K. J. McDaniels facts for kids
McDaniels with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2014
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| No. 32 – Pelita Jaya | |
|---|---|
| Small forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | February 9, 1993 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| High school | Central Park Christian School (Birmingham, Alabama) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Clemson (2011–2014) |
| NBA Draft | 2014 / Round: 2 / Pick: 32nd overall |
| Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers | |
| Pro career | 2014–present |
| League | IBL |
| Career history | |
| 2014–2015 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2015–2017 | Houston Rockets |
| 2015–2016 | →Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| 2017 | Brooklyn Nets |
| 2017–2018 | Grand Rapids Drive |
| 2018–2019 | Oklahoma City Blue |
| 2019 | TNT KaTropa |
| 2020–2021 | Greensboro Swarm |
| 2021–2022 | NLEX Road Warriors |
| 2022–2023 | Meralco Bolts |
| 2023 | Al Hilal |
| 2023–present | Pelita Jaya |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Kevin Ornell Chapman "K. J." McDaniels Jr. (born February 9, 1993) is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Pelita Jaya team in the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL). K. J. McDaniels played college basketball for Clemson University. He was later picked by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2014 NBA draft.
Contents
Early Life and College Career
High School Years
K. J. McDaniels went to Central Park Christian School in Birmingham, Alabama. Experts at ESPN.com thought he was a good player. In 2011, he was ranked as the 35th best small forward in the country.
Playing for Clemson University
McDaniels started his college basketball journey at Clemson. During his first year (2011–12), he played a bit, averaging 3.9 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.
As a sophomore, McDaniels became a regular starter for the Clemson Tigers. He improved a lot, scoring 10.9 points and grabbing 5.0 rebounds per game. He was also great at blocking shots, finishing second in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with 2.1 blocks per game.
Becoming a Star Player
In his junior year (2013–14), McDaniels really shined. He became one of the best players in the ACC. He averaged 17.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. He also led the ACC in blocks, with 2.8 per game.
Because of his amazing performance, he was named to the First-team All-ACC. He also won the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award. McDaniels helped his team reach the semifinals of the 2014 National Invitation Tournament. They played in the famous Madison Square Garden.
In April 2014, McDaniels decided to enter the NBA draft. This meant he would not play his final year of college basketball.
Professional Basketball Journey
Philadelphia 76ers (2014–2015)
On June 26, 2014, the Philadelphia 76ers picked K. J. McDaniels. He was the 32nd player chosen in the 2014 NBA draft. He joined the 76ers for the 2014 NBA Summer League.
McDaniels started his first NBA season very well. He became an important player coming off the bench. He was known for his great shot-blocking skills. On November 29, he had his first "double-double." This means he scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in one game. He played 52 games for Philadelphia. He averaged 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game.
Houston Rockets (2015–2017)
On February 19, 2015, McDaniels was traded to the Houston Rockets. He played 10 games for Houston that season. He missed the playoffs because of an elbow injury.
In July 2015, McDaniels signed a new three-year contract with the Rockets. During the 2015–16 season, he also played for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. This team is the Rockets' minor league team in the D-League.
Brooklyn Nets (2017)
On February 23, 2017, McDaniels was traded again, this time to the Brooklyn Nets. On March 23, 2017, he scored a season-high 16 points in a game against the Phoenix Suns.
NBA G League Teams (2017–2019)
After leaving the Nets, McDaniels played for several teams in the NBA G League. This league helps players develop their skills.
- He joined the Grand Rapids Drive in December 2017.
- In July 2018, he played for the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA Summer League. He was even named the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the championship game!
- He later joined the Oklahoma City Blue in October 2018. In one game, he scored 21 points and had 8 rebounds.
Playing in Asia (2019–Present)
K. J. McDaniels has also played basketball in Asia.
- In August 2019, he signed with TNT KaTropa in the Philippines. In his first game, he scored an amazing 41 points and grabbed 22 rebounds! He also had 7 assists and 5 blocks.
- He later played for the NLEX Road Warriors and the Meralco Bolts, both in the Philippines.
- In December 2023, McDaniels joined Pelita Jaya in the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL). He returned to the team for the 2025 IBL season.
NBA Career Statistics
Here are some of K. J. McDaniels' statistics from his time in the NBA.
Regular Season Games
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | Philadelphia | 52 | 15 | 25.4 | .399 | .293 | .756 | 3.8 | 1.3 | .8 | 1.3 | 9.2 |
| 2014–15 | Houston | 10 | 0 | 3.3 | .333 | .000 | .500 | .5 | .2 | .0 | .2 | 1.1 |
| 2015–16 | Houston | 37 | 1 | 6.4 | .403 | .280 | .800 | 1.1 | .3 | .2 | .2 | 2.4 |
| 2016–17 | Houston | 29 | 0 | 7.3 | .454 | .333 | .900 | 1.0 | .1 | .2 | .3 | 2.8 |
| 2016–17 | Brooklyn | 20 | 0 | 14.7 | .455 | .282 | .821 | 2.6 | .5 | .6 | .5 | 6.3 |
| Career | 148 | 16 | 14.1 | .412 | .290 | .776 | 2.2 | .6 | .5 | .6 | 5.3 | |
Playoff Games
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Houston | 4 | 0 | 8.5 | .308 | .333 | .000 | 1.8 | .3 | .0 | .8 | 2.3 |
| Career | 4 | 0 | 8.5 | .308 | .333 | .000 | 1.8 | .3 | .0 | .8 | 2.3 | |
Personal Life
K. J. McDaniels is the son of Kevin and Shawn McDaniels. He also has a younger brother named Dylan. While in college, he studied Communication Studies.
See also
In Spanish: K. J. McDaniels para niños
