Bryant Kevin Dunston Jr. (born May 28, 1986) is an American-born naturalized Armenian professional basketball player for Žalgiris Kaunas of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) and the EuroLeague. He also represents the senior Armenian national team in international competition. Standing at a height of 6ft 8in, Dunston plays at the center position. Dunston has won the EuroLeague Best Defender award twice, and also reached the EuroLeague Final in 2015, while playing for Olympiacos. In 2011–12, he was the top rebounder in the Israel Basketball Premier League. Dunston earned an All-EuroLeague Second Team selection in 2017.

Early life

Dunston was born in southern Kentucky, and grew up in LeFrak City, Queens. He is a graduate of St. John's Preparatory High School. He is the nephew of former professional baseball player Shawon Dunston, a former No. 1 pick in the MLB.

College career

Dunston attended Fordham University, where he played college basketball with the Fordham Rams. He finished his collegiate career by being named to the First Team All-Metropolitan, Second Team All-Atlantic 10 Conference, and Atlantic 10 Conference All-Defensive Team. In his college career, Dunston appeared in all 120 of Fordham's games, starting in 118 of them. He finished his college career in second place on Fordham's all-time scoring list, with 1,832 career points, in third place on Fordham's all-time rebounds list, with 993 career rebounds, and as Fordham's career blocked shots leader, graduating with 294 career rejections.

Professional career

Dunston played with Mobis Phoebus in the Korean Basketball League. In 2010, he signed with the Greek League club Aris, but left the team in February 2011. After leaving Aris, he signed with the Israeli League club Bnei HaSharon. Following the 2010–11 season, Dunston joined the Israeli League club Hapoel Holon. In 2011–12, he was the top rebounder in the Israel Basketball Premier League. Reports said that Dunston was on the verge of signing a guaranteed contract with the NBA's Brooklyn Nets in the summer 2012. However, he joined the Italian League club Pallacanestro Varese instead.

Olympiacos

On July 9, 2013, Dunston signed a two-year contract with Olympiacos. In his first EuroLeague season, he averaged 10.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and league-leading 1.3 blocks over 29 games played. Olympiacos however finished the participation in the EuroLeague by losing 2–3 to Real Madrid in the quarter-final series. On May 6, he was voted the EuroLeague Best Defender of the season. On May 6, 2015, he was named the EuroLeague season's Best Defender for the second season in a row.

Anadolu Efes

On June 23, 2015, Dunston signed a two-year contract with the Turkish club Anadolu Efes. On May 18, 2017, he signed a two-year contract extension with Anadolu Efes. On May 23, 2019, Dunston signed another two-year contract extension with the club. He signed a two-year extension on July 26, 2020, with an option for another year. On November 6, Dunston was ruled out for a month following an eye injury. On April 29, 2023, Dunston was involved in a car accident, with his car getting trapped under a semi-truck in Istanbul and suffered minor injuries only. Anadolu Efes later announced that he was in good general health and under observation. On June 29, 2023, Dunston amicably parted ways with the Turkish powerhouse after eight seasons together.

Virtus Bologna

On August 25, 2023, Dunston signed a two-year (1+1) contract with Italian powerhouse Virtus Bologna. On 24 September 2023, after having ousted Olimpia Milano in the semifinals, Virtus won its fourth Supercup, and the third in a row, defeating 97–60 Germani Brescia.

Žalgiris Kaunas

On July 17, 2024, Dunston signed a one-year deal with Žalgiris Kaunas of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) and the EuroLeague.

National team career

On June 16, 2015, he was included on the list of candidates of the senior Slovenian national basketball team for the EuroBasket 2015, by team selector Jure Zdovc. However, he didn't get a Slovenian passport in time, so he wouldn't represent Slovenia at the EuroBasket. In June 2016, Dunston arrived in Yerevan, to represent the senior Armenian national basketball team in the 2016 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries.

Career statistics

EuroLeague

Awards and accomplishments

College

Professional