Charles Bassey facts for kids
Bassey with the San Antonio Spurs in 2024
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| Free agent | |
|---|---|
| Center / power forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | October 28, 2000 Lagos, Nigeria |
| High school |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Western Kentucky (2018–2021) |
| NBA Draft | 2021 / Round: 2 / Pick: 53rd overall |
| Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers | |
| Pro career | 2021–present |
| Career history | |
| 2021–2022 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2021–2022 | →Delaware Blue Coats |
| 2022–2025 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2022–2023 | →Austin Spurs |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Charles A. Bassey (born October 28, 2000) is a basketball player from Nigeria. He last played for the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before joining the NBA, he played college basketball for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. The Philadelphia 76ers picked him in the 2021 NBA draft.
Contents
Early Life and Basketball Start
Charles Bassey was born in Lagos, Nigeria. When he was 12, he played soccer. At that age, he was already 6 feet 1 inch tall. A youth basketball coach found him selling fried chicken by the road. Charles was wearing flip-flops that were too small. He soon stopped playing soccer to focus on basketball. When he was 14, Charles was named the most valuable player (MVP) of the Giants of Africa basketball camp. This program was started by Toronto Raptors executive Masai Ujiri.
High School Basketball Journey
At 14, Charles Bassey was 6 feet 10 inches tall. He moved to the United States to play basketball at St. Anthony Catholic High School. This was a private school in San Antonio, Texas. Experts already thought he was one of the best young players.
Playing for St. Anthony
As a freshman, Charles scored about 20 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, and blocked almost 6 shots per game. He helped his team reach the championship game of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS). Charles also played in the Jordan Brand Classic International Game and was named MVP there.
Before his second year, Charles was not allowed to play by the TAPPS. St. Anthony tried to appeal this decision. He still played in his first game, and because of this, the head coach was fired. St. Anthony then left the TAPPS league. They joined the Texas Christian Athletic League, which allowed Charles to play again.
Moving to DeSales High School
For his junior year, Charles moved to DeSales High School in Louisville, Kentucky. He also played for Aspire Basketball Academy. He made this choice after his legal guardian, Hennssy Auriantal, left the St. Anthony program. As a junior, Charles averaged 19.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game.
College Career at Western Kentucky
Charles Bassey was a highly-rated player coming out of high school. He decided to play college basketball for Western Kentucky.
Freshman Year Success
On November 18, 2018, Charles had a great game with 25 points and 10 rebounds against UCF. On January 31, 2019, he scored 22 points and grabbed 18 rebounds. This was the most rebounds by a Western Kentucky freshman since 1972. As a freshman, Charles averaged 14.6 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game. He was named First Team All-Conference USA, Defensive Player of the Year, and Freshman of the Year. He set new records for freshmen at Western Kentucky in rebounds, blocks, and double-doubles.
Injuries and Final College Season
Charles's second year was cut short by a leg injury he got against Arkansas. He needed surgery for a tibial plateau fracture. Before his injury, he was averaging 15.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game in 10 games.
On November 26, 2020, Charles had 21 points, 14 rebounds, and a career-high seven blocks against Memphis. On December 10, he scored a career-high 29 points and had 14 rebounds against Gardner–Webb. After the 2020–21 season, he was named the Conference USA Player of the Year. He also won Defensive Player of the Year again. He averaged 17.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game. After this season, he decided to enter the 2021 NBA draft.
Professional Basketball Career
Philadelphia 76ers (2021–2022)
The Philadelphia 76ers picked Charles Bassey with the 53rd pick in the second round of the 2021 NBA draft. He then joined them for the 2021 NBA Summer League. On September 24, 2021, he officially signed with the 76ers. He was released by the 76ers on October 13, 2022.
San Antonio Spurs (2022–2025)
On October 24, 2022, the San Antonio Spurs signed Charles Bassey to a two-way contract. This meant he would play for both the Spurs and their NBA G League team, the Austin Spurs. He was chosen for the G League's first Next Up Game in the 2022–23 season.
On February 14, 2023, the Spurs changed Charles's contract to a four-year deal worth $10.2 million. On March 14, 2023, he hurt his left knee during a game. The next day, the Spurs announced he had a fracture in his left patellar tendon, which ended his season. In December 2023, Charles tore his left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which also ended his season early.
On July 8, 2024, the Spurs released Charles. However, they signed him again nine days later. In July 2025, Charles played for the Boston Celtics in the 2025 NBA Summer League.
Career Statistics
Here are Charles Bassey's basketball statistics:
NBA Regular Season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | Philadelphia | 23 | 0 | 7.3 | .638 | .000 | .750 | 2.7 | .3 | .2 | .7 | 3.0 |
| 2022–23 | San Antonio | 35 | 2 | 14.5 | .644 | .375 | .595 | 5.5 | 1.4 | .5 | .9 | 5.7 |
| 2023–24 | San Antonio | 19 | 0 | 10.8 | .725 | .000 | .833 | 4.0 | 1.1 | .4 | .9 | 3.3 |
| 2024–25 | San Antonio | 36 | 1 | 10.4 | .581 | – | .636 | 4.2 | .5 | .4 | .8 | 4.4 |
| Career | 113 | 3 | 11.1 | .631 | .231 | .648 | 4.3 | .8 | .4 | .9 | 4.3 | |
NBA Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Philadelphia | 3 | 0 | 4.0 | .500 | — | .000 | 1.7 | .3 | .0 | .3 | .7 |
| Career | 3 | 0 | 4.0 | .500 | — | .000 | 1.7 | .3 | .0 | .3 | .7 | |
College Statistics
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Western Kentucky | 34 | 34 | 31.4 | .627 | .450 | .769 | 10.0 | .7 | .8 | 2.4 | 14.6 |
| 2019–20 | Western Kentucky | 10 | 10 | 28.1 | .533 | .167 | .787 | 9.2 | 1.3 | .8 | 1.6 | 15.3 |
| 2020–21 | Western Kentucky | 28 | 28 | 30.4 | .590 | .305 | .759 | 11.6 | .7 | .4 | 3.1 | 17.6 |
| Career | 72 | 72 | 30.5 | .596 | .319 | .768 | 10.5 | .8 | .6 | 2.6 | 15.9 | |
Personal Life
Soon after Charles Bassey came to the United States at age 14, his mother passed away. He thought about moving back to Nigeria. However, his father, Akpan Ebong Bassey, encouraged him to stay for financial reasons.
Hennssy Auriantal, a basketball coach from Canada, helped Charles come to the United States. Hennssy runs an organization that helps international players attend American private schools. On March 31, 2017, Hennssy and his wife became Charles's legal guardians.
See also
In Spanish: Charles Bassey para niños
