KBL Shocker: Stokes’ 2-Season Suspension Sparks Controversy, Sono and Burns Step In

The KBL has suspended Janelle Stokes for two seasons.

On the 19th, KBL announced, “As a result of the 2nd Financial Committee of the 30th term held at the KBL Center at 3 PM, Janelle Stokes was suspended for 2 seasons.” Warnings were also issued to foreign and domestic agents.

In the off-season, Goyang Sono selected Stokes as the foreign player to play with for the new season. Stokes played for the U.S. national team in the 2013 U-19 World Championships, averaging 7.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, helping the team win the gold medal.

Additionally, he led the team to the Round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament by recording 15.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game during his junior year at the University of Tennessee, and in recognition of this, he was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round (35th overall) in the 2014 NBA Draft, making his NBA debut and playing in a total of 28 games for the Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets.

In 2016, he dominated the paint zone with his excellent physicality, winning the 2016 NBA G League All-Star selection, regular season and finals MVP, and advanced to the Chinese CBA, where he played until the 2019/20 season. After that, he left the league to pursue his film business, and after 4 years, he joined Goyang Sono on July 23.

However, Stokes entered Korea on the 7th and was supposed to go to Taiwan training together, but he suddenly avoided Sono’s contact. Eventually, he did not enter Korea until the 11th, and Sono formally filed a complaint with the KBL regarding breach of contract.

Onuaku, who guarded DB’s goal this season, was suspended for two seasons after not joining DB after signing a new contract with them in 2020. Onuaku, who joined the KBL as a replacement for Sono last season, transferred to DB after the season ended.

Daquavis Tucker, who unilaterally terminated his contract after being drafted by the Eastern (now DB) in 2015, was subject to a ‘loss of player eligibility’ disciplinary action.

Meanwhile, Sono announced on the 14th, “We are terminating our contract with Janelle Stokes and recruiting DJ Burns, who played in the NBA Summer League.”

Burns stands at 204cm and weighs 125kg and played for his team, North Carolina State University, in the 2024 ACC Conference Tournament for the first time in 27 years. In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded the MVP at the time.

Burns also averaged 16.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 28.2 minutes in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Sono described Burns as “a dynamic rookie who is fresh out of college and is challenging an overseas league right away.”