Marquese Chriss facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Marquese Chriss

Chriss with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2019
No. 32 – Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin
Power forward / center
Personal information
Born	(1997-07-02) July 2, 1997 (age 28) Sacramento, California, U.S.
High school	Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove, California)
Listed height	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight	240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
College	Washington (2015–2016)
NBA Draft	2016 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8th overall
Selected by the Sacramento Kings
Pro career	2016–present
League	CBA
Career history
2016–2018	Phoenix Suns
2018–2019	Houston Rockets
2019	Cleveland Cavaliers
2019–2021	Golden State Warriors
2021–2022	Dallas Mavericks
2024	Wisconsin Herd
2024–present	Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin
Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2017)

Marquese De'Shawn Chriss (born July 2, 1997) is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin team in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Before turning pro, he played college basketball for the Washington Huskies. In 2016, he was chosen as the eighth player in the 2016 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings. Later, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, which means he was one of the best new players in the league.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Marquese Chriss grew up in Sacramento, California. When he was younger, he played baseball and American football. He was a promising football player, especially as a tight end and defensive end.

However, in eighth grade, he broke his collarbone while trying to catch a pass during a game. After this injury, his mother told him he could no longer play football. This led Marquese to choose basketball instead.

He went to Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove, California. When he first tried out for basketball, he had no experience playing competitively. He almost didn't make the team, but his energy and effort helped him get a spot. He started as a reserve player but soon earned a spot in the starting lineup.

A year later, he became a starter for the varsity team. He helped his school achieve a great record of 28 wins and 6 losses, and they even won a state championship! Colleges started to offer him scholarships, and in January 2014, he decided to commit to the University of Washington.

In his senior year (2014–15), Chriss played really well. He scored about 21.9 points, grabbed 11.6 rebounds, and blocked 3.1 shots per game. Experts ranked him as one of the top basketball recruits in the nation for 2015.

College Career at Washington

Marquese Chriss started his college career at Washington very strongly. In his second game, he scored a season-high 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

However, he soon started getting into foul trouble, which meant he was called for too many fouls during games. This caused his playing time and performance to drop. To help him, his mother suggested he talk to a sports psychologist. The team supported this idea, and Chriss learned how to play defense without fouling so much.

This change helped him have one of the best freshman seasons in the program's history. He scored the fourth-most points (467) and had the fifth-most rebounds (183) ever by a freshman at Washington. He also had the most blocks (55) by a freshman. His three-point shooting also got much better as the season went on.

He started all 34 games in the 2015–16 season. On average, he scored 13.7 points, grabbed 5.4 rebounds, and blocked 1.6 shots per game. Because of his great performance, he was recognized as an honorable mention for the Pac-12 All-Freshmen team.

On March 23, 2016, Chriss decided to enter the 2016 NBA draft. This meant he would leave college early to play professionally.

Professional Career Highlights

Phoenix Suns (2016–2018)

Chriss with the Phoenix Suns in 2017

Marquese Chriss was chosen as the eighth overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings. However, on the same night, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns. He then signed his first professional contract with the Suns in July.

Chriss made his NBA debut on October 26, 2016, against the Sacramento Kings. He scored 7 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. In that game, he played alongside Devin Booker and fellow rookie Dragan Bender. This made the Suns the first NBA team to have three teenagers playing on the court at the same time.

On December 13, he achieved his first "double-double" (scoring double digits in two categories) with 14 points and 12 rebounds. In January 2017, he was chosen for the U.S. Team in the 2017 Rising Stars Challenge, which features the best young players. He also had his first 20-point game and was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for January.

On February 4, he scored a career-high 27 points against the Milwaukee Bucks. He also showed his defensive skills by blocking five shots in a game against the Boston Celtics on March 5. This was the most blocks by a Suns rookie since 2002.

As a rookie, Chriss played in all 82 games of the season, which was a big achievement. At the end of the season, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, recognizing him as one of the top rookies in the league.

In the 2017–18 season, Chriss continued to play for the Suns. He tied his career high with 13 rebounds on December 26, 2017. He also reached a milestone on January 31, 2018, becoming one of the youngest players ever to record 100 career steals, three-pointers, and blocks. Only LeBron James and Kevin Durant did it at a younger age. He scored a season-high 23 points on April 6 against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Houston Rockets (2018–2019)

On August 31, 2018, Chriss was traded to the Houston Rockets. He made his debut for the Rockets on October 30, 2018. The Rockets later decided not to keep him for the next season, making him a free agent.

Cleveland Cavaliers (2019)

On February 7, 2019, Chriss joined the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of a trade.

Golden State Warriors (2019–2021)

Chriss signed with the Golden State Warriors on October 1, 2019. He played well, averaging 7.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, and earned respect from his teammates and coaches. He was later re-signed by the Warriors.

However, on December 26, 2020, Chriss suffered a broken right leg, which unfortunately caused him to miss the rest of that season. On March 25, 2021, he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs, but he was waived by them a few days later.

Dallas Mavericks (2021–2022)

On December 21, 2021, Chriss signed a short-term contract with the Dallas Mavericks. He played well enough to earn a two-year contract with the team on January 15, 2022.

On June 24, 2022, Chriss was traded to the Houston Rockets again as part of a bigger trade. Then, on September 30, 2022, he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was later waived by the Thunder on October 17.

Wisconsin Herd (2024)

On February 1, 2024, Chriss joined the Wisconsin Herd, a team in the NBA G League.

Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin (2024–present)

On August 24, 2024, Marquese Chriss signed with Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin in the Chinese Basketball Association, where he plays today.

Career Statistics

NBA Regular Season

NBA Playoffs

College Statistics

Personal Life

Marquese Chriss is one of nine children in his family. He has three older sisters, three younger sisters, and is the oldest of four brothers. His father is Steven Chriss, and his mother is Shawntae Wright. His stepfather, Michael Wright, lived in Tacoma, Washington. Visiting him there was one of the reasons Marquese chose to attend the University of Washington.

Images for kids

• 

  Chriss with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2019

• 

  Chriss with the Phoenix Suns in 2017

See also

In Spanish: Marquese Chriss para niños