Nathan Mensah

Nathan Mensah
Mensah in April 2023
No. 31 – Olympiacos
PositionCenter / power forward
LeagueGBL
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1998-04-09) 9 April 1998 (age 26)
Accra, Ghana
Listed height2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
Listed weight105 kg (231 lb)
Career information
High school
CollegeSan Diego State (2018–2023)
NBA draft2023: undrafted
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023Greensboro Swarm
2023–2024Charlotte Hornets
2023–2024→Greensboro Swarm
2024Austin Spurs
2024–presentOlympiacos
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year (2022, 2023)
  • Third-team All-Mountain West (2023)
  • 3× Mountain West All-Defensive Team (2021–2023)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Nathan Mensah (born 9 April 1998) is a Ghanaian professional basketball player for Olympiacos B.C. of the Greek Basketball League (GBL) and the EuroLeague. Known for his immense 7-foot-5-inch (226 cm) wingspan, he played college basketball for the San Diego State Aztecs.[1]

High school career

Mensah grew up playing soccer in Ghana. At the age of 13, he began playing basketball after being recruited to play in a tournament. Mensah was spotted by Kwaku Amoaku and moved to the United States to attend Prolific Prep. In August 2017, he averaged 13.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game for Team Africa in the Adidas Global Nations event. Mensah transferred to Findlay Prep before his senior season. Rated a four-star recruit, Mensah committed to playing college basketball for San Diego State in October 2017, choosing the Aztecs over Oregon, Oregon State, USC and Texas Tech.[2]

College career

As a freshman at San Diego State, Mensah averaged 5.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.[3] On 28 December 2019, Mensah requested to be substituted during the second half of a game against Cal Poly, due to shortness of breath. He was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season.[4] Mensah averaged 6.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game as a sophomore.[5] As a junior, he averaged 8.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.[6] Mensah was named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year as a senior as well as Honorable Mention All-Mountain West,[7] and helped lead the Aztecs to their first Final Four and national championship game.

Professional career

Charlotte Hornets / Greensboro Swarm (2023–2024)

After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, Mensah joined the Charlotte Hornets for the 2023 NBA Summer League. On 5 September 2023, he signed with the Hornets,[8][9] but was waived on 21 October, prior to the start of the season.[10] Eight days later, he signed with the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA G League.[11] On 14 December, he signed a two-way contract with the Hornets[12] and the next day, he made his NBA debut in a 112–107 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. On 2 March 2024, he was waived by the Hornets[13] and two days later, he returned to Greensboro.[14]

Austin Spurs (2024)

On 28 September 2024, Mensah signed with the San Antonio Spurs,[15][16] but was waived on 13 October.[15] On 29 October, he joined the Austin Spurs.[17]

Olympiacos (2024–present)

On 11 December 2024, Mensah signed with Olympiacos of the Greek Basketball League.[18]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  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

NBA

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2023–24 Charlotte 25 0 12.3 .429 — .750 2.6 .4 .2 .6 1.3
Career 25 0 12.3 .429 — .750 2.6 .4 .2 .6 1.3

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 San Diego State 34 20 18.9 .541 – .708 5.5 .6 .3 1.1 5.6
2019–20 San Diego State 13 13 20.2 .617 – .640 6.8 .3 .8 1.7 6.9
2020–21 San Diego State 28 27 21.4 .579 .000 .600 6.1 .6 .6 1.4 8.1
2021–22 San Diego State 32 32 24.8 .482 .250 .533 6.9 .6 .8 2.2 7.0
2022–23 San Diego State 39 38 20.8 .521 .500 .648 5.9 .6 .7 1.6 6.0
Career 146 130 21.3 .539 .222 .622 6.2 .6 .6 1.6 6.6

Personal life

Mensah is of the Christian faith.[19]

References

  1. ^ Wilson, Bernie (9 March 2020). "No. 6 Aztecs hope for rest, not rust, during long layoff". USA Today. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  2. ^ Zeigler, Mark (4 October 2017). "SDSU lands another hoops recruit from Ghana". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  3. ^ Mintah, Yaw (23 January 2020). "San Diego's Mensah diagnosed with blood clots". BasketballGhana.com. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  4. ^ Zeigler, Mark (17 January 2020). "Aztecs' Nathan Mensah has 'outside chance' of returning this season". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  5. ^ Johnson, Tron (10 November 2020). "Countdown Of The Best Mountain West Basketball Players For 2020-21". Mountain West Wire. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  6. ^ Paul, Sean (13 April 2021). "Matt Bradley headed to San Diego State". Mountain West Wire. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Mountain West Reveals 2021-22 Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams". TheMW.com (Press release). Mountain West Conference. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Charlotte Hornets Sign Four Players". NBA.com. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  9. ^ Zeigler, Mark (23 June 2023). "Undrafted, SDSU's Nathan Mensah signs deal with NBA's Hornets; many Aztecs foes picked". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Hornets Waive Brown, Hunter, Mensah". NBA.com. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Greensboro Swarm Announce Training Camp Roster and Coaching Staff for 2023-24 Season". NBA.com. 29 October 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Hornets Sign Nathan Mensah To Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Hornets Sign Nathan Mensah To Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. 2 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  14. ^ "2023-2024 Greensboro Swarm Transaction History". RealGM.com. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  15. ^ a b Hill, Arthur (13 October 2024). "Spurs Sign, Waive Nathan Mensah". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  16. ^ "San Antonio Spurs Officially Sign Recent Hornets Player". SI.com. 29 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Austin Spurs Announce 2024 Training Camp Roster". OurSportsCentral.com. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Στα «ερυθρόλευκα» ο Νέιθαν Μενσά". OlympiacosBC.gr (in Greek). 11 December 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  19. ^ Zeigler, Mark (9 April 2020). "SDSU's Nathan Mensah remains on track to resume basketball career". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 21 October 2020.