Braxton Key

Braxton Key (born February 14, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League.[1][2] He played college basketball for the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Virginia Cavaliers.

Braxton Key
Key in February 2019
No. 11 – Denver Nuggets
PositionPower forward / small forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1997-02-14) February 14, 1997
Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft2020: undrafted
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–2022Delaware Blue Coats
2022Philadelphia 76ers
2022Detroit Pistons
2022→Motor City Cruise
2023Delaware Blue Coats
2023Vaqueros de Bayamón
2023–presentDenver Nuggets
2023–present→Grand Rapids Gold
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

Early life and high school career

Key is the nephew of NBA player Ralph Sampson, who starred at the University of Virginia.[3][4] Key's father Eric Key played at Radford. Key played three seasons for Christ Presbyterian Academy.[5] He transferred to Oak Hill Academy, where he led the team to a 45–1 record and national championship.[6]

College career

Key averaged a team-high 12 points and 5.7 rebounds per game as a freshman at Alabama. He scored a season-high 26 points against Georgia and was named to the All-SEC Freshman team.[6] As a sophomore, Key averaged 7.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.4 blocks per game. He was hobbled by a knee injury that forced him to miss some playing time.[7]

After the season, Key transferred to Virginia and was granted an immediate eligibility waiver by the NCAA.[7] In the 2018–19 season, Key won a national championship at Virginia, scoring six points, pulling down 10 rebounds and blocking one shot in the title game against Texas Tech.[8] Key averaged 5.7 points and 5.3 rebounds as a junior, starting six games.[9] Key had surgery for a wrist injury in November 2019 and missed several games.[10] He returned to action on December 18 against Stony Brook.[11] At the conclusion of the regular season, Key was named All-ACC Honorable Mention.[12] As a senior, Key averaged 9.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.[13]

Professional career

Delaware Blue Coats (2021–2022)

After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft, Key joined the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League in January 2021, after being selected in the G League draft.[14] On March 2, he posted a season-high 19 points to go with five rebounds, two assists, two steals two blocks in a 120-92 win over the NBA G League Ignite.[15]

On October 13, 2021, Key signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, but was waived the same day.[16] On October 25, he re-signed with Delaware.[17] In 43 career NBA G League games, he averaged 14.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks in 23.7 minutes.[18]

Philadelphia 76ers (2022)

On January 5, 2022, Key signed a 10-day contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.[19] Key appeared in two games for the 76ers, scoring two points in six total minutes. After his 10-day contract expired, Key was reacquired by the Delaware Blue Coats.[20]

Detroit Pistons / Motor City Cruise (2022)

On March 24, 2022, Key signed a 10-day contract with the Detroit Pistons.[21] On April 3, he signed a two-way contract.[18] On December 26, 2022, Key was waived.[22]

Second stint with Delaware (2023)

On January 1, 2023, Key was re-acquired by the Delaware Blue Coats,[23] and eventually helped the team win the NBA G League title.[24]

Vaqueros de Bayamón (2023)

On April 14, 2023, Key signed with Vaqueros de Bayamón of the Puerto Rican league.[25] He was released on May 31.[26]

Denver Nuggets (2023–present)

On July 18, 2023, Key signed a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets.[27]

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
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021–22 Philadelphia 203.0.500.000—1.0.5.5.01.0
2021–22 Detroit 9021.2.457.300.5385.31.11.01.28.6
2022–23 Detroit 303.01.000–1.000.3.0.0.01.3
Career 14014.7.466.286.6003.6.8.7.85.9

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2016–17 Alabama 343029.8.433.330.6345.72.5.6.612.0
2017–18 Alabama 261725.2.409.250.6675.31.81.0.47.0
2018–19 Virginia 38619.8.433.305.7315.31.0.9.65.7
2019–20 Virginia 272533.6.435.185.5847.41.81.2.69.9
Career 1257826.6.429.274.6455.81.8.9.68.6

References
  1. https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/272484/Braxton-Key-Nuggets-Agree-To-TwoWay-Deal
  2. https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/nuggets-braxton-key-lands-two-way-deal-with-nuggets/amp/
  3. Needelman, Josh (April 9, 2019). "Virginia's Braxton Key shares special moment with cousin Ralph Sampson after winning national title". The Daily Progress. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  4. Wood, Norm (January 8, 2019). "Key finding his niche for U.Va., which plays Wednesday night at Boston College". Daily Press. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  5. Doughty, Doug (June 29, 2018). "Plenty of Virginia ties drew men's basketball transfer Braxton Key to the Cavaliers". Roanoke Times. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  6. "Virginia guard Braxton Key granted NCAA waiver, is eligible to play immediately". The Daily Progress. October 22, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  7. Boone, Kyle (October 22, 2018). "Why No. 5 Virginia got immediate eligibility for Alabama transfer Braxton Key". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  8. Needelman, Josh (April 9, 2019). "Virginia's Braxton Key shares special moment with cousin Ralph Sampson after winning national title". The Daily Progress. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  9. Flaherty, Kevin (October 29, 2019). "Virginia's Braxton Key tapped as potential breakout player". 247 Sports. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  10. "Virginia's Braxton Key out of lineup following wrist surgery". ESPN. November 27, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  11. Conlin, Bennett (December 18, 2019). "Braxton Key returns as No. 9 Virginia turns away upset-minded Stony Brook". The Daily Progress. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  12. "2020 ACC Men's Basketball Award Winners Announced". theacc.com. Atlantic Coast Conference. March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  13. Darney, Caroline Darney (March 9, 2020). "Diakite, Clark, and Key represent Virginia on All-ACC teams". Streaking the Lawn. SB Nation. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  14. "Blue Coats Announce 2021 Roster". NBA.com. January 14, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  15. "BLUE COATS BEAT NBA G LEAGUE IGNITE FOR EIGHTH WIN". WITN22.org. March 2, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  16. Adams, Luke (October 13, 2021). "Sixers Sign, Waive Jared Brownridge, Braxton Key". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  17. Delaware Blue Coats [@blue_coats] (October 25, 2021). "Let's go Camping. #TrainingCamp" (Tweet). Retrieved December 19, 2021 – via Twitter.
  18. "DETROIT PISTONS SIGN BRAXTON KEY TO A TWO-WAY CONTRACT". NBA.com. April 3, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  19. Levick, Noah (January 5, 2022). "Sixers signing versatile Braxton Key to 10-day deal as Reed enters protocols". NBC Sports. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  20. "2021-22 NBA G League transactions". NBA.com. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  21. "DETROIT PISTONS SIGN BRAXTON KEY TO A 10-DAY CONTRACT". NBA.com. March 24, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  22. "Pistons' Jared Rhoden: Signed by Detroit". cbssports.com. December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  23. "2022-23 NBA G League Transactions". gleague.nba.com. December 31, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  24. Levick, Noah (April 7, 2023). "Delaware Blue Coats win G League championship; Jaden Springer named Finals MVP". NBCSports.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  25. La Guerra del BSN [@LaGuerraBSN] (April 14, 2023). "#BSNPR OFICIAL: El delantero Braxton Key es el nuevo refuerzo de los Vaqueros de Bayamón en sustitución del lesionado Jamil Wilson" (Tweet). Retrieved April 19, 2023 – via Twitter.
  26. "International and G League transactions log 2023-24: Where are former NBA players going?". HoopsHype. May 5, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  27. "NUGGETS SIGN GILLESPIE, HUFF AND KEY TO TWO-WAY CONTRACTS". NBA.com. July 18, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
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