Worthy de Jong

Dutch forward nicknamed 'Mister ZZ Leiden' who spent 13 seasons with ZZ Leiden and became the club's all-time leading scorer, the most decorated player in Dutch basketball club history.

Worthy de Jong became so synonymous with ZZ Leiden that the club's fans called him 'Mister ZZ Leiden,' a nickname backed by the fact that he finished his 11 seasons there as the all-time leader in points, rebounds, and assists while winning three Dutch championships — all for a club he nearly walked away from after a failed attempt at American college basketball.. He earned a scholarship to Ranger College in Texas at 18, but returned to the Netherlands after a year, feeling unmotivated by the experience. Encouraged by friends not to abandon the game, De Jong began his professional career with Rotterdam Challengers before joining ZZ Leiden in 2010, where he became the club's defining player over 11 seasons across two spells, earning the nickname 'Mister ZZ Leiden' for his loyalty and consistency. He won three Dutch championships and two Dutch Cups with the club, and became its all-time leader in points, rebounds, and assists. De Jong represented the Netherlands national team for a decade, appearing at EuroBasket in both 2015 and 2022, and was widely regarded as the best Dutch player of his generation during his prime. He retired from professional 5-on-5 basketball in 2023 after 13 seasons, and subsequently transitioned into competitive 3x3 basketball, describing the move as a return to being 'a student of the game again.'

Versatile scoring guard/forward known for all-around offensive production and leadership

Widely regarded as one of the finest Dutch basketball players of the modern era, defined by his exceptional loyalty to a single club

• 3x Dutch basketball champion (ZZ Leiden)
• 2x Dutch Cup winner (ZZ Leiden)
• ZZ Leiden's all-time leader in points, rebounds, and assists
• 2x EuroBasket participant with the Netherlands (2015, 2022)