Dalano Banton facts for kids
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Banton with the Toronto Raptors in 2021
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| Free agent | |
|---|---|
| Point guard / small forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | November 7, 1999 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| High school |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 203 lb (92 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 2021 / Round: 2 / Pick: 46th overall |
| Selected by the Toronto Raptors | |
| Pro career | 2021–present |
| Career history | |
| 2021–2023 | Toronto Raptors |
| 2021–2023 | →Raptors 905 |
| 2023–2024 | Boston Celtics |
| 2024 | →Maine Celtics |
| 2024–2025 | Portland Trail Blazers |
Dalano Banton, born on November 7, 1999, is a Canadian professional basketball player. People sometimes call him D.B. Hooper. He used to play for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before becoming a pro, he played college basketball for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
In the 2021 NBA draft, the Toronto Raptors picked Dalano Banton as the 46th player overall. This was a special moment because he became the first Canadian player ever drafted by the Raptors, which is Canada's own NBA team!
Contents
Early Life and High School Basketball
Dalano Banton's father is from Jamaica, and his mother is Canadian. He grew up in the Mount Olive area, which is part of the Rexdale neighborhood in Toronto. Dalano started playing basketball when he was a kid. He played at local community centers and even in a parking lot! He also went to basketball camps hosted by former Toronto Raptor star DeMar DeRozan.
Dalano was originally supposed to finish high school in 2019. However, he decided to finish a year earlier, in 2018. He played for Redemption Christian Academy in Massachusetts and MacDuffie School, also in Massachusetts. By the end of his high school career, Dalano was considered a top player. Many experts ranked him among the best 100 recruits in the country for 2018.
In November 2017, Dalano decided to play college basketball for Western Kentucky. He chose them over other big schools like Kansas State and Minnesota.
College Basketball Journey
Playing for Western Kentucky
As a first-year student, Dalano played 31 games for Western Kentucky. He averaged about 3.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. He started 12 games and had a fantastic game against No. 15 Wisconsin. In that game, he almost achieved a triple-double (getting double-digit numbers in three different stats). He had eight points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Dalano was one of only six players in Division I basketball that season to have such an impressive game. He scored 10 or more points three times that season. In April 2019, Dalano decided to transfer from Western Kentucky.
Moving to Nebraska
In May 2019, Dalano announced he would play for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He had to sit out the 2019–20 season because of transfer rules. During this time, he practiced with the team and improved his skills. He even traveled with the Huskers to Italy in August 2019, where he played well in their games.
On December 17, 2020, Dalano made history for Nebraska men's basketball. He recorded only the second triple-double ever for the team! He scored 13 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and made 10 assists in a big win against Doane University. For the season, he averaged 9.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. After this great season, he decided to enter the 2021 NBA draft.
Professional Basketball Career
Time with the Toronto Raptors (2021–2023)
As mentioned, the Toronto Raptors drafted Dalano Banton in 2021. He signed a multi-year contract with them in August. Dalano chose to wear jersey number 45 to honor the TTC 45 Kipling bus. This bus route served the neighborhood where he grew up in Toronto.
He played his first professional NBA game on October 20, 2021, against the Washington Wizards. He scored his first NBA points with a buzzer-beating three-point field goal at the end of the third quarter. On November 13, 2021, Dalano scored a season-high 12 points against the Detroit Pistons.
On November 24, 2022, Dalano had an amazing game against the Detroit Pistons. He scored a career-high 27 points! He also added four rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks in their 115–111 win.
Playing for the Boston Celtics (2023–2024)
On July 3, 2023, Dalano Banton signed a two-year contract with the Boston Celtics. He played for them for part of the 2023-2024 season.
Joining the Portland Trail Blazers (2024–2025)
On February 8, 2024, Dalano was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. He was traded along with some cash in exchange for a future draft pick. On March 27, 2024, Dalano set a new career-high by scoring 31 points against the Atlanta Hawks. He also had 5 rebounds and 9 assists in that game.
In the Trail Blazers' final game of the 2023-2024 season on April 14, 2024, Dalano attempted 15 three-point shots but didn't make any. This made him the first player in NBA history to attempt so many three-pointers without making one.
On November 4, 2024, Dalano scored 20 points in less than 12 minutes in a win against the New Orleans Pelicans. This was the first time a player for the Trail Blazers had achieved this feat. It was also only the seventh time any player in the NBA had done so.
Career Statistics
Dalano Banton has played in the NBA for several seasons. Here's a quick look at his performance:
- NBA Regular Season: He has played over 200 games. His best scoring average was 16.7 points per game during his time with the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2023-2024 season. He also averaged 4.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists in that period.
- NBA Playoffs: He played 4 playoff games in 2022 with the Toronto Raptors, averaging 1.8 points per game.
- College: In his college career, he played 58 games. He averaged 6.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. His best college season was with Nebraska in 2020-2021, where he averaged 9.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists.
See also
In Spanish: Dalano Banton para niños
