Nkosinathi Sibanyoni

Nkosinathi Sibanyoni
No. 14 – Urunani
PositionPower forward / Center
LeagueBurundian Basketball Championship
Personal information
Born (1998-05-24) May 24, 1998 (age 26)
Mpumalanga, South Africa
Listed height2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
Career history
Mpumalanga Rhinos
Jozi Nuggets
2021Egoli Magic
2021–2024Cape Town Tigers
2024–presentUrunani
Career highlights and awards
  • VBL champion (2024)
  • VBL Defensive Player of the Year (2024)
  • 2× BNL champion (2021, 2023)
  • BNL Final MVP (2021)

Nkosinathi Sandile Sibanyoni (bon May 24, 1998) is a South African professional basketball player for Urunani of the Burundian Basketball Championship, as well as for the Cape Town Tigers of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and Basketball National League (BNL). Standing at 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in), he plays as center and has also played for the South Africa national team.[1] Sibanyoni has been a key part of the Tigers in their BAL seasons and holds the record for most rebounds in a BAL game. He is nicknamed "Nathi".[2]

Professional career

Born in the province of Mpumalanga,[3] Sibanyoni began playing in 2012 and his idol was Tim Duncan. He started his career playing in South Africa's Basketball National League (BNL) for the Mpumalanga Rhinos and later for the Jozi Nuggets of the Johannesburg Basketball League (JBL).[4]

He played with the Egoli Magic and won the 2021 BNL championship with them while also winning the league's MVP award.[3] He posted 15 pointns, 18 rebounds and 7 blocks in the championship game against the Tshwane Suns.[5]

Sibanyoni joined the Cape Town Tigers in 2020 for the 2021 BAL qualification games, however, he was not selected for the main tournament.[3] He made his debut in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) in the 2022 BAL season, and in his rookie season in the BAL, he averaged 5.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.[6] On November 25, 2023, Sibanyoni had 14 points, 21 rebounds and 5 blocks in the Road to BAL semifinal win over COSPN which clinched the Tigers' qualification for the BAL.[2]

On May 26, Sibanyoni recorded career-highs of 16 points and 25 rebounds in the Tigers' quarter-final win over FUS Rabat to qualify for the franchise's first semifinal appearance ever.[7] He set a new all-time league record for most rebounds in a single game.[7]

Sibanyoni joined the Burundian club Urunani of the Burundian Basketball Championship on June 24, 2024.[8] Sibanyoni set a league rebounding record with 23 rebounds against Remesha. He won the championship with Urunani, following the finals win over Dynamo in seven games. He was also named the league's Defensive Player of the Year.[9]

References

  1. ^ "South Africa at the FIBA AfroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers 2024". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Nkosinathi Sibanyoni powers Cape Town Tigers to 2024 BAL". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Lehohla, Manyehlisa (April 30, 2023). "Sibanyoni wants to spread his wings". The Big Tip Off. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  4. ^ Lehohla, Manyehlisa (July 28, 2020). "Sibanyoni: I will always love and appreciate my teammates". The Big Tip Off. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  5. ^ Miller, Liam (December 2, 2021). "Winners crowned in the National Basketball League of South Africa: A look at both finals". The Playbook. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  6. ^ Proballers. "Nkosinathi Sibanyoni, Basketball Player". Proballers. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Cape Town Tigers stun top-seeded FUS Rabat in biggest achievement for South African basketball". The BAL. May 26, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  8. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  9. ^ Mabunda, Sindiswa (October 1, 2024). "Sibanyoni's stock rises after remarkable season in Burundi". The Big Tip Off. Retrieved October 21, 2024.

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