Ater Majok – Former NBL Star – Taking Basketball back to the community
Former UConn Husky, Ater Majok, is continuing to make an impact on and off the court in his home country of South Sudan. Majok has been playing professionally in the South Sudanese Basketball Association and also serves as a coach and mentor to young players. Before returning to South Sudan, Majok spent several seasons playing in the Australian National Basketball League and the NBA G League. After leaving the University of Connecticut, Ater Majok played basketball professionally in various countries, including Australia, where he played for the Sydney Kings. However, it was his experiences growing up in war-torn South Sudan that inspired him to use basketball as a tool for positive change in his community.
In Africa, Ater Majok has been involved in various basketball-related projects, such as coaching and organising tournaments for young players. He has also worked to promote education and social change in the region. Currently, the South Sudanese Basketball Association has 8 teams, with games being played at a local high school in Juba. While the league may not have the same resources and recognition as the more established leagues in other parts of the world, Majok sees the potential for growth and is focused on continuing to develop the sport in South Sudan. Majok is also using his platform to give back to his community, partnering with organisations to provide food and education assistance to those in need. He has also taken on the role of a big brother and mentor to young players, sharing history and inspiring the next generation of South Sudanese basketball players.
While basketball may not be the most popular sport in South Sudan, Majok’s commitment to using the sport for the betterment of his community is a testament to the power of sports as a tool for change.
In an interview with FIBA basketball, Majok stated his passion for the game and desire to help grow it in South Sudan: “My passion has always been basketball. Even before I started playing basketball, I was a fan of the game. When I started playing, I just fell in love with the game even more. I have always wanted to help develop basketball in my country, and there is a lot of work to be done.”
Majok has also spoken about the challenges facing basketball development in South Sudan, including a lack of resources and infrastructure:
“South Sudan is a very young country. We gained our independence in 2011, so we are still in the early stages of building our country. Basketball is not yet a priority, so there is not a lot of investment in the game. We don’t have a lot of facilities or coaches, so we have to work with what we have. “I believe that basketball can change lives. It has the power to inspire and give hope to young people. If we can develop basketball in South Sudan, we can give young people something positive to focus on and help them build a better future for themselves and their communities.” Said Majok.
Majok’s work has not gone unnoticed, and he has received recognition for his efforts to develop basketball in South Sudan. In 2019, he was named as a FIBA Africa Hero, an initiative aimed at celebrating individuals who are making a positive impact on the development of basketball in Africa. Still in an interview with FIBA, Majok spoke about his vision for the future of basketball in South Sudan: “I want to help South Sudan become a basketball powerhouse. I want to see our country compete at the highest level of basketball, and I believe that we can get there. We have a lot of talent, and if we can develop that talent and provide opportunities for young players, we can achieve great things.”
