Jalen McDaniels

Born in Seattle, Washington but a native of Federal Way, Washington, McDaniels attended Federal Way High School, where he also played football.{{cite news|last1=Zeigler|first1=Mark|title=Jalen McDaniels commits to SDSU hoops|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/aztecs/sdut-sdsu-basketball-jalen-mcdaniels-recruit-commit-2015sep09-story.html|access-date=May 9, 2018|work=The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=September 9, 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Drowley|first1=Doug|title=4A boys basketball: Jalen McDaniels is the latest in a long line of stars for Federal Way|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/high-school/4a-boys-basketball-jalen-mcdaniels-is-the-latest-in-a-long-line-of-stars-for-federal-way/|access-date=May 9, 2018|work=The Seattle Times|date=December 12, 2015}} McDaniels was the ranked as the 98th best prospect in the class of 2016 heading into his senior season at Federal Way High School. He was named an Associated Press Washington state Class 4A first-team selection after averaging 19 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots in his senior season.{{cite web|url=https://goaztecs.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4984|title= Jalen McDaniels - Men's Basketball}} Federal Way finished the season undefeated with a record of 29-0 and won the Class 4A state championship.

{{College athlete recruit start|40=no|collapse=no|year=2016}}

{{College athlete recruit entry

| recruit = Jalen McDaniels

| position = PF

| hometown = Federal Way, WA

| highschool = Federal Way High School (WA)

| feet = 6

| inches = 9

| weight = 195

| 40 =

| commitdate = September 9, 2015

| scout stars =

| rivals stars = 4

| 247 stars = 4

| espn stars = 3

| espn grade = 77

}}

{{College athlete recruit end

| 40 =

| year = 2016

| rivals ref title = San Diego State 2016 Basketball Commitments

| scout ref title =

| espn ref title = 2016 San Diego State Aztecs Recruiting Class

| 247 ref title =

| rivals school =

| 247 school =

| espn schoolid = 21

| scout overall =

| rivals overall = 98

| 247 overall = 120

| espn overall =

| accessdate = April 13, 2019

| bball = yes

}}

McDaniels red-shirted the 2016–2017 season. On February 19, 2018, he was named the Mountain West player of the week.{{cite news|title=Mountain West Men's Basketball Player of the Week - Feb. 19|url=http://www.themw.com/news/2018/2/19/mountain-west-mens-basketball-player-of-the-week-feb-19.aspx|access-date=May 9, 2018|work=themw.com|date=February 19, 2018|archive-date=May 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510115350/http://www.themw.com/news/2018/2/19/mountain-west-mens-basketball-player-of-the-week-feb-19.aspx|url-status=dead}} In his freshman season he averaged 10.5 points in 24.7 minutes per game,{{cite web|title=Jalen McDaniels|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4066731/jalen-mcdaniels|website=ESPN|access-date=May 9, 2018}} starting 21 out of 33 games.{{cite news|last1=Albertie|first1=Quenton S.|title=Cavs workout San Diego State's Jalen McDaniels|url=https://kingjamesgospel.com/2018/05/08/2018-nba-draft-cleveland-cavaliers-san-diego-states-jalen-mcdaniels/|access-date=May 9, 2018|work=kingjamesgospel.com|date=May 8, 2018}} In March 2018, McDaniels submitted paperwork for early entry into the 2018 NBA draft{{cite news|last1=Togerson|first1=Derek|title=Aztecs Star to Declare for NBA Draft|url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/sports/Aztecs-Star-To-Declare-for-NBA-Draft-477319083.html|access-date=May 9, 2018|work=NBC San Diego|date=March 19, 2018}} but had yet to hire an agent.{{cite news|last1=Zeigler|first1=Mark|title=Aztecs' McDaniels declares for NBA draft, but won't hire agent|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/aztecs/sd-sp-sdsu-aztecs-basketball-jalen-mcdaniels-nba-20180319-story.html|access-date=May 9, 2018|work=The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=March 19, 2018}} In May, he worked out for the Cleveland Cavaliers. On May 30, McDaniels officially withdrew his name from the NBA draft and returned to SDSU less than 90 minutes before the deadline.{{cite web|title=Jalen McDaniels finally reaches a decision: He's staying at SDSU|author=Zeigler, Mark|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/aztecs/sd-sp-sdsu-basketball-jalen-mcdaniels-20180530-story.html|date=May 30, 2018|access-date=July 16, 2018|work=The San Diego Union-Tribute}}

As a sophomore, McDaniels averaged 15.9 points per game and led the team in rebounding with 8.3 rebounds per game. In March 2019, he declared for the 2019 NBA draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/story/jalen-mcdaniels-leaving-san-diego-state-to-turn-pro-032719|title=Jalen McDaniels leaving San Diego State to turn pro|website=FOX Sports|access-date=April 14, 2019}} McDaniels was one of 66 players invited to the NBA Draft Combine.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/nba/2019/05/08/nba-draft-combine-players-invited-zion-williamson|title = Zion headlines 2019 NBA draft combine invitees| magazine=Sports Illustrated | date=May 8, 2019 }}

McDaniels was selected with the 52nd overall draft pick by the Charlotte Hornets. On October 10, 2019, he signed with the Hornets.{{cite web|first1=Quinton|last1=Wash|title=Charlotte Hornets Sign Jalen McDaniels|url=https://www.nba.com/hornets/press-releases/charlotte-hornets-sign-jalen-mcdaniels|date=October 10, 2019|website=NBA.com|access-date=October 10, 2019}} On October 19, the contract between McDaniels and the Hornets was converted to a two-way contract,{{cite web|first1=Quinton|last1=Wash|title=Charlotte Hornets Convert Jalen McDaniels To Two-Way Contract|url=https://www.nba.com/hornets/press-releases/charlotte-hornets-convert-jalen-mcdaniels-two-way-contract|date=October 19, 2019|website=NBA.com|access-date=October 19, 2019}} and the next day, he signed a multi-year contract with the Hornets.{{cite web|first1=Quinton|last1=Wash|title=Charlotte Hornets Sign Jalen McDaniels|url=https://www.nba.com/hornets/press-releases/charlotte-hornets-sign-jalen-mcdaniels-0|date=October 20, 2019|website=NBA.com|access-date=October 20, 2019}} On October 25, 2019, McDaniels made his NBA debut, coming off the bench in a 99–121 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves with two points and a rebound.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401160660|title=Towns scores 37 points, Timberwolves rout Hornets 121-99|date=October 25, 2019|website=ESPN.com|access-date=October 25, 2019}} He was assigned to the Hornets’ NBA G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm, for the start of the G League season.{{cite news |title= Hornets Assign Jalen McDaniels To Greensboro |url= https://greensboro.gleague.nba.com/news/hornets-assign-jalen-mcdaniels-to-greensboro/ |access-date= November 2, 2019 |work= NBA.com |date= October 28, 2019 |archive-date= November 2, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191102155621/https://greensboro.gleague.nba.com/news/hornets-assign-jalen-mcdaniels-to-greensboro/ |url-status= dead }} On March 9, 2020, McDaniels scored a season-high 11 points, alongside four rebounds, in a 138–143 double overtime loss to the Atlanta Hawks.{{Cite web |title=YOUNG HAS 31 AS HAWKS OUTLAST HORNETS 143-138 IN DOUBLE-OT |url=https://www.nba.com/game/0021900957 |access-date=February 5, 2023 |website=NBA.com}}

On April 7, 2021, McDaniels recorded a season-high 21 points, alongside six rebounds, three assists and two steals, in a 113–102 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.{{Cite web |title=MCDANIELS HAS CAREER-HIGH 21 POINTS, HORNETS BEAT THUNDER |url=https://www.nba.com/game/0022000781 |access-date=February 5, 2023 |website=NBA.com}}

On October 27, 2021, McDaniels scored a season-high 16 points, alongside four rebounds, three assists and two steals, in a 120–111 win over the Orlando Magic.{{Cite web |title=BRIDGES, HAYWARD LEAD HORNETS PAST MAGIC 120-111 |url=https://www.nba.com/game/0022100055 |access-date=February 5, 2023 |website=NBA.com}} On December 27, he again scored 16 points, alongside three rebounds and three assists, in a 123–99 win over the Houston Rockets.{{Cite web |title=ROZIER SCORES 27, HORNETS ROUT DEPLETED ROCKETS 123-99 |url=https://www.nba.com/game/0022100501 |access-date=February 5, 2023 |website=NBA.com}}

On January 16, 2023, McDaniels scored a career-high 26 points, alongside three rebounds and two steals, in a 118–130 loss to the Boston Celtics.{{Cite web |title=TATUM SCORES 51, CELTICS BEAT HORNETS FOR 7TH STRAIGHT WIN |url=https://www.nba.com/game/0022200656 |access-date=February 5, 2023 |website=NBA.com}}

On February 9, 2023, McDaniels was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in a four-team trade involving the Portland Trail Blazers and New York Knicks.{{cite web|title=Jalen McDaniels Acquired from Charlotte in Four-Team Trade|url=https://www.nba.com/sixers/news/jalen-mcdaniels-acquired-at-trade-deadline|website=NBA.com|date=February 9, 2023|access-date=February 9, 2023}} On February 11, McDaniels made his 76ers debut, putting up five points and five rebounds in a 101–98 win over the Brooklyn Nets.{{cite web|first=Sam|last=DiGiovanni|title=Jalen McDaniels sounds off on debut with Joel Embiid, Sixers|url=https://clutchpoints.com/sixers-news-jalen-mcdaniels-sounds-off-on-debut-with-joel-embiid-philly|website=ClutchPoints.com|date=February 11, 2023|access-date=February 12, 2023}}

On July 6, 2023, the Toronto Raptors signed McDaniels to a multi-year contract.{{Cite web |title=RAPTORS SIGN MCDANIELS |url=https://www.nba.com/raptors/news/raptors-sign-mcdaniels |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=www.nba.com |language=en}}

On June 28, 2024, McDaniels was traded to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Davion Mitchell, Sasha Vezenkov, the draft rights to Jamal Shead and a second-round pick in the 2025 NBA draft.{{cite web|title=Sacramento Kings Acquire Jalen McDaniels|url=https://www.nba.com/kings/news/sacramento-kings-acquire-jalen-mcdaniels|website=NBA.com|date=June 28, 2024|access-date=June 28, 2024}} However, on October 16, after appearing in two preseason games for the Kings, McDaniels was traded to the San Antonio Spurs, but was waived shortly after.{{cite web|author=sasmcasey|title=Spurs Acquire Second Round Draft Pick From Sacramento|url=https://www.nba.com/spurs/news/spurs-acquire-second-round-draft-pick-from-sacramento|website=NBA.com|date=October 16, 2024|access-date=October 17, 2024}}

On November 22, 2024, McDaniels signed with the Memphis Hustle{{cite web|title=Memphis Hustle acquire returning player rights to Max Heidegger and two draft picks from Capital City Go-Go|url=https://memphis.gleague.nba.com/news/memphis-hustle-acquire-returning-player-rights-to-max-heidegger-and-two-draft-picks-from-capital-city-go-go|website=NBA.com|date=November 23, 2024|access-date=November 23, 2024}} and was traded the next day to the Capital City Go-Go.{{cite web|title=Capital City Go-Go Acquire Jalen McDaniels via Trade|url=https://capitalcity.gleague.nba.com/news/capital-city-go-go-acquire-jalen-mcdaniels-via-trade|website=NBA.com|date=November 23, 2024|access-date=November 23, 2024}} On February 22, 2025, McDaniels signed a 10-day contract with the Washington Wizards.{{Cite web |title=NBA Fantasy Basketball News |url=https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/news.php |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=www.rotowire.com}}

{{NBA player statistics legend}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2019}}

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

| 16 || 0 || 18.3 || .471 || .375 || .824 || 4.1 || .8 || .5 || .2 ||5.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2020}}

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

| 47 || 18 || 19.2 || .468 || .333 || .703 || 3.6 || 1.1 || .6 || .4 || 7.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2021}}

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

| 55 || 2 || 16.3 || .484 || .380 || .736 || 3.1 || 1.1 || .5 || .4 || 6.2

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2022}}

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

| 56 || 21 || 26.7 || .447 || .322 || .846 || 4.8 || 2.0 || 1.2 || .5 || 10.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2022|nolink=y}}

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

| 24 || 3 || 17.5 || .488 || .400 || .824 || 3.2 || .8 || .7 || .2 || 6.7

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2023}}

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

| 50 || 1 || 10.8 || .344 || .169 || .730 || 1.6 || .7 || .4 || .1 || 3.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2024}}

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

| 4 || 0 || 1.8 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || .0 || .3 || .3 || .0 || .0

|- class="sortbottom"

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

| 252 || 45 || 18.1 || .449 || .322 || .777 || 3.3 || 1.2 || .7 || .3 || 6.7

{{s-end}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2023

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

| 8 || 0 || 12.7 || .400 || .333 || {{sort|-|—}} || 2.0 || .6 || .1 || .0 || 2.4

|- class="sortbottom"

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

| 8 || 0 || 12.7 || .400 || .333 || {{sort|-|—}} || 2.0 || .6 || .1 || .0 || 2.4

{{S-end}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18

| style="text-align:left;"| San Diego State

| 33 || 21 || 24.7 || .586 || .211 || .788 || 7.5 || .9 || .8 || .6 || 10.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19

| style="text-align:left;"| San Diego State

| 34 || 34 || 31.0 || .466 || .320 || .732 || 8.3 || 2.1 || 1.1 || .5 || 15.9

|- class="sortbottom"

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

| 67 || 55 || 27.9 || .504 || .298 || .758 || 7.9 || 1.5 || 1.0 || .5 || 13.2

{{S-end}}

McDaniels's brother, Jaden McDaniels, is a professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was the number one prospect in the state of Washington, the 6th best prospect in the nation, and a McDonald's All-American. Jalen played one season for San Diego State before turning professional.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/234172/jaden-mcdaniels|title=Jaden McDaniels - Basketball Recruiting - Player Profiles - ESPN}} McDaniels is the cousin of former NBA player Juwan Howard.{{cite news|last1=Cotterill|first1=TJ|title=Federal Way has one of the top basketball recruits in the country – a 6-foot-9 guard|url=http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/high-school/article189918159.html|access-date=May 9, 2018|work=The News Tribune|date=December 14, 2017}}

In 2019, McDaniels was charged with two civil suits alleging that three years prior, as a 17-year-old high school student, he secretly filmed an 18-year-old girl engaging in sexual acts with him on multiple occasions, and in another instance hid in a closet and filmed a 17-year-old girl engaging in sexual acts with his teammate, both without the girls’ knowledge and consent. He allegedly then shared these recordings among the basketball team via group chat. Both girls claim to have suffered severe bullying and emotional trauma from other students because of the shared recordings, with both later dropping out of school and attempting suicide. In 2019, McDaniels admitted in court to non-consensually recording the sexual acts and sharing these recordings, issued an apology, and did not face further known consequences.{{cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/former-federal-way-hoops-star-jalen-mcdaniels-sued-for-allegedly-secretly-videotaping-teen-girls-having-sex|title=Former Federal Way hoops star Jalen McDaniels sued for allegedly secretly videotaping teen girls having sex|date=December 13, 2018 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/federal-way/suit-alleges-former-federal-way-basketball-star-recorded-classmate-in-intimate-act/281-926c009a-0696-4e84-9705-2fd1f1257820|title=Suit alleges former Federal Way basketball star recorded classmate in intimate act|date=December 12, 2018 }}

{{reflist}}

• [https://goaztecs.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4984 San Diego State Aztecs bio]

{{2019 NBA draft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McDaniels, Jalen}}

Category:1998 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Canada

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:Basketball players from King County, Washington

Category:Capital City Go-Go players

Category:Centers (basketball)

Category:Charlotte Hornets draft picks

Category:Charlotte Hornets players

Category:Greensboro Swarm players

Category:Power forwards

Category:San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball players

Category:Sportspeople from Federal Way, Washington

Category:Toronto Raptors players

Category:Washington Wizards players