Corey Kispert

Last updated

Corey Kispert
1 corey kispert.jpg
Kispert with the Washington Wizards in 2023
No. 24Washington Wizards
Position Small forward / shooting guard
League NBA
Personal information
Born (1999-03-03) March 3, 1999 (age 25)
Edmonds, Washington, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight224 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school King's (Shoreline, Washington)
College Gonzaga (2017–2021)
NBA draft 2021: 1st round, 15th overall pick
Selected by the Washington Wizards
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–present Washington Wizards
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Stats at Basketball Reference  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Corey James Kispert (born March 3, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, where he was a consensus first-team All-American as a senior.

Contents

Early life

Kispert grew up in Edmonds, Washington and attended King's High School. As a junior, he averaged 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.3 steals per game, led the team to their second straight state title, and was named the MVP of the State Championship Tournament. [1] Rated a four-star recruit, Kispert committed to play college basketball at Gonzaga over Notre Dame after his junior season. [2] [3] Kispert was averaging 25 points per game during his senior year before breaking his foot in February. [4]

Kispert said in 2021 that Virginia head coach Tony Bennett told Kispert he "needed to see Corey play more against top competition before deciding if he could play at Virginia" and that motivated him to "stick it to" Virginia in an early season game; Virginia had recruited Kispert but did not offer him a scholarship before he committed to Gonzaga. [5]

College career

As a true freshman Kispert played in all 35 of Gonzaga's games with seven starts, averaging 6.7 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. [6] He became a starter for the Bulldogs going into his sophomore season, averaging 8.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. [7] [8]

Kispert entered his junior season on the Julius Erving Award watchlist and as Gonzaga's only returning starter from the previous year. [9] [10] After scoring less than five points in his previous three games, Kispert scored 28 points and made seven of eight three point attempts on November 28, 2019, against Southern Mississippi in the opening round of the 2019 Battle 4 Atlantis. [11] He scored 26 points with five three pointers made against North Carolina in a 94–81 victory. [12] At the conclusion of the regular season, Kispert was named to the First Team All-West Coast Conference. [13] Kispert averaged 13.9 points per game as a junior. [14] Following the season, he declared for the 2020 NBA draft but did not hire an agent. [15] Kispert ultimately decided to return for his senior season on August 3. [16]

Coming into his senior season, Kispert was named to the Preseason All-West Coast Conference team. [17] He scored his 1,000th career point in the season opener against Kansas as part of a 23-point performance in the 102–90 victory. [18] On December 26, 2020, Kispert scored a career-high 32 points, tying the school record with nine three-pointers, in a 98–75 win against Virginia. [19] He led Gonzaga to a 31–1 record, its only loss coming against Baylor in the national championship game. [20] Kispert was named WCC Player of the Year and won the Julius Erving Award as the top small forward in the nation. [21] As a senior, he averaged 18.6 points and five rebounds per game. [22]

Professional career

On July 29, 2021, Kispert was drafted with the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards. [23] [24] On August 4, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Wizards. [25] Kispert made his NBA debut on October 22, scoring two points in a 135–134 overtime win over the Indiana Pacers. [26] On March 27, 2022, he scored a career-high 25 points, alongside three assists, in a 123–115 win over the Golden State Warriors. [27] Kispert played in 77 games and started 36 during his rookie campaign, averaging 8.2 points per game. [28]

On October 21, 2024, Kispert and the Wizards agreed to a four–year, $54 million contract extension. [29] [30]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames 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

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2021–22 Washington 773623.4.455.350.8712.71.1.5.38.2
2022–23 Washington 744528.3.497.424.8522.81.2.4.111.1
2023–24 Washington 802225.8.486.383.7262.82.0.5.213.4
Career23110325.8.481.388.7922.81.4.5.210.9

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2017–18 Gonzaga 35719.4.460.351.6673.2.7.3.26.7
2018–19 Gonzaga 373626.1.437.374.8754.11.0.6.58.0
2019–20 Gonzaga 333333.0.474.438.8104.02.1.9.413.9
2020–21 Gonzaga 323231.8.529.440.8785.01.8.9.418.6
Career13710827.4.483.408.8244.01.4.7.411.6

Personal life

Kispert is a Catholic. While at Gonzaga, Kispert met his girlfriend Jenn Wirth where they both played basketball. The couple got married on July 7, 2023, at the Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano, California. [31]

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References

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