Ghana’s first native player in the NBA Ben Bentil has surprised all, including Fort Wayne Mad Ants Coach Steve Gansey for exiting the NBA Development Team for a stint in the China Basketball Association.
“Well, (Bentil) got a lucrative deal overseas and there’s an opportunity for him to come back. So that’s what the plan is – for him to come back. When that is, I’m not 100 percent sure. But that’s the plan,” Gansey said per journalgazette.net.
His new team is yet to be known.
The former Providence College standout played in the side’s season opening 120-99 win over Greensboro Swarm where he recorded a 27 point, 10 rebound double-double performance. However, the side will be without the services of the Ghanaian as it prepares to take on Development League defending champions Sioux Skyfalls.
The latest move adds another twist to Bentil’s roller coaster ride in recent months that had him drafted into the NBA by Boston Celtics with the 51st pick only to be waived before getting picked up by Indiana Pacers prior to the start of the season.
However, he was assigned to the Pacers lower tier affiliated side-Fort Wayne Mad Ants hours later. Bentil averaged 21 points to earn Most Improved Player honors in the Big East Conference.
