Dink Pate

Last updated
Dink Pate
Mexico City Capitanes
Position Point guard / Small forward
League NBA G League
Personal information
Born (2006-03-10) March 10, 2006 (age 18)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school L. G. Pinkston (West Dallas, Texas)
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023–2024 NBA G League Ignite
2024–present Mexico City Capitanes
Career highlights and awards

Dink Pate (born March 10, 2006) is an American professional basketball player for the Mexico City Capitanes of the NBA G League. He became the youngest professional basketball player in U.S. history after joining the NBA G League Ignite.

Contents

Early life and high school career

A native of Dallas, Texas, Pate played primarily point guard at L. G. Pinkston High School in West Dallas. In his last season, he averaged 20.3 points and was the named the 2022–2023 District 13-4A Most Valuable Player. He was also named to the 2022–2023 University Interscholastic League Boys 4A All-Region Team and All-State Team. [1]

Wanting to focus full time on basketball, Pate graduated from Pinkston a year early and continued his education by enrolling in online classes created by the NBA G League at Arizona State. [1]

Recruiting

Rated as a five-star prospect by ESPN, Pate announced he would forgo playing college basketball and instead play professionally for NBA G League Ignite after reclassifying to the 2023 class. [2] He would have enrolled at Alabama or Arkansas had he not have joined Ignite. [1]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeightCommit date
Dink Pate
SG
Dallas, TX West Dallas (TX)6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)210 lb (95 kg) 
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: 4 stars.svg     247Sports: 4 stars.svg     ESPN: 5 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 88
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 35   247Sports: 30   ESPN: 30
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2023 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.

Professional career

NBA G League Ignite (2023–2024)

On April 17, 2023, Pate signed a two-year contract with the NBA G League Ignite. By joining Ignite, he became the youngest known professional basketball player in U.S. history, surpassing Scoot Henderson by five weeks. [3] On February 27, 2024, Pate scored a career-high 16 points along with 9 assists against the Texas Legends. [4]

After the shutting down of the NBA G League Ignite on March 28, 2024, Pate was suggested to have had a waiver request to enter the 2024 NBA draft due to the team's closure and having turned 18 during the season, but he was denied entry to the draft that year. [5]

Mexico City Capitanes (2024–present)

On July 3, 2024, Pate signed with the Mexico City Capitanes. [6]

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 G League

Dink Pate NBA G League statistics
YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2023–24 G League Ignite 312023.6.347.214.7272.93.8.6.18.0
Career312023.6.347.214.7272.93.8.6.18.0

Related Research Articles

The NBA G League, or simply the G League, is the official minor league organization of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The league was known as the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) from 2001 to 2005, and the NBA Development League from 2005 to 2017. The league started with eight teams until NBA commissioner David Stern announced a plan to expand the NBA D-League to 15 teams and develop it into a true minor league farm system, with each NBA D-League team affiliated with one or more NBA teams in March 2005. At the conclusion of the 2013–14 NBA season, 33% of NBA players had spent time in the NBA D-League, up from 23% in 2011. As of the 2024–25 season, the league consists of 31 teams, 30 of which are either single-affiliated or owned by an NBA team, along with the Mexico City Capitanes independent team. Within the G League, players can get a contract from an NBA team and land themselves an official roster spot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C. J. Miles</span> American basketball player (born 1987)

Calvin Andre "C. J." Miles Jr. is an American former professional basketball player who played for the NBA. A native of Dallas, Miles was drafted in 2005 by the Utah Jazz after finishing high school.

Danilo Agustin "J. R." Pinnock is an American-Panamanian professional basketball player. His parents are natives of Panama.

L.G. Pinkston High School is a public secondary school in West Dallas, Texas (USA). L.G. Pinkston High School enrolls students in grades 7-12 and is a part of the Dallas Independent School District (DISD).

Tony LaShae Mitchell Jr. is an American professional basketball player. He competed in college for North Texas. Mitchell is 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m), weighs 235 pounds and plays the forward position. Mitchell was selected in the 2013 NBA draft in the second round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Stockton</span> American basketball player (born 1991)

David James Stockton is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Capitanes de Arecibo of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). He played college basketball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs and is the son of Hall of Fame point guard John Stockton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Bradley (basketball)</span> American basketball player (born 1998)

Tony Lee Bradley Jr. is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Texas Legends of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the University of North Carolina (UNC). A 6'11 center, Bradley was a primary substitute for the Tar Heels' 2017 NCAA championship team. He was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 28th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft but traded to the Utah Jazz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mexico City Capitanes</span> Mexican basketball club

The Mexico City Capitanes are a Mexican professional basketball team based in Mexico City. The Capitanes competed as a member club in the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP) for the first three seasons and the franchise is currently a member of the NBA G League. The team plays their home games in the Mexico City Arena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Wright-Foreman</span> American basketball player (born 1997)

Justin Jamel Wright-Foreman is an American professional basketball player for the Winnipeg Sea Bears of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). He played college basketball for the Hofstra Pride. He was drafted by the Utah Jazz with the 53rd overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Howard (basketball)</span> American basketball player (born 1996)

Jordan Isaiah Howard is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player for the Ningbo Rockets of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He played college basketball for Central Arkansas. He represents Puerto Rico on the men's national basketball team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Braxton Key</span> American basketball player (born 1997)

Braxton Key is an American professional basketball player who last played 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. He played college basketball for the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Virginia Cavaliers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Kuminga</span> Congolese basketball player (born 2002)

Jonathan Malangu Kuminga is a Congolese professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A consensus five-star recruit and the top small forward in the 2021 class, he chose to forgo his college eligibility and reclassify to the 2020 class to join the NBA G League Ignite. Kuminga finished his high school career at The Patrick School in Hillside, New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mason Jones (basketball)</span> American basketball player

Mason Christopher Jones is an American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Stockton Kings of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Connors State Cowboys and the Arkansas Razorbacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Admon Gilder</span> American basketball player (born 1995)

Admon Amon Gilder Jr. is an American professional basketball player for Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez for the French LNB Pro B. He played college basketball for the Texas A&M Aggies and the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlik Jones</span> South Sudanese-American basketball player (born 1997)

Carlik Anthony Jones is an American-born naturalized South Sudanese professional basketball player for Partizan Mozzart Bet of the ABA League, Basketball League of Serbia (KLS) and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the Radford Highlanders and the Louisville Cardinals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NBA G League Ignite</span> Basketball team in Henderson, Nevada

The NBA G League Ignite were a developmental basketball team in the NBA G League. Originally based in Walnut Creek, California, with home games planned to have been played at the Ultimate Fieldhouse for their first two seasons before moving to Henderson, Nevada for their final two seasons of existence, the team was designed to play exhibition games outside the G League's traditional scheduling as part of a one-year development program for elite National Basketball Association (NBA) prospects. Unlike other NBA G League rosters, its roster was primarily made up of both talented young prospects and veteran players meant to guide the younger prospects. The NBA G League Ignite was created on April 16, 2020, and was touted as an alternative to college basketball at the time, offering the young prospects salaries of up to $500,000 for time spent with them at a time when an average G League contract would be of lesser value by comparison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaden Hardy</span> American basketball player (born 2002)

Jaden Amere Hardy is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2021 class.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Overtime Elite</span> Basketball league based in Georgia, US

Overtime Elite is a basketball league for 16–20-year-olds, based in Atlanta, Georgia. The league is owned and operated by Overtime and was founded by Dan Porter and Zack Weiner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Walsh</span> American basketball player (born 2004)

Jordan E. Walsh is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks. He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2022 class. As a rookie with the 2023–24 Boston Celtics, Walsh won a NBA championship as a reserve.

Ronald Dewayne Holland II is an American professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2023 class.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Recruit Dink Pate signs with NBA's G League Ignite program". ESPN.com. April 17, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  2. Sam, Doric (April 17, 2023). "Dink Pate Picks G-League over Alabama, Arkansas; Youngest US-Born Pro Ever". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  3. "Texas High School Standout Dink Pate Signs With Ignite". NBA.com. April 17, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  4. "Ignite Opens Seven-Game Road Trip With Loss To Legends, 132-111". NBA.com. February 27, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  5. "A Look at Dink Pate, the Ignite Guard Attempting to Enter the 2024 Draft After G League Program's Dissolution". SI.com. April 9, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  6. Chávez, Eduardo (July 3, 2024). "CAPITANES ANUNCIA LA INCOPORACIÓN DE DINK PATE". Capitanes.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved July 13, 2024.