Billy Baron

Baron born in Altoona, Pennsylvania,{{cite web |title=Billy Baron - Men's Basketball |url=https://gogriffs.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/billy-baron/4148 |website=Canisius College Athletics |access-date=26 September 2024}} attended and played high school basketball at Bishop Hendricken High School, in Warwick, Rhode Island, and at Worcester Academy, in Worcester, Massachusetts.

In November 2010, it was announced that Baron was going to be joining University of Virginia for his freshman season.{{cite web |title=Cavaliers Open Season At Home Against William & Mary On Friday |url=https://virginiasports.com/news/2010/11/12/cavaliers-open-season-at-home-against-william-amp-mary-on-friday/ |website=Virginia Cavaliers Official Athletic Site |access-date=14 October 2024 |date=12 November 2010}}

On February 3, 2011, it was announced that Baron was leaving the Virginia men's basketball program and was planning on transferring to University of Rhode Island that semester where his father was the men's head basketball coach. He had played in 17 games and averaged 3 points.{{cite web |title=Billy Baron Leaving Virginia Basketball Program |url=https://virginiasports.com/news/2011/02/03/billy-baron-leaving-virginia-basketball-program/ |website=Virginia Cavaliers Official Athletic Site |access-date=14 October 2024 |date=3 February 2011}}

On June 2012, Baron decided to leave the program after his father was fired as coach.{{cite web |title=Billy Baron leaving URI a few months after dad's firing |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/billy-baron-leaving-uri-a-few-months-after-dads-firing/ |website=CBSSports.com |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=en |date=20 June 2012}} He had two years eligibility remaining at whichever school he chose. In 20 games with Rhode Island, Baron averaged 13 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.{{cite web |title=Billy Baron leaves Rhode Island two months after his father’s firing |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger-college-basketball-blog/billy-baron-leaves-rhode-island-two-months-father-185756911--ncaab.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAABmMjC7D2Dq5RUlYp3QPHorLR0OOko--dYcYRowFQuxONHfnM-VoWLLebFWg48vbiHj-np-25UhTdKCwDGZK7JuyxyWzVCRoscJ2rNSVms1IIRo4IoZUYxKy4iMQTT8-PLFFS2phtyLChRx8Ji6Xf3q18-RxVhKWj9_onqfuG8Q |website=Yahoo Sports |access-date=14 October 2024 |date=19 June 2012}}

In July 2012, Baron followed his father to Canisius College to finish out his collegiate career.{{cite web |title=Report: Former URI guard Billy Baron to play for father at Canisius |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/college-basketball/news/report-former-uri-guard-billy-baron-to-play-for-father-at-canisius |website=NBC Sports |access-date=14 October 2024 |date=5 July 2012}}

In August 2012, Canisius announced that Baron had submitted the necessary paperwork to enroll at Canisius. Additionally, Canisius waiver to allow Baron's immediate eligibility for the fall of 2012 was granted by the NCAA.{{cite web |title=Billy Baron Joins Men's Basketball Program |url=https://gogriffs.com/news/2012/8/14/205588423.aspx |website=Canisius University Athletics |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=en |date=14 August 2012}}

During the 2012-2013 season, he played in 34 games, making 33 starts. He was named to the All-MAAC First Team and became the first Griff to earn that distinction since Darren Fenn in 1999-2000. Baron scored a total of 584 points, the most for a Canisius player in 28 seasons. He led the team and ranked third in the MAAC with his 17.2 points per game. He also led the MAAC with 5 assists per game, which ranked 62nd nationally. Baron was named the Canisius Male Student Athlete of the Year.

During the 2013-2014 season, Baron was an AP All-America Honorable Mention, just the fourth player in program history to earn All-America honors. He was named the Pepsi MAAC Player of the year and earned All-MAAC First Team honors for the second straight season. Baron played in 34 games and started in 34 games. He led the team and ranked second in the MAAC with 24.1 points per game. He is the third Canisius player to average better than 24 points per game for a season. Baron was the first male athlete at Canisius to win the Male Athlete of the Year award in back-to-back academic years.{{cite web |title=Billy Baron - Men's Basketball |url=https://gogriffs.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/billy-baron/4148 |website=Canisius University Athletics |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=en}}

In June 2014, it was announced that Baron would be joining the Chicago Bulls for NBA Summer League after going undrafted.{{cite web |last1=Bell |first1=Ken |title=Report: Billy Baron To Join Chicago Bulls Summer League Team |url=https://www.abc6.com/report-billy-baron-to-join-chicago-bulls-summer-league-team/ |website=ABC6 |access-date=14 October 2024 |date=27 June 2014}} He played in 5 games and averaged 5.6 points, 2.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game.

On July 22nd, 2014, Baron announced that he had signed a contract with BC Rytas of Lietuvos krepšinio lyga.{{cite web |title=Baron Signs Contract with BC Lietuvos Rytas |url=https://gogriffs.com/news/2014/7/22/209600544 |website=Canisius University Athletics |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=en |date=22 July 2014}}

In June 2015, Baron became a member of the Detroit Pistons NBA Summer League team.{{cite web |title=Baron to Play for Detroit in NBA Summer League |url=https://gogriffs.com/news/2015/6/22/210164389 |website=Canisius University Athletics |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=en |date=22 June 2015}} He played in 2 games and averaged 4 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist.

In August 2015, Baron signed with Spirou Charleroi where he joined his brother who was signed to the same team.{{cite web |last1=McNamara |first1=Kevin |title=Baron brothers backcourt finally comes to fruition in Belgium |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/sports/2015/08/06/baron-brothers-backcourt-finally-comes/33728902007/ |website=The Providence Journal |access-date=14 October 2024}}

In July 2016, Baron signed with UCAM Murcia CB.{{cite web |title=Billy Baron UCAM Murcia’ya Katılıyor |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/tr/eurocup-tr/284978/billy-baron-ucam-murciaya-katiliyor/ |website=Eurohoops |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=tr |date=21 July 2016}}

In July 2017, Baron signed with Eskişehir Basket.{{cite web |last1=Özcan |first1=Kemal Rutkay |title=Nesinecom Eskişehir Basket'in en son transferi Billy Baron! |url=https://trendbasket.net/nesinecom-eskisehir-basketin-en-son-transferi-billy-baron/ |website=Basketbol Haberleri |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=tr |date=19 July 2017}}

On July 14, 2018, Baron signed with KK Crvena zvezda. He became the first signing of the club for the season.{{cite web |title=Billy Baron signed with Crvena Zvezda |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/eurocup/711802/billy-baron-signed-with-crvena-zvezda/# |website=Eurohoops |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=en |date=14 July 2018}}

On June 10, 2019, Baron extending his contract with the team to stay for a second season. In his previous season, he helped the team win the ABA League and clinch a spot in the 2019-2020 EuroLeague by averaging 11.6 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game.{{cite web |title=Billy Baron to extend contract with Crvena Zvezda |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/891063/billy-baron-to-extend-contract-with-crvena-zvezda/ |website=Eurohoops |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=en |date=10 June 2019}}

On July 15, 2020, Baron signed a two year deal with BC Zenit Saint Petersburg of the VTB United League after finishing the 2019-2020 season with an average of 11.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.{{cite web |title=Zenit signs Billy Baron to two-year deal |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1081089/zenit-signs-billy-baron-to-two-year-deal/ |website=Eurohoops |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=en |date=15 July 2020}}

On July 2, 2021, Baron and the club decided to commit for one extra year ahead of time. During the 2020-2021 season, he was recognized as MVP of September-October in the league. He played 25 matches in the tournament and averaged 10.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists.{{cite web |title=Billy Baron and Zenit add another year to the contract |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1224840/billy-baron-and-zenit-agree-add-another-year-to-the-contract/ |website=Eurohoops |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=en |date=2 July 2021}}

On December 31, 2021, Baron was named the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 18 MVP after leading his team by scoring 25 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds.{{cite web |title=Billy Baron earns EuroLeague MVP of the Week award |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1290205/billy-baron-named-euroleague-round-18-mvp/ |website=Eurohoops |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=en |date=31 December 2021}}

On June 28, 2022, Baron signed with Olimpia Milano of Lega Basket.{{cite web |title=Billy Baron signs a deal with Olimpia Milano |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1362765/billy-baron-signs-a-deal-with-olimpia-milano/ |website=Eurohoops |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=en |date=28 June 2022}}

In November 2022, Baron suffered a hamstring injury in his left thigh after a game against Real Madrid which had him sidelined for two weeks.{{cite web |title=Milan’s Billy Baron sidelined for at least two weeks |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1414941/olimpia-milano-sidelines-billy-baron-for-at-least-two-weeks-euroleague/ |website=Eurohoops |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=en |date=4 November 2022}}

In May 2023, Baron was named Eurobasket.com All-Euroleague Honorable Mention.{{cite web |title=Eurobasket.com All-Euroleague Awards 2023 |url=https://www.eurobasket.com/Euroleague/news/811111/Eurobasket.com-All-Euroleague-Awards-2023 |website=www.eurobasket.com |access-date=14 October 2024}}

In June 2023, Baron underwent surgery in his right elbow one day after helping his team in the best of seven finals of the league.{{cite web |title=Billy Baron undergoes elbow surgery |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1521532/billy-baron-right-elbow-surgery-olimpia-milan-euroleague/ |website=Eurohoops |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=en |date=25 June 2023}} In October 2023, Baron had to undergo another surgery on his right elbow followed by a six-week rehabilitation period.{{cite web |title=Billy Baron requires another surgery on his right elbow |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1561896/billy-baron-requires-another-surgery-on-his-right-elbow/ |website=Eurohoops |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=en |date=5 October 2023}} In February 2024, Baron was sidelined indefinitely after undergoing treatment and more evaluations for his injury. In January 2024, he had been ruled out for two to three weeks following more medical tests on his elblow.{{cite web |title=Olimpia Milan labels injured Billy Baron as indefinitely out |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1629037/olimpia-milan-sidelines-billy-baron-indefinitely-euroleague/ |website=Eurohoops |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=en |date=14 February 2024}} In March 2024, Baron had been ruled out for the remainder of the 2023-2024 season as he was expected to undergo a further surgery procedure to his right elbow. In his second year with the club, he averaged 1.8 points, 2.3 assists and 1.8 rebounds.{{cite web |title=Milan rules out Billy Baron for the rest of the season |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1641306/billy-baron-out-for-the-rest-of-the-season-olimpia-milan-euroleague/ |website=Eurohoops |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=en |date=9 March 2024}}

On September 26, 2024, Baron signed with Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association.

{{cite web |title=Sharks sign Billy Baron, ex Milano |url=https://www.asia-basket.com/China/news/892805/Sharks-sign-Billy-Baron,-ex-Milano |website=www.asia-basket.com |access-date=14 October 2024}}

On October 12, 2024, Baron announced his retirement from basketball on social media stating that he had been struggling with injury issues over the last couple of seasons.{{cite web |title=EuroLeague veteran guard Billy Baron retires at 33 |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1727011/euroleague-veteran-guard-billy-baron-retires-at-33/ |website=Eurohoops |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=en |date=12 October 2024}}

Baron has been a member of the senior United States national team. He was a member of Team USA at the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup, where he won a gold medal.

{{Euroleague player statistics legend}}

{{Euroleague player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20

| style="text-align:left;"| Crvena zvezda

| 26 || 25 || 24.6 || .419 || .403 || .855 || 2.7 || 2.2 || .8 || .0 || 11.6 || 11.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| Zenit

| 39 || 1 || 18.6 || .449 || .448 || .865 || 1.4 || 1.7 || .4 || .0 || 9.6 || 7.8

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22

| 23 || 1 || 20.4 || .404 || .357 || .836 || 1.7 || 2.2 || .2 || {{sort|-|—}} || 11.2 || 9.9

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| Olimpia Milano

| 30 || 16 || 25.1 || .459 || .403 || .875 || 2.4 || 2.1 || .6 || .0 || 11.0 || 11.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24

| 3 || 0 || 15.7 || .273 || .000 || 1.000 || 2.3 || 3.0 || 1.3 || {{sort|-|—}} || 2.3 || 3.7

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 121 || 43 || 21.8 || .433 || .402 || .859 || 2.0 || 2.0 || .5 || .0 || 10.5 || 9.6

{{S-end}}

{{Euroleague player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2014–15

| style="text-align:left;"| Lietuvos rytas

| 17 || 0 || 11.5 || .534 || .475 || .700 || 1.0 || .8 || .3 || {{sort|-|—}} || 6.1 || 5.3

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2015–16

| style="text-align:left;"| Spirou Charleroi

| 10 || 10 || 32.7 || .446 || .459 || .846 || 3.6 || 4.2 || .7 || {{sort|-|—}} || 20.7 || 17.8

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17

| style="text-align:left;"| UCAM Murcia

| 14 || 12 || 25.4 || .400 || .341 || .909 || 2.2 || 2.3 || .7 || {{sort|-|—}} || 13.0 || 9.9

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19

| style="text-align:left;"| Crvena zvezda

| 16 || 16 || 26.9 || .500 || .494 || .816 || 2.6 || 2.8 || .5 || {{sort|-|—}} || 12.9 || 13.2

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 57 || 38 || 23.0 || .459 || .437 || .842 || 2.2 || 2.3 || .5 || {{sort|-|—}} || 12.3 || 10.8

{{S-end}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;"

! Year

! Team

! League

! {{Tooltip|GP|Games played}}

! {{Tooltip|MPG|Minutes per game}}

! {{Tooltip|FG%|Field goal percentage}}

! {{Tooltip|3P%|3-point field-goal percentage}}

! {{Tooltip|FT%|Free-throw percentage}}

! {{Tooltip|RPG|Rebounds per game}}

! {{Tooltip|APG|Assists per game}}

! {{Tooltip|SPG|Steals per game}}

! {{Tooltip|BPG|Blocks per game}}

! {{Tooltip|PPG|Points per game}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2014–15 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Lithuania|size=20px}} Lietuvos rytas || style="text-align:center;"|LKL || 45 || 14.6 || .416 || .373 || .607 || 1.5 || 1.4 || .5 || .0 || 5.7

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2015–16 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Belgium|size=20px}} Spirou Charleroi || style="text-align:center;"|PBL || 30 || 28.8 || .453 || .419 || .840 || 2.5 || 3.9 || 1.6 || .2 || 16.8

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Spain|size=20px}} UCAM Murcia || style="text-align:center;"|ACB || 32 || 22.2 || .406 || .359 || .932 || 1.9 || 1.4 || .5 || .0 || 10.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Turkey|size=20px}} Eskişehir || style="text-align:center;"|TBSL || 31 || 32.1 || .453 || .439 || .895 || 2.7 || 3.4 || .7 || .1 || 15.8

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Serbia|size=20px}} Crvena zvezda || style="text-align:center;"|KLS || 14 || 20.3 || .485 || .452 || .900 || 2.1 || 2.9 || .4 || .1 || 10.9

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Serbia|size=20px}} Crvena zvezda || style="text-align:center;"|ABA || 29 || 22.0 || .487 || .418 || .847 || 2.3 || 2.7 || 1.0 || {{sort|-|—}} || 11.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Serbia|size=20px}} Crvena zvezda || style="text-align:center;"|ABA || 18 || 23.8 || .478 || .430 || .800 || 2.4 || 2.4 || .8 || {{sort|-|—}} || 12.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Russia|size=20px}} Zenit || style="text-align:center;"|VTBUL || 25 || 20.2 || .445 || .435 || .846 || 1.6 || 2.5 || .5 || {{sort|-|—}} || 10.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Russia|size=20px}} Zenit || style="text-align:center;"|VTBUL || 21 || 21.8 || .446 || .426 || .931 || 1.8 || 2.3 || .5 || {{sort|-|—}} || 13.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Italy|size=20px}} Olimpia Milano || style="text-align:center;"|LBA || 36 || 22.1 || .488 || .429 || .934 || 2.2 || 2.5 || .8 || .0 || 11.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Italy|size=20px}} Olimpia Milano || style="text-align:center;"|LBA || 2 || 9.5 || .200 || 1.000 || 1.000 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || 1.0 || {{sort|-|—}} || 2.5

{{S-end}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11

| style="text-align:left;"| Virginia

| 17 || 0 || 11.1 || .313 || .316 || .692 || .7 || .8 || .4 || {{sort|-|—}} || 3.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2011–12

| style="text-align:left;"| Rhode Island

| 20 || 14 || 32.3 || .404 || .312 || .827 || 4.5 || 2.6 || 1.2 || {{sort|-|—}} || 13.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2012–13

| style="text-align:left;"| Canisius

| 34 || 33 || 34.8 || .439 || .382 || .824 || 4.1 || 5.0 || 1.0 || {{sort|-|—}} || 17.2

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2013–14

| style="text-align:left;"| Canisius

| 34 || 34 || 39.0 || .464 || .421 || .884 || 4.9 || 5.3 || 1.6 || {{sort|-|—}} || 24.1

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 105 || 81 || 31.8 || .439 || .384 || .850 || 3.9 || 4.0 || 1.1 || {{sort|-|—}} || 16.3

{{S-end}}

Baron is the son of former Canisius basketball head coach, Jim Baron, and the younger brother of the professional basketball player, Jimmy Baron.{{cite news |url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24441619/billy-baron-hopes-to-end-up-and-down-journey-on-a-high-note |title=Billy Baron hopes to end up-and-down journey on a high note |first=Jeff |last=Borzello |work=CBSSports.com |date=February 13, 2014 |access-date=March 10, 2014}} Baron is married to former Canisius college softball player Valorie Nappo.{{cite news|url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/college/basketball/valorie-nappo-baron-clarence-high-school-billy-baron-canisius-china-serbia-37-nations/article_d60841ac-8d5a-11ef-8d02-2ff7871fc71b.html|title=Valorie Nappo Baron is being honored at Clarence – after a 37-nation journey with her husband, Billy Baron|date=October 18, 2024|agency=The Buffalo News|author=Brady, Erik|accessdate=November 5, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20241104122547/https://buffalonews.com/sports/college/basketball/valorie-nappo-baron-clarence-high-school-billy-baron-canisius-china-serbia-37-nations/article_d60841ac-8d5a-11ef-8d02-2ff7871fc71b.html|archivedate=November 4, 2024}} The two met in college when they were both student athletes at Canisius.

• List of KK Crvena zvezda players with 100 games played

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Billy Baron}}

• [http://www.gogriffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205587600 Canisius Golden Griffins bio]
• [https://www.acb.com/jugador/ver/20212198-Billy-Baron ACB.com profile] {{in lang|es}}
• {{Eurobasket.com player|209901|Billy Baron}}
• [https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/billy-baron/005775/ EuroLeague profile]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20211231211249/https://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=005775#!careerstats EuroLeague profile] (archive)
• {{Twitter|Billy_Baron}}

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{{United States squad 2017 FIBA AmeriCup}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Baron, Billy}}

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