David Okwera

Wena David Okwera (born 31 July 2002) is an Australian professional basketball player for Balkan Botevgrad of the Bulgarian National Basketball League (NBL) and the EuroCup. In 2021, he debuted for Melbourne United in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) and debuted for the Australian Boomers in international competition. After two seasons with United, he joined the Perth Wildcats in 2023, where he spent three seasons.

Early life and career Okwera was born and raised in Perth, Western Australia. He has a South Sudanese background. He played junior basketball at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre and with the Joondalup Wolves.

At age 16, where he played for the Kilsyth Cobras under 18 team in 2019. In 2020, Okwera played for the Victorian under 20 state team at the national championships, where he was named to the all-star five after averaging 12.2 points, 10 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Following the under 20 national championships, Okwera received close to 20 NCAA Division I scholarship offers, including from Maryland, Oregon State, Oklahoma State, Wake Forest and Arkansas. The team was crowned Waratah League champions for the 2021 season. He also played for the Western Australian under 20 state team at the 2021 national championships, where he averaged 10.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

Professional career In April 2021, Okwera made the decision to forgo the collegiate path and turn professional. In eight games, he averaged 2.1 points and 1.6 rebounds He received a variety of roles to start the season and matched-up against a number of the league's best big men. In 28 games, he averaged 4.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. but later returned to Perth and joined the Perth Redbacks of the NBL1 West. In nine games for the Redbacks to finish the 2023 NBL1 West season, he averaged 11.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 blocks per game. He initially declared for the 2023 NBA draft but later withdrew his name. In the 2023–24 NBL season, Okwera found himself stuck behind Keanu Pinder and Alex Sarr in the big man rotation, averaging 5.5 minutes in 17 games, down from 14.3 minutes with United the previous season.

Okwera became a starter for the Wildcats midway through the 2024–25 NBL season. On 29 November 2024, he scored a season-high 12 points against Brisbane. In 23 games, he averaged three points and two rebounds in eight minutes per game. In 20 games, he averaged 10.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.7 blocks per game. He suffered a foot injury late in the 2025–26 NBL season.

Okwera re-joined the East Perth Eagles for the 2026 NBL1 West season.

On 10 August 2026, Okwera signed with Balkan Botevgrad of the Bulgarian National Basketball League (NBL).

National team career Okwera debuted for the Australian Boomers during the FIBA Asia Cup qualifier in February 2021 against New Zealand. He later played for the Australian under 19 team at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup.

Okwera played for the Boomers during the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers and at the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup.

In February 2026, Okwera was named in the Boomers squad for two FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers. He did not end up travelling with the team. In July 2026, he was named in the Boomers squad for two more qualifiers as a replacement for Ben Henshall.