David Okwera

Okwera was born and raised in Perth, Western Australia.{{cite news |title=Melbourne United Multicultural Stories: David Okwera |url=https://www.melbourneutd.com.au/news/melbourne-united-multicultural-stories-david-okwera |access-date=31 January 2025 |work=Melbourne United |date=19 March 2022}} He has a South Sudanese background. He was given the nickname 'D-Sav' in high school.{{cite news |last1=Woods |first1=Dan |title=Beware-a-Okwera |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/beware-a-okwera |access-date=31 January 2025 |work=NBL Official Website |date=13 November 2022}} He played junior basketball at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre{{cite news |last1=Pike |first1=Chris |title=Okwera couldn't be happier back home at Eagles |url=https://authory.com/ChrisPike/Okwera-couldnt-be-happier-back-home-at-Eagles-a07cf2bbb90bd4075a3830c8521413729 |access-date=31 January 2025 |work=authory.com |date=12 April 2024}} and with the Joondalup Wolves.{{cite news |title=Meet WA's teenaged Boomers |url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/basketball/was-harry-wessels-and-david-okwera-to-play-for-boomers-as-junior-side-takes-on-new-zealand-ng-b881793739z |access-date=31 January 2025 |work=The West Australian |date=11 February 2021 |language=en}}

At age 16, Okwera moved to Melbourne, Victoria,{{cite news |title=United sign German NBA prospect Ariel Hukporti as NBL Next Star and David Okwera as Development Player |url=https://www.melbourneutd.com.au/news/united-sign-german-nba-prospect-ariel-hukporti-as-nbl-next-star-and-david-okwera-as-development-player |access-date=31 January 2025 |work=Melbourne United |date=27 July 2021}} where he played for the Kilsyth Cobras under 18 team in 2019.{{cite news |last1=Moult |first1=Zach |title=David Okwera nets Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence scholarship |url=https://www.kilsythbasketball.com.au/david-okwera-nets-coe-scholarship/ |access-date=31 January 2025 |work=Kilsyth Basketball |date=10 September 2020}} In 2020, Okwera played for the Victorian under 20 state team at the national championships, where he was named to the all-star five after averaging 12.2 points, 10 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.{{cite news |last1=Uluc |first1=Olgun |title=U20 Australian Junior Championships Wrap: Josh Giddey wins it for Victoria + Fox Sports' All-Star Five |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/basketball/u20-australian-junior-championships-wrap-josh-giddey-wins-it-for-victoria-fox-sports-allstar-five/news-story/146d9709996600260a34622dd43355b9 |access-date=31 January 2025 |work=Fox Sports |date=10 February 2020 |language=en}} Following the under 20 national championships, Okwera received close to 20 NCAA Division 1 scholarship offers, including from Maryland, Oregon State, Oklahoma State, Wake Forest and Arkansas.

In September 2020, Okwera accepted a scholarship to attend the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence and NBA Global Academy at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. He played for the BA Centre of Excellence men's team in the Waratah League in 2021, averaging 5.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 blocks in six games.{{cite web |title=David Okwera, Basketball Player, News, Stats - australiabasket |url=https://basketball.australiabasket.com/player/David-Okwera/604077 |website=Eurobasket LLC |access-date=31 January 2025 |url-access=subscription}} The team was crowned Waratah League champions for the 2021 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bnsw.com.au/news/basketball-nsw-competitions-high-performance-community-programs-update/|title=BASKETBALL NSW COMPETITIONS, HIGH-PERFORMANCE & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS UPDATE|work=bnsw.com.au|date=12 August 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912091235/https://www.bnsw.com.au/news/basketball-nsw-competitions-high-performance-community-programs-update/|archive-date=12 September 2021}} He also played for the Western Australian under 20 state team at the 2021 national championships, where he averaged 10.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game.{{cite news |last1=Houben |first1=Michael |title=Under 20 Australian Junior Championships Prospects Review |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/under-20-australian-junior-championships-prospects-review |access-date=31 January 2025 |work=NBL Official Website |date=12 May 2021}}

In April 2021, Okwera made the decision to forgo the collegiate path and turn professional. On 27 July 2021, he signed a two-year contract with Melbourne United of the National Basketball League (NBL), with the first year being as a development player deal and the second year being a full roster spot deal. He started the 2021–22 season by becoming the youngest player since Joe Ingles to score 10 points in an NBL game on debut.{{cite news |title=Okwera bringing growth, excitement into second season with United |url=https://www.melbourneutd.com.au/news/okwera-bringing-growth-excitement-into-second-season-with-united |access-date=31 January 2025 |work=Melbourne United |date=29 August 2022}} In eight games, he averaged 2.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in seven minutes per game.

Okwera joined the Sandringham Sabres of the NBL1 South for the 2022 season, averaging 12.0 points, 9.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 blocks in 16 games.

Having been promoted to a fully contracted player for the 2022–23 season, Okwera was immediately tasked by United to fill the starting power forward role following injuries to Ariel Hukporti and Mason Peatling.{{cite news |last1=Houben |first1=Michael |title=David Okwera: Where preparation meets opportunity |url=https://pickandroll.com.au/p/david-okwera-where-preparation-meets |access-date=31 January 2025 |work=pickandroll.com.au |date=12 November 2022 |language=en}} He received a variety of roles to start the season and matched-up against a number of the league's best big men. On 6 November 2022, he scored a career-high 13 points against the South East Melbourne Phoenix.{{cite news |last1=Hodges |first1=Rani |title=Melbourne United In Praise For Young Gun |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/melbourne-united-in-praise-for-young-gun |access-date=8 March 2025 |work=NBL Official Website |date=7 November 2022}} In 28 games, he averaged 4.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

Okwera began the 2023 NBL1 South season playing two games for the Sabres{{cite web |title=David Okwera |url=https://nbl1.com.au/player-listing/david-okwera |website=nbl1.com.au |access-date=31 January 2025}} but later returned to Perth and joined the Perth Redbacks of the NBL1 West.{{cite news |title=Perth Redbacks sign David Okwera for 2023 |url=https://nbl1.com.au/article/perth-redbacks-sign-david-okwera-for-2023 |access-date=31 January 2025 |work=nbl1.com.au |date=14 June 2023}} In nine games for the Redbacks to finish the 2023 NBL1 West season, he averaged 11.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 blocks per game.

On 5 April 2023, Okwera signed a three-year deal with the Perth Wildcats of the NBL.{{cite news |title=David Okwera Returns to Perth to Join the Cats |url=https://www.wildcats.com.au/news/david-okwera-returns-to-perth-to-join-the-cats |access-date=31 January 2025 |work=Perth Wildcats |date=5 April 2023}}{{cite news |title=NBA dream behind West Aussie's return home |url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/perth-wildcats/perth-wildcats-recruit-david-okwera-outlines-nba-dreams-after-signing-three-year-contract-with-club-c-10261234 |access-date=31 January 2025 |work=The West Australian |date=5 April 2023 |language=en}} He initially declared for the 2023 NBA draft{{cite news |title=Wildcat Okwera joins Wembanyama's squad ahead of NBA draft |url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/nbl/perth-wildcats-recruit-david-okwera-declares-for-nba-draft-and-is-working-with-victor-wembanyamas-trainers-c-10432794 |access-date=31 January 2025 |work=The West Australian |date=24 April 2023 |language=en}} but later withdrew his name.{{cite news |title=44 early entry candidates withdraw from NBA Draft 2023 |url=https://www.nba.com/news/44-early-entry-candidates-withdraw-from-nba-draft-2023 |access-date=31 January 2025 |work=NBA.com |date=14 June 2023 |language=en}} In the 2023–24 NBL season, Okwera found himself stuck behind Keanu Pinder and Alex Sarr in the big man rotation, averaging 5.5 minutes in 17 games,{{cite news |title=NBL24 season review - David Okwera |url=https://www.wildcats.com.au/news/nbl24-season-review-david-okwera |access-date=31 January 2025 |work=Perth Wildcats |date=17 April 2024}} down from 14.3 minutes with United the previous season. With Sarr injured between late December and mid January, Okwera received extra opportunities which resulted in a season-high nine points in eight minutes against the Brisbane Bullets on 19 January 2024. He finished with 1.6 points and 1.5 rebounds per game.

Okwera joined the East Perth Eagles for the 2024 NBL1 West season, where he averaged 14.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks in 21 games. He was named to the NBL1 West All-Defensive Team.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/NBLOneWest/posts/pfbid06UDB4keYhT9GFnpCTMJzSL6sVaKuEYBLTQCMjuj1VReyADUq7sctPg4A5UXQq94ql|title=The 2024 NBL1 West Men's All-Defensive Team|work=facebook.com/NBLOneWest|date=16 July 2024|access-date=16 July 2024}}

Okwera became a starter for the Wildcats midway through the 2024–25 NBL season.{{cite news |title=Rillie is retaining faith with young Wildcats starters |url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/perth-wildcats/perth-wildcats-coach-john-rillie-wants-izan-almansa-and-david-okwera-to-still-be-his-starters-for-nbl-games-c-17493030 |access-date=31 January 2025 |work=The West Australian |date=24 January 2025 |language=en}}

Okwera joined the Franklin Bulls of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) for the 2025 season.{{cite news |title=Bulls welcome young upcoming Import |url=https://www.bullsbasketball.nz/post/bulls-welcome-young-upcoming-import |access-date=14 March 2025 |work=BULLS BASKETBALL |date=14 March 2025 |language=en}}

Okwera debuted for the Australian Boomers during the FIBA Asia Cup qualifier in February 2021 against New Zealand.{{cite news |title=Australian team named for Asia Cup Qualifier |url=https://www.australia.basketball/news/3339081/australian-team-named-for-asia-cup-qualifier |access-date=31 January 2025 |work=www.australia.basketball |date=11 February 2021 |language=en}} He later played for the Australian under 19 team at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup.{{cite web |title=Wena David Okwera (Australia) - Basketball Stats, Height, Age {{!}} FIBA Basketball |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/en/players/292690-wena-david-okwera |website=www.fiba.basketball |access-date=31 January 2025 |language=en |date=31 January 2025}}

Okwera played for the Boomers during the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers and at the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup.

In February 2025, Okwera was named in the Boomers squad for two FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.{{cite news |title=Boomers announce team for Traralgon games |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/boomers-announce-team-for-traralgon-games |access-date=18 February 2025 |work=NBL Official Website |date=18 February 2025}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.wildcats.com.au/player/3692/1674969/david-okwera Perth Wildcats profile]
• [https://nbl1.com.au/player-listing/david-okwera NBL1 profile]
• {{FIBA}}
• {{FIBA 3x3}}
• {{Instagram}}

{{Perth Wildcats current roster}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Okwera, David}}

Category:2002 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen

Category:Australian men's basketball players

Category:Australian people of South Sudanese descent

Category:BA Centre of Excellence men's basketball players

Category:Basketball players from Perth, Western Australia

Category:Franklin Bulls players

Category:Melbourne United players

Category:Perth Wildcats players

Category:Power forwards

Category:Sportsmen from Western Australia