Josh Christopher facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Josh Christopher

Christopher with the Houston Rockets in 2021
No. 8 – Miami Heat
Shooting guard
Personal information
Born	(2001-12-08) December 8, 2001 (age 23) 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
League	NBA
Career history
2021–2023	Houston Rockets
2021–2022	→Rio Grande Valley Vipers
2023–2024	Salt Lake City Stars
2024	Sioux Falls Skyforce
2024–present	Miami Heat
2024–present	→Sioux Falls Skyforce
Career highlights and awards
NBA G League champion (2022) McDonald's All-American (2020)

Josh Christopher, born on December 8, 2001, is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also plays 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. He is a shooting guard who stands 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 215 pounds.

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 during Josh's first two years at Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California. He often played against older and more experienced players, which helped him improve his skills.

High School Achievements

As a sophomore at Mayfair High, Josh was amazing. He averaged almost 26 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3.6 assists per game. He led his team to a great record of 21 wins and 8 losses. In his junior year, he kept scoring big, averaging 25 points per game. That year, he helped his team win the Division 2AA championship.

For his senior year, another top player, Dior Johnson, joined his team. Josh continued to shine, averaging 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 playoffs.

National Recognition

Josh was chosen to play in several important games for top high school players. These included the McDonald's All-American Game, the Jordan Brand Classic, and the Nike Hoop Summit. However, all these games were canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Josh was considered one of the best high school basketball players in the country. Many experts rated him as a "five-star recruit." He was also ranked as the number two shooting guard in his class of 2020. On April 13, 2020, he decided to play college basketball for Arizona State. He chose them over other big schools like Michigan and UCLA. 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 the third-ranked Villanova team.

As a freshman, Josh played in 15 games. He had to miss some games because of an injury. During his time at Arizona State, he averaged 14.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. On March 31, 2021, Josh decided to leave college and enter the 2021 NBA draft.

Professional Basketball Career

Houston Rockets (2021–2023)

The Houston Rockets picked Josh Christopher as the 24th player in the 2021 NBA draft. He officially signed with the Rockets on August 7, 2021. His first official NBA game was on October 20. He scored five points in eight minutes while coming off the bench.

The Rockets sometimes sent Josh to play for their G League team, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. This helped him get more playing time and experience. He averaged 20 points in three games with the Vipers before being called back to the Rockets.

On December 8, Josh scored 18 points against the Brooklyn Nets. He made all seven of his shots from the field, including four three-pointers. On February 4, 2022, he had 23 points, four assists, and five rebounds against the San Antonio Spurs. He scored 21 points in a win against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 23. In April, he scored his first 30-point game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

During the 2022–2023 season, Josh played less for the Rockets. His playing time and statistics went down.

Moving Teams (2023–2024)

On July 8, 2023, Josh was traded from the Houston Rockets to the Memphis Grizzlies. This was part of a big five-team trade. However, the Grizzlies later decided to release him on September 30.

On October 13, 2023, Josh signed a "two-way" contract with the Utah Jazz. He did not play any games for the Jazz team itself. But he played in 22 games for their G League team, the Salt Lake City Stars. He was released by the Jazz on January 9, 2024.

Miami Heat and Sioux Falls Skyforce (2024–Present)

On January 14, 2024, Josh joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce. This is the G League team connected to the Miami Heat. On July 25, he signed a "two-way" contract with the Miami Heat. This means he can play for both the Heat in the NBA and the Skyforce in the G League.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

College

Personal Life and Family

Josh Christopher is the youngest of four children. All of his siblings have played basketball. His brother, Patrick, played professionally. He 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. Sadly, she had a career-ending injury as a freshman. His brother, Caleb, played for both Arizona State University and Tennessee Tech. He is now at Hope International University. Josh's father, Laron, is a musician. His parents are very religious Christians. Josh is often known by his nickname, "'Jaygup." He got this nickname when he was a child.

See also

In Spanish: Josh Christopher para niños