Nana Papa Yaw "Pops" Mensah-Bonsu (born 7 September 1983) is a British basketball executive and former player. He played college basketball for George Washington University and professionally for five NBA teams as well as clubs in Spain, France, Turkey, Russia, Italy, Israel, and Greece. On an international level, he represented Great Britain and was a member of Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic Games. He also served as general manager of the Capital City Go-Go of the NBA G League from 2018 to 2020.
Mensah-Bonsu majored in psychology at George Washington University, where he played power forward and center for the Colonials men's basketball team.[3] In his four-year career, he played 112 games (71 starts) while averaging 11.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 23.8 minutes per game. As a sophomore in 2003–04, he was named the Atlantic 10 Most Improved Player of the Year; as a junior in 2004–05, he was named to the All-Atlantic 10 second team; and as a senior in 2005–06, he was named to the All-Atlantic 10 first team and Atlantic 10 All-Defensive team.[2]
In the 2004–05 season, Mensah-Bonsu helped lead the Colonials to the 2005 NCAA Tournament, where they lost in the first round. The next season was more successful, with the team ending the regular season 26–1 and being ranked in the national top 10 for the first time in 50 years. However, he suffered a knee injury near the end of the regular season and he did not return until the 2006 NCAA Tournament, where the injury lessened his production. After defeating UNC Wilmington in the first round, George Washington went on to lose to Duke in the second round.[2][4][5]
College statistics
Year
Team
GP
GS
MPG
FG%
3P%
FT%
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
2002–03
George Washington
29
26
24.7
.585
.000
.667
5.7
.4
1.0
.9
10.1
2003–04
George Washington
30
1
21.2
.616
.000
.685
5.4
.4
.8
1.0
11.6
2004–05
George Washington
30
24
24.3
.571
.000
.571
6.6
.8
.9
1.5
12.6
2005–06
George Washington
23
20
25.3
.564
.000
.534
6.7
.8
.4
1.7
12.6
Professional career
Dallas Mavericks (2006–2007)
After going undrafted in the 2006 NBA draft, he joined the Dallas Mavericks for the 2006 NBA Summer League. On 3 August 2006, he signed with the Mavericks.[6] During his rookie season, he had multiple assignments with the Fort Worth Flyers of the NBA Development League. In the 2006–07 season, he managed just 12 games for the Mavericks, averaging 2.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 5.9 minutes per game.
In July 2007, Mensah-Bonsu re-joined the Mavericks for the 2007 NBA Summer League, but was later waived by the team on 31 August 2007.[7]
In May 2008, Mensah-Bonsu signed with CB Granada of Spain for the team's final game of the season.[9]
In July 2008, Mensah-Bonsu initially joined the Dallas Mavericks for the 2008 NBA Summer League, but later joined the Minnesota Timberwolves where he played four games and averaged 14.3 points per game.[10] On 15 August 2008, he signed a one-year deal with Joventut Badalona.[11][12] On 3 November 2008, he returned to the United States after injuring his shoulder playing for Joventut.[13] A month later, he parted ways with Joventut to focus on recovery.[14]
2009 – Austin Toros, Toronto Raptors and Houston Rockets
On 28 January 2009, Mensah-Bonsu was acquired by the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League.[15] On 25 February 2009, he signed a 10-day contract with the San Antonio Spurs.[16] However, on 4 March 2009, he was released by the Spurs after appearing in just three games.[17] Two days later, he signed with the Toronto Raptors for the rest of the 2008–09 season.[18]
On 29 June 2009, the Raptors extended a qualifying offer to Mensah-Bonsu in order to make him a restricted free agent.[19] However, the Raptors later withdrew their qualifying offer on 7 July 2009. In August 2009, Mensah-Bonsu signed with the Houston Rockets.[20] On 13 November 2009, he was waived by the Rockets after managing just four games.[21] Four days later, he was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Raptors.[22] On 5 January 2010, he was waived by the Raptors.[23]
2010–2011
On 12 January 2010, Mensah-Bonsu signed with CSKA Moscow of Russia for the rest of the 2009–10 season.[24]
On 9 August 2010, Mensah-Bonsu signed a one-year deal (with the option of a second) with Caja Laboral of the Liga ACB.[25] He later left during pre-season for medical reasons. On 24 September 2010, he signed with the New Orleans Hornets.[26] On 4 January 2011, he was waived by the Hornets.[27]
On 17 February 2011, Mensah-Bonsu signed with ASVEL Basket of France for the rest of the 2010–11 season.[28]
Beşiktaş (2011–12)
On 5 December 2011, Mensah-Bonsu signed with Beşiktaş of Turkey for the 2011–12 season.[29] He went on to win the Turkish League championship, Turkish Cup, and the EuroChallenge. He was named the TBL Player of the Year.
2012–2013
On 2 August 2012, Mensah-Bonsu signed a two-year deal with Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.[30][31] However, he was later waived by Maccabi on 19 September 2012 before appearing in a game for them after physicals showed he had not recovered from injuries picked up during the London Olympics.[32]
On 4 March 2013, Mensah-Bonsu signed with Cajasol Sevilla of Spain for the rest of the 2012–13 season.[33] On 16 April 2013, he parted ways with Sevilla after managing just six games.[34] Two days later, he signed with Emporio Armani Milano of Italy for the rest of the season.[35]
Galatasaray (2013–2014)
On 27 September 2013, Mensah-Bonsu signed with the Washington Wizards.[36] However, he was later waived by the Wizards on 24 October 2013 after appearing in four preseason games.[37] Four days later, he signed with Galatasaray Liv Hospital of Turkey for the 2013–14 season.[38] On 31 October, he made his debut in a Euroleague game against Unicaja Málaga, in which he recorded 10 points and 11 rebounds.[39] His time with the team was marred by an in-game fight with Olympiacos centre Mirza Begić on 28 November 2013.[40] He was banned for three games and ordered fined €10,001.[41]
AEK Athens (2014–15)
On 30 September 2014, Mensah-Bonsu joined with the Denver Nuggets training camp.[42] However, the next day, he left the Nuggets for personal reasons.[43]
On 20 November 2014, Mensah-Bonsu signed with Hapoel Jerusalem of Israel for the 2014–15 season.[44] On 23 December 2014, he parted ways with Hapoel after appearing in two league games and four Eurocup games.[45] On 27 December 2014, he signed with AEK Athens for the rest of the 2014–15 Greek Basket League season.[46]
Mensah-Bonsu earned 40 international caps for the Great Britain men's national team between 2008 and 2012. He averaged 15.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game during his international career. He recorded 14 double-doubles including a career best 32 points and 21 rebounds against Bosnia and Herzegovina on 26 August 2010.[49]
Mensah-Bonsu was part of the GB team that qualified for the 2009 EuroBasket. During qualification, he averaged 12.2 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. He went on to join the British squad for their first appearance in the EuroBasket Tournament. The team lost all three of their first-round games but were competitive throughout including a very close game with world champions Spain.
Mensah-Bonsu was again part of the British team in 2010 as they qualified for FIBA EuroBasket 2011 with a 6–2 record. During qualification, he led all Division A players with 13.5 rebounds per game, and also finished sixth in points (19.3) and blocks (1.3).
Mensah-Bonsu was selected for the final 12-man Great Britain roster for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He played in four games, recording 46 points and 29 rebounds. He missed Great Britain's final group game – a 90–58 win over China – due to injury. Great Britain finished with a 1–4 record, failing to qualify for the knockout stage.[50]
Managerial career
On 14 October 2015, after receiving a two-year ban for doping, Pops announced retirement from professional basketball.[51] He then began working as an Advanced Pro Scout for the San Antonio Spurs. On 7 August 2018, the Capital City Go-Go, the new NBA G League affiliate of the Washington Wizards, announced that Mensah-Bonsu had been made the team's first general manager.[52] He left the team in 2020.[53]
In the Twi language, Mensah-Bonsu's name means King (Nana) Father (Papa) Thursday-Born (Yaw) Third Son (Mensah) Whale (Bonsu). In several interviews, Mensah-Bonsu has suggested that his family earned its surname when an ancestor slew a whale.[54]
Mensah-Bonsu is the son of Henry and Agnes Mensah-Bonsu, and has four siblings: Audrey, Kojo, Wiafe and Benson.[2]
On 26 June 2015, Mensah-Bonsu was suspended for two years of any sports activity involvement after testing positive for amphetamines, which he claimed was from an approved, prescribed medicine.[56][57]
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