Former NBA player Pops Mensah-Bonsu was apparently released by Caja Laboral in Spain due to a pre-existing knee injury that caused him to fail a physical over the weekend, though Draft Express' Jonathan Givony noted on Twitter that it was "an injury everyone & their grandma knew he had" and if the team "had done ANY research at all into Pops' background, they would have discovered this issue with his knee immediately."
The knee injury obviously didn't limit Mensah-Bonsu's basketball skills, either, as he was an absolute stud for Great Britain's hational team during their play this summer in the Eurobasket qualifiers. In eight games, Mensah-Bonsu averaged 19.3 points and 13.5 rebounds with his best game probably being 32 points, 21 rebounds and four blocks he hung on Bosnia as part of a 94-85 victory on August 26.
It could turn out that being released from his team in Spain is a blessing in disguise for the NBA veteran and former D-League All-Star, however, as he will sign with an NBA team this week according to agent John Greig. Greig wouldn't specify which team Mensah-Bonsu is signing with, only revealing that it is "not a team in the Northwest Division."
So sorry Nuggets, Jazz, Blazers, Thunder and Timberwolves fans - your team will not be adding Nana Papa Yaw Dwene "Pops" Mensah-Bonsu this offseason.
Fun fact: The news was actually first reported, as far as I can tell, by Sacramento Kings' rookie DeMarcus Cousins - another of Greig's clients.
#shoutout to the big Bruh pops bonsu ..makin his comebak to the NBA!
demarcus cousins
boogiecousins
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