Sani Sakakini

Sani Sakakini (Arabic: سني سكاكيني; born August 19, 1988) is a Palestinian professional basketball player.[1][2] In 2017, he ranked second all-time highest in the FIBA Asia Championship in scoring average, after the 2015 edition where he ranked first in scoring and rebounds (22.4 PPG and 12.6 RPG in 8 games).[3]

Sani Sakakini
No. 13 – Al Riyadi Club Beirut
PositionForward
LeagueLebanese Basketball League
Personal information
Born (1988-08-19) August 19, 1988
Ramallah, Palestine
NationalityPalestinian
Listed height6 ft 8.5 in (2.04 m)
Listed weight225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2010: undrafted
Playing career2007–present
Career history
2007–2013Al Riyadi Amman
2011→Guangzhou Free Man
2011–2012Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles
2013→Sarriyet Ramallah
2013–2014Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles
2014→Hoops Club
2015Orthodox (Jordan)
2015–2016Jiangsu Tongxi
2016→Champville SC
2016–2017Tianjin Ronggang
2017Trotamundos de Carabobo
2017–2018Guangzhou Long-Lions
2018Shabab Al Ahli
2018–2019Yulon Luxgen Dinos
2019–2020Beijing Royal Fighters
2021–2022Taichung Wagor Suns
2022–2023Taoyuan Pilots
2023–presentAl Riyadi Beirut
Career highlights and awards

Professional career

Sakakini started playing basketball at the age of 14 in the Sarriyet Ramallah club.[2] His international career started in 2007 after he went to Applied Science University in Jordan and joined the Jordanian Premier League playing three seasons for Al Riyadi Amman.[4] He came back to the league in 2015 to play one season with Orthodox and help the team win the title.[5]

In 2011, Sakakini started in the minor NBL league with Guangzhou Free Man before playing in the main CBA league for four seasons with Qingdao Eagles, Jiangsu Monkey King and Tianjin Gold Lions. He started 115 games for 126 appearances, averaging 19.3 PPG and 12.5 RPG.[6][7]

He also played a few games in 2014 and 2016 in the LBL league for Hoops Club and Champville SC. He started 17 games out of 17 appearances, averaging 18.4 PPG and 10.6 RPG.[8]

For the 2017-2018 season, Sakakini joined the LPB league playing for the Trotamundos de Carabobo.[9]

On August 29, 2021, Sakakini officially joined the Taichung Suns of the T1 League in Taiwan.[10] On July 2, 2022, Sakakini was selected to the all-T1 League first team in 2021–22 season.[11]

National team career

Sakakini joined the Palestine national basketball team in 2006.[12] He contributed in rebuilding the Palestine national basketball team with coach Jerry Steele and recruiting players such as former University of Minnesota guard Jamal Abu-Shamala. This led to the team's first ever qualification to the FIBA Asia Championship in 2015.[1]

In August 2021, Sakakini has announced his retirement from international basketball.[12] The announcement came after his Palestinian team got two consecutive losses at the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, dropping them from the tournament.[13]

Career statistics

Statistics from FIBA,[7] CBA,[6] REAL GM,[8] EUROBASKET,[14] SBL.[15]

Legend
  GP Games played  MPG  Minutes per game  FG%  Field goal percentage
 3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game
 PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high     Led the league

Regular season
Year Team League GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2011Guangzhou Free ManNBL2054.225.067.59.81.114.5
2011-2012Qingdao DoubleStarCBA3127.351.616.767.48.21.31.00.310.5
2013Al Riyadi AmmanJPL1811.82.61.223.9
2013Sarriyet RamallahPBBA815.73.03.62.332.7
2013-2014Qingdao DoubleStarCBA2939.451.720.875.613.82.21.50.418.9
2014Hoops ClubLBL939.242.322.274.111.92.72.00.620.4
2015-2016Jiangsu TongxiCBA3042.646.220.576.314.72.41.70.423.2
2016Champville SCLBL831.447.200.078.49.11.91.50.116.1
2016-2017Tianjin RonggangCBA3541.254.533.779.613.32.01.00.324.0
2017-2018Guangzhou Long-LionsCBA3740.152.432.385.411.72.21.30.321.2
2018-2019Yulon Luxgen DinosSBL2231.847.626.979.813.62.51.50.823.6

International tournaments
Year Team League GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2015PalestineFIBA Asia Championship835.9.407.205.68212.62.41.50.322.4

Career highs

Sakakini scored a season-high 48 points and 22 rebounds on 11/11/2015 in a 111-101 win of Jiangsu Monkey King over Tianjin Gold Lions.[16]

Off the court

He is the son of George Sakakini, and elder brother of Salim Sakakini which also plays in the Palestine national basketball team.

References
  1. Carpenter, Les (2015-08-03). "The NBA's first Palestinian? Sani Sakakini's remarkable basketball odyssey". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
  2. "Meet Palestine's first professional basketball player". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
  3. "Sani Sakakini profile, FIBA Asia Championship 2015 | FIBA.COM". FIBA.COM. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  4. "Al Riyadi Amman basketball, News, Roster, Rumors, Stats, Awards, Transactions, Details - asia-basket.com". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  5. "الفلسطيني سني سكاكيني يعود إلى الدوري الصيني". ARABASKET. 2015-08-12. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  6. "CBA球员介绍:桑尼". cbadata.sports.sohu.com. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
  7. "Sani Sakakini profile | Game center | FIBA.com". www.fiba.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2016. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
  8. "Sani Sakakini Player Profile, Tianjin Ronggang, International Stats, Events Stats, Game Logs, Awards - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
  9. "..::TROTAMUNDOS DE CARABOBO::.. EL EQUIPO MAS GANADOR DEL BALONCESTO VENEZOLANO". www.trotamundosbbc.com. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
  10. 黃及人 (2021-08-29). "桑尼強勢加盟台中太陽 妻小全都帶來台灣". 中國時報. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  11. "蔣淯安、胡瓏貿領銜 年度第一隊名單揭曉". United Daily News. July 2, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  12. "Sani Sakakini's Legacy: Paving the way for Palestine's next generation". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  13. "Saudi Arabia cruises to win, punches ticket to Asia Cup along with India". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  14. "Sani Sakakini basketball profile, EUROBASKET". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  15. "桑尼". 超級籃球聯賽. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  16. "Boxscores | FIBA.COM". www.fiba.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
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