La Laguna Tenerife signs TJ Bamba, a 1.95-metre forward for the 2026-27 season

The aurinegro club announces the signing of American TJ Bamba, who arrives from the German Rasta Vechta after averaging 12.3 points per game.

The La Laguna Tenerife has finalised the signing of TJ Bamba for the upcoming 2026-27 season. The 1.95-metre tall American forward lands on the island after a standout campaign in the German Bundesliga with Rasta Vechta, where he averaged 12.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game.

A boost for the aurinegro perimeter

The new Canary player, aged 25, brings physicality and experience to the exterior game. His time in the NCAA — where he played at Washington State, Villanova, and Oregon — earned him a spot on the Big Ten Conference All-Defensive Team in his final college year. After going undrafted, Bamba began his professional career in Europe in 2025, and his performance in Germany caught the attention of the Tenerife team.

At Rasta Vechta, Bamba combined Bundesliga play with the FIBA Europe Cup, where his team was eliminated in the quarter-finals. Despite the exit, the guard demonstrated reliability on both fronts, which has led to his move to a more ambitious club like La Laguna Tenerife.

International experience and a future on the island

Born in the Bronx and raised between Senegal and the United States, Bamba participated this summer in the NBA Summer League with the Denver Nuggets, having played with the Brooklyn Nets the previous year. His trajectory reflects a constant evolution that the Canary club hopes will solidify at the Pabellón Insular Santiago Martín.

Bamba's signing adds to the renewal of Doornekamp announced days ago, clearly aiming to maintain the competitive core from last season. Aurinegro fans will be able to see the new forward in action during the pre-season, which will kick off in the coming weeks.

The management is confident that Bamba's defensive ability and outside shooting will be a plus for the team, which aims to establish itself in the upper echelons of the Liga Endesa and compete for European spots. The player, for his part, has expressed excitement about the opportunity to play for a club with the history of La Laguna Tenerife.