Nate Darling
Nathan Joseph Darling (born August 30, 1998) is a Canadian professional basketball player who last played for the Ontario Clippers of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the UAB Blazers and the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens. He is the first and only Blue Hens player in NBA history.[1]
Free agent | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Position | Shooting guard | ||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | August 30, 1998||||||||||||||||||||
Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||
High school | DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Maryland) | ||||||||||||||||||||
College | |||||||||||||||||||||
NBA draft | 2020: undrafted | ||||||||||||||||||||
Playing career | 2020–present | ||||||||||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||
2020–2021 | Charlotte Hornets | ||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | →Greensboro Swarm | ||||||||||||||||||||
2021–2023 | Agua Caliente / Ontario Clippers | ||||||||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Stats at NBA.com | |||||||||||||||||||||
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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High school career
Darling attended DeMatha Catholic High School and was teammates with top recruit Markelle Fultz and football star Chase Young.[2]
College career
Darling began his collegiate career at UAB and averaged 2.5 points per game. As a sophomore, he averaged 10.1 points per game while shooting 40.9 percent on three-pointers.[2] Following the season, he decided to transfer to the University of Delaware. On December 14, 2019, Darling scored a game-high 29 points against 20th-ranked Villanova in a 78–70 loss, after which his head coach Martin Ingelsby said he was playing like one of the best guards in college basketball.[3] As a junior, Darling averaged 21 points per game.[4] He earned first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) honors.[5] After the season, he declared for the 2020 NBA draft while retaining college eligibility.[6] However, on August 3 he announced he was remaining in the draft and turning professional.[7]
Professional career
Charlotte Hornets (2020–2021)
After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft, Darling signed a two-way contract with the Charlotte Hornets. Under the terms of the deal, he will split time between the Hornets and their NBA G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm.[8][9] This united him with Canadian assistant coach Jay Triano.
He made his NBA debut on March 13, 2021 against the Toronto Raptors, hitting a three-pointer in the fourth quarter, and became the first Nova Scotia born player in NBA history.[10]
Agua Caliente / Ontario Clippers (2021–2023)
On October 16, 2021, Darling was signed by the Los Angeles Clippers, but was waived shortly thereafter.[11] On October 23, he was selected by the Ontario Clippers fifth overall in the 2021 NBA G League draft.[12]
On February 17, 2023, Darling signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.[13] He was waived four days later without having played a game for the NBA team.[14] On February 23, he was reacquired by the Ontario Clippers.[15]
On October 9, 2023, Darling signed with the Los Angeles Clippers,[16] but was waived prior to the start of the 2023–24 season.[17]
Career statistics
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 |
Regular season
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
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2020–21 | Charlotte | 7 | 0 | 3.7 | .286 | .286 | 1.000 | .1 | .1 | .0 | .1 | 1.3 |
Career | 7 | 0 | 3.7 | .286 | .286 | 1.000 | .1 | .1 | .0 | .1 | 1.3 |
References
- "Delaware Players in the NBA". RealGM.com. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- Tresolini, Kevin (April 25, 2018). "Former DeMatha guard Darling transfers to Delaware from UAB". The News Journal. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- "Bedford's Nate Darling declares for NBA draft". The Chronicle Herald. April 8, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- "Nate Darling Enters 2020 NBA Draft Process, Maintains Eligibility". Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens. April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- "CAA Basketball Announces Men's Basketball Postseason Accolades" (Press release). Colonial Athletic Association. March 6, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
- Daly, Brian (April 7, 2020). "Bedford's Nate Darling declares for NBA draft, retains college eligibility". CBC. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- "Bedford's Nate Darling goes all in on NBA Draft hopes". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. August 3, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- Palmeter, Paul (November 19, 2020). "Nate Darling goes undrafted but will sign deal with NBA club". CBC News. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- "Charlotte Hornets Sign Grant Riller and Nate Darling to Two-Way Contracts". NBA.com. November 30, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
- Rafferty, Scott (March 25, 2021). "Nova Scotia native and Charlotte Hornets guard Nate Darling scores first NBA basket". NBA.com. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
- Hill, Arthur (October 16, 2021). "Clippers Sign, Waive Nate Darling". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
- "2021 NBA G League Draft Board". NBA.com. October 23, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- Maher, Rory. "Clippers Sign Nate Darling To Two-Way Deal". HoopsRumors.comdate=February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
- Greif, Andrew [@AndrewGreif] (February 21, 2023). "The Clippers say they've waived Nate Darling, who was recently signed to a two-way deal" (Tweet). Retrieved February 21, 2023 – via Twitter.
- "2022-23 NBA G League Transactions". NBA.com. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- Gauruder, Dana (October 9, 2023). "Clippers Waive Brodric Thomas, Sign Nate Darling". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- Adams, Luke (October 20, 2023). "Clippers Sign Joey Hauser, Cut Two Players". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.