Pops Mensah-Bonsu

Nana Papa Yaw "Pops" Mensah-Bonsu (born 7 September 1983) is a British basketball executive and former player.

He played college basketball for George Washington University and professionally for five NBA teams as well as clubs in Spain, France, Turkey, Russia, Italy, Israel, and Greece.

He then transferred to St. Augustine Preparatory School in Richland, New Jersey where as a senior in 2001–02, he averaged 15 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks per game.

Mensah-Bonsu majored in psychology at George Washington University, where he played power forward and center for the Colonials men's basketball team.

In his four-year career, he played 112 games (71 starts) while averaging 11.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 23.8 minutes per game.

As a sophomore in 2003–04, he was named the Atlantic 10 Most Improved Player of the Year; as a junior in 2004–05, he was named to the All-Atlantic 10 second team; and as a senior in 2005–06, he was named to the All-Atlantic 10 first team and Atlantic 10 All-Defensive team.

In the 2004–05 season, Mensah-Bonsu helped lead the Colonials to the 2005 NCAA Tournament, where they lost in the first round.

The next season was more successful, with the team ending the regular season 26–1 and being ranked in the national top 10 for the first time in 50 years.

However, he suffered a knee injury near the end of the regular season and he did not return until the 2006 NCAA Tournament, where the injury lessened his production.

After defeating UNC Wilmington in the first round, George Washington went on to lose to Duke in the second round.

After going undrafted in the 2006 NBA draft, he joined the Dallas Mavericks for the 2006 NBA Summer League.

On 3 August 2006, he signed with the Mavericks.

During his rookie season, he had multiple assignments with the Fort Worth Flyers of the NBA Development League.

In the 2006–07 season, he managed just 12 games for the Mavericks, averaging 2.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 5.9 minutes per game.

In July 2007, Mensah-Bonsu re-joined the Mavericks for the 2007 NBA Summer League, but was later waived by the team on 31 August 2007.

In September 2007, Mensah-Bonsu signed a one-year deal with Benetton Treviso of the Lega Basket Serie A.

In May 2008, Mensah-Bonsu signed with CB Granada of Spain for the team's final game of the season.

In July 2008, Mensah-Bonsu initially joined the Dallas Mavericks for the 2008 NBA Summer League, but later joined the Minnesota Timberwolves where he played four games and averaged 14.3 points per game.

On 15 August 2008, he signed a one-year deal with Joventut Badalona.

On 3 November 2008, he returned to the United States after injuring his shoulder playing for Joventut.

A month later, he parted ways with Joventut to focus on recovery.

Two days later, he signed with the Toronto Raptors for the rest of the 2008–09 season.

On 28 January 2009, Mensah-Bonsu was acquired by the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League.

On 25 February 2009, he signed a 10-day contract with the San Antonio Spurs.

However, on 4 March 2009, he was released by the Spurs after appearing in just three games.

On 29 June 2009, the Raptors extended a qualifying offer to Mensah-Bonsu in order to make him a restricted free agent.

However, the Raptors later withdrew their qualifying offer on 7 July 2009.

In August 2009, Mensah-Bonsu signed with the Houston Rockets.

On 13 November 2009, he was waived by the Rockets after managing just four games.

Four days later, he was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Raptors.

On 5 January 2010, he was waived by the Raptors.

On 12 January 2010, Mensah-Bonsu signed with CSKA Moscow of Russia for the rest of the 2009–10 season.

On 9 August 2010, Mensah-Bonsu signed a one-year deal (with the option of a second) with Caja Laboral of the Liga ACB.

He later left during pre-season due to medical reasons.

On 24 September 2010, he signed with the New Orleans Hornets.

On an international level, he represented Great Britain and was a member of Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

He also served as general manager of the Capital City Go-Go of the NBA G League from 2018 to 2020.

Born and raised in London, Mensah-Bonsu, whose parents are from Ghana, attended St. Thomas More Roman Catholic School.

As a teenager, he represented the London Borough of Haringey at the London Youth Games, appearing in four of Great Britain's five games.

After playing junior basketball for the Hackney White Heat of the English Basketball League, Mensah-Bonsu moved to the United States where he spent his sophomore year of high school playing at the Hun School of Princeton in Princeton, New Jersey.