Monkey Kings sign TJ Leaf

TJ Leaf

Nanjing Tongxi Monkey Kings (CBA) signed 27-year old American (has also USA-Israeli passport) forward TJ Leaf (208cm-102kg-1997, college: UCLA) for upcoming 2024-25 season. He has played for the last two years at Shougang Beijing Ducks. In 49 CBA games in China he had very impressive stats: 15.1ppg, 8.2rpg and 2.7apg last season. 2023-24 was a great year as he was named to Asia-Basket.com All-Chinese CBA Honorable Mention and League Player of the Week.
In 2017 he was drafted by Indiana Pacers (NBA) in first round (18th overall). He attended University of California at Los Angeles and it will be his eighth season in pro basketball.
Leaf represented USA at the European Championship (FIBA EuroBasket) U18 Division B in Oberwart (Austria) nine years ago. Leaf's team won Silver and he had over 16 points per game.
He has played previously professionally in NBA (Portland Trail Blazers and OKC Thunder) and NBA G League (Indiana Mad Ants).
Among many awards his team made it to the Pac-12 Tournament Semifinals in 2017. Leaf was also voted Asia-Basket.com All-Chinese CBA Forward of the Year in 2022.