Josh Akognon
Joshua Akognon | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 10, 1986 Petaluma, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Professional basketball player (retired) |
| Years active | 2009–2018 |
| Known for | Playing for Washington State Cougars, Cal State Fullerton Titans, and various professional teams including Dallas Mavericks |
Joshua Emmanuel Akognon (born February 10, 1986) is a retired Nigerian-American professional basketball athlete. He competed in college basketball representing both the Washington State Cougars and the Cal State Fullerton Titans. Measuring , he primarily played at the point guard position.
Early life
Born in Petaluma, California, Akognon is the son of a Nigerian father and an American mother. His father serves as a Baptist minister, while his mother held the role of minister of music at Village Baptist Church in Marin City, California. He attended Casa Grande High School in Petaluma, where he began playing organized basketball as a freshman and averaged 30 points per game during his senior year.
Washington State (2004–2006)
During his freshman year with the Washington State Cougars, Akognon posted an average of 3.9 points per game. He started his sophomore season in the starting lineup but was soon relegated to the bench. However, an injury to starting guard Derrick Low increased his minutes, leading to a standout 27-point game that included a decisive three-pointer, securing a 78–71 upset against Washington. This performance earned him Pac-10 player of the week recognition. He followed up with a 25-point outing versus UCLA and garnered Pontiac Pac-10 Player Honors after an impressive second-half display against USC. Sports Illustrated also named him the Pac-10's "Most Underrated Player." Although primarily coming off the bench, he led his team in scoring before transferring to Cal State Fullerton for the 2007–08 season.
Cal State Fullerton (2007–2009)
At Cal State Fullerton, Akognon averaged 20.2 points per contest, reaching double figures in 28 of 31 games and frequently knocking down multiple three-pointers. He scored 30 or more points five times, including a 31-point performance in an NCAA Tournament matchup against Wisconsin. Despite dealing with a shooting hand injury, he maintained nearly 40% accuracy from beyond the arc and converted free throws at a 90% clip, finishing with 116 three-pointers and 107 free throws—a notable achievement of surpassing 100 in both categories.
In his junior year, Akognon played a pivotal role in guiding Cal State Fullerton to share the regular-season title, win the Big West Tournament championship, and secure an NCAA Tournament berth after compiling a 24–9 overall record. His accolades included first-team honors at the Shamrock Holiday Classic, Mid Majority Baller of the Week recognition, selection to the All-District 15 Second Team by the NABC alongside players such as O. J. Mayo and Kevin Love, second-team Big West honors, and MVP of the Big West Tournament where he averaged 20 points per game while sinking 12 three-pointers across three contests. Additionally, he was honored as the 2007–2008 Africa Basket Player of the Year. After initially declaring for the NBA Draft, he opted to return for his senior season.
During his senior campaign, Akognon posted an average of 23.9 points per game—ranking eighth nationally—and was awarded the 2008–09 Big West Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year. He set a new single-season scoring record for Cal State Fullerton with 764 points and finished seventh on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,411 career points. He established a two-year scoring record and was named to the NABC All-District 9 First Team as the sole representative from the Big West Conference. Akognon once again achieved an exceptional milestone by surpassing 100 made three-pointers (136; second nationally in per-game average) and converting 132 free throws at an 89.2% success rate. His season concluded with a national record streak of making at least one three-pointer in 44 consecutive games and culminated with career totals of 1,805 points and 335 three-pointers.
He set a Big West Tournament single-game scoring record by tallying 37 points—including nine three-pointers—in a first-round victory over UC Riverside. Throughout that season, he scored in double digits in 36 out of 37 games, reached or exceeded the 20-point mark twenty-two times, and recorded six performances surpassing 30 points. Early in the season, he was listed on watch lists for prestigious awards such as the James Naismith Award (top college player) and Bob Cousy Award (best point guard).
2009–10 season
Following the 2009 NBA draft, where he was not selected, Akognon secured a contract with the Estonian squad BC Kalev/Cramo for the 2009–10 campaign.
2010–11 season
In 2010, Akognon became a member of the Dongguan Leopards competing in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He posted an average exceeding 29 points per contest, playing a pivotal role in elevating Dongguan's record from 13–19 to an impressive 25–7, finishing third overall. Akognon consistently scored in double digits throughout the season, including 18 games surpassing 20 points and achieving a personal best of 54 points. He guided Dongguan to a first-round playoff triumph before their elimination in the semifinals. His scoring ability, playmaking skills, and inventive style distinguished him prominently within the Chinese basketball scene.
2011–12 season
Akognon renewed his contract with the Leopards and maintained an average of over 28 points per game, ranking him fifth in scoring across the CBA. After a sluggish start, his leadership propelled Dongguan to a strong finish, going 19–9 and securing fifth place. The team was narrowly defeated in a five-game playoff series by Xinjiang. During the NBA lockout period, when players like J.R. Smith and Wilson Chandler joined the CBA, Akognon sustained his high level of play, reinforcing his status as one of the league’s elite players.
On March 30, 2012, he signed with the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League, where he averaged 16 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across three appearances. The Charge advanced to the postseason but released Akognon on April 17 due to injury concerns.
2012–13 season
Akognon took part in the Sacramento Kings' NBA Summer League roster in 2012 and subsequently inked a deal with the Dallas Mavericks on September 27; however, he was waived on October 19. He then returned to China to compete with Liaoning for the 2012–13 season.
On April 3, 2013, Akognon secured a 10-day contract with Dallas. He made his NBA debut on April 10 against the Phoenix Suns, contributing two points and one assist in just under four minutes of action. On April 13, he was signed for the remainder of that season and appeared in two of the final three games. His last NBA appearance occurred on April 17, logging two minutes and one rebound in a victory over the Hornets.
2013–14 season
Akognon participated in the Mavericks’ 2013 NBA Summer League but was waived on July 21, 2013. Shortly after, on July 24, he was claimed off waivers by the Memphis Grizzlies, who then released him on October 6 before the regular season commenced.
In November 2013, Akognon joined China’s Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles for the 2013–14 season. He departed China in February 2014 and returned stateside, signing with the Delaware 87ers four days later. Over 15 games with Delaware, he averaged 15.6 points, 4.2 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.6 steals while playing nearly 28 minutes per game. Despite his individual efforts, the team concluded with a league-worst record of 12–38.
Following this period, Akognon's professional pursuits continued exclusively abroad.
2014–15 season
On September 18, 2014, Akognon agreed to terms with the Foshan Dralions for the 2014–15 CBA season. In March of that year, he signed with Serbian outfit Partizan Belgrade for the remainder of their season but parted ways with them on April 23, 2015.
2015–16 season
On December 8, 2015, Akognon made his return to China by signing with the Jilin Northeast Tigers. Subsequently, on February 2, he secured a contract with the Italian squad Dinamo Basket Sassari to finish out the season.
2016–17 season
Akognon agreed to a one-month contract with Saski Baskonia of the Liga ACB on October 2, 2016; however, his tenure was cut short when the team released him on November 6. Later that month, on November 22, he joined Lithuanian side Lietuvos rytas, before parting ways on January 21, 2017.
In April 2017, he signed with the Chinese club Henan Shedianlaojiu to compete in the 2017 NBL season.
2017–18 season
On January 12, 2018, Akognon inked a deal with Iberostar Tenerife for the remainder of the 2017–18 campaign.
International career
Akognon represented the Nigeria national basketball team at the 2006 FIBA World Championship and played a significant role during the 2016 Summer Olympics, where he averaged 10.6 points, alongside 1.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
Regular season
|- | align="left" | | align="left" | Dallas | 3 || 0 || 3.0 || .500 || .500 || .000 || .3 || .3 || .0 || .0 || 1.7 |- | align="left" | Career | align="left" | | 3 || 0 || 3.0 || .500 || .500 || .000 || .3 || .3 || .0 || .0 || 1.7
Personal life
Akognon is married to Ariana Scales, who formerly played for the Washington State Cougars women's basketball team. Together, they have two children and currently live in Topeka, Kansas.