Paul Jamaine Washington Jr. (born August 23, 1998[1]) is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. After being selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 2019 NBA draft with the 12th overall pick, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2020. Washington was traded to the Mavericks in 2024.
No. 25 – Dallas Mavericks | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Position | Power forward | ||||||||||||||||||||
League | NBA | ||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. | August 23, 1998||||||||||||||||||||
Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||
High school | |||||||||||||||||||||
College | Kentucky (2017–2019) | ||||||||||||||||||||
NBA draft | 2019: 1st round, 12th overall pick | ||||||||||||||||||||
Selected by the Charlotte Hornets | |||||||||||||||||||||
Playing career | 2019–present | ||||||||||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||
2019–2024 | Charlotte Hornets | ||||||||||||||||||||
2024–present | Dallas Mavericks | ||||||||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Stats at NBA.com | |||||||||||||||||||||
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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Washington was born in Louisville, Kentucky. His family moved to St. Louis and Chicago before settling in Frisco, Texas. Washington attended Prime Prep Academy in Dallas and a brief stint at Lone Star High School in Frisco, before transferring to Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada.[1]
Washington parents met at Middle Tennessee State, where both played basketball. His father became a General Manager at a car sale company and coached his middle school team, his mother was a teacher at his Middle School. Washington has a brother, Spencer, and a sister, Alexandria.[1]
Washington was rated as a five-star recruit and No.12 overall recruit and No.3 power forward in the 2017 high school class by Scout.com, Rivals.com and ESPN.[2][3][4] On November 10, 2016, he committed to the Kentucky Wildcats, on November 20 he signed his letter of intent.
Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
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P. J. Washington PF |
Frisco, Texas | Findlay Prep (NV) | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | Nov 10, 2016 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 95 | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: #13 Rivals: #11 247Sports: #13 ESPN: #11 | ||||||
Sources:
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Throughout most of his freshman season at Kentucky, Washington played through a pinkie injury that required surgery in the summer. In the NCAA Tournament loss to Kansas State, Washington led Kentucky with 18 points and 15 rebounds.[5] Washington averaged 10.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game as a freshman. After the season, he declared for the NBA draft, but announced his return on May 30, 2018.[6]
Following Kentucky's loss to Auburn in the 2019 NCAA men's basketball tournament, Washington announced his intention to forgo his final two seasons of collegiate eligibility and declare for the 2019 NBA draft, where he was projected to be a first-round selection.[7]
Washington was selected as the 12th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2019 NBA draft.[8] On July 3, 2019, Washington officially signed with the Hornets[9] and on October 23 he made his debut in NBA, started in a 126–125 win over the Chicago Bulls with 27 points, 4 rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block. He also made 7 three-pointers, the most in an NBA debut in NBA history.[10] On October 31, he scored 23 points and 8 rebounds in a 118–111 win over the Sacramento Kings.[11] On November 29, Washington put up 26 points and 5 rebounds in a 110–107 victory against the Detroit Pistons.[12] On September 15, 2020, Washington was named 2019–20 NBA All-Rookie Second Team by the NBA.[13]
On February 28, 2021, Washington scored a then career-high 42 points to help the Charlotte Hornets win over the Sacramento Kings.[14] On March 28, 2023, he scored a career-high 43 points in a 137–134 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.[15] On August 29, Washington re-signed with the Hornets on a 3-year, 48 million dollar contract.[16][17] On January 27, 2024, Washington tied his career-high 43 points in a 134–122 loss to the Utah Jazz.[18]
On February 8, 2024, Washington was traded, alongside two future second–round picks, to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Seth Curry, Grant Williams, and a 2027 first–round pick that is top 2 protected.[19] On February 10, Washington made his Mavericks debut, putting up 14 points, five rebounds, and one steal in a 146–111 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.[20] On April 5, Washington put up 32 points alongside a game-winner in a 108–106 win over the Golden State Warriors.[21]
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 |
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 |
2021–22 | Charlotte | 65 | 28 | 27.2 | .470 | .365 | .716 | 5.2 | 2.3 | .9 | .9 | 10.3 |
2022–23 | 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 |
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
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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 |
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 |
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