Braxton Key
![]() Key in February 2019 | |
Free agent | |
---|---|
Position | Power forward / small forward |
Personal information | |
Born | Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. | February 14, 1997
Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | |
College | |
NBA draft | 2020: undrafted |
Playing career | 2021–present |
Career history | |
2021–2022 | Delaware Blue Coats |
2022 | Philadelphia 76ers |
2022 | Detroit Pistons |
2022 | →Motor City Cruise |
2023 | Delaware Blue Coats |
2023 | Vaqueros de Bayamón |
2023–2024 | Denver Nuggets |
2023–2024 | →Grand Rapids Gold |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Braxton Key (born February 14, 1997) 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.
Early life and high school career
[edit]Key is the nephew of NBA player Ralph Sampson, who starred at the University of Virginia.[1][2] Key's father Eric Key played at Radford University. Under his childhood surname of Blackwell,[3] Key played three seasons with Christ Presbyterian Academy, leading the team to a state title in 2013 and winning TSSAA's Mr. Basketball award in 2014 and 2015.[4] He then transferred to Oak Hill Academy for his senior year, where he played under his father's surname for the first time and led the team to a 45–1 record and national championship.[5][6]
College career
[edit]Key averaged a team-high 12 points and 5.7 rebounds per game as a freshman at Alabama. He scored a season-high 26 points against Georgia and was named to the All-SEC Freshman team.[6] As a sophomore, Key averaged 7.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.4 blocks per game. He was hobbled by a knee injury that forced him to miss some playing time.[7]
After the season, Key transferred to Virginia and was granted an immediate eligibility waiver by the NCAA.[7] In the 2018–19 season, Key won a national championship at Virginia, scoring six points, pulling down 10 rebounds and blocking one shot in the title game against Texas Tech.[8] Key averaged 5.7 points and 5.3 rebounds as a junior, starting six games.[9] Key had surgery for a wrist injury in November 2019 and missed several games.[10] He returned to action on December 18 against Stony Brook.[11] At the conclusion of the regular season, Key was named All-ACC Honorable Mention.[12] As a senior, Key averaged 9.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.[13]
Professional career
[edit]Delaware Blue Coats (2021–2022)
[edit]After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft, Key joined the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League in January 2021, after being selected in the G League draft.[14] On March 2, he posted a season-high 19 points to go with five rebounds, two assists, two steals two blocks in a 120–92 win over the NBA G League Ignite.[15]
On October 13, 2021, Key signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, but was waived the same day.[16] On October 25, he re-signed with Delaware.[17] In 43 career NBA G League games, he averaged 14.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks in 23.7 minutes.[18]
Philadelphia 76ers (2022)
[edit]On January 5, 2022, Key signed a 10-day contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.[19] Key appeared in two games for the 76ers, scoring two points in six total minutes. After his 10-day contract expired, Key was reacquired by the Delaware Blue Coats.[20]
Detroit Pistons / Motor City Cruise (2022)
[edit]On March 24, 2022, Key signed a 10-day contract with the Detroit Pistons.[21] On April 3, he signed a two-way contract.[18] On December 26, 2022, Key was waived.[22]
Second stint with Delaware (2023)
[edit]On January 1, 2023, Key was re-acquired by the Delaware Blue Coats,[23] and eventually helped the team win the NBA G League title.[24]
Vaqueros de Bayamón (2023)
[edit]On April 14, 2023, Key signed with Vaqueros de Bayamón of the Puerto Rican league.[25] He was released on May 31.[26]
Denver Nuggets / Grand Rapids Gold (2023–2024)
[edit]Braxton Key signed with the Dallas Mavericks for the NBA 2K24 Summer League. On July 18, 2023, Key signed a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets.[27]
Career statistics
[edit]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
[edit]Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021–22 | Philadelphia | 2 | 0 | 3.2 | .500 | .000 | — | 1.0 | .5 | .5 | .0 | 1.0 |
2021–22 | Detroit | 9 | 0 | 21.2 | .457 | .300 | .538 | 5.3 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 8.6 |
2022–23 | Detroit | 3 | 0 | 3.0 | 1.000 | — | 1.000 | .3 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 1.3 |
2023–24 | Denver | 20 | 0 | 3.0 | .412 | .400 | .750 | .9 | .5 | .1 | .1 | 1.1 |
Career | 34 | 0 | 7.8 | .456 | .308 | .652 | 2.0 | .6 | .4 | .4 | 3.1 |
College
[edit]Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016–17 | Alabama | 34 | 30 | 29.8 | .433 | .330 | .634 | 5.7 | 2.5 | .6 | .6 | 12.0 |
2017–18 | Alabama | 26 | 17 | 25.2 | .409 | .250 | .667 | 5.3 | 1.8 | 1.0 | .4 | 7.0 |
2018–19 | Virginia | 38 | 6 | 19.8 | .433 | .305 | .731 | 5.3 | 1.0 | .9 | .6 | 5.7 |
2019–20 | Virginia | 27 | 25 | 33.6 | .435 | .185 | .584 | 7.4 | 1.8 | 1.2 | .6 | 9.9 |
Career | 125 | 78 | 26.6 | .429 | .274 | .645 | 5.8 | 1.8 | .9 | .6 | 8.6 |
References
[edit]- ^ Needelman, Josh (April 9, 2019). "Virginia's Braxton Key shares special moment with cousin Ralph Sampson after winning national title". The Daily Progress. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
- ^ Wood, Norm (January 8, 2019). "Key finding his niche for U.Va., which plays Wednesday night at Boston College". Daily Press. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
- ^ Murphy, Michael (October 21, 2015). "Braxton (Blackwell) Key commits to Alabama". The Tennessean. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
- ^ "Christ Presbyterian Lions Championship History". TSSAAsports.com. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
- ^ Doughty, Doug (June 29, 2018). "Plenty of Virginia ties drew men's basketball transfer Braxton Key to the Cavaliers". Roanoke Times. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
- ^ a b "Virginia guard Braxton Key granted NCAA waiver, is eligible to play immediately". The Daily Progress. October 22, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
- ^ a b Boone, Kyle (October 22, 2018). "Why No. 5 Virginia got immediate eligibility for Alabama transfer Braxton Key". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
- ^ Needelman, Josh (April 9, 2019). "Virginia's Braxton Key shares special moment with cousin Ralph Sampson after winning national title". The Daily Progress. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
- ^ Flaherty, Kevin (October 29, 2019). "Virginia's Braxton Key tapped as potential breakout player". 247 Sports. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
- ^ "Virginia's Braxton Key out of lineup following wrist surgery". ESPN. November 27, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
- ^ Conlin, Bennett (December 18, 2019). "Braxton Key returns as No. 9 Virginia turns away upset-minded Stony Brook". The Daily Progress. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
- ^ "2020 ACC Men's Basketball Award Winners Announced". theacc.com. Atlantic Coast Conference. March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
- ^ Darney, Caroline Darney (March 9, 2020). "Diakite, Clark, and Key represent Virginia on All-ACC teams". Streaking the Lawn. SB Nation. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- ^ "Blue Coats Announce 2021 Roster". NBA.com. January 14, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
- ^ "BLUE COATS BEAT NBA G LEAGUE IGNITE FOR EIGHTH WIN". WITN22.org. March 2, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
- ^ Adams, Luke (October 13, 2021). "Sixers Sign, Waive Jared Brownridge, Braxton Key". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ Delaware Blue Coats [@blue_coats] (October 25, 2021). "Let's go Camping. #TrainingCamp" (Tweet). Retrieved December 19, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "DETROIT PISTONS SIGN BRAXTON KEY TO A TWO-WAY CONTRACT". NBA.com. April 3, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ^ Levick, Noah (January 5, 2022). "Sixers signing versatile Braxton Key to 10-day deal as Reed enters protocols". NBC Sports. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
- ^ "2021–22 NBA G League transactions". NBA.com. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ^ "DETROIT PISTONS SIGN BRAXTON KEY TO A 10-DAY CONTRACT". NBA.com. March 24, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
- ^ "Pistons' Jared Rhoden: Signed by Detroit". cbssports.com. December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
- ^ "2022–23 NBA G League Transactions". gleague.nba.com. December 31, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ Levick, Noah (April 7, 2023). "Delaware Blue Coats win G League championship; Jaden Springer named Finals MVP". NBCSports.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ La Guerra del BSN [@LaGuerraBSN] (April 14, 2023). "#BSNPR OFICIAL: El delantero Braxton Key es el nuevo refuerzo de los Vaqueros de Bayamón en sustitución del lesionado Jamil Wilson" (Tweet). Retrieved April 19, 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ "International and G League transactions log 2023–24: Where are former NBA players going?". HoopsHype. May 5, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
- ^ "NUGGETS SIGN GILLESPIE, HUFF AND KEY TO TWO-WAY CONTRACTS". NBA.com. July 18, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.