North Sydney Bears star Junior Madut eyes NBL, higher honours after dropping 50 in NBL1 East
North Sydney guard and NBL free agent Junior Madut pocketed 50 points, yet his future in pro basketball remains unknown. Learn more about what led to this commanding performance below.
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When North Sydney basketball sensation Junior Madut enters the bear cave, young hooping hopefuls stop and stare in curious wonder.
Autographs await, pictures are inevitable, and children gush to their parents about the 6’6 South Sudanese professional prospect who, just last week, recorded a career high of 50 points against the Penrith Panthers.
The commanding 113-62 performance was, undisputedly, the most impressive offensive execution of the NBL1 East men’s season with 26-year old Madut putting down seven rebounds, one assist, one steal, and half a century of points in round five.
“It was just a good offensive day, you just had one of those days where everything is rolling, but I definitely want to attribute it to my teammates, because you can‘t get 50 points without your teammates,” Madut said.
However, despite his recent success, Madut remains unsigned in the NBL.
The former South-East Melbourne baller tipped off his professional career on a two year deal with the Phoenix last June, but was cut from the squad, despite debut success, as the club searched for its new head coach.
Now, Madut finds himself navigating free agency again.
“I think I‘ve been in this position enough times in my life to not worry anymore. Like, I think I just kind of leave that to fate and just just focus on what I can control,” the shooting guard said.
“I’m just keeping my options open and my mind open throughout this free agency process.”
“We’re so fortunate that he chose us, because he could’ve gone anywhere. He had a lot of different offers and we’re super excited to have him,” said Bret Mactavish, CEO of the Northern Suburbs Basketball Association.
Madut started balling for the Bears this past March, and has since been linked to the Hawks, Taipans, Bullets, United, and the Phoenix, although his future remains uncertain.
One thing that is set in stone, however, is Madut’s eager desire to rebound back to professional basketball and, eventually, NBA stardom. And it all starts with returning to the NBL.
“I think the NBL1 is still competitive and to be respected. There are definitely good players that you're going to see every single night. But in terms of the level of physicality, I think those are the main differences. We (NBL) just have bigger guys and stronger guys,” he said when asked what separates the Australian leagues.
A family man through and through, Madut particularly appreciates his current club’s electric environment conducive to team bonding and personal growth, as well as its emphasis on mentorship.
Madut, like many of those he mentors, started his basketball journey at just 12 years old. His older brother was the first in his family start playing and the shooting guards biggest inspiration growing up, so it was only natural that Junior would follow suit.
“The only way I could hang out with him was basketball. So I just played, and I ended up falling in love with the game,” he said.
Born in South Sudan, Madut moved to Blacktown at six years old and continues to stay connected to his African heritage as a member of the country’s national basketball team, which will be competing in the 2023 World Cup for the first time since it was created in 2011.
“We've kind of made history for our country,” he said.
The Bright Stars dominated the first round qualifiers, beating the African champions Tunisia twice, and sustaining an unbeaten record of 6-0 going into the second round.
“It's been great. It's been probably the best part about basketball, just all these experiences that I’ve been able to have, just through the game, like meeting people that I would have never met otherwise, and being in these different cultures and just trying to adapt,” he said.
“And it’s been a challenge. But yeah, it’s been overall the best part about this experience.”
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