Gary Clark (basketball) facts for kids
Clark with the Mexico City Capitanes in 2021
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| No. 8 – Yokohama B-Corsairs | ||||||||||||||
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| Power forward | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
| Born | November 16, 1994 Smithfield, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| High school | Clayton (Clayton, North Carolina) | |||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | |||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) | |||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||
| College | Cincinnati (2014–2018) | |||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 2018 / Undrafted | |||||||||||||
| Pro career | 2018–present | |||||||||||||
| League | B.League | |||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||
| 2018–2020 | Houston Rockets | |||||||||||||
| 2019 | →Rio Grande Valley Vipers | |||||||||||||
| 2020–2021 | Orlando Magic | |||||||||||||
| 2021 | Denver Nuggets | |||||||||||||
| 2021 | Philadelphia 76ers | |||||||||||||
| 2021 | Mexico City Capitanes | |||||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | New Orleans Pelicans | |||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Mexico City Capitanes | |||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Illawarra Hawks | |||||||||||||
| 2024–present | Yokohama B-Corsairs | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Gary Clark Jr. (born November 16, 1994) is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Yokohama B-Corsairs in Japan's B.League. Gary is known for his strong defense and rebounding skills as a power forward.
He played college basketball for the Cincinnati Bearcats. During his time there, he was named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year in the 2017–18 season. After college, Gary made his NBA debut in 2018. He played for several NBA teams, including the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers, and New Orleans Pelicans.
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Early Life and High School Basketball
Gary Clark Jr. was born in Smithfield, North Carolina. He grew up loving basketball and played for Clayton High School in Clayton, North Carolina.
During his high school career, Gary became a legend at Clayton High. He set school records for the most points, rebounds, and blocked shots ever! He also achieved a very rare feat: he was the only high school player in North Carolina to record a "quadruple-double." This means he reached double-digit numbers in four different stats in one game (like points, rebounds, assists, and blocks).
After high school, many colleges wanted Gary to play for them. He was ranked as one of the top basketball prospects in the country. On September 18, 2013, he decided to commit to the University of Cincinnati.
College Basketball Career
Gary Clark made a big impact right away when he joined the Cincinnati Bearcats. He started playing in the team's very first game of the season, which is rare for a freshman. He was even named to the league's All-Rookie team. In his first year, he averaged about 7.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
In his second year, Gary became one of the best defensive players in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). He averaged 10.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. Because of his great play, he was named to the All-AAC Second Team and won the conference's Defensive Player of the Year award.
By his senior year, Gary was a star. He was named the AAC Player of the Year and won the Defensive Player of the Year award again! He averaged 12.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Gary led Cincinnati to win the AAC regular season title. He was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the AAC tournament, where he helped his team win the championship game with a game-winning free throw.
Professional Basketball Journey
Starting in the NBA
After college, Gary Clark was not chosen in the 2018 NBA draft. However, the Houston Rockets saw his talent and signed him to a contract on July 5, 2018. He played in 51 games for the Rockets in his first season. He also spent some time playing for their minor league team, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, in the NBA G League. With the Vipers, he even won an NBA G League championship in 2019!
Moving to Other NBA Teams
Gary continued his NBA journey, playing for several teams. In January 2020, he joined the Orlando Magic. He played for the Magic for over a year before being traded to the Denver Nuggets in March 2021. After a short time with the Nuggets, he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in May 2021.
Playing in the G League and NBA Again
In November 2021, Gary joined the Mexico City Capitanes in the NBA G League. He played very well there, averaging 14.4 points and 6.9 rebounds. His strong performance led to him signing with the New Orleans Pelicans in December 2021, becoming the first player from the Capitanes to join an NBA team! He later returned to play for the Mexico City Capitanes again in November 2022.
Playing Overseas
Gary then decided to play basketball in other countries. In June 2023, he signed with the Illawarra Hawks in Australia for their 2023–24 season. He continued to show his skills, earning a spot on the All-NBL First Team in 2024.
Currently, Gary plays for the Yokohama B-Corsairs in Japan's B.League, where he signed in August 2024.
Images for kids
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Clark with the Mexico City Capitanes in 2021
See also
In Spanish: Gary Clark (baloncestista) para niños
