Josh Christopher facts for kids
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Christopher with the Houston Rockets in 2021
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| Free agent | |
|---|---|
| Shooting guard | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | December 8, 2001 Carson, California, U.S. |
| High school | Mayfair (Lakewood, California) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Arizona State (2020–2021) |
| NBA Draft | 2021 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24th overall |
| Selected by the Houston Rockets | |
| Pro career | 2021–present |
| Career history | |
| 2021–2023 | Houston Rockets |
| 2021–2022 | →Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| 2023–2024 | Salt Lake City Stars |
| 2024 | Sioux Falls Skyforce |
| 2024–2025 | Miami Heat |
| 2024–2025 | →Sioux Falls Skyforce |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Joshua Evan Christopher (born December 8, 2001) is an American professional basketball player. He last played for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also played for the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the NBA G League as part of a special "two-way contract." Before becoming a pro, he played college basketball for the Arizona State Sun Devils. Josh is a 6-foot-4-inch (1.93 m) tall and 215-pound (98 kg) shooting guard.
Contents
Early Life and High School Basketball
Josh Christopher grew up playing basketball with his older brother, Caleb. They played together in elementary and middle school. They also played for Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California. Josh often played against older and more experienced players when he was a kid.
As a sophomore at Mayfair High, Josh was amazing on the court. He scored about 26 points, grabbed 6.5 rebounds, and made 4 steals per game. He helped his team achieve a great record of 21 wins and 8 losses. In his junior year, he continued to score around 25 points per game. He even led his team to win the Division 2AA championship.
During his senior year, another highly-rated player, Dior Johnson, joined his team. Josh averaged 29.2 points, 8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3.1 steals per game. He led his team to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 1. Josh was chosen to play in big games like the McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic. However, these games were canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Josh was considered one of the top basketball recruits for college. Many experts rated him as a "five-star recruit." This means he was one of the best players in his age group. On April 13, 2020, he decided to play college basketball for Arizona State. He chose them over other big schools like Michigan and USC. His brother, Caleb, had also played there for a year. Josh became Arizona State's highest-ranked recruit in a long time. He was the first five-star recruit for the program since James Harden in 2007.
College Career at Arizona State
On November 26, 2020, Josh had an amazing game for Arizona State. He scored a career-high 28 points against Villanova. Even though he played well, his team lost the game.
As a freshman, Josh played in 15 games. He had to miss some games because of an injury. On average, he scored 14.3 points, grabbed 4.7 rebounds, and made 1.4 assists per game. After his freshman year, on March 31, 2021, Josh decided to enter the 2021 NBA draft. This meant he was ready to become a professional basketball player.
Professional Basketball Journey
Starting with the Houston Rockets (2021–2023)
The Houston Rockets picked Josh Christopher as the 24th player in the 2021 NBA draft. On August 7, 2021, he officially signed his contract with the Rockets. He played his first NBA game on October 20, scoring five points in eight minutes.
Sometimes, the Rockets sent Josh to play for their G League team, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The G League is like a development league for the NBA. He played well with the Vipers, averaging 20 points in three games. Because of his good performance, the Rockets called him back to play for them.
On December 8, Josh scored 18 points against the Brooklyn Nets. He made all seven of his shots, including four three-pointers! On February 4, 2022, he had 23 points, four assists, and five rebounds against the San Antonio Spurs. Later, on March 23, he scored 21 points in an exciting overtime win against the Los Angeles Lakers. In April, he scored 30 points in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He shot very well, making 11 out of 14 shots.
During the 2022–2023 season, Josh played less for the Rockets. His playing time and statistics went down. This was because the team started using another player, Daishen Nix, more often. On July 8, 2023, Josh was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of a big five-team deal. However, the Grizzlies decided to let him go on September 30, 2023.
Playing for the Salt Lake City Stars (2023–2024)
On October 13, 2023, Josh signed a "two-way contract" with the Utah Jazz. This type of contract allows a player to play for both an NBA team and its G League team. However, the Jazz decided to waive him on January 9, 2024, meaning he didn't play any games for their main team. But he did play in 22 games for their G League team, the Salt Lake City Stars.
With the Miami Heat and Sioux Falls Skyforce (2024–2025)
On January 14, 2024, Josh joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce, another G League team. Then, on July 25, 2024, he signed a two-way contract with the Miami Heat. This means he was part of the Heat's organization and could play for both them and the Skyforce during the 2024-2025 season.
Career Statistics
NBA
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | Houston | 74 | 2 | 18.0 | .448 | .296 | .735 | 2.5 | 2.0 | .8 | .2 | 7.9 |
| 2022–23 | Houston | 64 | 2 | 12.3 | .465 | .236 | .750 | 1.1 | 1.0 | .5 | .2 | 5.8 |
| 2024–25 | Miami | 14 | 0 | 4.9 | .355 | .183 | .667 | .6 | .6 | .4 | .2 | 2.0 |
| Career | 152 | 4 | 14.4 | .451 | .273 | .737 | 1.8 | 1.5 | .7 | .2 | 6.5 | |
College
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | Arizona State | 15 | 15 | 29.7 | .432 | .305 | .800 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 1.5 | .5 | 14.3 |
Personal Life and Family
Josh is the youngest of four children. All of his siblings have played basketball. His brother, Patrick, played professionally and even had a short time with the Utah Jazz in the NBA. Patrick's godbrother is also a former NBA player, Tayshaun Prince.
Josh's sister, Paris, played college basketball for Saint Mary's. However, she had a serious injury as a freshman that ended her playing career. His other brother, Caleb, played for both Arizona State University and Tennessee Tech.
Josh's father, Laron, is a musician. His parents are very religious Christians. Josh is often known by his nickname, "'Jaygup." This nickname was given to him when he was a child.
See also
In Spanish: Josh Christopher para niños
