Familiarity helping Mathiang feel at home in Adelaide

Having spent a lot of time in Adelaide and seeing plenty of familiar faces at training has made settling into life as an Adelaide 36er pretty easy for Mangok Mathiang.

The 208cm big man arrived this week and was officially signed on Wednesday, putting pen to paper on a deal that will keep him with the club until the end of the Hungry Jack’s NBL27 season.

Mathiang – a South Sudanese international who was born in Melbourne – has previously played in the NBL with Illawarra and New Zealand, but has been playing overseas in Europe, Asia and most recently Africa for the last three years.

It helps that his partner is from Adelaide, and that he has played with Zylan Cheatham at the Breakers and Nick Rakocevic at the Ningbo Rockets in China, as well as Bul Kuol with his national team.

“Before I even played in the NBL, I was here in Adelaide," Mathiang said.

“I came to watch a few games when Sunday Dech played over here and so I'm pretty familiar, you know, with just Adelaide, the city, and also Adelaide the 36ers and their fan base.”

Speaking to local media at training on Thursday, Mathiang looked comfortable and settled.

He says having familiar faces around has helped him make the transition from Rwanda, where he helped the RSSB Tigers win the Basketball Africa League.

“I think when you play with somebody before, it just makes settling in a lot more easier,” he explained. “It makes you figuring out how to play with the team a lot more easier.

“You don't need to know how to play with one person and now you just got to know the other three.

“Playing with Nick and even Zylan, you know, it's a lot easier to play with those guys because they're elite bigs, they put pressure on the rim, put pressure on the defensive end.

“I'm a defensive player so I know both of them pretty well, so I’m really excited to come back and be playing with them.”

Many will see Mathiang as a direct replacement for Isaac Humphries, who announced his retirement earlier this week.

But the 34-year-old will bring his own game to the team, promising to be energetic on the defensive end.

“I’m just energetic. A lot of communication,” he said when asked what he would bring to the side.

“I'm kind of like Zylan, I don't stop talking and just a lot of energy.

“I know my defensive game is something I hang my hat on, and then just rebounding the ball.”

The Sixers are back on the road this weekend for a third straight game, facing South East Melbourne at John Cain Arena on Saturday night.

As for whether he will suit up against the Phoenix, Mathiang isn’t sure yet, but he hopes to.

“As competitors, we always want to play,” he smiled. “We always want to suit up at any time we get the chance to.

“I think I'm gonna leave all of this, all these decisions to the people that actually it’s their job and what they get paid for.

“You know, Trev (Gleeson), that’s his job. Whenever he calls my number, I'm always gonna be ready to compete, just give everything that I’ve got.

“Right now, it's just about trying to see how I can fit in with the team as of right now, and if, you know, Saturday, my number gets called, it's taking it in, and then taking that chance, and we'll take a look.”

With or without Mathiang, the Sixers will face the Phoenix from 7:00pm ACDT on Saturday with live coverage on ESPN via Kayo or Disney + or on free-to-air television on Channel 9.

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