If you are a fan of college basketball or the NBA, you might have heard of two players with the same last name: TJ Bamba and Mo Bamba. TJ Bamba is a guard for the Villanova Wildcats, while Mo Bamba is a center for the Philadelphia 76ers. Both of them are talented and promising young athletes, but are they related? The answer is no, they are not.
Who is TJ Bamba?
TJ Bamba is a 6-foot-5, 200-pound combo guard who transferred to Villanova from Washington State in 2023. He was born in the Bronx, New York, to parents who emigrated from the Ivory Coast. He has an older brother, Sidiki Johnson, who played college basketball at Arizona, Providence, and Wabash Valley
TJ Bamba started his basketball career at Cardigan Mountain School in New Hampshire, and then moved to Westtown School in Pennsylvania, where he was a five-star recruit and a McDonald’s All-American. He chose to play for Texas for his freshman year, where he averaged 15.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. He was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team, the Big 12 All-Defensive Team, and the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team
After his freshman season, TJ Bamba decided to transfer to Villanova, where he saw an opportunity to play for a championship contender and develop his skills under coach Jay Wright. He said he picked Villanova over other schools like Kansas, Tennessee, Texas, Georgia Tech, Auburn, North Carolina, and St. John’s
TJ Bamba is known for his athleticism, versatility, and scoring ability. He can play both guard positions and defend multiple positions. He is also a good shooter, especially from the three-point range. He is expected to be a key contributor for the Wildcats in the 2023-24 season.
Who is Mo Bamba?
Mo Bamba is a 7-foot, 231-pound center who plays for the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA. He was born in Harlem, New York, to parents who also emigrated from the Ivory Coast. He has a brother, Ibrahim Johnson, who played college basketball at Farmingdale State and Montevallo
Mo Bamba also attended Westtown School in Pennsylvania, where he was a teammate of TJ Bamba for one year. He was also a five-star recruit and a McDonald’s All-American. He chose to play for Texas for his freshman year, where he averaged 12.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game. He was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team, the Big 12 All-Defensive Team, and the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team. He also set the school record for most blocks in a season with 111
After his freshman season, Mo Bamba declared for the 2018 NBA draft, where he was selected by the Orlando Magic with the sixth overall pick. He was highly regarded by scouts for his 7-foot-10 wingspan, which is the longest ever measured in the NBA combine. He was also praised for his defensive potential, rebounding, and shooting touch
Mo Bamba played for the Magic for four seasons, where he struggled with injuries, inconsistency, and limited playing time. He averaged 5.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game in 171 games. He was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023, where he played only 11 games before being traded again to the Philadelphia 76ers
Mo Bamba is hoping to revive his career with the 76ers, where he can play alongside stars like Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Tobias Harris. He is also looking to prove himself as a valuable player in the league and live up to his draft potential.
Are TJ Bamba and Mo Bamba related?
Despite sharing the same last name and the same high school, TJ Bamba and Mo Bamba are not related. They are not brothers, cousins, or even distant relatives. They are just friends who happen to have the same surname and the same passion for basketball.
According to ESPN, Bamba is a common last name in West Africa, where both of their families are from. It is also a name that is associated with basketball, as there have been other players with the same name, such as Souleymane Bamba, a former player from Mali, and Hamady N’Diaye, a former player from Senegal
TJ Bamba and Mo Bamba have known each other since they were teenagers, when they played together at Westtown School. They have remained close friends ever since, even though they went to different colleges and play in different leagues. They often support each other on social media and exchange advice and encouragement
TJ Bamba and Mo Bamba are both proud of their African heritage and their basketball achievements. They are also both ambitious and determined to reach their goals and dreams. They are not related by blood, but they are related by basketball.