Tony Snell (basketball) facts for kids
Snell with the Detroit Pistons in 2019
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| No. 21 – Sioux Falls Skyforce | |
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| Shooting guard / small forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | November 10, 1991 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| High school |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 213 lb (97 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | New Mexico (2010–2013) |
| NBA Draft | 2013 / Round: 1 / Pick: 20th overall |
| Selected by the Chicago Bulls | |
| Pro career | 2013–present |
| League | NBA G League |
| Career history | |
| 2013–2016 | Chicago Bulls |
| 2016–2019 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2019–2020 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2020–2021 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 2021–2022 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 2022 | New Orleans Pelicans |
| 2023–2024 | Maine Celtics |
| 2024–present | Sioux Falls Skyforce |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Tony Rena Snell Jr. (born November 10, 1991) is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the NBA G League. Before becoming a pro, he played college basketball for the New Mexico Lobos. The Chicago Bulls picked him 20th overall in the 2013 NBA draft.
Tony was born in Los Angeles, California. He moved to Phoenix, Arizona for his last year of high school. In college, he was a starting shooting guard for the New Mexico Lobos. He helped his team win two championships in the Mountain West Conference (MWC). They also earned spots in the NCAA tournament.
Tony Snell made history in 2021. He became the first and only NBA player to achieve a "50–50–100" season. This means he shot over 50% from the field, over 50% from three-point range, and 100% from the free-throw line. This is a very rare and impressive achievement in basketball.
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Tony's High School Basketball Journey
Tony Snell went to Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, California. This was during the 2008–09 school year. His teammate there was Kawhi Leonard, who later became a famous NBA player. Together, they led their team to a great 30–3 season. Their team was even ranked number 7 nationally.
Tony averaged 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 5 assists per game. In 2009, he moved to Westwind Preparatory Academy in Phoenix. There, he continued to play amazing basketball. He averaged 19.5 points, 10 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 2.7 steals, and 1.8 blocks. At Westwind, he played with Jamaal Franklin, another future NBA player.
College Career with the New Mexico Lobos
Freshman Year: 2010–11 Season
In 2009, basketball experts called Tony Snell a "diamond in the rough." He decided to play for the New Mexico Lobos and signed with them in November 2009.
The Lobo team in 2010-11 was very young. Tony was one of four freshmen playing a lot of minutes. The team had ups and downs but finished with a 22–13 record. They even beat the number 3 ranked BYU team.
Tony played in almost every game. He averaged 4.4 points and 2 rebounds. He scored double-digits four times. He had a great game against BYU, scoring 16 points with four three-pointers. Later, he scored a season-high 19 points against Wyoming. He started seven games that season.
Sophomore Year: 2011–12 Season
In 2011-12, the Lobos were known for their strong defense. They allowed only 59.3 points per game, which was a team record. Their defense was among the best in the country.
Tony earned a starting spot this season. He could score a lot of points in some games. He scored double-figures in twenty games, including three games where he scored over 20 points. In one game, he scored 24 points and made six three-pointers. For the season, he averaged 10.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists.
The Lobos won 13 games in a row early in the season. They ended up sharing the MWC regular season championship. In the conference tournament, they won the championship game against San Diego State. Tony scored 14 points and was named to the All-Tournament team. New Mexico made it to the NCAA tournament. Tony was named Honorable Mention All-Mountain West.
Junior Year: 2012–13 Season
The 2012-13 Lobos team also played tough defense. They often came from behind to win close games. Tony led the team in scoring in ten games. In one stretch, he averaged 19.8 points per game. For the season, Tony averaged 12.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. He was the best three-point shooter on the team.
The Lobos started the season with 12 wins in a row. They climbed to number 16 in the national rankings. Tony became more of a leader, even though he was quiet. His mom called him the "silent assassin," and fans loved the nickname. He scored 20 points or more in six games.
In the MWC tournament, Tony played incredibly well. He averaged 17.7 points per game. In the championship game, he scored 13 points in a row for the Lobos. He was named the tournament MVP. After the season, he was named Third Team All-MWC. New Mexico was ranked number 10 for the NCAA tournament. However, they lost in a surprising upset to Harvard.
Tony decided to leave college early and enter the NBA draft. Even though his college stats weren't huge, NBA scouts were impressed. They liked his height, his outside shooting, and how much his defense had improved.
Tony's Professional Basketball Career
Chicago Bulls (2013–2016)
The Chicago Bulls chose Tony Snell with the 20th pick in the 2013 NBA draft. In July 2013, he signed with the Bulls. He played well in the Summer League, averaging 11.8 points. In his first year (2013–14), Tony played in 77 games. He averaged 4.5 points and 1.6 rebounds.
In July 2014, Tony played for the Bulls again in the Summer League. He averaged 20.0 points and was named to the All-NBA Summer League first team. On February 10, 2015, he scored a career-high 24 points against the Sacramento Kings.
Tony started as the Bulls' small forward for the 2015–16 season. On December 28, he scored 22 points against the Toronto Raptors. This helped the Bulls win the game.
Milwaukee Bucks (2016–2019)
In October 2016, Tony was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. He made his debut for the team on October 29, scoring 6 points. On December 26, 2016, he made a career-high six three-pointers. He also scored 20 points in a game against the Washington Wizards.
On March 28, 2017, Tony scored a new career-high of 26 points against the Charlotte Hornets. In the playoffs, he set a playoff career-high with 19 points and five three-pointers.
In July 2017, Tony signed a new four-year contract with the Bucks. On March 23, 2018, he scored 18 points against his old team, the Chicago Bulls.
Detroit Pistons (2019–2020)
On June 20, 2019, Tony was traded to the Detroit Pistons. He played for them for one season.
Atlanta Hawks (2020–2021)
In November 2020, Tony was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. On March 11, 2021, Tony made a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer. This shot gave the Hawks a 121–120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. It was an exciting moment that finished a big comeback.
This season was special for Tony. He became the first NBA player ever to have a "50–50–100" season. This means he shot over 50% from the field, over 50% from three-point range, and 100% from the free-throw line. This shows how accurate he was at shooting the basketball.
Portland Trail Blazers (2021–2022)
On August 10, 2021, the Portland Trail Blazers signed Tony Snell. He played for them for part of the season.
New Orleans Pelicans (2022)
In February 2022, Tony was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans. He played a short time for them.
Maine Celtics (2023–2024)
On January 27, 2023, Tony joined the Maine Celtics, a team in the NBA G League. He returned to the Maine Celtics in October 2023.
Sioux Falls Skyforce (2024–Present)
On October 2, 2024, Tony was traded to the Sioux Falls Skyforce. This is his current team in the NBA G League.
Tony's Personal Life
Tony Snell met his wife, Ashley, at a barbecue. It was hosted by his former Chicago Bulls teammate, Jimmy Butler. They have two sons together. Both of their sons were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
On June 16, 2023, Tony shared something very personal on The Today Show. He revealed that he was also diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. He realized this after his oldest son's evaluation helped him see similarities in his own life experiences.
Career Statistics
Tony Snell has had a long career in basketball. Here are some of his overall statistics from his time in the NBA and college.
NBA Regular Season Highlights
- Played 601 games.
- Averaged 6.1 points per game.
- Shot 39.4% from three-point range.
- Shot 84.6% from the free-throw line.
- His best season for points was 2016-17 with Milwaukee (8.5 points per game).
- His best shooting season was 2020-21 with Atlanta. He shot 51.5% from the field, 56.9% from three, and 100% from free throws.
NBA Playoff Highlights
- Played 47 playoff games.
- Averaged 2.9 points per game.
- His best playoff scoring was 10.0 points per game in 2017 with Milwaukee.
College Career Highlights
- Played 104 games for New Mexico.
- Averaged 7.4 points per game.
- His best college season was 2012-13 (12.5 points per game).
- Shot 82.1% from the free-throw line in college.
See also
In Spanish: Tony Snell para niños
