Fort Wayne Mad Ants’ Ben Bentil Scores 28 Points in China Debut
Ben Bentil will return to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants after his stint in China with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers.
Ben Bentil is starting in China where he left off after leaving the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
Bentil scored a team high 27 points in the Mad Ants’ first game of the season.
But his time in Fort Wayne was short.
He then signed an injury replacement contract with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers. In his first game with the Flying Tigers, Bentil came off the bench to score 28 points.
He shot 7 of 12 from the field, including 4 of 5 from the three-point line. Bentil added two points from the charity stripe, grabbed three rebounds and blocked a shot.
Bentil replaces Andray Blatche, who played nine years in the NBA. He also plays alongside former University of Indianapolis standout Darius Adams. Adams was a member of the All-Great Lakes Valley Conference First Team in 2011.
The Boston Celtics drafted Bentil 51st in the 2016 NBA Draft. The Celtics then waived Bentil, and he got $250,000 in guaranteed money. The Celtics had hoped he would play for their D-League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws. Instead, he signed with the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers waived him hours later, but Bentil picked up $50,000 for the brief signing. The Pacers then assigned him to the Mad Ants.
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Reasons cited for Bentil declining to play for the Red Claws include a glut of Celtics frontcourt players and that the Celtics had eight draft picks in the 2016 NBA Draft.
As for accepting a temporary contract to play for the Flying Tigers, Bentil’s philosophy of opportunities and chances may have influenced his decision. At age 15, Bentil left Ghana to attend St. Andrew’s School in Middletown, Delaware. Bentil told Reggie Hayes of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel:
"“In an African community, at a young age, you’re considered a young man,” Bentil said. “It was a sacrifice I had to make for me and my family. At the end of the day, it was an opportunity for me to better the life of me and my family, so I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that happens.”"
That philosophy helped him deal with being cut by the Celtics. Per Hayes:
"“One thing I understand is that this is a business,” Bentil said. “(The Celtics) choose who they invest in and what they do. It’s an opportunity. If they give you one, take advantage. If not, then you look for another door to open.”"
When the door closes on the injury replacement contract with the Flying Tigers, the Mad Ants expect Bentil to rejoin the Mad Ants.
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But if Bentil continues to do well in China, there is the possibility that another NBA team could pick him up.