Kay Felder facts for kids
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Felder with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017
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| Free agent | |
|---|---|
| Point guard | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | March 29, 1995 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| High school | Pershing (Detroit, Michigan) |
| Listed height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Listed weight | 176 lb (80 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Oakland (2013–2016) |
| NBA Draft | 2016 / Round: 2 / Pick: 54th overall |
| Selected by the Atlanta Hawks | |
| Pro career | 2016–present |
| Career history | |
| 2016–2017 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2016–2017 | →Canton Charge |
| 2017 | Chicago Bulls |
| 2017 | →Windy City Bulls |
| 2018 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2018 | →Grand Rapids Drive |
| 2018 | Raptors 905 |
| 2019–2020 | Xinjiang Flying Tigers |
| 2021 | Zhejiang Guangsha Lions |
| 2021–2023 | Shanxi Loongs |
| 2023–2024 | Beijing Royal Fighters |
| 2024 | Nanjing Monkey Kings |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Kahlil Ameer "Kay" Felder Jr. (born March 29, 1995) is an American professional basketball player. He last played for the Nanjing Monkey Kings in China. Kay Felder is a quick point guard who stands 5 feet 9 inches tall. He decided to enter the 2016 NBA draft after his third year at Oakland University. Felder holds the record for most assists in the Horizon League college basketball conference.
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High School Basketball Journey
Kay Felder went to Pershing High School in Detroit, Michigan. During his final year, he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Public School League. He also finished fourth in the voting for Mr. Basketball of Michigan.
Not many big colleges tried to recruit him at first. An assistant coach from Oakland University noticed his talent. Other schools like Akron and Southern Illinois also showed interest. Oakland offered Felder a scholarship when he was a sophomore. He committed to them before his senior year. Oakland even decided not to recruit another point guard that year. This showed Felder they were serious about him joining their team.
College Basketball Career
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In his first year (2013–14), Felder was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year. As a sophomore (2014–15), he was second in the entire National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for assists. He averaged 7.6 assists per game. He was also a finalist for the Lou Henson Award. This award goes to the best "Mid-Major Player of the Year."
Junior Year Highlights (2015–16)
During his junior year (2015–16), professional scouts often watched Felder play. They wanted to see if he could play in the NBA. In December, Oakland played against some top teams. These included Washington, then-No. 1 Michigan State, and then-No. 5 Virginia. Felder played amazingly in these games. He averaged 35 points and 7 assists. He also made 47.9% of his shots.
Oakland was ahead at halftime in all those games. They beat Washington but lost close games to Michigan State and Virginia. Felder scored 37 points and had nine assists against Michigan State. This was in a tough overtime loss.
Felder was chosen as one of the top five finalists for the Bob Cousy Award. This award is for the best male point guard in Division I college basketball. He also received the Lute Olson Award mid-season. This award goes to the most outstanding non-freshman player. He was also on the watch list for the Naismith College Player of the Year.
Felder won the NCAA Player of the Week award on February 9, 2016. He also won the Horizon League Player of the Week award six times that season. This tied the record for the league.
Even though he played only three years, Felder broke the Horizon League record for career assists. He had 699 assists, passing a record set in 1986. Felder also set an Oakland school record. He made 46 free throws in a row without missing. He was named the Horizon League Player of the Year. He also earned First Team honors for the Horizon League.
On April 5, 2016, Felder decided to enter the 2016 NBA draft. This meant he gave up his last year of college eligibility.
Professional Basketball Career
Starting in the NBA (2016–2017)
At the 2016 NBA Draft Combine, Kay Felder showed off his amazing jumping ability. He tied for the second-highest vertical leap ever recorded at the combine. He jumped 44 inches high! Even with this impressive jump, experts thought he might be picked late in the draft. Some even thought he might not be drafted at all.
The Atlanta Hawks picked Felder with the 54th overall pick. But he was quickly traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers on draft night. In July 2016, he joined the Cavaliers for the NBA Summer League. On August 6, 2016, he signed a three-year contract with the Cavaliers.
Felder played his first NBA game on October 29. He scored two points in five minutes. On December 14, he scored a season-high 14 points. This was in a game against the Memphis Grizzlies. During his first year, he also played many games for the Canton Charge. This team is in the NBA Development League (now called the G League).
On October 14, 2017, Felder was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. He was then immediately released by the Hawks.
Playing for the Chicago Bulls (2017)
On October 16, 2017, the Chicago Bulls picked up Felder. He played 14 games for the Bulls. He averaged 3.9 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. He also played three games for the Windy City Bulls. This is the Bulls' G League team.
Later NBA and G League Teams (2018)
On January 15, 2018, Felder signed a special "two-way contract" with the Detroit Pistons. This meant he could play for both the Pistons and their G League team, the Grand Rapids Drive.
Later, on August 21, 2018, Felder signed with the Toronto Raptors. However, he was released by the Raptors before the season started. He then joined the Raptors' G League team, the Raptors 905. He was later released by the Raptors 905 in December 2018.
Playing in China (2019–Present)
On March 25, 2019, Felder signed with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in China. He played there until January 2020.
In 2021, Felder joined the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions. He averaged 13.1 points and 5.9 assists per game for them. After that, he signed with the Shanxi Loongs in 2021 and played there until 2023.
In 2023, Felder moved to the Beijing Royal Fighters. Most recently, on October 21, 2024, he signed with the Nanjing Monkey Kings. Both teams play in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
Personal Life
Kay Felder's father, Kahlil Felder Sr., also played college basketball. He played for Eastern Michigan from 1990 to 1992. Kay Felder is also related to former NBA player Steve Smith. Steve Smith is his cousin.
See also
- List of shortest players in National Basketball Association history
