Mojave King was drafted by the Pacers with the 47th pick in this year’s draft. While he’s playing for the team in Summer League, King will not play in the NBA this season and instead play internationally while the Pacers retain his draft rights to potentially bring him over in the future.
“That is the plan, probably spend a year somewhere. I’m not sure where yet,” King told reporters when asked to confirm his draft-and-stash status. “I’m focused on Summer League right now.“
King said that his agent is working on some things behind the scenes but allowing him to focus fully on preparing for Las Vegas.
“It’s pretty much wide open for me,” King said when asked if he may try to return to the NBL which is close to home in New Zealand. “I’m really just looking for the best situation for my development and I want to play at the highest level possible.”
King’s had a truly unique, global developmental path to which he credits his high basketball IQ.
“My journey’s already been different,” King said. “I know everyone has a different pathway and everyone takes a different route to get their goals. I’m not really set on one way or the other. I’m just looking for the best situation for me to continue to develop and grow as a player.”
He spent last season with the G-League Ignite alongside Scoot Henderson, Leonard Miller, and Sidy Cissoko. Before that be spent two seasons in the NBL in Australia. As a teenager, he joined the NBA Global Academy in Mexico City where he played with Bennedict Mathurin.
“I’ve known him a long time now,” King said of Mathurin. “It’s good to see how far he’s come and how much success he’s had but also still being able to compete with him. … We won a tournament in Spain together. It was a lot of fun.”
Mathurin came over while King was doing his media session to ask a quick question of his former and current teammate.
Mathurin asked King what it’s like to have a teammate here from his days at the academy.
“It was good to get out here and compete against him,” King said before gifting him a ribbing. “I beat him the last three days so I…”
Mathurin cuts him off, “I’m out!”
As Mathurin leaves, King laughs and says Mathurin is just as he remembers him, “Hasn’t changed!”
Pacers Summer League coach Jannero Pargo said the second unit won three of the four scrimmages at today’s final camp practice—Mathurin plays on the first unit and King on the second.
“He’s a smart basketball player,” Pargo said when asked about King. “He knows the right place to be on the court, a very good cutter off the ball. He’s a good shooter—not a great shooter yet—but he has great mechanics and it won’t be long before he’s an absolute terrific 3-point shooter.”
King will be the team’s first draft-and-stash they’ve taken since 2007. The Pacers and King’s first Summer League game is Saturday night against the Wizards.
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