Josh Gray (basketball)

Josh Gray

Gray with the LSU Tigers in 2015
Shijiazhuang Xianglan
Position	Point guard
League	National Basketball League
Personal information
Born	(1993-09-09) September 9, 1993 (age 31) Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight	168 lb (76 kg)
Career information
High school	Washington-Marion (Lake Charles, Louisiana) Christian Life (Houston, Texas) Wheatley (Houston, Texas)
College	Texas Tech (2012–2013) Odessa (2013–2014) LSU (2014–2016)
NBA draft	2016: undrafted
Playing career	2016–present
Career history
2016–2018	Northern Arizona Suns
2018	Phoenix Suns
2018	Northern Arizona Suns
2018–2019	Changwon LG Sakers
2019–2020	New Orleans Pelicans
2019–2020	→Erie Bayhawks
2021	Fort Wayne Mad Ants
2021–2022	Long Island Nets
2022–2023	Lokomotiv Kuban
2023	Real Betis
2023–2024	Heidelberg
2024–present	Shijiazhuang Xianglan
Career highlights and awards
NBA G League Scoring Leader (2020)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference

Joshia Gray (born September 9, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for Shijiazhuang Xianglan of the National Basketball League. He previously played for the Long Island Nets of the NBA G League, as well college basketball for Texas Tech, Odessa College and LSU.

Early life

Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Gray had a difficult time growing up, losing his mother when he was 16 and getting trouble with the law as a teenager, being arrested multiple times, forcing him to bounce from school to school. ^[1]

Gray first attended Washington-Marion Magnet High School, leading them to the 2010 Louisiana Class 4A State Semifinals in his sophomore season. As a junior, he transferred to Christian Life Center Academy, where he averaged 20 points per game and led them to a 20–4 record. In his senior season, he transferred to Wheatley High School where he averaged 24 points, six assists and three steals and led them to the Class 4A playoffs. ^[2]

College career

Gray began his college career at Texas Tech, averaging 26.7 minutes per game, 9.3 points, 3.2 assists and 2.5 steals as a freshman. In his sophomore season, he transferred to Odessa College, averaging 34.7 points, 5.9 assists and 2.7 steals, earning First Team JC All-America honors and the conference MVP. ^[2]

As a junior, he transferred to LSU and was able to play immediately for them due to Odessa being a junior college. He would then average 7.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists as a junior and 5.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists as a senior, with the latter season having eventual #1 pick Ben Simmons as a teammate that year. ^{[1] [2]}

Professional career

Northern Arizona Suns (2016–2018)

After going undrafted in the 2016 NBA draft, Gray tried out with the Orlando Magic in the 2016 NBA Summer League. Gray was then acquired by the Northern Arizona Suns on October 31, 2016, after multiple successful local tryouts, which included paid tryouts with the Los Angeles D-Fenders and Austin Spurs. ^[3] On November 12, he made his professional debut in a 121–104 win over the Iowa Energy, recording 13 points, three rebounds and three assists in 18 minutes off the bench. ^[4] On November 27, he recorded his first career triple-double after posting 24 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists in a 98–89 win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce. ^[5]

Phoenix Suns (2018)

On February 1, 2018, after Isaiah Canaan fractured his fibula the previous night against the Dallas Mavericks, the Phoenix Suns signed Gray to a 10-day contract ^[6] to help shore up the point guard spot a bit. ^[7] He made his debut a day later, recording 7 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist in 8 minutes of play in a blowout loss to the Utah Jazz. Gray would put up season-highs of 9 points and a team-high 7 assists in a February 6 blowout loss to the San Antonio Spurs. He would sign his second 10-day contract on February 11 before being waived on February 21 for Shaquille Harrison. ^[8] He returned to Northern Arizona afterwards.

Changwon LG Sakers (2018–2019)

On August 18, 2018, Changwon LG Sakers of the Korean Basketball League was reported to have signed Gray. ^[9]

New Orleans Pelicans (2019–2020)

In July 2019, Gray joined the Brooklyn Nets for the 2019 NBA Summer League. On July 25, the New Orleans Pelicans announced that Gray had signed a two-way contract. ^[10] Gray averaged 22.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 2.4 steals per game in 37 games in the G League. ^[11]

On November 24, 2020, Gray was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, ^[12] but was then waived on December 1, 2020. ^[13] On December 18, 2020, Gray signed with the Indiana Pacers ^[14] but was waived on the next day. ^[15]

Fort Wayne Mad Ants (2021)

On January 11, 2021, Gray was included in the single site season roster by the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. ^[16]

Long Island Nets (2021–2022)

On September 23, 2021, the Long Island Nets announced that they had acquired the returning right to Gray from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants for the returning right to Justin Anderson. ^[17] On October 10, 2021, Gray signed with the Brooklyn Nets, ^[18] but was waived the next day. ^[19] On October 25, 2021, Gray was included in the training camp roster of the Long Island Nets. ^[20] On January 27, 2022, Gray was waived. ^[21]

Lokomotiv Kuban (2022–2023)

In 2022, Gray signed with Lokomotiv Kuban of the VTB United League. ^{[22] [23]}

Real Betis (2023)

On January 27, 2023, he signed with Real Betis of the Liga ACB. ^[24]

Personal life

The son of Charnella Robinson and Noah Gray Sr., he has one son, Kayson, as well as four brothers: Novon, Travon, Joseph and Noah Jr. Gray graduated with a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies. ^[2]

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

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2017–18	Phoenix	5	0	17.2	.268	.231	.636	2.0	2.4	1.6	0.4	6.4
2019–20	New Orleans	2	0	11.5	.500	–	–	1.0	1.0	.0	.0	1.0
Career		7	0	15.6	.279	.231	.636	1.7	2.0	1.1	0.3	4.9

College

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2012–13	Texas Tech	31	31	26.7	.363	.188	.697	2.5	3.2	2.0	.1	9.3
2014–15	LSU	31	20	24.8	.396	.264	.583	2.1	3.8	1.0	.0	7.1
2015–16	LSU	32	9	15.5	.440	.211	.650	2.1	1.8	1.0	.0	5.4
Career		94	60	22.3	.392	.216	.651	2.2	2.9	1.3	.0	7.3

References

1. Genessy, Jody (June 15, 2016). "Jazz hopefuls Josh Gray, Brannen Greene have some crazy stories to tell". DeseretNews.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
2. "Josh Gray Bio". LSUSports.net. Archived from the original on February 16, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
3. "Northern Arizona Suns Set Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. October 31, 2016. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
4. "Suns cruise past Energy to open inaugural season". NBA.com. November 12, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
5. "Sioux Fall Skyforce 89 – Northern Arizona Suns 98". G-League Stats. November 27, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
6. "Phoenix Suns Sign Josh Gray to 10-Day Contract". NBA.com. February 2, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
7. "Suns sign NAZ point guard Josh Gray to 10-day contract". February 2, 2018.
8. "Suns sign guard Josh Gray to second 10-day contract". February 12, 2018.
9. "LG Sakers ink Joshia Gray". asia-basket.com. August 18, 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
10. "Pelicans sign Cheatham and Gray to two-way contracts". NBA.com. July 24, 2019. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
11. Shipp, Sonny (May 26, 2020). "Former LSU Tigers nearing a return to NBA action". 247 Sports. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
12. "Thunder Acquires George Hill, Zylan Cheatham, Josh Gray, Darius Miller, Kenrich Williams, One First and Two Second-Round Draft Picks and a Trade Exception". NBA.com. November 24, 2020.
13. "Thunder Waives Josh Gray". Oklahoma City Thunder. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
14. "Pacers Roster Moves – Dec. 18, 2020". NBA.com. December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
15. "Pacers Waive Three". NBA.com. December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
16. "Fort Wayne Mad Ants' announce 2021 roster for single site season". NBA.com. January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
17. "Long Island Nets acquire returning player rights to Josh Gray". NBA.com. September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
18. Shaw, JD (October 10, 2021). "Nets Sign Bryce Brown, Josh Gray; Waive Edmond Sumner". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
19. Adams, Luke (October 11, 2021). "Nets Waive Bryce Brown, Josh Gray". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
20. "Long Island Nets announce training camp roster". NBA.com. October 25, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
21. "2021–22 NBA G League Transactions". gleague.nba.com. January 27, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
22. "Lokomotiv Lands Joshua Gray". November 9, 2022.
23. "Former NBA player signed a contract with the Russian club". November 11, 2022.
24. Borghesan, Ennio Terrasi (January 27, 2023). "Real Betis officially adds Josh Gray". Sportando. Retrieved January 27, 2023.

External links

• LSU Tigers bio Archived 2019-02-16 at the Wayback Machine
• Texas Tech Red Raiders bio
• Sports-Reference profile
• The Inspiring Journey of Suns Josh Gray