Jaylen Adams
{{short description|American basketball player (born 1996)}}
{{for|the basketball player who attended UConn|Jalen Adams}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Jaylen Adams
| image = Jaylen Adams 2019.jpg
| caption = Adams with the Wisconsin Herd in 2019
| position = Point guard
| height_cm = 183
| weight_kg = 84
| league = BAL
| team = Al Ahli Tripoli
| number = 2
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|05|04}}
| birth_place = Hanover, Maryland, U.S.
| high_school = Mount St. Joseph
(Baltimore, Maryland)
| college = St. Bonaventure (2014–2018)
| draft_year = 2018
| career_start = 2018
| years1 = {{nbay|2018|full=y}}
| team1 = Atlanta Hawks
| years2 = 2018–2019
| team2 = → Erie BayHawks
| years3 = 2019–2020
| team3 = Wisconsin Herd
| years4 = {{nbay|2019|end}}
| team4 = Portland Trail Blazers
| years5 = {{nbay|2020|full=y}}
| team5 = Milwaukee Bucks
| years6 = 2021–2022
| team6 = Sydney Kings
| years7 = 2022
| team7 = Crvena zvezda
| years8 = 2022–2023
| team8 = Qingdao Eagles
| years9 = 2023–2025
| team9 = Sydney Kings
| years10 = 2024
| team10 = Liaoning Flying Leopards
| highlights = * BAL champion (2025)
- All-BAL First Team (2025)
- NBL champion (2022)
- NBL Most Valuable Player (2022)
- All-NBL First Team (2022)
- All-NBA G League First Team (2020)
- AP Honorable Mention All-American (2018)
- Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Year (2018)
- 3× First-team All-Atlantic 10 (2016–2018)
| years11 = 2025–present
| team11 = Al Ahli Tripoli
}}
Jaylen Tairique Adams (born May 4, 1996) is an American professional basketball player who last played for Al Ahli Tripoli of the Basketball Africa League (BAL). He played college basketball for the St. Bonaventure Bonnies, earning co-Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year honors as a senior in 2018. In 2022, Adams won the NBL with the Sydney Kings, while being named league MVP as well. He won the BAL championship in 2025 with Al Ahli Tripoli.
High school and college career
File:Jaylen Adams.jpg in 2015]]
Adams played high school ball for Mount St. Joseph where he was a three-time MIAA A Conference champion. He committed to play in college for St. Bonaventure, averaging 17.9 points, 5.0 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore and was named a first-team All-Atlantic 10 player.{{cite web |title=Jaylen Adams, St. Bonaventure |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-sweet-16-baltimores-best-college-basketbal-009-photo.html |access-date=June 4, 2018 |website=The Baltimore Sun}} In his junior season, Adams finished second in the Atlantic 10 Conference in scoring (20.6 points per game), first in assists (6.5 per game) and second in steals (2.1 per game). He was named to the First Team All-Atlantic 10 for the second straight year.{{cite news|last=Shaffer|first=Jonas|title=St. Bonaventure star Jaylen Adams (Mount Saint Joseph) reportedly to miss game vs. Terps|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/tracking-the-terps/bs-sp-maryland-st-bonaventure-jaylen-adams-20171124-story.html|access-date=March 26, 2018|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=November 24, 2017}}
Adams missed the first six games of his senior season.{{cite news|last=Butler|first=J.P.|title=Jaylen Adams makes long-awaited season debut for Bonnies|url=http://www.oleantimesherald.com/sports/jaylen-adams-makes-long-awaited-season-debut-for-bonnies/article_c0657540-d7bd-11e7-8342-1b50ba420d3d.html|access-date=March 30, 2018|work=Olean Times-Herald|date=December 3, 2017}} In February 2018, Adams scored, respectively, 40- and 44-point games against Duquesne and St. Louis.{{cite news|last=Pollock|first=Chuck|title=Adams reaffirms guard dominance for the Bonnies|url=http://www.oleantimesherald.com/sports/pollock-adams-reaffirms-guard-dominance-for-the-bonnies/article_1ff23444-0ee1-11e8-b4e5-57b6e34b00c7.html|access-date=March 26, 2018|work=Olean Times-Herald|date=February 11, 2018}} As a senior, Adams was the fourth-leading scorer in the Atlantic 10 with 19.1 points per game to go with 5.2 assists per game. He led St. Bonaventure to a 26–8 record and upset of UCLA in the NCAA tournament.{{cite news |date=March 27, 2018 |title=Bonnies' Adams To Play In Senior All-Star Game |work=The Post-Journal |url=https://www.post-journal.com/sports/local-sports/2018/03/bonnies-adams-to-play-in-senior-all-star-game |access-date=July 24, 2023}} He was named conference co-Player of the Year with Peyton Aldridge.{{cite press release|url=http://www.atlantic10.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31600&ATCLID=211704410&_ga=2.229189468.1745063048.1520363371-145939181.1520363370 |title=Aldridge, Adams Named Atlantic 10 Co-Players of Year, Rhode Island's Hurley Voted as Coach of the Year |publisher=Atlantic 10 Conference |date=March 6, 2018 |access-date=March 6, 2018}} After the season, Adams was invited to the Reese's College All-Star Game but missed it with an ankle injury and instead played in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.{{cite news |last=Butler |first=J.P. |title=His SBU legacy in place, Adams focuses on NBA |url=http://www.oleantimesherald.com/sports/his-sbu-legacy-in-place-adams-focuses-on-nba/article_01b7777a-5408-11e8-9c1a-e32a8f0a4f77.html |access-date=June 4, 2018 |work=Olean Times-Herald |date=May 10, 2018}}
Professional career
=Atlanta Hawks (2018–2019)=
After going undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft, Adams was signed by the Atlanta Hawks to a two-way contract. Under the terms of the deal he will split time between the Hawks and their NBA G League affiliate, the Erie BayHawks.{{cite web |last=Bryant |first=Wayne |date=July 1, 2018 |title=Hawks Sign Jaylen Adams To Two-Way Contract |url=https://www.nba.com/hawks/hawks-sign-jaylen-adams-two-way-contract |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=NBA.com}} Adams made his NBA debut on October 17, 2018, recording 1 rebound and 1 assist in 4 minutes of action in a blowout 127–106 loss to the New York Knicks.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nba.com/games/20181017/ATLNYK#/boxscore |title=Archived copy |website=NBA.com |access-date=October 18, 2018 |archive-date=October 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018082752/https://www.nba.com/games/20181017/ATLNYK#/boxscore |url-status=dead }} He scored 23 points in his G League debut in a win over the Grand Rapids Drive.{{cite news|last=Fernandes|first=Victor|title=Hunter, BayHawks race past Drive in opener|url=http://www.goerie.com/sports/20181102/hunter-bayhawks-race-past-drive-in-opener|access-date=November 4, 2018|work=Erie Times-News|date=November 2, 2018}} On February 20, 2019, the Atlanta Hawks announced they had re-signed Adams to a multi-year contract.{{cite web |last=Bower |first=Annabelle |date=February 20, 2019 |title=Atlanta Hawks Sign Jaylen Adams To Multi-Year Contract |url=https://www.nba.com/hawks/atlanta-hawks-sign-jaylen-adams-multi-year-contract |access-date=February 20, 2019 |website=NBA.com}} On July 13, 2019, Adams was waived by the Hawks.{{cite web |last=Bell |first=Nic |date=July 13, 2019 |title=Atlanta Hawks Request Waivers On Jaylen Adams |url=https://www.nba.com/hawks/hawks-request-waivers-on-jaylen-adams |access-date=July 13, 2019 |website=NBA.com}}
=Wisconsin Herd (2019–2020)=
On August 20, 2019, Adams signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.{{cite web|title=Bucks Sign Jaylen Adams And Rayjon Tucker|url=https://www.nba.com/bucks/news/bucks-sign-jaylen-adams-and-rayjon-tucker|website=NBA.com|access-date=August 21, 2019|date=August 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913184408/https://www.nba.com/bucks/news/bucks-sign-jaylen-adams-and-rayjon-tucker|archive-date=September 13, 2019|url-status=dead}} He was cut in training camp and assigned to the Bucks' G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd.{{cite news |last=Rushkin |first=Jerell |title=New-look Wisconsin Herd opens NBA G League season at home |url=https://www.thenorthwestern.com/story/sports/2019/11/07/nba-g-league-new-look-wisconsin-herd-opens-season-menominee-nation-arena-oshkosh/2506861001/ |access-date=November 26, 2019 |work=Oshkosh Northwestern |date=November 7, 2019}} Adams scored a season-high 39 points including 6 three-pointers in a 122–115 win over the Grand Rapids Drive.{{cite web |date=January 22, 2020 |title=Grand Rapids Drive 115 - Wisconsin Herd 122 |url=https://stats.gleague.nba.com/game/2021900346/ |access-date=March 12, 2020 |website=gleague.nba.com}} On March 4, 2020, Adams dished out a career-high 14 assists to go along with his 19 points in a 106–108 loss to the Canton Charge.{{cite web |date=March 4, 2020 |title=Wisconsin Herd 106 - Canton Charge 108 |url=https://stats.gleague.nba.com/game/2021900529/ |access-date=March 12, 2020 |website=gleague.nba.com}} He averaged 21.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game for the Herd.{{cite web |title=Jaylen Adams |url=https://www.usab.com/basketball/players/mens/a/adams-jaylen.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702013226/https://www.usab.com/basketball/players/mens/a/adams-jaylen.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 2, 2020 |website=USA Basketball |access-date=June 17, 2020}}
=Portland Trail Blazers (2020)=
After the G League season, Adams was signed by the Portland Trail Blazers during the COVID-19 NBA restart to replace veteran forward Trevor Ariza, who opted out of returning to the NBA in Orlando due to child custody reasons.{{cite news |last=Hudson |first=Jamie |title=Report: Trail Blazers to sign G-League MVP runner-up Jaylen Adams |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/portland-trail-blazers/report-trail-blazers-sign-g-league-mvp-runner-jaylen-adams |access-date=June 29, 2020 |work=NBC Sports |date=June 29, 2020 |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630025300/https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/portland-trail-blazers/report-trail-blazers-sign-g-league-mvp-runner-jaylen-adams |url-status=dead }} Adams missed several games with a lower back injury.{{cite news |title=Trail Blazers' Jaylen Adams: Expected to play Tuesday |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/trail-blazers-jaylen-adams-expected-to-play-tuesday/ |access-date=August 21, 2020 |work=CBS Sports |date=August 4, 2020}}
=Milwaukee Bucks (2020–2021)=
On November 24, 2020, the Milwaukee Bucks announced that they had signed Adams to two-way contract.{{cite web|title=Milwaukee Bucks Sign Jaylen Adams And Mamadi Diakite To Two-Way Contracts|url=https://www.nba.com/bucks/news/milwaukee-bucks-sign-jaylen-adams-and-mamadi-diakite-two-way-contracts|date=November 24, 2020|website=NBA.com|access-date=November 24, 2020}} On March 4, 2021, Adams was reported to have been waived by the Bucks after he appeared in seven games.{{cite web|title=Bucks Waive Jaylen Adams|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/261715/Bucks-Waive-Jaylen-Adams|date=March 4, 2021|website=realgm.com|access-date=March 4, 2021}}
=Sydney Kings (2021–2022)=
On August 22, 2021, Adams signed with the Sydney Kings for the 2021–22 NBL season.{{Cite news|title=Kings Add Jaylen Adams for NBL22|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/kings-add-jaylen-adams-for-nbl22|website=NBL.com.au|date=August 22, 2021|access-date=August 22, 2021}} He was named league MVP{{cite web|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/jaylen-adams-named-nbl-mvp|title=Jaylen Adams Named NBL MVP|work=NBL.com.au|date=April 27, 2022|access-date=April 27, 2022}} and helped lead the Kings to the NBL championship.{{cite web|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/kings-win-first-championship-in-17-years-with-record-crowd|title=Kings Win First Championship in 17 Years with Record Crowd|work=NBL.com.au|date=May 11, 2022|access-date=May 11, 2022}}
=Crvena zvezda (2022)=
On July 29, 2022, Adams signed with Crvena zvezda of the ABA League.{{cite news|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/kk-crvena-zvezda-officially-signs-jaylen-adams/|title=KK Crvena Zvezda officially signs Jaylen Adams|work=sportando.basketball|date=July 29, 2022|access-date=November 4, 2022 |last=Maggi |first=Alessandro }} He parted ways with the team on November 3, 2022.{{cite news|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/crvena-zvezda-jaylen-adams-officially-part-ways/|title=Crvena Zvezda, Jaylen Adams officially part ways|work=sportando.basketball|date=November 3, 2022|access-date=November 4, 2022 |last=Maggi |first=Alessandro }}
=Qingdao Eagles (2022–2023)=
In December 2022, Adams joined the Qingdao Eagles of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He played nine games for Qingdao between December 18 and January 9.{{cite web|title=Jaylen Adams|url=https://basketball.asia-basket.com/player/Jaylen-Adams/300443|website=asia-basket.com|access-date=July 12, 2023|url-access=subscription}}
=Sydney Kings and Liaoning Flying Leopards (2023–2025)=
On July 12, 2023, Adams signed with the Sydney Kings for the 2023–24 NBL season, returning to the franchise for a second stint.{{cite web|title=NBL22 MVP Adams returns home to Sydney|url=https://www.sydneykings.com/news/nbl22-mvp-adams-returns-home-to-sydney|website=sydneykings.com|date=July 12, 2023|access-date=July 12, 2023}}{{cite web |last=Uluc |first=Olgun |date=July 12, 2023 |title=Jaylen Adams returning to Sydney Kings for NBL24 |url=https://www.espn.com/nbl/story/_/id/37997102 |access-date=July 12, 2023 |website=ESPN.com}} On January 14, 2024, he scored 39 points in 27 minutes in a 105–76 win over the New Zealand Breakers.{{cite news |title=Kings bounce back against NZ to keep title hopes alive |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/kings-bounce-back-against-nz-to-keep-title-hopes-alive |access-date=30 December 2024 |work=NBL Official Website |date=14 January 2024}}
In March 2024, Adams had a five-game stint with Liaoning Flying Leopards of the CBA.
On July 1, 2024, Adams re-signed with the Kings for the 2024–25 NBL season.{{cite web|title=Jaylen Adams returns to Sydney for the NBL25 season|url=https://www.sydneykings.com/news/jaylen-adams-returns-to-sydney-for-the-nbl25-season|website=sydneykings.com|date=July 1, 2024|access-date=July 2, 2024}} He was sidelined in October 2024 due to a back injury.{{cite news |title=Injury Update: Worrying signs for star King |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/injury-update-worrying-signs-for-star-king |access-date=28 October 2024 |work=NBL.com.au |date=28 October 2024}} On December 30, 2024, he scored 41 points in a 111–96 loss to the Adelaide 36ers.{{cite news |title=Sixers respond to hammer Kings in Sydney |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/sixers-respond-to-hammer-kings-in-sydney |access-date=30 December 2024 |work=NBL Official Website |date=30 December 2024}} On January 24, 2025, he scored 43 points in a 105–96 loss to the 36ers.{{cite news |title=Sixers go sixth with another Sydney win |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/sixers-go-sixth-with-another-sydney-win |access-date=24 January 2025 |work=NBL Official Website |date=24 January 2025}}
= Al Ahli Tripoli (2025–present) =
In May 2025, Adams was on the roster of Libyan club Al Ahli Tripoli, making his debut in the Basketball Africa League (BAL).{{Cite web |title=Top Players to watch in the 2025 Nile Conference |url=https://bal.nba.com/news/top-players-to-watch-in-the-2025-nile-conference |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=The BAL |language=en}} Adams helped Tripoli win their first BAL championship, which they won on June 14, 2025, after defeating Petro de Luanda in the final.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-14 |title=Al Ahli Tripoli are the 2025 BAL Champions |url=https://bal.nba.com/news/al-ahli-tripoli-are-the-2025-bal-champions |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=The BAL |language=en}} He was also selected to the All-BAL Team, as one of the two guards alongside teammate Jean Jacques Boissy.{{Cite Tweet |number=1933924895618134482 |user=theban |title=2025 All-BAL First Team. The continent’s finest. Big-time players. Big-time moments |date=2025-06-14 |access-date=2025-06-16}}
Career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
=NBA=
==Regular season==
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2018}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta
| 34 || 1 || 12.6 || .345 || .338 || .778 || 1.8 || 1.9 || .4 || .1 || 3.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2020}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Milwaukee
| 7 || 0 || 2.6 || .125 || .000 || – || .4 || .3 || .0 || .0 || .3
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 41 || 1 || 10.9 || .331 || .329 || .778 || 1.5 || 1.6 || .3 || .1 || 2.7
{{S-end}}
==Playoffs==
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2020
| style="text-align:left;"| Portland
| 3 || 0 || 7.0 || .333 || .000 || .000 || 1.0 || .7 || .3 || .0 || 2.0
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 3 || 0 || 7.0 || .333 || .000 || .000 || 1.0 || .7 || .3 || .0 || 2.0
{{S-end}}
=NBL=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| align="left" | 2021–22
| align="left" | Sydney
| 21 || 21 || 31.7 || .430 || .401 || .815 || 5.1 || 6.1 || 1.2 || .3 || 20.1
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 21 || 21 || 31.7 || .430 || .401 || .815 || 5.1 || 6.1 || 1.2 || .3 || 20.1
{{s-end}}
=College=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2014–15
| style="text-align:left;"| St. Bonaventure
| 22 || 22 || 32.5 || .386 || .324 || .783 || 2.5 || 4.5 || 1.1 || .0 || 10.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2015–16
| style="text-align:left;"| St. Bonaventure
| 30 || 30 || 37.5 || .445 || .438 || .874 || 3.7 || 5.0 || 1.3 || .3 || 17.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17
| style="text-align:left;"| St. Bonaventure
| 30 || 29 || 37.4 || .419 || .356 || .821 || 3.7 || 6.5 || 2.1 || .2 || 20.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18
| style="text-align:left;"| St. Bonaventure
| 28 || 27 || 37.0 || .437 || .436 || .851 || 3.4 || 5.2 || 1.5 || .3 || 19.1
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 110 || 108 || 36.3 || .427 || .394 || .838 || 3.4 || 5.4 || 1.5 || .2 || 17.4
{{S-end}}
Personal life
Adams' father, Darryl, played for the Maryland Terrapins football team.{{cite web |last1=Fominykh |first1=Katherine |title=Jaylen Adams (Mount Saint Joseph) might be just days away from his NBA dream |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/nba/bs-sp-jaylen-adams-mount-st-josephs-st-bonaventure-nba-draft-2018-story.html |website=The Baltimore Sun |access-date=September 7, 2023 |date=June 19, 2018}} His mother, Yalonda, played basketball at Wesley College in Delaware.{{cite web |last1=Borges |first1=David |title=Dan Hurley lands first UConn commitments |url=https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/sports/article/Dan-Hurley-lands-first-UConn-commitment-12835682.php |website=Stamford Advocate |access-date=September 7, 2023 |date=April 15, 2018}} Adams' younger brother, Brendan, played basketball for the UConn Huskies and George Washington Revolutionaries.{{cite web |last1=Borges |first1=David |title=UConn’s Brendan Adams transfers to George Washington University |url=https://www.nhregister.com/uconn/article/UConn-s-Brendan-Adams-transfers-to-George-16066657.php |website=New Haven Register |access-date=September 7, 2023 |date=March 31, 2021}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Portal bar|Sports}}
{{basketballstats|nba=jaylen_adams|bbr=a/adamsja01}}
- [http://gobonnies.sbu.edu/sports/m-baskbl/2016-17/bios/adams_jaylen_ym39 St. Bonaventure Bonnies bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824002254/http://gobonnies.sbu.edu/sports/m-baskbl/2016-17/bios/adams_jaylen_ym39 |date=August 24, 2018 }}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Jaylen}}
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