AFTER two seasons in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and a stint in Germany, Johannesburg centre David Craig has landed with the Vanta Black Dragons. The Big Tip Off takes a closer look at his journey and the expectations surrounding the 7-foot-3 South African ahead of the Asian Tournament.
Craig from Johannesburg has signed with the Vanta Black Dragons of Hong Kong, where he will compete in The Asian Tournament (TAT) and begin the next chapter in a professional journey that has already spanned three countries and two continents in just over a year.
Building his reputation in the BAL
What the Vanta Black Dragons are acquiring is far more than exceptional size. They are adding a player with a highly defined and valuable skill set built around the fundamentals of winning basketball.
His BAL journey began with Made By Ball (MBB) during Season 5, when he became the tallest player in league history.
David Craig is heading east to further his playing career. Pictures: The BTO
He returned for Season 6 with the Johannesburg Giants, averaging six points and six rebounds in only 15 minutes per game while competing against top-calibre opposition. Reflecting on his time in the BAL, Craig says the experience was “very solid” in terms of his production and efficiency, but he believes he could have reached another level.
“I think there was still another level I could have gone to, but that’s also a symptom of playing for a losing team,” he says. “And when your team (Giants) doesn’t make the necessary adjustments it needs to, it’s a lot harder than it seems to then level up as an individual.”
Aiming to set the scene alight
Craig now joins a Vanta Black Dragons side that has quickly become one of Asia’s emerging basketball powers. Based in Hong Kong, the Dragons compete in The Asian Tournament, a premier continental competition that crowned them 2026 TAT Leg 1 champions in Chengdu.
Held annually from April through October, TAT features a unique multi-leg format hosted across some of Asia’s leading basketball cities, including Chengdu, Laizhou, Manila and Beijing.
The tournament brings together elite clubs and world-class players from the continent’s strongest professional leagues alongside distinguished international teams, with each leg culminating in knockout rounds and a championship final. Every event is streamed live on YouTube.
For Craig, the move represents a much-needed change of environment. “I’m just excited to be in a lot more organised and a lot more of an efficient style of play,” he says. “Playing with other imports and playing with other guys that have travelled the world and are seasoned professionals, as well as playing with the other local players who know and understand the game very well.”
David Craig is ready to raise his game in Asia.
He is particularly encouraged by the technical quality of his new teammates. “I think fundamentally they are quite sound and can shoot the ball very well, because that’s generally speaking something that is fundamentally very important to the game in this part of the world. And so that’s going to be a breath of fresh air.”
Despite the frustrations of his recent BAL campaign, which saw the Giants go winless on home soil, Craig is looking ahead with optimism.
“I think all in all, though, I’m just happy to be able to spread my wings again,” he says. “I think it’s going to be a necessary refresh after a very frustrating time with the Giants.”
Eyes on the debut
Craig is set to join the Dragons from the third leg, scheduled for 20–26 July in Passi, Philippines.
DAVID Craig has enjoyed his time in South Africa, and being temporarily out of the bright lights of competitive basketball, but he has not rested on his laurels. During this off-season, Craig, a first-time free agent, has put in the hard yards, living up to the adage often used in basketball that says, “If you stay ready, then you don’t have to get ready.”
Even with a career-defining move overseas signed and sealed, Craig ploughs on and quietly fine-tunes his game as his new German club awaits his arrival.
The 7ft2 (2.18m) Craig, who would be hard to miss in a crowded room, was going through his paces last Friday in the humble settings of the Mandeville Sports Complex. Settings which are a far cry from the spotlight and aesthetics of the BAL and NCAA basketball. Training with former Made By Basketball (MBB) teammate Nino Dim, they perfect their shooting form with baseline drills inside and outside the arc.
Craig also focused on his post-up game, working with his back to the basket and practising a series of hook shots. He and Dim then wrapped up with a scrimmage session before heading into Craig’s interview with The Big Tip Off. Twenty-two-year-old Craig spoke with great excitement about joining German third-tier club TSV Nuestadt Temps Shooters. The centre, who started his college career with Mercer, is seemingly content with closing that chapter of his life. At the same time, he felt his stint with MBB at the BAL prepared him for the professional ranks.
“I couldn’t be happier. It was the right time for me. I felt I had got everything I could from the Division I level. At this point, this is the right move for my career,” said Craig, who last played for NCAA Division I college Tennessee Tech. “After playing at the BAL level, I felt I could get a bit more out of my career by making the jump to the pros.
David Craig says playing in the BAL opened his eyes to a bigger basketball world. Pictures: The BTO
Craig says he has already had discussions with Temps Shooter coach Allen Ray about how he fits into the team’s plans. “I looked forward to working with the coach over there. I have had several discussions with him. It’s been positive. He is big on meeting players at their point and being able to help them grow their game,” said Craig. “From the discussion we had and learning about the club, I feel I will be a good fit.
“I also have a lot I can learn from the older players. I look forward to this experience and how it will help to evolve my game.”
He went on to elaborate on his experience with MBB at the Nile Conference of the BAL. He says rubbing shoulders with some of the wise heads in the team was humbling for him.
“It was one of the biggest blessings to have happened in my life… Being able to represent South Africa while also achieving a lifelong dream of playing professional basketball… Playing with some of the people who laid the ground for up-and-coming South African players like me. Guys like Neo Mothiba and Lebesa Selepe… Getting a wholesome and genuine experience of them and being in Kigali. Those moments I will remember for the rest of my life,” said Craig. “Just like the guys I mentioned, I hope to be an inspiration for the coming generation… Continue to pave the way and bring back expertise and information for kids who want to pursue basketball at any level in the future.
“It (the BAL) showed me how big the possibilities can be, especially from a professional perspective.”
He says another thing the BAL did for him was to improve his temperament. Craig recalled starting in the most-watched game in the BAL (MBB vs APR), which had 168000 views on YouTube according to FIBA Africa.
“One thing the BAL taught me is to always embrace the big moments, like playing in the second game against APR, where I got to start. It was the most-viewed BAL game, and what it did for my career. There is no telling how many of those I could have in Germany. So you have to grab every big opportunity with both hands because you don’t know when you will get the next one,” said Craig. “I never thought Germany would happen. There was just the BAL, and we had to figure out the next move.
“The other thing I learnt was to stay professional and consistent regardless of what happens. You can’t let results dictate your work. You must show up every single day and maintain consistency. Don’t be results-oriented. It’s better to embrace the process.”
Each passing day means Craig is coming closer and closer to the cut-throat world of professional basketball. As he prepares himself for a career leap, he speaks with fondness about being home.
David Craig has a new appreciation for South Africa and the support system available to him.
“Having this time does so much more than it seems on the surface. Firstly, South Africa is a very special place. It takes you leaving here to understand that – being around people who appreciate and understand you. People who respect your journey. It does more for you as a person than you can imagine,” said Craig. “The pressure now is for me to rest and improve… Get ready for Germany.
“There are a lot of people who will be watching me… As they have been, and that will never change. Right now, not having the pressure of performing in this very moment is relieving because being in that spotlight can sometimes be a lot to carry.”
Craig continued: “I think anybody coming up and wanting to make a career out of basketball needs to know that because it does take a mental toll… More so than it would physically.”
These are wise words from the big man, given that he is well-versed in high-level basketball, they carry weight. As he enters this next phase of his career, those words can hopefully guide him in navigating what awaits him in Germany.
SOUTH African-born centre, David Craig has taken a gigantic leap in his playing career by committing himself to NCAA Division I University team, Mercer Bears in the United States.
While the ink has dried on the letter of intent Craig signed two weeks ago to join Georgia-based Bears, he reflected on a journey that brought its fair share of pain and disappointment.
David Craig during the signing of his letter of intent. Pictures: McCallie and Mercer
The 7ft1 former St Benedict’s pupil has lingering memories of a debilitating ailment on both knees which almost halted his progress in his early teens. Then there was also the disappointment of not making a junior NBA team and losing an inter-provincial final in South Africa. This was three years before he joined the all-boys McCallie School in Tennessee.
“Honestly, it’s almost like I have woken up from a very long sleep. It’s like you know what has happened, but you don’t feel it yet. I still remember being that kid who got cut from a junior NBA team. I remember it like it was yesterday playing for Gauteng in an inter-provincial in twenty-sixteen and losing to the Western Cape in the final,” said the colossal Craig, who hails from Ekurhuleni. “Those things are fresh in my head, but I just signed a division one letter of intent. It’s just a relieving feeling knowing that my parents can watch their child play in a division one school in America and not have to pay a single cent for it.”
Craig, who was 14-years-old when he experienced trouble with his knees, says it affected his mobility and relationship with food.
“I had this thing called Osgood Schlatter Syndrome. It meant that I had a lot of swelling around the joints of my knees. They were sensitive to the point that when I pressed my finger on either knee, it hurt,” continued Craig. “It was destructive and impacted everything I did, from the way I walked to the way I ran. Also, when I was not playing, I would sit at home and eat as a way of filling that need for stimulation.”
Following a consultation with a doctor, the prescribed treatment for Craig’s knees was rest. For the centre, the idea of waiting to heal did not sit well with him, and he embarked on a self-driven recovery program.
“My doctor told me the best way to fix this was if I rested, but I was not willing to do that. It took me quite a while to realise that I could conquer this and didn’t need to focus only on rest. I needed to work on my diet and my body. That was the beginning of all this, and truly understanding the meaning of hard work,” said Craig.
The work the big man put in to get his knees right and withstand the rigours of basketball paid off, and with the help of his parents, he earned a scholarship to attend McCallie.
“When I turned 15 and at about six foot seven, my parents saw that I was talented. I worked hard. I was ahead of other players in my age group at the time. So their thought process was, we do not want you to wait for an opportunity to come,” said Craig, who is in his final year at McCallie. “Coming from South Africa, the typical route to the US is through BWB (Basketball Without Borders). While BWB would be a great opportunity, I did not want to rely solely on it, so we started to apply to schools and luckily, I got the financial aid I needed… And here I am.”
While leaving home for a different country can be challenging from a cultural and mental aspect, Craig says the advice he received from his former coach, Nompumelelo Ramatsoga was affirming and helped put his mind at ease.
“My high school coach from South Africa, coach Mpumi gave me the best advice as she has made that transition before. Coach Mpumi told me I needed to ready myself, try to learn from everything, and not to see the situation as a loss. She reminded me I had what it took, that I was a good player, and everything would work itself out. She has been right so far,” said Craig, who already knew he could overcome difficult hurdles.
The McCallie environment suited Craig as he was afforded the space and time to adapt to the culture of the school and also be up to speed with the physical demands of basketball in America.
“When I came to McCallie, it was a huge learning curve. It’s a prestigious school and houses athletes in different sporting codes. There is also an emphasis on academics. There were a lot of things I needed to adjust, and I got help with that. The coaches stuck with me. I had a lot of growing to do. Growing into my body. Getting my strength and coordination up. The coaches there ultimately knew I would be an investment,” said Craig, who has high ambition for his final season.
“I worked hard and improved throughout the years. Midway through my sophomore year, I was starting to make an impact on the team. In my junior year, I made it to the all-regional team. This year I am looking to win Mr Basketball Tennessee, which would be a great thing. So I am thankful for how much the coaches have invested in me.”
David Craig signs his letter of intent to play college basketball for Mercer Bears
Craig pointed out that he was not high on the recruitment list of teams until his junior high school year. The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic also threw a spanner in the works.
“I had just finished playing my sophomore season and getting ready to play in the Amateur Athletic Union (basketball). Then Covid hit, everything got shut down and I had to come home,” said Craig. “I did not get noticed until my junior high school season. That’s when realised I had to turn things up a notch because I was going to have one spring season to play in AAU Basketball where all the college coaches go (for scouting).”
It was during the Spring season that Craig’s game blossomed. Coaches who had slept on him took a second look, and the number of college suitors increased. Ultimately, it was the Gary Gray coached Bears who won the race to sign Craig, as they were intentional about having him on board from the start.
“I would say I blew up. I was improving but was not getting that recognition. Once my play improved, coaches would come back to watch me play and started to realise how good I was,” said Craig, who was pursued by the likes of Purdue and Georgia Tech amongst other colleges. “Ultimately, the thing about Mercer was that they were consistent and did not drag their feet. They were straightforward in letting me know I had something they could use and be effective in their system. So, that’s why I signed with them as early as I did.”
With one part of the dream achieved, Craig wants to strive for more and has his sights on playing in the NBA. To him, it does not matter how he gets there.
“… As far as I can remember, it’s always been a dream of mine to play in the NBA. I am going to pursue that. If it means I play elsewhere professionally first, then so be it. But the NBA is my end goal,” said Craig, who wants to inspire future generations with this ambition. “There has not been a South African player in the NBA. I know that I can do that. And it’s something that pushes me every day. It’s constantly on my mind. Ten years down the line I want kids to say a South African played in the NBA. I want to hear them saying ‘I want to be like him.’ That would be priceless for me. I definitely want to play in the NBA.”
There is no doubt that South Africa can produce world class basketball players. Our eyes and ears should be on Craig as he pursues his dream of playing in the NBA.
