James Kwekuteye
{{Short description|Filipino-Canadian basketball player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = James Kwekuteye
| image =
| caption =
| position = Shooting guard
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 182
| number = 15
| team = NorthPort Batang Pier
| league = PBA
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|8|15}}
| birth_place =
| nationality = Filipino / Canadian
| high_school =
| college = San Beda
| draft_year_pba = 2023
| draft_round_pba = 2
| draft_pick_pba = 20
| draft_team_pba = Blackwater Bossing
| career_start = 2023
| years1 = 2023
| team1 = Zamboanga Valientes
| years2 = 2023
| team2 = Bacoor City Strikers
| years3 = 2023–2025
| team3 = Blackwater Bossing
| years4 = 2025–present
| team4 = NorthPort Batang Pier
| highlights =
- All-MPBL Second Team (2023)
- MPBL All-Star (2023)
| medaltemplates =
}}
James Canlas Kwekuteye (born August 15, 1998) is a Filipino-Canadian professional basketball player for the NorthPort Batang Pier of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Kwekuteye played his college career with the San Beda Red Lions and turned professional in 2023 when he joined the Zamboanga Valientes for the 2023 ABL Invitational. Afterwards, he moved to the Bacoor City Strikers of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), where he made the All-MPBL Second Team as well as an all-star appearance. During the PBA season 48 draft, he was selected 20th overall by the Blackwater Bossing. In 2025, he was traded to the NorthPort Batang Pier
College career
Kwekuteye played for the San Beda Red Lions during his college career. He also played in the PBA D-League.{{Cite web |last=Ramos |first=Gerry |date=2023-09-16 |title=Carino, three others work out in front of coaches ahead of PBA Draft |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/carino-three-others-hold-workouts-for-coaches-ahead-of-pba-draft-a793-20230916 |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}
Professional career
= Zamboanga Valientes (2023) =
After NCAA Season 98, Kwekuteye signed for the Zamboanga Valientes during the ASEAN Basketball League's 2023 Invitational tournament, forgoing his final year with San Beda.{{Cite web |last=Leongson |first=Randolph B. |date=2022-12-10 |title=James Kwekuteye forgoes final year at San Beda, signs with Valientes |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/abl/zamboanga-signs-james-kwekuteye-kemark-carino-for-abl-tilt-a2437-20221210 |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}} After signing with the team, he stated that he would remain "open" for a return to San Beda and that he is "testing the waters in the ABL".{{Cite web |last=Cruz |first=Zachi |date=2022-12-11 |title=James Kwekuteye remains 'open' to San Beda return despite signing with Zamboanga |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/james-kwekuteye-remains-open-to-san-beda-return-despite-signing-with-zamboanga/257911 |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}}
= Bacoor City Strikers (2023) =
After his ABL stint, Kwekuteye joined the Bacoor City Strikers of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. He was selected to the All-MPBL Second Team after averaging 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game, earning an appearance in the 2023 MPBL All-Star Game and helping his team in their run to the 2023 MPBL finals.{{Cite web |title=Justine Baltazar is runaway winner of MPBL MVP award |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/justine-baltazar-is-runaway-winner-of-mpbl-mvp-award-a1373-20231128 |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}
= Blackwater Bossing (2023–2025) =
Kwekuteye was selected 20th overall by the Blackwater Bossing of the Philippine Basketball Association during the season 48 draft.{{Cite web |title=FULL LIST of 79 players picked in PBA Season 48 Rookie Draft |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/list-79-players-picked-in-the-pba-season-48-rookie-draft-a795-20230917 |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}
= NorthPort Batang Pier (2025–present) =
On April 23, 2025, Blackwater traded Kwekuteye to the NorthPort Batang Pier in exchange for Abu Tratter.{{Cite web |last=Terrado |first=Reuben |date=2025-04-23 |title=NorthPort acquires Kwekuteye from Blackwater in trade for Tratter |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/northport-gets-kwekuteye-from-blackwater-trade-for-tratter-a795-20250423?ref=home_feed_1 |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}
Career statistics
= PBA =
{{PBA player statistics legend}}
As of the end of 2023–24 season{{Cite web |title=James Kwekuteye Profile, Blackwater Bossings - RealGM |url=https://basketball.realgm.com/player/James-Kwekuteye/Summary/226459 |website=basketball.realgm.com}}
=Season-by-season averages=
{{PBA player statistics start}}
|-
| align=left | {{pbay|2023}}
| align=left | Blackwater
| 15 || 18.3 || .370 || .222 || 1.000 || 1.9 || 1.7 || .4 || .1 || 7.7
|-class=sortbottom
| align=center colspan=2 | Career
| 15 || 18.3 || .370 || .222 || 1.000 || 1.9 || 1.7 || .4 || .1 || 7.7
{{end}}
= MPBL =
{{PBA player statistics legend}}
As of the end of 2023 season
{{MPBL player statistics start}}
|-
| align=left | 2023
| align=left | Bacoor City
| 33 || 27 || 26.1 || .379 || .294 || .716 || 5.3 || 2.0 || 1.7 || .6 || 12.5
{{end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://basketball.realgm.com/player/James-Kwekuteye/Summary/226459 James Kwekuteye Profile, Blackwater Bossings - RealGM]
- [https://mpbl.web.geniussports.com/competitions/?WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2Fall%2Fperson%2F2015918 James Canlas Kwekuteye - Genius Sports (MPBL)]
{{NorthPort Batang Pier current roster}}
{{2023 PBA draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kwekuteye, James}}
Category:21st-century Filipino sportsmen
Category:Bacoor City Strikers players
Category:Blackwater Bossing draft picks
Category:Blackwater Bossing players
Category:Filipino men's basketball players