His surname means whale and that’s because one of his great grandfathers "managed to kill a whale," Mensah-Bonsu says to sdna.gr.
He started playing football and doing athletics but sooner than later he got into basketbal. However, a serious problem in his knee threatened his career.
“I could have made a career both in footbal or in athletics but I started playing basketball when I was 15 years of age. When I took part in the Pre Draft Camp my medicals showed that there was a problem in my knee. I was born with it, therefore my future career could be in danger. But I managed to get over it, to play five years in the NBA and to play at some top European basketball clubs,” he said.
Mensah-Bonsu also states that he holds some regrets as he did not managed to show what he deserved in the NBA.
“I didn’t get many chances. I had some good moments but I never had the chances I wanted to in order to prove what I was up for. But I’m not complaining as there are others who would wish to have the career that I had,” Mensah-Bonsu underlines.
Last summer he came close to sign at Olympiakos, but his transfer fell through, something that let him down.
“The decision of Olympiakos not to complete my transfer hurt me because many European clubs believed that I have been suffering from a serious injury problem with my knee and none of them wanted to sign me. But I didn’t stop to fight, I worked really hard and AEK gave me the chance,” he said.
