Tanguy Ngombo
Encyclopedia
Tanguy Alban Harrys Ngombo, often incorrectly written as Targuy Ngombo (born July 18, 1989 [ disputed] ), is a Congolese
-born Qatari
professional basketball
player who plays for Al Rayyan of the Qatar Basketball League. He has represented the Qatari national team
in international competition. He was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks
with the 57th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft
. His draft rights were subsequently traded to the Portland Trail Blazers
and then to the Minnesota Timberwolves
. He is the first Qatari basketball player to be selected in the NBA Draft
.
while averaging 16.3 points per game.
Ngombo has represented the Qatari national team
since 2010. He played in the 2010 FIBA Asia Stanković Cup, helping Qatar win the bronze medal. He played in all 7 games and led the team in scoring in every game with an average of 30.0 points per game. He then played for Qatar in the 2010 Asian Games
in Guangzhou
, China. He played in all 8 games, averaging 19.6 points per game as Qatar finished in 5th place.
On June 23, 2011, he was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks
with the 57th pick in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft
. His draft rights were immediately traded to the Portland Trail Blazers
as part of a three-team trade with the Denver Nuggets
. The Blazers then traded his rights to the Minnesota Timberwolves
in exchange for a future second-round pick.
. Few years later, he was listed as being born in 1989 by FIBA Asia
in the 2010 FIBA Asia Champions Cup, the 2010 FIBA Asia Stanković Cup and the 2010 Asian Games
. However, in 2011, FIBA publish a contradictory information by listing 1984 as Ngombo's birth year on the Qatar
roster for the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship.
At the 2011 NBA Draft
, he was selected as Targuy Ngombo who was born in 1989. After the draft, reports surfaced claiming that Ngombo lied about his name and his birth date and that he is actually born in 1984, which makes him ineligible for the draft. The NBA rules state that an international player who is over the age of 22 is not eligible for the draft
and must be signed as a free agent
. Nevertheless, the use of the name Targuy was a misspell as he was often listed under that name in several FIBA competitions. His trades to the Timberwolves, which were first reported on the draft-night, were reportedly being held up for several days because of the age discrepancy. Four days after the draft, the Blazers announced that they have finalized the trade of Ngombo to the Timberwolves, which implies that the NBA has approved Ngombo's eligibility for the draft and the subsequent trades.
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
-born Qatari
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who plays for Al Rayyan of the Qatar Basketball League. He has represented the Qatari national team
Qatar national basketball team
- Qatar:Head coach: Kent Davison- References :...
in international competition. He was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
with the 57th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft
2011 NBA Draft
The 2011 NBA Draft was held on June 23, 2011 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball...
. His draft rights were subsequently traded to the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
and then to the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
. He is the first Qatari basketball player to be selected in the NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
.
Career
Ngombo has played in Qatar since 2006. In 2011, he helped Al Rayyan win the Qatar Basketball League. He led his team in scoring and rebounds, averaging 20.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. He then helped Al-Rayyan finished third in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup2011 FIBA Asia Champions Cup
The FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2011 was the 22nd staging of the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, the basketball club tournament of FIBA Asia. The tournament was held in Pasig, Philippines from May 28 to June 5, 2011...
while averaging 16.3 points per game.
Ngombo has represented the Qatari national team
Qatar national basketball team
- Qatar:Head coach: Kent Davison- References :...
since 2010. He played in the 2010 FIBA Asia Stanković Cup, helping Qatar win the bronze medal. He played in all 7 games and led the team in scoring in every game with an average of 30.0 points per game. He then played for Qatar in the 2010 Asian Games
Basketball at the 2010 Asian Games
Basketball was one of the 42 sports at the 16th Asian Games 2010 at Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. The event was held at the 13,000 seat Guangzhou International Sports Arena, Huangpu Gymnasium, Guangti Gymnasium, Ying Dong Gymnasium and Sports and Entertainment Centre.The Philippines, which has made...
in Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, China. He played in all 8 games, averaging 19.6 points per game as Qatar finished in 5th place.
On June 23, 2011, he was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
with the 57th pick in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft
2011 NBA Draft
The 2011 NBA Draft was held on June 23, 2011 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball...
. His draft rights were immediately traded to the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
as part of a three-team trade with the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
. The Blazers then traded his rights to the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
in exchange for a future second-round pick.
Age discrepancy
In 2005, Ngombo, who was still playing with Congolese team Inter Club Brazzaville, was listed as being born on July 18, 1984 in the 2005 FIBA Africa Clubs Champions CupFIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup
The FIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup is the highest caliber men's basketball competition for clubs, organized by the FIBA Africa and played by the champions of the leagues of the African countries.-Finals:- Winners by country:...
. Few years later, he was listed as being born in 1989 by FIBA Asia
FIBA Asia
FIBA Asia is a zone within the International Basketball Federation which contains all 44 Asian FIBA federations.-National teams:East AsiaGulfMiddle AsiaSoutheast AsiaWest Asia-Top ten FIBA Asia teams:...
in the 2010 FIBA Asia Champions Cup, the 2010 FIBA Asia Stanković Cup and the 2010 Asian Games
Basketball at the 2010 Asian Games
Basketball was one of the 42 sports at the 16th Asian Games 2010 at Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. The event was held at the 13,000 seat Guangzhou International Sports Arena, Huangpu Gymnasium, Guangti Gymnasium, Ying Dong Gymnasium and Sports and Entertainment Centre.The Philippines, which has made...
. However, in 2011, FIBA publish a contradictory information by listing 1984 as Ngombo's birth year on the Qatar
Qatar national basketball team
- Qatar:Head coach: Kent Davison- References :...
roster for the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship.
At the 2011 NBA Draft
2011 NBA Draft
The 2011 NBA Draft was held on June 23, 2011 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball...
, he was selected as Targuy Ngombo who was born in 1989. After the draft, reports surfaced claiming that Ngombo lied about his name and his birth date and that he is actually born in 1984, which makes him ineligible for the draft. The NBA rules state that an international player who is over the age of 22 is not eligible for the draft
Eligibility for the NBA Draft
The NBA Draft, the annual event in which the 30 franchises in the National Basketball Association select new players for their teams, has distinctive eligibility rules, which have changed several times during the history of the league.-Early history:...
and must be signed as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. Nevertheless, the use of the name Targuy was a misspell as he was often listed under that name in several FIBA competitions. His trades to the Timberwolves, which were first reported on the draft-night, were reportedly being held up for several days because of the age discrepancy. Four days after the draft, the Blazers announced that they have finalized the trade of Ngombo to the Timberwolves, which implies that the NBA has approved Ngombo's eligibility for the draft and the subsequent trades.
External links
- Tanguy Ngombo at NBA.com
- Targuy Ngombo Draft 2011 Prospects at NBA.com