Marcus Sasser

Last updated

Marcus Sasser
Marcus Sasser (cropped).jpg
Sasser with Houston in 2019
No. 25–Detroit Pistons
Position Shooting guard / point guard
League NBA
Personal information
Born (2000-09-21) September 21, 2000 (age 25)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school Red Oak (Red Oak, Texas)
College Houston (2019–2023)
NBA draft 2023: 1st round, 25th overall pick
Drafted by Memphis Grizzlies
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023–present Detroit Pistons
Career highlights
Stats at NBA.com  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Stats at Basketball Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Marcus Jerome Sasser Jr. (born September 21, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Houston Cougars.

Contents

High school career

Sasser played basketball for Red Oak High School in Red Oak, Texas under the coaching of his uncle, Jason. [1] As a senior, he was named District 14-5A most valuable player and Class 5A All-State. [2] [3] Sasser committed to playing college basketball for Houston over offers from Colorado State, SMU and UTEP. [4]

College career

After struggling at first, Sasser joined Houston's starting lineup in the second half of his freshman season. [5] On February 15, 2020, he scored a season-high 26 points in a 73–72 overtime loss to SMU. [6] As a freshman, Sasser averaged 8.1 points and shot 35.2 percent from three-point range. [7] He was named to the American Athletic Conference (AAC) All-Freshman Team. [8] In his sophomore season debut on November 25, Sasser scored 25 points, making seven three-pointers, in an 89–45 victory over Lamar. [9] On January 9, 2021, he scored 28 points with eight three-pointers in a 71–50 win over Tulane. [10] As a sophomore, Sasser averaged 13.7 points and 2.6 rebounds per game, helping Houston reach the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. [11] He was named to the Second Team All-AAC. [12] On December 24, 2021, Sasser announced that an injury to his toe would end his 2021–22 season. At the time, he led Houston with 17.7 points per game. [13]

Professional career

Detroit Pistons (2023–present)

Sasser drafted 25th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2023 NBA draft on June 22, 2023. On draft day, Sasser was involved in a three-team trade that conclusively sent him and a 2024 first-round pick (who eventually became Bub Carrington) to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Marcus Smart. During the same night, Sasser was traded to the Pistons for James Nnaji, a 2025 second-round pick (later became Noah Penda) and 2026 second-round pick. [14] This trade to the Pistons was finalized five days later on June 28. [15]

Sasser played his NBA debut on October 25, 2023 and recorded 8 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist as the Pistons suffered a one-point loss to the Miami Heat 102 - 103. [16] Sasser played in 71 games his rookie year and averaged 8.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 19 minutes per game. However, the 2023 - 2024 year would also be the worst season in Detroit Pistons' history as the team finished with 14 wins and 68 losses.

For his sophomore season, Sasser's playing time decreased as he played in only 57 games and averaged 14.2 minutes per game. Thus, his other stats decreased across the board down from his rookie season to 6.6 points, 1.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists. [17] The Pistons improved their record by 30 wins to 44 - 38 and reached the playoffs, facing the New York Knicks in the first round. However, Sasser would not see any playing time during the entire series and the Pistons were eventually eliminated in 6 games.

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
2023–24 Detroit 711119.0.428.375.8791.83.3.6.28.3
2024–25 Detroit 57114.2.463.382.8431.22.3.6.16.6
Career1281216.9.441.378.8631.52.9.6.17.5

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2019–20 Houston 301723.8.363.352.7582.41.7.6.18.1
2020–21 Houston 292831.9.380.335.8522.62.21.4.013.7
2021–22 Houston 121232.0.437.437.7442.82.62.2.117.7
2022–23 Houston 363630.8.438.384.8482.83.11.6.216.8
Career1079329.3.406.369.8242.72.41.3.113.6

Personal life

Sasser's father, Marcus Sr., played basketball for Frank Phillips College. His uncles, Jeryl and Jason, were All-American college players and played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). [1] Sasser's great-grandfather, John Barber, played in the NBA. [18]

References

  1. 1 2 Duarte, Joseph (February 14, 2020). "Houston freshman Marcus Sasser carries on family legacy". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Dallas-area all-district boys basketball teams: See MVPs, Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year and more". The Dallas Morning News . March 21, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  3. ↑ Gosset, Brian (March 17, 2019). "Check out which high school boys and girls basketball players from DFW made TABC All-State". Fort Worth Star-Telegram . Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  4. ↑ Gardner, Kris (September 25, 2018). "Marcus Sasser Jr. commits to Houston Cougars". The Houston Roundball Review. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  5. ↑ Duarte, Joseph (January 28, 2020). "Marcus Sasser travels uphill road to become UH starter". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  6. ↑ Duarte, Joseph (February 21, 2020). "Future of UH basketball: Caleb Mills and Marcus Sasser". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  7. ↑ Mueller, James (November 3, 2020). "Conquering the third lap: How Marcus Sasser has taken the next step as both a player and leader". The Daily Cougar . Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  8. ↑ Romero, Jhair (March 10, 2020). "Caleb Mills, Nate Hinton among Cougars on All-AAC teams". The Daily Cougar . Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  9. ↑ Mason, Jala (November 25, 2020). "UH routs Lamar behind Marcus Sasser's dominant outing". The Daily Cougar . Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Sasser scores 28, No. 11 Houston beats Tulane 71-50". ESPN . Associated Press. January 9, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  11. ↑ Duarte, Joseph (November 9, 2021). "Breaking it down: Houston vs. Hofstra basketball season opener". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  12. ↑ "American Athletic Conference Announces Men's Basketball Honors". American Athletic Conference . March 10, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  13. ↑ Medcalf, Myron (December 24, 2021). "Houston Cougars' Marcus Sasser done for season with toe injury". ESPN . Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  14. ↑ Sankofa II, Omari; Alter, Marlowe (June 22, 2023). "Detroit Pistons trade up for Houston's Marcus Sasser with No. 25 pick in NBA draft 2023". Detroit Free Press . Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  15. ↑ https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2023/06/22/detroit-pistons-trade-marcus-sasser-nba-draft-boston-celtics/70346726007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z114230d00----v114230b0047xxd004765&gca-ft=140&gca-ds=sophi
  16. ↑ https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202310250MIA.html
  17. ↑ https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sassema01.html
  18. ↑ Russell, Keith (March 26, 2021). "Former Red Oak Star Marcus Sasser Has Houston In Sweet 16 And Basketball In His Blood". CBS News. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
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