Bidunga Named to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Finalist

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas sophomore Flory Bidunga has been named a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award finalist, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today.

The annual Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, named after the three-time NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, celebrates its 12th year by highlighting the top center in Division I men's college basketball.

Named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, an All-Big 12 First Team selection and unanimous Big 12 All-Defensive Team honoree, Bidunga leads the Big 12 and ranks second nationally with 84 blocked shots this season. A Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo native who played prep basketball at Kokomo High School in Indiana, Bidunga's 2.71 blocked shots per game also leads the Big 12 and is second nationally and his 64.4 field goal shooting is tops in the conference and 10th nationally. Bidunga has 12 double-doubles this season, which ranks third in the Big 12 and 26th nationally.

At 13.8 ppg, 9.0 rpg, and 2.7 bpg, Bidunga is the only player in NCAA Division I to average more than 13.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots per game.

In only two seasons, Bidunga has 138 blocked shots which ranks tied for 13th on the Kansas all-time blocked shots list with Raef Lafrentz (1995-98) and Greg Dreiling (1984-86). Bidunga recorded his 100th career blocked shot earlier this season in his 52nd career game, becoming the fastest player to reach 100 blocked shots in KU history.

Later this month, the finalists will be presented to Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame's selection committees. The selection committee for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award are composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.

The winners of the 2026 Abdul-Jabbar Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's Starting Five – Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard), Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving (Small Forward), and Karl Malone Award (Power Forward).

Historically, Kansas has won two of the Starting Five Awards with Frank Mason III having won the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award in 2017 and Jalen Wilson being named Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award in 2023.

2026 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Finalists
Alex Condon, Florida
FLORY BIDUNGA, KANSAS
Graham Ike, Gonzaga
Henri Veesaar, North Carolina
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John's

University of Kansas Athletics

Bidunga Named to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Finalist

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