackson-Cartwright won the Breakers’ MVP and Members Choice awards, Mennenga’s career-high performance against Tasmania was voted the Fans’ Moment of the Year and King was named Defensive Player of the Year for his work defending the opposition’s leading perimeter players. New Zealand won only three of its final 19 games and finished ninth with a 10-19 record, missing the postseason.

New Zealand closed the season at Spark Arena on February 5, where King (7 points and 1 steal) played 21 minutes, Fall (16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks) and Lopez (12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block) led the Breakers, while Tyler Harvey (29 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists) led Illawarra to a 96-82 win.

CAIRNS TAIPANS
2025/26
After finishing last with an 8-21 record, Cairns returned with Adam Forde as head coach and rebuilt the roster after Rob Edwards, Tanner Groves, Pedro Bradshaw and Jonah Antonio exited. Jack McVeigh (via Houston), Admiral Schofield (via Lyon), Reyne Smith (via Louisville), Marcus Lee (via Melbourne) and Mawot Mag (via Provo) joined captain Sam Waardenburg, Alex Higgins-Titsha, Kyrin Galloway, Kyle Adnam and Kody Stattmann, while Ashton Hagans (via Xinjiang) was released before the season and replaced by Andrew Andrews (via Vilnius).

Cairns started 2-7 as injuries quickly hit the roster, with Waardenburg sidelined by an ankle injury, McVeigh suffering a wrist injury and Higgins-Titsha requiring surgery on his left wrist. Mojave King returned to Cairns (via New Zealand) on October 29 as Higgins-Titsha’s injury replacement for the remainder of the season.

King (2 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) made his second Taipans debut the next night in Brisbane, playing eight minutes as Cairns lost 113-85, with Jack McVeigh (23 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) and Andrew Andrews (11 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, and 1 steal) leading the Taipans while Casey Prather (21 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) was Brisbane’s best.

King (11.2 points and 4.4 rebounds across 22 games) made 20 starts and produced career-best numbers during his return to Far North Queensland, providing athletic scoring from the wing while taking on a larger role within an injury-hit rotation.

His best game came against reigning champion Illawarra on November 7, where King (32 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists) shot 13-of-16 from the field and 6-of-8 from three for the best scoring game of his NBL career, but the Hawks defeated Cairns 107-90, with Jack McVeigh (13 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists) and Admiral Schofield (11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) providing support while Will Hickey (19 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists, and 3 blocks) controlled the game for Illawarra.

A glute strain forced King out of the December 13 loss to Tasmania, but he returned to the starting lineup and remained in the rotation for the rest of the season.

King (13 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) produced his best rebounding game in Brisbane on February 8, helping Cairns defeat the Bullets 81-72 behind Jack McVeigh (22 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Andrew Andrews (12 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists, and 1 steal), while Terry Taylor (25 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) led Brisbane.

Jack McVeigh (21.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4 assists across 29 games) led the Taipans in scoring, won the club MVP and Members’ Choice awards and earned All-NBL Second Team honours, while Andrew Andrews (14.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 7.6 assists across 31 games) directed the offence and was named Players’ Player. Sam Waardenburg (15.5 points and 5.4 rebounds across 8 games) was productive when available, with Reyne Smith (9.9 points across 14 games), Admiral Schofield (8.8 points and 4.3 rebounds across 30 games), Kyrin Galloway (7.6 points and 4.6 rebounds across 33 games), Marcus Lee (6.8 points and 5.4 rebounds across 33 games), Kody Stattmann (6.6 points across 23 games) and Alex Higgins-Titsha (6.3 points and 4.6 rebounds across 9 games) providing the other main contributions. Galloway was named Defensive Player of the Year, Lachlan Barker (4.5 points across 26 games) received the Coaches Award and Jed Richardson (0 points across 2 games) received the Commitment to Community award.

Cairns finished ninth at 9-24 and missed the postseason. King did not play in the final game at Eventfinda Stadium on February 19 as Andrew Andrews (24 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal) and Kody Stattmann (20 points and 5 rebounds) led the Taipans, while Sam Mennenga (32 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists) led New Zealand to a 115-84 win.Mojave King currently plays for the Cairns Taipans and has played 95 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 7 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.8 assists since entering the league in 2021.