George King (basketball, born 1994)

George McZavier King Jr. (born January 15, 1994) is an American professional basketball player for the Niners Chemnitz of the Basketball Bundesliga. He played college basketball for the Colorado Buffaloes, earning second-team all-conference honors in the Pac-12 as a senior in 2018. He was selected by the Suns in the second round of the 2018 NBA draft.

George King
King with Aquila Basket Trento in December 2019
No. 24 – Niners Chemnitz
PositionSmall forward
LeagueBasketball Bundesliga
Personal information
Born (1994-01-15) January 15, 1994
Fayetteville, North Carolina
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High schoolBrennan (San Antonio, Texas)
CollegeColorado (2013–2018)
NBA draft2018 / Round: 2 / Pick: 59th overall
Selected by the Phoenix Suns
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018–2019Phoenix Suns
2018–2019→Northern Arizona Suns
2019–2020Aquila Trento
2020Zielona Góra
2020–presentChemnitz Niners
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

College career

King grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina before moving to San Antonio, where he played at William J. Brennan High School.[1] He came to the University of Colorado at Boulder and played sparingly for the Buffaloes as a freshman. King and coach Tad Boyle mutually agreed for him to redshirt the next season for both academic and athletic reasons.[2] The decision proved to be a good one, as King returned for the 2015–16 season and was named the Pac-12’s Most Improved Player after averaging 13.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.[3]

The next season, King's role adjusted as the team added future NBA guard Derrick White. King averaged 11.1 points and 6.8 rebounds as a junior. He declared for the 2017 NBA draft without an agent, but ultimately decided to return to Colorado for his senior season.[4] In his final college season, King averaged 12.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors.[5]

At the close of his career, King finished with 1,294 points and 681 rebounds, ranking him in the school’s all-time top 20 in both statistical categories. King also finished with 181 career three-pointers and shot .401 from the three-point line, good for finishing in the top-5 in school history when he graduated.[6]

Professional career

Following the close of his college career, King was named to the Reese's College All-Star Game, a showcase for senior professional prospects. King scored 21 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in the game, earning Most Outstanding Player honors for the East squad.[7] King then moved to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, another pre-draft camp, where he averaged 18 points and 7.7 rebounds, earning all-tournament honors.[8] King’s standout performances resulted in an invitation to the 2018 NBA Draft Combine.[9]

Phoenix Suns (2018–2019)

On June 21, 2018, King was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 59th pick of the 2018 NBA draft. Ten days later, he was announced as one of the players for the Suns' 2018 NBA Summer League squad.[10] On July 6, King signed with the Suns entering his rookie season.[11] Unlike the team's other rookies, King signed a two-way contract with them, thus splitting his playing time with the Phoenix Suns and their NBA G League affiliate team, the Northern Arizona Suns.[12] In his debut in the NBA G League on November 4, King recorded 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting, four rebounds, four assists and a block in a 118-108 loss to the Santa Cruz Warriors.[13] King made his NBA debut on December 11, 2018 in a 111-86 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, playing six minutes and grabbing a rebound with no points scored.[14] It was the only game King played that season, as he injured his ankle during his time with the Northern Arizona team.[15] In 41 NBA G League games, King averaged 15.5 points on 47.9% shooting and 43.3% three-point shooting alongside 5.3 rebounds per game.

For the 2019 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, King played in four games for the Utah Jazz.[16]

Aquila Basket Trento (2019–2020)

On July 21, 2019, King signed with Aquila Basket Trento of the Lega Basket Serie A.[17] In 16 games, he averaged 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.[18]

Stelmet Enea BC Zielona Góra (2020)

On January 17, 2020, King signed with Stelmet Enea BC Zielona Góra of the Polish Basketball League and VTB United League.[19] In six games, he averaged 8.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. After the season was cancelled in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, King returned to see his extended family in North Carolina.[18]

Niners Chemnitz (2020–present)

On July 22, 2020, King signed with the Niners Chemnitz of the Basketball Bundesliga.[20]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Phoenix 106.0–––1.0.0.0.0.0
Career 106.0–––1.0.0.0.0.0

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2013–14 Colorado 2705.5.282.200.6521.5.2.1.01.5
2015–16 Colorado 342725.4.446.456.7484.7.7.4.213.6
2016–17 Colorado 343127.7.460.376.6716.8.7.5.211.1
2017–18 Colorado 323128.5.445.395.7827.81.1.5.712.9
Career 1278922.6.444.401.7315.4.7.4.310.2

Honors and titles

Club
Zielona Góra

Personal life

Throughout his life, his parents were involved in the U.S. military. His father, George Sr., is an Army Veteran, while his mom, Tresse, is still active Air Force, promoted to the rank of chief master sergeant on November 11, 2016 during a blowout home win over Sacramento State.[21] He also has a sister named Jecia Anderson, who was born in 1991, that also helped out in Tresse's coronation. King graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in sociology.

References
  1. Fredrickson, Kyle (January 21, 2018). "What made CU Buffs senior George King a dominating force? "He can take a butt-chewing."". Denver Post. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  2. Howell, Brian (November 5, 2014). "CU basketball: Buffs' George King to redshirt this season". Daily Camera. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  3. Rooney, Pat (April 3, 2016). "CU men's basketball: George King looks to build on breakout year". Daily Camera. Archived from the original on June 16, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  4. Rothstein, Jon (May 16, 2017). "NEWSGeorge King will return to Colorado next season". Fanragsports.com. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  5. "King, Wright Earn Pac-12 Postseason Honors". Rivals.com. March 5, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  6. Rooney, Pat (March 8, 2018). "George King reflects on impressive CU basketball career". Buffzone.com. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  7. "West holds off East in Reese's College All-Star Game". ESPN.com. March 30, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  8. "King Named to PIT All-Tournament Team". 247Sports.com. April 16, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  9. Rooney, Pat (May 1, 2018). "Former CU basketball star George King receives invite to NBA combine". Buffzone.com. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  10. https://www.nba.com/suns/press-release/suns-announce-2018-summer-league-roster
  11. https://www.nba.com/suns/press-release/phoenix-suns-sign-ayton-bridges-okoboking
  12. https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/suns-george-king-signs-two-way-contract-with-suns/
  13. Withee, Jacob (November 4, 2018). "Suns Run Out of Time in 2018-19 Season Opener". NBA.com. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  14. Rooney, Pat (December 19, 2018). "NBA Buffs give CU basketball coach Tad Boyle great recruiting pitch". Longmont Times-Call. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  15. George King impressed with new Suns coach Monty Williams, eyes strong summer league
  16. https://basketball.realgm.com/player/George-King/Summary/56831
  17. Skerletic, Dario (July 21, 2019). "Former Suns George King signs with Dolomiti Energia Trentino". Sportando. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  18. Schmidt-Scheuber, Miles (October 22, 2020). "Hearing A Player Who Totally Excelled Wouldn't Make The Roster No Matter What He Did Showed George King (NINERS Chemnitz) The NBA Is Always A Business". Eurobasket. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  19. "George King leaves Trento, signs with Stelmet Enea BC Zielona Gora". Sportando. January 17, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  20. "Aufsteiger verpflichtet George King". Basketball.de (in German). July 22, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3-8EL0cgW0
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