P. J. Washington facts for kids
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| No. 25 – Dallas Mavericks | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Power forward | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | August 23, 1998 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
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| High school |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| College | Kentucky (2017–2019) | |||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 2019 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12th overall | |||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Charlotte Hornets | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 2019–present | |||||||||||||||||||
| League | NBA | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2024 | Charlotte Hornets | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–present | Dallas Mavericks | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Paul Jamaine Washington Jr. (born August 23, 1998) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Dallas Mavericks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before joining the NBA, he played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.
P. J. Washington was picked by the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 2019 NBA draft. He was the 12th player chosen overall. In 2020, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. In February 2024, Washington was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He helped his new team reach the 2024 NBA Finals.
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Growing Up and High School Basketball
Washington was born in Louisville, Kentucky. His family moved around a bit, living in St. Louis and Chicago. They finally settled down in Frisco, Texas. P. J. went to Prime Prep Academy in Dallas.
He also spent some time at Lone Star High School in Frisco. Later, he moved to Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada. There, he played alongside other top young players. As a junior, he scored about 17 points and grabbed nearly 10 rebounds per game. He also passed for 4 assists on average.
After his junior year, Washington played for Team Penny. This was his AAU team, sponsored by former NBA star Penny Hardaway. In his senior year, he averaged almost 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists. He was chosen for the 2017 Jordan Brand Classic and the McDonald's All-American Game. These games feature the best high school basketball players in the country.
Choosing a College Team
Experts rated Washington as a five-star recruit. This means he was one of the top high school players in the country. He was ranked as the No. 12 overall recruit for his class. He was also considered the No. 3 power forward.
On November 10, 2016, P. J. Washington decided to play college basketball for Kentucky. He officially signed his commitment later that month.
College Basketball Career
During his first year at Kentucky, Washington played with a pinkie injury. He needed surgery on it later that summer. In a big tournament game against Kansas State, he led his team. He scored 18 points and had 15 rebounds.
As a freshman, Washington averaged about 11 points and 6 rebounds per game. After the season, he thought about entering the NBA draft. But on May 30, 2018, he decided to return to Kentucky for another year.
After Kentucky's loss in the 2019 NCAA men's basketball tournament, Washington made a big decision. He announced he would leave college early. He decided to enter the 2019 NBA draft. Many experts thought he would be picked in the first round.
Professional Basketball Journey
Charlotte Hornets (2019–2024)
The Charlotte Hornets chose P. J. Washington as the 12th overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft. He officially signed with the Hornets on July 3, 2019. On October 23, he played his first NBA game. He started and scored 27 points, helping his team win against the Chicago Bulls.
In that game, he made 7 three-pointers. This was the most three-pointers ever made by a player in their NBA debut! On September 15, 2020, Washington was named to the 2019–20 NBA All-Rookie Second Team. This award goes to some of the best new players in the league.
On February 28, 2021, Washington scored a career-high 42 points. This helped the Hornets win against the Sacramento Kings. On March 28, 2023, he set a new career high with 43 points. This happened in a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. In August, he signed a new three-year contract with the Hornets. On January 27, 2024, he tied his career-high of 43 points again.
Dallas Mavericks (2024–present)
On February 8, 2024, Washington was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He joined the team along with two future draft picks. In return, the Hornets received Seth Curry, Grant Williams, and a future draft pick.
Washington played his first game for the Mavericks on February 10. He scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds in a big win. On April 5, he scored 32 points and made a game-winning shot against the Golden State Warriors.
During the 2024 NBA playoffs, Washington played a key role. In a game against the Los Angeles Clippers, he was involved in an incident with another player. He was asked to leave the game. Later, in the Western Conference Semifinals, he led the Mavericks with 27 points in a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In Game 6 of that series, Washington was fouled while shooting a three-pointer. He made two free throws, giving the Mavericks a one-point lead. The Mavericks won the game and advanced to the Western Conference Finals. Washington helped the Mavericks reach the 2024 NBA Finals, where they played against the Boston Celtics. The Mavericks lost the series in five games.
In December 2024, Washington was involved in a disagreement during a game. He was suspended for one game because of the incident.
Career Statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
NBA
Regular Season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | Charlotte | 58 | 57 | 30.3 | .455 | .374 | .647 | 5.4 | 2.1 | .9 | .8 | 12.2 |
| 2020–21 | Charlotte | 64 | 61 | 30.5 | .440 | .386 | .745 | 6.5 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 12.9 |
| Charlotte | 65 | 28 | 27.2 | .470 | .365 | .716 | 5.2 | 2.3 | .9 | .9 | 10.3 | |
| Charlotte | 73 | 73 | 32.6 | .444 | .348 | .730 | 4.9 | 2.4 | .9 | 1.1 | 15.7 | |
| 2023–24 | Charlotte | 44 | 17 | 29.2 | .446 | .324 | .713 | 5.3 | 2.2 | .9 | .7 | 13.6 |
| Dallas | 29 | 28 | 32.2 | .421 | .314 | .627 | 6.2 | 1.5 | 1.2 | .9 | 11.7 | |
| Career | 333 | 264 | 30.3 | .447 | .354 | .705 | 5.5 | 2.2 | .9 | 1.0 | 12.9 | |
Play-in Games
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Charlotte | 1 | 1 | 30.5 | .300 | .400 | — | 7.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 2.0 | 8.0 |
| 2022 | Charlotte | 1 | 1 | 38.2 | .700 | .600 | — | 6.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 17.0 |
| Career | 2 | 2 | 34.3 | .500 | .500 | — | 6.5 | 1.5 | .5 | 2.0 | 12.5 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Dallas | 22* | 22* | 35.7 | .427 | .348 | .709 | 6.6 | 1.4 | .7 | .8 | 13.0 |
| Career | 22 | 22 | 35.7 | .427 | .348 | .709 | 6.6 | 1.4 | .7 | .8 | 13.0 | |
College
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Kentucky | 37 | 30 | 27.4 | .519 | .238 | .606 | 5.7 | 1.5 | .8 | .8 | 10.8 |
| 2018–19 | Kentucky | 35 | 33 | 29.3 | .522 | .423 | .663 | 7.5 | 1.8 | .8 | 1.2 | 15.2 |
| Career | 72 | 63 | 28.3 | .521 | .384 | .632 | 6.6 | 1.7 | .8 | 1.0 | 12.9 | |
Personal Life
P. J. Washington's parents both played basketball. They met at Middle Tennessee State. His father became a General Manager at a car sales company. He also coached P. J.'s middle school team. His mother became a teacher at the same middle school. P. J. has a brother named Spencer and a sister named Alexandria.
Washington married Alisah Chanel in October 2023. They have a son together named Preston. He also has another son, Paul Jermaine Washington III, who was born in 2021.
See also
In Spanish: P. J. Washington para niños
