The New York Knicks have officially signed guard Duane Washington Jr. to a contract.
Washington Jr., a 23-year-old player standing at 6-3 and weighing 197 pounds, had an impressive performance last season with the Phoenix Suns. In 31 games, including three starts, he averaged 7.9 points, 2.0 assists, and 1.2 rebounds in just 12.7 minutes on the court. His standout moments include four games where he scored over 20 points, with a career-high of 26 points and seven assists in a victory against Memphis on December 27.
Hailing from Frankfurt, Germany, Washington Jr. began his professional career in Indiana. During the 2021-22 season, he played 48 games for the Pacers, starting in seven of them. He showcased his skills by averaging 9.9 points and shooting 37.7% from beyond the arc. Among NBA rookies, he ranked 12th in points per game, third in three-point percentage, and ninth in total three-pointers made, with 81. Washington Jr. even set a Pacers rookie record by sinking seven three-pointers in a single game against New Orleans on January 24. He also had the opportunity to appear in 11 games, all starts, for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA G League. There, he performed exceptionally well with averages of 19.5 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.4 rebounds in 32.5 minutes per game.
Prior to his professional career, Washington Jr. had a successful college stint at Ohio State University. In his final season, he received All-Big Ten honors for his outstanding contributions to the team. He led Ohio State with an average of 16.4 points, while also adding 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game in 31 appearances, all as a starter.
Image Source: Duane Washington Jr. @ Instagram
