Ray Spalding
 Spalding being defended by Virginia Tech | |
| No. 26 – Dallas Mavericks | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born |
March 11, 1997 Louisville, Kentucky |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Trinity (Louisville, Kentucky) |
| College | Louisville (2015–2018) |
| NBA draft | 2018 / Round: 2 / Pick: 56th overall |
| Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers | |
| Playing career | 2018–present |
| Career history | |
| 2018–present | Dallas Mavericks |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
Raymond Spalding (born March 11, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Louisville.
High school career
Spalding is the son of Raymond Brooks and Gerri and grew up playing soccer, kickball, and basketball.[1] He attended Trinity High School in Louisville, Kentucky, where he was coached by Mike Szabo.[2] Spalding began to receive college looks after scoring 34 points in an AAU tournament the summer before his senior year of high school. He committed to Louisville because he wanted to become a household name in his hometown.[1]
College career
Coming into Louisville, former head coach Rick Pitino raved about Spalding, claiming he has the most potential of any player he has coached.[3] Spalding came off the bench his first two years at Louisville. He averaged 5.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore.[4] After the season, Spalding noticed the work teammate Donovan Mitchell put in to become an NBA player and resolved to do the same. He pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds to go with 21 points in a win versus Grand Canyon in December 2017.[1] Spalding had a career-high 23 points to go with 12 rebounds in a 82–78 double overtime win over Notre Dame on January 16, 2018.[5] He moved into the starting lineup as a junior, averaging 12.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.5 steals per game. Spalding led the team to a 22–14 season and the quarterfinals of the NIT.[6] He was an Honorable Mention All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection. After the season, Spalding entered the 2018 NBA draft and hired an agent, thus forgoing his final season at Louisville.[2]
Professional career
On June 21, 2018, Spalding was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 56th pick in the 2018 NBA draft. He was subsequently traded to the Dallas Mavericks alongside the last pick of the draft, Kostas Antetokounmpo for the rights to the 54th pick, Shake Milton.[7] He signed his rookie contract on July 20, 2018.[8]
References
- 1 2 3 Greer, Jeff (December 27, 2017). "Louisville basketball's Ray Spalding is chasing his dream of being a household name in his hometown". Louisville Courier-Journal. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
- 1 2 Greer, Jeff (April 3, 2018). "Ray Spalding announces he'll leave Louisville, stay in the NBA draft pool". Louisville Courier Journal. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
- ↑ "Rick Pitino: Ray Spalding loaded with potential". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
- ↑ "No. 2 Midwest seed Louisville draws familiar foe in first round". Lexington Herald-Leader. March 12, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
- ↑ "Spalding scores 23, Louisville beats Notre Dame 82–78 in 2OT". ESPN. Associated Press. January 16, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
- ↑ Johnson, Raphielle (April 3, 2018). "Louisville forward Ray Spalding to enter 2018 NBA Draft". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
- ↑ "Mavericks acquire draft rights to Ray Spalding and Kostas Antetokounmpo". Mavs.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. June 21, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
- ↑ "Mavericks sign forward Ray Spalding". Mavs.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.