Wesley Matthews

Wesley Joel Matthews Jr.[1] (born October 14, 1986) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Marquette Golden Eagles. He is the son of former NBA player Wes Matthews.[2]

This article is about the current basketball player. For his father and former player, see Wes Matthews.

Wesley Matthews
Matthews with the Dallas Mavericks in 2017
No. 9 – Los Angeles Lakers
PositionShooting guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1986-10-14) October 14, 1986
San Antonio, Texas
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High schoolJames Madison Memorial
(Madison, Wisconsin)
CollegeMarquette (2005–2009)
NBA draft2009 / Undrafted
Playing career2009–present
Career history
2009–2010Utah Jazz
2010–2015Portland Trail Blazers
2015–2019Dallas Mavericks
2019New York Knicks
2019Indiana Pacers
2019–2020Milwaukee Bucks
2020–presentLos Angeles Lakers
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Early life

Matthews was born in San Antonio, Texas to Wesley Sr., a former NBA point guard and two-time NBA champion with the 1987 and 1988 Los Angeles Lakers, and Pam Moore, an All-American runner and basketball player. Matthews starred on the James Madison Memorial High School basketball and soccer teams.[2] He was named Wisconsin Mr. Basketball in 2005.[3]

College career

Matthews chose to attend Marquette University despite being pressured to play for the University of Wisconsin–Madison like his father.

Wesley was the biggest of the "three amigos", the three guards in the starting lineup for Marquette. This trio, Dominic James, Jerel McNeal, and Matthews, started nearly every game together from their first year onwards. With the lack of height in the 2008–09 season at Marquette, Matthews learned to play against bigger opponents and became one of the most dominant players in the nation driving to the basket. He grabbed 13 rebounds in a Marquette 48-point win over Division II opponent Lewis Flyers on December 28, 2005.[4]

In a game against the Tennessee Volunteers on December 16, 2008, Matthews scored a career-high[5] 30 points, making 15 of 18 free throws.[6] On January 7, 2009, he set a school record for field goal accuracy (minimum 10 attempts) when he went 10-for-10 en route to 23 points in an 81–76 win over Rutgers.[7]

Professional career

Utah Jazz (2009–2010)

After going undrafted in the 2009 NBA draft, Matthews joined the Utah Jazz for the Orlando Summer League and the Sacramento Kings for the Las Vegas Summer League. In September 2009, he signed a one-year deal with the Jazz. In February 2010, after the team's trade of Ronnie Brewer, head coach Jerry Sloan made Matthews the team's starting shooting guard.

On June 29, 2010, the Jazz extended Matthews the league-specified qualifying offer, thereby making him a restricted free agent and giving the Jazz the opportunity to match any other free agent offer.[8]

Portland Trail Blazers (2010–2015)

On July 10, 2010, the Trail Blazers signed Matthews to a five-year, $34 million offer sheet.[9] On July 21, 2010, following the Jazz's decision not to match the Trail Blazers' offer sheet, Matthews officially signed the five-year, $34 million contract.[10]

In his first season with Portland, Matthews averaged 15.9 points per game, and his three-point shot improved from 38 percent to 41 percent. After Brandon Roy began missing time due to knee problems, Matthews gained a spot in the Blazers' starting lineup.

The durable Matthews played in 250 consecutive NBA games before being forced to sit out of a game on December 10, 2012, due to an injury to his left hip.[11] Matthews' ability and willingness to play through minor injuries and pain earned him the nickname "Iron Man", an appellation used by Trail Blazers fans, television and radio commentators, and arena public address announcers alike.[12]

On November 23, 2013, in a game against the Golden State Warriors, Matthews was involved in an altercation and was ejected along with teammate, Mo Williams. He scored 23 points in 25 minutes of action before leaving the game. On November 25 it was announced that he was fined $20,000.[13]

On January 17, 2015, Matthews became the Trail Blazers all-time career leader in three-point field goals made, surpassing Terry Porter's franchise record of 773.[14] On March 5, 2015, in a game against the Dallas Mavericks, Matthews tore his left achilles tendon and was subsequently ruled out for the rest of the season.[15]

Dallas Mavericks (2015–2019)

On July 9, 2015, Matthews signed a four-year, $70 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks.[16] On December 6, 2015, he scored 28 of his season-high 36 points in the second half of the Mavericks' 116–104 win over the Washington Wizards. He hit 10 three-pointers in the game, with eight of them coming in the second half.[17]

On November 30, 2016, Matthews scored a season-high 26 points in a 94–87 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.[18] He tied that mark three times in early December.[19] Matthews set a new season high on February 3, 2017, scoring 27 points in a 108–104 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.[20]

On November 18, 2017, Matthews scored a season-high 22 points in a 111–79 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.[21] On December 8, 2017, he set a new season high with 29 points in a 109–102 loss to Milwaukee.[22] On January 24, 2018, he matched a pair of season highs with 29 points and seven 3-pointers in a 104–97 loss to the Houston Rockets.[23] On February 13, 2018, in a 114–109 loss to Sacramento Kings, Matthews became the seventh Dallas player to hit 500 3-pointers with the team.[24] On April 30, 2018, Matthews exercised his player option for the 2018–19 season.[25]

In January 2019, Matthews became the sixth player in Mavericks history to make 600 3-pointers,[26] and the first undrafted player in NBA history (and 31st overall) to make 1,500 3-pointers.[27]

New York Knicks (2019)

On January 31, 2019, Matthews was traded to the New York Knicks in a multiplayer trade.[28] On February 7, Matthews was waived by the Knicks after appearing in just two games for the team.[29]

Indiana Pacers (2019)

On February 10, 2019, Matthews signed with the Indiana Pacers.[30] On February 22, Matthews made 6 three-pointers and finished with 24 points, to lead the Pacers in a comeback win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Milwaukee Bucks (2019–2020)

On July 12, 2019, Matthews signed with the Milwaukee Bucks.[31]

Los Angeles Lakers (2020–present)

On November 22, 2020, Matthews signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.[32]

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
2009–10 Utah 824824.7.483.382.8292.31.5.8.29.4
2010–11 Portland 826933.6.449.407.8443.12.01.2.115.9
2011–12 Portland 665333.8.412.383.8603.41.71.5.213.7
2012–13 Portland 696934.8.436.398.7972.82.51.3.314.8
2013–14 Portland 828234.0.441.393.8373.52.41.3.316.4
2014–15 Portland 606033.7.448.389.7523.72.31.3.215.9
2015–16 Dallas 787833.9.388.360.8633.11.91.0.212.5
2016–17 Dallas 737334.2.393.363.8163.52.91.1.213.5
2017–18 Dallas 636233.8.406.381.8223.12.71.2.312.7
2018–19 Dallas 444429.8.414.380.7912.32.3.8.313.1
2018–19 New York 2127.0.211.200.8001.52.5.5.57.0
2018–19 Indiana 232331.5.386.369.8542.82.4.9.210.9
2019–20 Milwaukee 676724.4.396.364.7652.51.4.6.17.4
Career 79172931.9.423.381.8243.02.11.0.213.1

Playoffs
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2010 Utah 101037.1.386.357.8134.41.71.8.513.2
2011 Portland 6633.7.474.381.8421.21.0.7.213.0
2014 Portland 111138.7.412.324.8133.81.31.3.514.5
2016 Dallas 5534.6.333.286.7893.61.21.2.013.0
2019 Indiana 4429.8.300.3331.0002.52.0.8.37.0
2020 Milwaukee 101024.6.421.395.7001.8.9.9.47.2
Career 464633.4.397.343.8093.01.31.3.311.6

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2005–06 Marquette 231324.9.399.438.7884.02.21.3.29.0
2006–07 Marquette 343431.2.438.288.7705.32.21.4.112.6
2007–08 Marquette 353528.9.434.313.7904.41.71.0.311.3
2008–09 Marquette 353534.0.475.368.8295.72.51.2.518.3
Career 12711730.2.444.341.7994.92.11.2.313.2

See also

References
  1. EDES, GORDON (November 20, 1986). "Wes Matthews Mixes in Well as Lakers Win". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  2. BORN TO PLAY ...
  3. Punzel, Dennis (October 8, 2016). "Matthews feeling at home in Madison". Racine Journal Times. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  4. Marquette 88, Lewis 40
  5. Chism's big second half lifts Tennessee
  6. Chism's 21 second-half points lead Tennessee past Marquette
  7. Matthews hits all of his shots as Marquette stops Rutgers
  8. "Jazz make qualifying offers to pair". ESPN. June 29, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  9. "Trail Blazers sign free agent guard Wesley Matthews to 5-year, $34 million offer sheet". The Oregonian. July 10, 2010. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  10. "Matthews signs with Trail Blazers". ESPN. July 21, 2010. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
  11. Joe Freeman, "Wesley Matthews' Iron Man Streak Will End Tonight When Blazers Host Toronto", The Oregonian, December 10, 2012.
  12. Dane Carbaugh, "Most Known Unknown: Wesley Matthews and the Portland Trail Blazers", The Sporting News, October 30, 2014.
  13. "Mo Williams Suspended, LaMarcus Aldridge & Wesley Matthews Fined After Scrum Between Blazers & Warriors". BlazersEdge.com. SB Nation. November 25, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  14. "Wesley Matthews passes Terry Porter for most 3-pointers made in Trail Blazers history". Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  15. Wojnarowski, Adrian (March 5, 2015). "Wesley Matthews to miss rest of season with torn Achilles tendon". Yahoo!. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  16. "Source: Matthews' deal with Mavs grows to $70M". ESPN.com. July 9, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  17. "Matthews scores 36 points, Mavericks beat Wizards 116–104". National Basketball Association. December 6, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  18. "Mills helps Spurs rally to beat Mavericks 94–87". ESPN. November 30, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  19. "Wesley Matthews 2016–17 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  20. "Ferrell leads Mavericks to 108–104 win over Trail Blazers". ESPN. February 3, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  21. "Mavericks stop 4-game slide with win against Bucks". ESPN. November 18, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  22. "Middleton's clutch shooting lifts Bucks over Mavs 109–102". ESPN. December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  23. "Harden, Rockets make it 6 straight over Mavs with 104–97 win". ESPN. January 24, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  24. "Randolph keys big first half as Kings top Mavericks 114–109". ESPN. February 13, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  25. "Mavericks' Wesley Matthews: Exercises player option". cbssports.com. CBS Sports. April 30, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  26. "Spurs rally from 19 down, beat Mavs 105–101". ESPN. January 16, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2019. Matthews became the sixth player in Mavericks history to make 600 3-pointers when he drained one at 9:06 of the first quarter.
  27. "Leonard scores 33 as Raptors beat Doncic, Mavericks 123–120". ESPN. January 27, 2019. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  28. "Knicks Acquire Dennis Smith Jr., Deandre Jordan, Wesley Matthews, and Two Future First round Picks". National Basketball Association. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  29. "Knicks waive Wesley Matthews, Enes Kanter". National Basketball Association. February 7, 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  30. "Pacers Sign Wesley Matthews". National Basketball Association. February 10, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  31. "Bucks Sign Robin Lopez and Wes Matthews". NBA.com. July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  32. "Lakers Sign Wesley Matthews". NBA.com. November 22, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
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