Daishen Nix (/ˈdeɪʃən ˈnɪks/ DAY-shən NIKS;[1] born February 13, 2002) is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Iowa Wolves of the NBA G League. Listed at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and 226 pounds (103 kg), he plays the point guard position. He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the best point guards in the 2020 class. A former UCLA signee, Nix bypassed playing college basketball and joined the NBA G League Ignite. At the high school level, he competed for Trinity International School in Las Vegas, Nevada.
![]() Nix with the Rockets in 2023 | |
No. 12 – Minnesota Timberwolves | |
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Position | Point guard |
League | NBA |
Personal information | |
Born | Fairbanks, Alaska, U.S. | February 13, 2002
Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
Listed weight | 226 lb (103 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Trinity International (Las Vegas, Nevada) |
NBA draft | 2021: undrafted |
Playing career | 2020–present |
Career history | |
2020–2021 | NBA G League Ignite |
2021–2023 | Houston Rockets |
2021–2022 | →Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
2023–present | Minnesota Timberwolves |
2023–present | →Iowa Wolves |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Early life and high school career
editNix was born in Fairbanks, Alaska and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. He played basketball for Mears Middle School in Anchorage. After eighth grade, at age 13, Nix moved to Las Vegas, upon his mother's advice, to gain more basketball exposure and to live closer to his extended family.[2][3]
In high school, Nix played for Trinity International School in Las Vegas.[4] As a junior, Nix averaged 19.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game, leading his team to its second straight National Christian School Athletic Association (NCSAA) Division I title.[2][5] He finished his junior season as NCSAA Player of the Year and as his team's all-time leader in points, rebounds and assists.[6] On October 15, 2019, as a senior, Nix registered a triple-double of 45 points, 11 assists and 10 steals in a win over PHH Prep.[7] In March 2020, he shared Grind Session most valuable player honors with Jalen Green.[8] Nix was selected to play in the McDonald's All-American Game, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] In addition to his high school basketball, Nix competed for independent team Simply Fundamental, which was owned and operated by his high school coach and legal guardian, Greg Lockridge.[10]
Recruiting
editOn August 20, 2019, Nix committed to playing college basketball for UCLA over offers from Alabama, Kansas, Kentucky and Maryland.[11] On November 13, 2019, he signed a National Letter of Intent with the Bruins.[12] On April 28, 2020, Nix decommitted from UCLA and announced that he would forgo his college eligibility to join the NBA G League Ignite.[13]
Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
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Daishen Nix PG |
Anchorage, AK | Trinity International (NV) | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Aug 20, 2019 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 94 | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: 15 247Sports: 15 ESPN: 21 | ||||||
Sources:
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Professional career
editNBA G League Ignite (2021)
editOn April 28, 2020, Nix signed a one-year, $300,000 contract with the NBA G League Ignite, a developmental team affiliated with the NBA G League.[14] He explained his decision by saying, "I think it was the right thing for me because it was a family thing and a myself thing. Playing in G League is basically getting me ready for the NBA draft. It's just one step below the NBA."[13] Nix averaged 8.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game.[15]
Houston Rockets (2021–2023)
editAfter going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, Nix joined the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2021 NBA Summer League.[16] On August 25, 2021, he signed with the Houston Rockets[17] and on October 16, they turned his deal into a two-way contract. Under the terms of the deal, he split time between the Rockets and their NBA G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.[18]
On February 15, 2022, the Rockets converted Nix's contract into a standard deal.[19]
On June 29, 2023, Nix was waived by the Rockets.[20]
Minnesota Timberwolves (2023–present)
editOn September 28, 2023, Nix signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves[21] and on October 20, his deal was converted into a two-way contract.[22]
On July 11, 2024, Nix signed another two-way contract with the Timberwolves.[23]
Career statistics
editGP | 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 | Kühn | Career high |
NBA
editYear | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021–22 | Houston | 24 | 0 | 10.9 | .403 | .269 | .533 | 1.4 | 1.7 | .6 | .0 | 3.2 |
2022–23 | Houston | 57 | 7 | 16.0 | .342 | .286 | .667 | 1.7 | 2.3 | .5 | .1 | 4.0 |
2023–24 | Minnesota | 15 | 0 | 3.3 | .375 | .353 | .500 | .2 | .4 | .3 | .0 | 1.8 |
Career | 96 | 7 | 12.8 | .357 | .290 | .597 | 1.4 | 1.9 | .5 | .1 | 3.4 |
Personal life
editNix's mother, Mina Tupuola, played basketball for Lathrop High School in Fairbanks, Alaska and attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks.[24]
References
edit- ^ "2023-24 start of season NBA pronunciation guide". NBA.com (Press release). October 24, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
- ^ a b Bragg, Beth (December 18, 2019). "Daishen Nix, Alaska's hottest high school basketball player, will finally play in Alaska". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ Carreon, Joey (April 21, 2019). "Daishen Nix is on course to be the next Alaska-bred basketball phenom". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- ^ Gordon, Sam (July 24, 2018). "Las Vegas point guard Daishen Nix ready to blossom". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ Pierson, Tracy (November 13, 2019). "No. 1 Point Guard Daishen Nix Signs With UCLA". 247Sports. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ Orts, Jason (February 24, 2020). "Trinity's Nix receives McDonald's All-American jersey". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ Scott, Dana (October 15, 2019). "Top high school, JUCO basketball players make their mark at Phoenix's Prep Showcase in the Desert". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ Gordon, Sam (April 28, 2020). "Five-star guard Daishen Nix to sign with NBA's G League". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ Jordan, Jason (March 12, 2019). "McDonald's All American Game Cancelled Amid COVID-19 Concerns". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ Norlander, Matt (April 28, 2020). "Five-star 2020 recruit Daishen Nix backs out of playing at UCLA, will head to NBA's G League instead". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ Borzello, Jeff (August 20, 2019). "Five-star point guard Nix commits to UCLA". ESPN. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- ^ "UCLA Signs Daishen Nix to National Letter of Intent". UCLA Athletics. November 13, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ a b Borzello, Jeff (April 28, 2020). "Five-star PG Daishen Nix decommits from UCLA to join G League". ESPN. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ Zagoria, Adam (April 28, 2020). "Former UCLA Commit Daishen Nix Latest To Sign With NBA G League". Forbes. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- ^ "Daishen Nix". NBA.com. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
- ^ Gordon, Sam (July 30, 2021). "Daishen Nix to play Summer League with Philadelphia 76ers". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
- ^ Patin, Trevor (August 25, 2021). "Rockets Sign Tyler Bey and Daishen Nix". NBA.com. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ Gatlin, Jackson [@JTGatlin] (October 16, 2021). "The Rockets announced signing Daishen Nix to a two-way contract. They've also waived Marcus Foster" (Tweet). Retrieved October 22, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ Huq, Rahat (February 20, 2022). "Daishen Nix Contract Conversion Adds To Houston Rockets' Young Core". Forbes.com. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
- ^ "Daishen Nix: Let go by Houston". CBSSports.com. June 29, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
- ^ Stanton, Matt (September 28, 2023). "Timberwolves Announce Training Camp Roster and Information". NBA.com. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- ^ "Timberwolves Convert Daishen Nix to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. October 20, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ "Timberwolves Sign Daishen Nix to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. July 11, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
- ^ Bragg, Beth (January 26, 2020). "He's on the path to big-time college basketball, but Daishen Nix and Anchorage haven't forgotten each other". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved April 28, 2020.