Darius Days
{{short description|American basketball player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Darius Days
| image = Darius Days (cropped).jpg
| caption = Days with LSU in 2019
| position = Power forward / small forward
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 7
| weight_lb = 245
| league =
| team = Free agent
| number =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|10|20}}
| birth_place = Gainesville, Florida, U.S.
| high_school =
- The Rock School
(Gainesville, Florida) - IMG Academy
(Bradenton, Florida)
| college = LSU (2018–2022)
| draft_year = 2022
| career_start = 2022
| career_end = present
| years1 = {{nbay|2022|full=y}}
| team1 = Houston Rockets
| years2 = 2022–2023
| team2 = →Rio Grande Valley Vipers
| years3 = 2023–2024
| team3 = Rio Grande Valley Vipers
| years4 = 2024
| team4 = Winnipeg Sea Bears
| years5 = 2024–2025
| team5 = Illawarra Hawks
| highlights =
- NBL champion (2025)
- All-NBA G League Second Team (2023)
- NBA G League All-Rookie Team (2023)
- Second-team All-SEC (2022)
}}
Darius Days (born October 20, 1999) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Illawarra Hawks of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for the LSU Tigers of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
High school career
Days attended Williston High School in Williston, Florida as a freshman, playing junior varsity football. For his sophomore season, he transferred to The Rock School in Gainesville, Florida and focused on basketball.{{cite web |last=Brockway |first=Kevin |title=The Rock’s Darius Days drawing national attention |url=https://www.gainesville.com/sports/20170816/rocks-darius-days-drawing-national-attention |website=The Gainesville Sun |access-date=February 18, 2021 |date=August 16, 2017}} As a junior, Days averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds per game, earning Gainesville Sun Small Schools Co-Player of the Year honors.{{cite web |last=Savage |first=Larry |title=Hard work quality shared by city trio |url=https://www.gainesville.com/news/20170324/hard-work-quality-shared-by-city-trio |website=The Gainesville Sun |access-date=February 18, 2021 |date=March 24, 2017}} He moved to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida for his senior season.{{cite web |last=Higgins |first=Ron |title=Days of Thunder: LSU forward Darius Days has his third new jersey number in three seasons and the weapons to match |url=https://www.tigerrag.com/days-of-thunder-lsu-forward-darius-days-has-his-third-new-jersey-number-in-three-seasons-and-the-weapons-to-match/ |website=Tiger Rag |access-date=February 18, 2021 |date=November 24, 2020}} Days committed to playing college basketball for LSU over offers from North Carolina, Louisville, Ohio State and Xavier.{{cite web |last=Daniels |first=Evan |title=Four-star forward Darius Days commits to LSU |url=https://247sports.com/Article/Four-star-forward-Darius-Days-commits-to-LSU-109205564/ |website=247Sports |access-date=February 18, 2021 |date=October 20, 2017}}{{cite web |last=Greer |first=Jeff |title=Father of 4-star Florida forward Darius Days reviews campus visit |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/louisville/2017/09/21/louisville-cardinals-basketball-recruiting-darius-days-campus-visit/685777001/ |website=The Courier-Journal |access-date=February 18, 2021 |date=September 21, 2017}}
College career
As a freshman at LSU, Days averaged 5.3 points and four rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game. In his next year, he moved into the starting lineup.{{cite web |last=Hall |first=Erik |title=Darius Days: 5 things to know about the LSU Tigers men's basketball forward |url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/sports/college/lsu/2021/02/12/darius-days-4-facts-lsu-tigers-mens-basketball-forward/4468172001/ |website=The Daily Advertiser |access-date=February 18, 2021 |date=February 12, 2021}} On January 8, 2020, Days recorded 16 points and 16 rebounds in a 79–77 win over Arkansas.{{cite web |last=Mickles |first=Sheldon |title=Darius Days' big night, Trendon Watford's late burst propel LSU basketball past Arkansas |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_7a79ebae-320d-11ea-994b-0f5d57e068f4.html |website=The Advocate |access-date=February 18, 2021 |date=January 8, 2020}} As a sophomore, he averaged 11.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Days declared for the 2020 NBA draft before withdrawing his name and returning to college.{{cite web |last=Rabalais |first=Scott |title=Report: LSU forward Darius Days to pull out of NBA draft, return for 2020-21 season |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_bfe87974-d5a2-11ea-8d19-f741c168e7de.html |website=The Advocate |access-date=February 18, 2021 |date=August 3, 2020}} On November 26, 2020, he made his junior season debut, scoring 24 points in a 94–81 victory over SIU Edwardsville.{{cite web |title=Darius Days and freshman Cam Thomas combine for 51 points as LSU wins season opener 94-81 over SIU Edwardsville |url=https://www.wbrz.com/news/darius-days-and-freshman-cam-thomas-combine-for-51-points-as-lsu-wins-season-opener-94-81-over-siu-edwardsville/ |website=WBRZ-TV |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=February 18, 2021 |date=November 26, 2020}} Days missed one game with a sprained ankle. As a junior, he averaged 11.6 points and a team-leading 7.8 rebounds per game. Following the season, Days declared for the 2021 NBA draft.{{cite news |last=Mickles |first=Sheldon |title=Darius Days declares for NBA draft; third LSU basketball player in as many days to announce |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_008c33fa-9806-11eb-a74d-57df4ff3e497.html |access-date=June 19, 2021 |work=The Advocate (Louisiana) |date=April 9, 2021}} However, he opted to withdraw from the draft and return to LSU.{{cite news |title=Darius Days returning to LSU basketball for senior season after considering NBA draft |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/31731848 |access-date=September 8, 2021 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=June 29, 2021}} Days was named to the Second Team All-SEC as a senior.{{cite press release|url=https://www.secsports.com/article/33453309/men-basketball-all-sec-teams-awards-announced|title=Men's Basketball All-SEC Teams & Awards Announced |publisher=Southeastern Conference |date=March 8, 2022 |accessdate=March 8, 2022}} He averaged 13.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.{{cite news |last=Gibbs |first=Simon |title=Darius Days describes how LSU locker room has reacted to Will Wade news |url=https://www.on3.com/college/lsu-tigers/news/darius-days-explains-how-lsu-tigers-basketball-reacted-to-will-wade-firing-for-cause-allegations-recruiting-violations/ |access-date=March 22, 2022 |work=On3.com |date=March 12, 2022}}
Professional career
=Houston Rockets (2022–2023)=
After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Days played for the San Antonio Spurs in the 2022 NBA Summer League.{{cite web |title=Darius Days Player Profile, Houston Rockets - RealGM |url=https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Darius-Days/Summary/120261 |website=basketball.realgm.com |access-date=3 September 2024 |language=en}} On July 16, 2022, he signed a two-way contract with the Miami Heat.{{cite web|title=HEAT SIGN DAYS AND GARRETT TO TWO-WAY CONTRACTS|url=https://www.nba.com/heat/news/heat-sign-days-and-garrett-to-two-way-contracts-071622|website=NBA.com|date=July 16, 2022|access-date=October 15, 2022}} On October 8, the Heat ended his two-way contract and subsequently signed him to a summer contract.{{cite web|title=HEAT CONVERT CAIN TO TWO-WAY CONTRACT AND SIGN MULDER|url=https://www.nba.com/heat/news/heat-convert-cain-two-way-sign-mulder|website=NBA.com|date=October 9, 2022|access-date=October 15, 2022}} The following day, he was waived by the Heat after appearing in two pre-season games.
On October 11, Days signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Houston Rockets.{{cite web|first=Lachard|last=Binkley|title=Rockets cut Moe Harkless, Theo Maledon, sign Darius Days|url=https://www.thedreamshake.com/2022/10/11/23399568/houston-rockets-cut-moe-harkless-theo-maledon-sign-darius-days-nba-roster-moves-2022-preseason|website=TheDreamShake.com|date=October 11, 2022|access-date=October 12, 2022}} Six days later, his contract was converted to a two-way contract. He split the 2022–23 season with the Rockets and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League. He played four NBA games during the season.
On July 2, 2023, Days signed a second two-way contract with the Rockets.{{cite web|first=Jerald|last=Rogers|title=Rockets Re-Sign Darius Days and Trevor Hudgins to Two-Way Contracts|url=https://www.nba.com/rockets/news/rockets-re-sign-darius-days-and-trevor-hudgins-to-two-way-contracts|website=NBA.com|date=July 2, 2023|access-date=July 2, 2023}} He played for them in the 2023 NBA Summer League. He was waived on October 23.{{cite web|first=Hiren|last=Joshi|title=Rockets Convert Nate Williams to Two-Way Contract|url=https://www.nba.com/rockets/news/rockets-convert-nate-williams-to-two-way-contract|website=NBA.com|date=October 31, 2023|access-date=October 31, 2023}}
=Rio Grande Valley Vipers (2023–2024)=
On October 30, 2023, Days re-joined the Rio Grande Valley Vipers for the 2023–24 NBA G League season.{{cite web|title=VIPERS FINALIZE TRAINING CAMP ROSTER|url=https://riograndevalley.gleague.nba.com/news/vipers-finalize-training-cambp-roster|website=NBA.com|date=October 30, 2023|access-date=November 27, 2023}}
=Winnipeg Sea Bears (2024)=
On April 29, 2024, Days signed with the Winnipeg Sea Bears of the Canadian Elite Basketball League.{{cite web|title=Sea Bears Sign G-League All-Star with NBA Experience|url=https://www.cebl.ca/sea-bears-sign-g-league-all-star-with-nba-experience|website=CEBL.ca|date=April 29, 2024|access-date=April 30, 2024}} However, he was waived on June 10.
On July 17, 2024, Days signed with the TNT Tropang Giga of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) as the team's import for the 2024 PBA Governors' Cup.{{cite web |first=Gerry |last=Ramos |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/with-rhj-out-tnt-taps-former-rocket-darius-days-as-import-a793-20240717 |title=With RHJ unavailable, TNT taps former Houston Rocket Darius Days |website=Spin.ph |date=July 17, 2024 |accessdate=July 18, 2024 }} On August 14, 2024, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson returned to TNT Tropang Giga as the team's import for the 2024 PBA Governors' Cup.{{cite web |first=Reuben |last=Terrado |title=RHJ return to TNT official for PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/rhj-return-to-tnt-official-for-pba-season-49-governors-cup-a795-20240814 |website=SPIN.ph |access-date=25 October 2024 |date=14 August 2024}}{{cite web |first=Ivan |last=Saldajeno |title=PBA: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson set for TNT return |url=https://www.dugout.ph/2024/08/pba-rondae-hollis-jefferson-set-for-tnt.html |website=Dugout Philippines |access-date=25 October 2024 |date=14 August 2024}}
=Illawarra Hawks (2024–2025)=
After a pre-season stint tryout with the Shanghai Sharks,{{cite web |author=薛思佳 |title=弥补短板，外援用熟不用生 |url=https://paper.xinmin.cn/html/dfsports/2024-08-19/A10/55889.html |publisher=新民晚报 |access-date=23 September 2024 |date=19 August 2024}} Days signed with the Illawarra Hawks of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) on September 3, 2024.{{cite news |title=Hawks Secure the Final Piece of the Puzzle with Star Import |url=https://www.hawks.com.au/news/hawks-secure-the-final-piece-of-the-puzzle-with-star-import |access-date=3 September 2024 |work=Illawarra Hawks {{!}} Official NBL Website |date=3 September 2024}} On January 20, 2025, he suffered a hamstring injury in the first quarter of the Hawks' win over the Brisbane Bullets.{{cite news |title=Injury Update: Key Hawk sidelined |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/injury-update-key-hawk-sidelined |access-date=22 January 2025 |work=NBL Official Website |date=22 January 2025}}
Career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
=NBA=
==Regular season==
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2022}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Houston
| 4 || 0 || 18.0 || .417 || .300 || 1.000 || 1.5 || .3 || .0 || .3 || 3.8
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 4 || 0 || 18.0 || .417 || .300 || 1.000 || 1.5 || .3 || .0 || .3 || 3.8
{{S-end}}
=College=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19
| style="text-align:left;"| LSU
| 35 || 3 || 14.6 || .485 || .382 || .743 || 4.0 || .4 || .7 || .3 || 5.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20
| style="text-align:left;"| LSU
| 31 || 30 || 23.5 || .486 || .295 || .786 || 6.8 || .8 || .6 || .3 || 11.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21
| style="text-align:left;"| LSU
| 28 || 28 || 27.0 || .519 || .400 || .703 || 7.8 || .6 || 1.1 || .3 || 11.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22
| style="text-align:left;"| LSU
| 33 || 33 || 29.8 || .434 || .350 || .700 || 7.8 || .9 || 1.5 || .3 || 13.7
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 127 || 94 || 23.4 || .474 || .353 || .734 || 6.5 || .7 || 1.0 || .3 || 10.3
{{S-end}}
Personal life
Days is the son of Tracy and Greg Days. His favorite NBA players are Draymond Green, to whom he has compared himself, and Carmelo Anthony.{{cite web |last=Kalbrosky |first=Bryan |title=NBA draft prospect Darius Days: ‘I knock down shots, get rebounds, get grimy, get dirty’ |url=https://hoopshype.com/2020/07/28/lsu-tigers-darius-days-nba-draft-interview/ |website=HoopsHype |access-date=February 18, 2021 |date=July 28, 2020}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://lsusports.net/sports/mens-basketball/roster/darius-days/24443 LSU Tigers bio]
{{Illawarra Hawks 2024–25 NBL champions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Days, Darius}}
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:American expatriate basketball people in Australia
Category:American expatriate basketball people in Canada
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Basketball players from Gainesville, Florida
Category:Houston Rockets players
Category:Illawarra Hawks players
Category:LSU Tigers men's basketball players
Category:Rio Grande Valley Vipers players