The Adelaide 36ers have strengthened their frontcourt by signing former NBA centre Mangok Mathiang for the remainder of the Hungry Jack’s NBL27 season. The 34-year-old South Sudan international joins the Australian club from Rwanda, where he played for APR in the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL) and RSSB Tigers in the Basketball Africa League (BAL). Mathiang helped the Tigers win the 2026 BAL championship in Kigali, contributing 11 points and 14 rebounds in their final victory over Angola’s Petro de Luanda. His performances also earned him the Dikembe Mutombo Defensive Player of the Year award. Announcing the signing, Adelaide 36ers General Manager of Basketball Operations Matt Weston said the club had been patient in its search for a replacement before identifying Mathiang as the right fit. “We wanted to bring in someone of really high value, and in Mangok we have that,” Weston said. “We need that guy off the bench who does the hard yards. That means rebounding, setting screens, defending, and putting heat on the rim. Those are the four things we're looking for, and we know Mangok can provide.” Weston added that Mathiang’s size and physical presence would strengthen the team’s rebounding, noting that his rebounding numbers per minute were comparable to those of Nick Rakocevic. “He’s got great size and physical presence, and per minute his rebounding numbers are about the same as Nick Rakocevic, so that will help us control the glass on both ends,” he said. The 36ers are scheduled to face South East Melbourne on Saturday, October 24, although a decision on whether Mathiang will make his debut in the game is yet to be made. Mathiang brings considerable international experience and an established NBL record to Adelaide, having previously played for the Illawarra Hawks and New Zealand Breakers. The 208cm centre first made his mark with Illawarra during the NBL23 season, averaging 7.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.0 blocks across 25 games. His physicality around the rim, interior scoring and ability to protect the paint made him a valuable presence for the Hawks. He joined the New Zealand Breakers the following season, averaging 6.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. During his time with the club, he played alongside Zylan Cheatham, who is now his teammate at Adelaide. ALSO READ: Mangok Mathiang talks Tigers form, BAL targets Mathiang’s professional career extends well beyond Australia’s NBL. After going undrafted in 2017, he earned an opportunity with the Charlotte Hornets, appearing in four NBA games during the 2017-18 season. He also played for the franchise’s G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. A product of the University of Louisville, Mathiang spent four seasons with the Cardinals, developing into a dependable interior presence before turning professional. His career has since taken him to several leagues across Europe and Asia, including Italy, Turkey and Israel. More recently, he played in China for the Beijing Ducks and Ningbo Rockets, where he was teammates with Adelaide centre Nick Rakocevic.
