Mojave King, a New Zealand-American professional basketball player for the Tauranga Whai of the NZNBL, comes from an athletic family where basketball runs in his genes.
The 23-year-old NZNBL star, Mojave Jackson King, was born on June 11, 2002, in Dunedin, New Zealand, to parents Leonard King and Tracey Paul, both former athletes.
Furthermore, Mojave King followed in his parents, Leonard and Tracey’s footsteps in sports and continues to carry on their legacy in basketball.
Mojave’s parents, Leonard and Tracey, are two of Otago’s best ever basketball players.
His father, Leonard King, an American native, showcased his amazing basketball skills playing for several NZNBL and CBL teams, winning numerous titles.
Leonard King further continued his basketball journey, serving as the coach in New Zealand and Australia.
Similarly, Mojave King’s mother, Tracey King Paul, a native of New Zealand, played NCAA basketball for the women’s basketball team at Duquesne University.
In addition to his parents, Mojave King’s elder sister, Tyla King Paul, also showcased her amazing basketball skills while playing for Brisbane State High School, the University of the Pacific, and later at the University of Queensland.
Tyla King Paul also served as the assistant coach of Basketball Queensland and Footlocker LTD in the Greater Brisbane Area, and also served as the basketball coach of Brian Kerle Basketball for two years.
Mojave King’s Father, Leonard King, Began His Basketball Journey At Cleveland Heights High School
Mojave King’s father, Leonard King, an American native born in 1966, began his basketball journey while attending Cleveland Heights High School in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
While at High School, Leonard was named Class AAA All-Ohio as a senior in 1983-84.
Leonard King further continued his basketball journey playing college basketball for Florida A&M Rattlers from 1984 to 1989.
Similarly, he began his professional career with the Otago Nuggets of the NZNBL in 1991. As a professional, Leonard played in Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Luxembourg.
While playing for Otago Nuggets, Leonard was named NZNBL Most Outstanding Guard in 1994 and earned NZNBL All-Star Five honors in 1994 and 1995.
From 1999 to 2000, King played for the North Otago Penguins in the Conference Basketball League, where he helped his team win back-to-back championships and earned the MVP award in 2000.
After retiring from his playing career, Leonard King began his coaching career working with Basketball New Zealand as a high-performance coach.
He was an assistant coach with the New Zealand Tall Blacks in 2005 and 2006, and in 2007, Leonard moved to Queensland, Australia, to coach the Mackay Meteors in the Queensland Basketball League, where he was named QBL Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2010.
Leonard King further joined Brisbane Spartans of the South East Australian Basketball League as their head coach in 2011.
He also served as the head coach of the Northside Wizards in the QBL from 2012 to 2013.
Likewise, Leonar worked for Basketball Queensland during the 2010s and served as the assistant coach for the Emerging Boomers in 2016.
In 2017, he returned to Basketball New Zealand as their general manager for high performance.
Mojave King’s Mother, Tracey Paul, Is A Registered And Cosmetic Nurse
While not much is known about Mojave King’s mother, Tracey Paul’s basketball journey, she is thriving in her career as a nurse.
Tracey King Paul’s Facebook profile indicates that she currently works as a cosmetic nurse injector at Laser Clinics Australia in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Likewise, prior to joining Laser Clinics Australia, Tracey King Paul worked as a registered nurse at Brisbane Skin & Laser Clinics.
A graduate of Otago Polytechnic and Logan Park High School, Tracey has over 16 years of experience working in the cosmetic industry.
Talking about her family, Tracey King Paul comes from an athletic family; her father, Mojave’s grandfather, John Paul, is a legendary basketball coach in Otago, having over 50 years of experience.
John Paul served as the basketball coach of the New Zealand women’s basketball team from 1972 to 1977, winning five national titles. He also served as the assistant coach of the Otago Nuggets from 1994 to 1997 and as the Otago senior women’s coach from 1967 to 1977.
He also played for Otago for 10 years from 1953 and represented the South Island in 1957.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Mojave King was selected with the 47th overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, but his draft rights were then immediately traded to the Indiana Pacers.
- On June 17, 2025, King’s draft rights were traded by the Indiana Pacers to the New Orleans Pelicans, giving them the option to sign him to a contract.
