C. J. Massinburg

Born and raised in Dallas,{{cite web| url = https://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/photo/ncaa-tournament-gallery-a-closer-look-at-the-tulsa-teams/collection_66156061-7fb7-570c-9436-8736830ef9cb.html#11| title = NCAA Tournament gallery: A closer look at the Tulsa teams {{!}} Photo Galleries {{!}} tulsaworld.com}} Massinburg came to Buffalo from South Oak Cliff High School. As a senior, he averaged 22.3 points per game, but initially received no NCAA Division I offers. He ultimately signed with the Bulls after being scouted playing on a travel team for unsigned seniors.{{cite web|first=Charles|last=Carlton|url=https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/collegesports/2019/03/23/every-texas-school-passed-south-oak-cliffscj-massinburg-now-texas-tech-must-deal-buffalo-ncaa-second-round|title=Every Texas school passed on South Oak Cliff's C.J. Massinburg. Now Texas Tech must deal with him, Buffalo in NCAA second round.|work=The Dallas Morning News|date=March 23, 2019|accessdate=March 24, 2019}}{{cite web|first=Mark|last=Cooper|url=https://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/ncaa-tournament-in-tulsa-an-off-the-radar-recruit-who/article_a2591602-e9b8-59df-b9e1-22c626965801.html|title=An off-the-radar recruit who became a Buffalo legend, Dallas native CJ Massinburg leads talented Bulls team into March|work=Tulsa World|date=March 21, 2019|accessdate=March 24, 2019}}

In his freshman season, Massinburg was not expected to contribute much, but ended up playing a key role off the bench averaging 11.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, earning a spot on the Mid-American Conference (MAC) All-Freshman Team.{{cite web|url=https://getsomemaction.com/news/2016/3/7/MBB_0307162316.aspx?path=mbball|title=MAC announces men's hoops All-MAC, All-Freshman & All-Defensive teams|work=Hartford Courant|date=March 7, 2016|accessdate=March 24, 2019}} As a sophomore, Massinburg's progress was slowed by missing the first eight games of the season due to a bout with mononucleosis,{{cite web|first=Nick|last=Filipowski|url=https://www.wkbw.com/sports/college/bulls-massinburg-cleared-to-return-after-battlig-mono|title=Bulls Massinburg cleared to return after battling Mono|work=wkbw.com|date=December 4, 2016|accessdate=March 24, 2019}} but he improved his scoring to 14.5 points per game as he moved into the starting lineup. As a junior, Massinburg was named first-team All-MAC as the Bulls enjoyed regular-season and Tournament conference championships, earning a trip to the 2018 NCAA tournament. Massinburg scored 19 points in the Bulls' upset over 4-seed Arizona in the NCAA Tournament's first round, thought to be the biggest win in program history at the time.{{cite web|first=John|last=Marshall|url=https://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-ap-buffalo-arizona-20180316-story.html|title=Buffalo pulls off big upset, knocks off Arizona|work=Hartford Courant|date=March 16, 2018|accessdate=March 24, 2019}}

As a senior, Buffalo was the overwhelming preseason choice to win the MAC and Massinburg was named preseason first-team All-MAC East.{{cite web|first=Elton|last=Alexander|url=https://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/2018/10/buffalo-bulls-picked-to-dominate-mac-mens-basketball-in-preseason-poll.html|title=Buffalo Bulls picked to dominate MAC men's basketball in preseason poll|work=Cleveland.com|date=October 30, 2018|accessdate=March 24, 2019}} The Bulls experienced great team success, as the team achieved a top 25 ranking in the November 12, 2018 AP Poll, signifying a first for the school.{{cite news|url=https://www.syracuse.com/ny-sports/index.ssf/2018/11/buffalo_basketball_top_25_ranking_ub.html|title=Buffalo basketball ranked in AP top 25 for first time in UB history|work=The Post-Standard|location=Syracuse, NY|first=Geoff|last=Herbert|date=November 12, 2018|accessdate=December 9, 2018}} The Bulls would go on to maintain a spot in the top 25 for the remainder of the year. Massinburg led the team in scoring, moving into the school's top five all-time scoring list on January 29, 2019.{{cite web|first=Rachel|last=Lenzi|url=https://buffalonews.com/2019/01/29/ub-mens-basketball-cj-massinburg-ball-state-first-place-bowling-green-mac-east-division/|title=UB's CJ Massinburg hits milestone as Bulls prepare for first-place showdown at Bowling Green|work=The Buffalo News|date=January 29, 2019|accessdate=March 24, 2019}} He received national individual recognition as he was named to three watch lists for several national Player of the Year awards.{{cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/2019/02/13/ubs-c-j-massinburg-among-30-in-consideration-for-top-mens-college-basketball-player-award/|title=UB's CJ Massinburg among 30 in consideration for top award|work=The Buffalo News|date=February 13, 2019|accessdate=March 24, 2019}}{{cite web|first=Jordan|last=Rinard|url=https://www.hustlebelt.com/2018/12/22/18152724/buffalos-cj-massinburg-named-to-oscar-robertson-midseason-watch-list|title=Buffalo's CJ Massinburg Named to Oscar Robertson Midseason Watch List|work=SB Nation|date=December 22, 2018|accessdate=March 24, 2019}} Massinburg closed the 2018–19 regular season averaging 18.5 points per game and winning MAC Player of the Year honors and repeating on the all-conference first team.{{cite web|url=http://www.buffalo.edu/ubnow/campus.host.html/content/shared/university/news/ub-reporter-articles/stories/2019/03/mac-honors.detail.html|title=Massinburg and Oats claim MAC's top honors|work=University of Buffalo|date=March 18, 2019|accessdate=March 24, 2019}}{{cite news|title=Buffalo's Oats, Massinburg earn top MAC honors|url=https://getsomemaction.com/news/2019/3/13/mens-basketball-buffalos-oats-massinburg-earn-top-mac-honors.aspx|accessdate=March 13, 2019|work=Mid-American Conference|date=March 24, 2019}}

The Buffalo News named Massinburg the best player of the decade from Buffalo, Canisius, Niagara, or St. Bonaventure. He was also named to the Lou Henson Award All-Decade Team.{{cite news |title=Massinburg Highlights All-Decade Honors For UB Men's Hoops |url=https://ubbulls.com/news/2020/1/1/mens-basketball-massinburg-highlights-all-decade-honors-for-ub-mens-hoops.aspx |accessdate=1 January 2020 |publisher=University at Buffalo |date=January 1, 2020 |language=en}}

On October 15, 2019, Massinburg signed with the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).{{cite web |title=Brooklyn Nets Sign Devin Cannady and CJ Massinburg |url=https://www.nba.com/nets/news/2019/10/15/brooklyn-nets-sign-devin-cannady-and-cj-massinburg |website=NBA.com |accessdate=October 16, 2019 |date=October 15, 2019}} On October 18, the Nets waived Massinburg.{{cite web |title=Brooklyn Nets Waive Four |url=https://www.nba.com/nets/news/2019/10/18/brooklyn-nets-waive-four |website=NBA.com |accessdate=October 19, 2019 |date=October 18, 2019}} He was ultimately added to the roster of the Nets’ NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets.{{cite web |title=Long Island Nets Finalize Opening Night Roster |url=https://longisland.gleague.nba.com/news/long-island-nets-finalize-opening-night-roster-3/ |accessdate=December 5, 2019 |work=NBA.com |date=November 5, 2019}} On November 15, Massinburg contributed 28 points, six rebounds and three assists in a loss to the Delaware Blue Coats.{{cite news |title=CJ Massinburg: Drops 28 off bench |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/cj-massinburg-drops-28-off-bench/ |accessdate=April 17, 2020 |work=CBS Sports |date=November 16, 2019}} He missed a game against the Canton Charge on December 30 for undisclosed reasons.{{cite news |title=CJ Massinburg: Inactive Saturday |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/cj-massinburg-inactive-saturday/ |accessdate=April 17, 2020 |work=CBS Sports |date=December 31, 2019}} Massinburg missed more than a month of action due to a right knee injury before returning against the Grand Rapids Drive on January 27, 2020.{{cite web |last1=Milholen |first1=Chris |title=Jeremiah Martin scores 25 as Long Island Nets fall to Grand Rapids Drive, 135-117 |url=https://www.netsdaily.com/2020/1/27/21111185/jeremiah-martin-scores-25-as-long-island-nets-fall-to-grand-rapids-drive-135-117 |website=NetsDaily |publisher=SBNation |accessdate=July 22, 2020 |date=January 27, 2020}}

On September 14, 2021, Massinburg was signed by Limoges CSP of the LNB Pro A, the top tier men's basketball league in France.{{cite web |title=C.J. MASSINBURG PIGISTE MÉDICAL DE GERRY BLAKES |url=https://www.limogescsp.com/actualites-details/c-j-massinburg-pigiste-medical-de-gerry-blakes.html |website=limogescsp.com |access-date=15 September 2021}}

In June 2022, Massinburg signed a two-year contract with Pallacanestro Brescia of Lega Basket Serie A.{{cite web |title=Energia e dinamismo, il primo volto nuovo della Germani è CJ Massinburg |url=https://www.pallacanestrobrescia.it/2022/06/14/cj-massinburg-acquisto-stagione-2022-2023/ |website=pallacanestrobrescia.it |access-date=14 June 2022}}

On June 1, 2024, he signed with Bahçeşehir Koleji of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL).{{Cite tweet |user=BKBasketbol |number=1800485788385427737 |title=C.J. Massinburg, Bahçeşehir Koleji'nde}}

Massinburg has played in The Basketball Tournament (TBT), an annual $1 million winner-take-all tournament, for Blue Collar U, a team primarily rostered with Buffalo alumni. In TBT 2021, the team made it to the semifinals of the tournament.{{cite news |last1=Bronstein |first1=Jonah |title=Blue Collar U bows out of TBT, vows to be back |url=https://www.niagara-gazette.com/sports/blue-collar-u-bows-out-of-tbt-vows-to-be-back/article_dbe145fa-27da-5cf1-9471-d96059ec1af7.html |access-date=15 September 2021 |work=Niagara Gazette |date=2 August 2021}} In TBT 2022, Blue Collar U won the tournament and $1 million prize,{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/34338436/blue-collar-u-downs-americana-autism-takes-home-1-million-basketball-tournament-title |title=Blue Collar U downs Americana for Autism, takes home $1 million The Basketball Tournament title |first=Jeff |last=Borzello |website=ESPN.com |date=August 2, 2022 |accessdate=August 2, 2022}} with Massinburg being named tournament MVP.{{cite tweet |user=thetournament |number=1554654745188605953 |title=Your TBT 2022 MVP is CJ Massinburg! |date=August 2, 2022 |accessdate=August 2, 2022}}

{{NBA player statistics legend}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|2015–16

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

| 35 || 7 || 25.3 || .447 || .389 || .752 || 4.1 || 1.7 || 1.1 || .4 || 11.3

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|2016–17

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

| 24 || 18 || 32.4 || .411 || .331 || .750 || 5.6 || 2.8 || .6 || .1 || 14.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|2017–18

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

| 36 || 35 || 34.0 || .468 || .405 || .743 || 7.3 || 2.4 || 1.1 || .4 || 17.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|2018–19

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

| 35 || 34 || 32.1 || .464 || .399 || .780 || 6.5 || 3.0 || 1.2 || .3 || 18.2

|- class="sortbottom"

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

| 130 || 94 || 30.8 || .452 || .386 || .757 || 5.9 || 2.4 || 1.1 || .3 || 15.3

{{s-end}}

{{reflist}}

{{commons}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20190724141848/http://www.ubbulls.com/sports/mbkb/2018-19/bios/massinburg_cj_zjx5 Buffalo Bulls bio]
• [https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/cj-massinburg-1.html College stats @ basketball-reference.com]

{{Bahçeşehir Koleji S.K. current roster}}

{{Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Massinburg, C. J.}}

Category:1997 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:American expatriate basketball people in France

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Italy

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Turkey

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:Bahçeşehir Koleji S.K. players

Category:Basketball players from Dallas

Category:Pallacanestro Brescia players

Category:Buffalo Bulls men's basketball players

Category:Limoges CSP players

Category:Long Island Nets players

Category:Shooting guards