Akoldah Gak

Akoldah Gak (born 12 July 2002) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Cairns Taipans of the National Basketball League (NBL).

Akoldah Gak
No. 13 – Cairns Taipans
PositionSmall forward / power forward
LeagueNBL
Personal information
Born (2002-07-12) 12 July 2002
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Listed height210 cm (6 ft 11 in)
Listed weight102 kg (225 lb)
Career information
High school
Playing career2020–present
Career history
2020–2023Illawarra Hawks
2023–presentCairns Taipans

High school career

Gak attended St Dominic's College in Sydney, New South Wales.[1] Gak received a scholarship to attend Blair Academy in the United States in 2018 through a basketball pipeline that was established by professional basketball player and Blair alumni, Luol Deng.[2]

Professional career

On 12 October 2020, Gak signed a three-year deal with the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League (NBL).[3] He was rostered as a development player during the 2020–21 NBL season before he became a contracted player for the remainder of his tenure.[3] Gak's family chose for him to develop in Australia due to the global uncertainty from the COVID-19 pandemic; Hawks head coach Brian Goorjian considered the assignment of a National Basketball Association (NBA) prospect to his team as a "real compliment".[4] Gak received limited playing time during his three seasons with the Hawks.[5]

Gak played for the Chicago Bulls at the 2022 NBA Summer League.[6]

On 10 April 2023, Gak signed a two-year deal with the Cairns Taipans.[7]

National team career

Gak played for the Australia men's national under-19 basketball team at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup.[8]

Personal life

Gak was born in Sydney, New South Wales, in 2002 to parents who had fled South Sudan and moved to Australia.[2] Two of his older brothers have played college basketball: Gorjok for the California Baptist Lancers and Deng for the Miami Hurricanes.[2][4]

References
  1. "Basketball success for former student, Akoldah Gak". St Dominic's College. June 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  2. Red, Christian (5 December 2018). "Luol Deng helps connect Australia's South Sudanese basketball pipeline". ESPN. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  3. "Hawks Sign Akoldah Gak". NBL. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  4. "'NBA prospect' Gak signs as Hawks' NBL development player". Illawarra Mercury. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  5. "NBA Aspirant Gak Signs in Cairns". NBL. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  6. "Bulls announce Summer League 2022 schedule and roster". NBA. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  7. "Taipans get Gak". taipans.com. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  8. "Under 19 Men's 2021 World Cup Squad Revealed". Basketball Australia. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
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