Justin Patton

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Justin Patton

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| position = Center

| league = BSN

| team = Cangrejeros de Santurce

| number = 23

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|6|14}}

| birth_place = Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 11

| weight_lbs = 241

| high_school = Omaha North (Omaha, Nebraska)

| college = Creighton (2016–2017)

| draft_year = 2017

| draft_round = 1

| draft_pick = 16

| draft_team = Chicago Bulls

| career_start = 2017

| years1 = {{nbay|2017|start}}–{{nbay|2018|start}}

| team1 = Minnesota Timberwolves

| years2 = 2017–2018

| team2 = →Iowa Wolves

| years3 = {{nbay|2018|full=y}}

| team3 = Philadelphia 76ers

| years4 = 2018–2019

| team4 = →Delaware Blue Coats

| years5 = {{nbay|2019|full=y}}

| team5 = Oklahoma City Thunder

| years6 = 2019–2020

| team6 = →Oklahoma City Blue

| years7 = 2020

| team7 = Wisconsin Herd

| years8 = 2021

| team8 = Westchester Knicks

| years9 = {{nbay|2020|end}}

| team9 = Houston Rockets

| years10 = 2021–2022

| team10 = Hapoel Eilat

| years11 = 2022–2023

| team11 = Cholet Basket

| years12 = 2023

| team12 = Shanxi Loongs

| years13 = 2024

| team13 = Taipei Fubon Braves

| years14 = 2024

| team14 = Indios de San Francisco

| years15 = 2024

| team15 = Peristeri

| years16 = 2024–2025

| team16 = Liaoning Flying Leopards

| years17 = 2025–present

| team17 = Cangrejeros de Santurce

| highlights =

Big East Rookie of the Year (2017)
Second-team All-Big East (2017)

}}

Justin Nicholas Patton (born June 14, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the Cangrejeros de Santurce of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). He played college basketball for the Creighton Bluejays. Patton was selected with the 16th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls, but was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He has also played for the Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder. In 2021–22, he led the Israeli Basketball Premier League in blocks per game.

Early life and education

Patton was born to Tora Patton. He has three siblings, Terrel Steen, Kendall Patton, and Raven Bryson. He was a social work major at Creighton, and is the cousin of Creighton's former basketball player Donnie Johnson.{{cite web|title=Justin Patton|url=http://gocreighton.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=901|website=gocreighton.com|access-date=April 19, 2018|date=March 17, 2017}}

High school career

Patton attended Omaha North High School in Omaha, Nebraska.{{Cite web |last=Nyatawa |first=Jon |date=December 24, 2016 |title=Blue Christmas: Homegrown talents Justin Patton, Khyri Thomas making sure holidays are anything but depressing for Creighton |url=https://omaha.com/sports/college/creighton/blue-christmas-homegrown-talents-justin-patton-khyri-thomas-making-sure-holidays-are-anything-but-depressing/article_585611b9-b0ba-5b5f-b543-ae5dbe70073e.html |access-date=July 3, 2024 |website=Omaha World-Herald |language=en}} He played with the Omaha Sports Academy Crusaders on the AAU circuit.{{cite web|url=http://www.slamonline.com/nba/justin-patton-interview/|title=Out The Mud|website=slam.com|last=Walsh|first=Peter|access-date=April 20, 2018|date=May 17, 2017}} He was rated by Scout.com as a five-star recruit and was recruited by Creighton University basketball.{{cite web|url=http://www.omaha.com/creighton/blog/creighton-commit-justin-patton-named-no-prospect-in-country/article_63e9ecda-f36b-11e4-9c20-5f8115269019.html|title=Creighton commit Justin Patton named No. 24 prospect in country|first=Bluejays|last=Today|date=May 5, 2015 }}

{{College athlete recruit entry

| recruit = Justin Patton

| position = C

| hometown = Omaha, Nebraska

| highschool = Omaha North

| feet = 6

| inches = 10

| weight = 215

| commitdate = June 17, 2014

| scout stars = 5

| rivals stars = 4

| 247 stars = 4

| espn stars = 4

| espn grade = 80

}}

{{College athlete recruit end

| 40 =

| year = 2015

| rivals ref title = 2015 Creighton Basketball Commitment List

| espn ref title = 2016 Creighton Player Commits

| rivals school = Creighton

| scout overall = 24

| rivals overall = 45

| bball = yes

}}

College career

Patton redshirted his first year at Creighton in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.omaha.com/creighton/creighton-freshman-justin-patton-will-redshirt/article_b3357e16-89b7-11e5-92db-3b8d65213260.html|title=Creighton freshman Justin Patton will redshirt|first=Steven Pivovar / World-Herald staff|last=writer|date=November 12, 2015 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/news/justin-patton-creighton-2017-nba-draft-scouting-reports/hx8i8tglu4vg14v2xa9o546w0|title=Creighton's Justin Patton earning title no one expected: one-and-done NBA prospect|date=January 6, 2017|access-date=February 8, 2017|archive-date=April 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421031201/http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/news/justin-patton-creighton-2017-nba-draft-scouting-reports/hx8i8tglu4vg14v2xa9o546w0|url-status=dead}} Greg McDermott, his coach, had considered a redshirt for many different reasons. Patton was young for a freshman and still needed to develop his game. Patton also would have to play limited minutes behind Creighton's other big, 7-foot-center Geoff Groselle. McDermott believed that Patton needed to learn how to compete at this level, and learn the importance of a healthy diet and sleep.{{cite magazine|title=Inside the rapid rise of Bluejays big man Justin Patton|url=https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2017/01/18/justin-patton-creighton-bluejays-nba-draft-prospect|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=April 20, 2018|date=January 18, 2017}} In his first college game in 2016, he scored 12 points and had eight rebounds.{{cite web|url=http://www.ketv.com/article/justin-pattons-meteoric-rise-isnt-done-yet/8566948|title=Justin Patton's meteoric rise isn't done yet|first=Josh|last=Planos|date=January 6, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/story/creigton-nebraska-final-score-stats-update-results-justin-patton-greg-mcdermott-interview-120816|title=Why Justin Patton will be key for a potential Creighton Final Four run – Fox Sports|date=December 8, 2016}} He scored a season high 25 points against St. John's on January 4. 2017. He had 13 straight games in double-figures before breaking it in a loss against Xavier on February 4, 2017. During his freshman season he was named Big East Freshman of the Year, and Second Team All-Big East.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gocreighton.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3539|title=Justin Patton – 2016–17|access-date=May 8, 2017}} On April 5, 2017, Patton relinquished his college eligibility by declaring for the NBA draft and signing with an agent.{{Cite news|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2697562-justin-patton-declares-for-2017-nba-draft-will-sign-an-agent|title=Justin Patton Declares for 2017 NBA Draft, Will Sign an Agent|last=Nathan|first=Alec|date=April 5, 2017|work=Bleacher Report|access-date=May 8, 2017}}

Professional career

=Minnesota Timberwolves (2017–2018)=

Patton was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 16th pick in the 2017 NBA draft. On draft night his rights were traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves along with Jimmy Butler in exchange for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, and the draft rights to Lauri Markkanen, the seventh pick. On July 4, 2017, Patton signed with the Timberwolves.{{cite web|title=Timberwolves Sign Justin Patton|url=http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/timberwolves-sign-justin-patton/|publisher=National Basketball Association|access-date=July 5, 2017|date=July 4, 2017}} Patton was to participate in the 2017 NBA Summer League, however, he suffered an injury during the workout and underwent an immediate surgery to repair his broken left foot, and was sidelined indefinitely.{{cite web|title=Justin Patton Injury Update|url=http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/justin-patton-injury-update|publisher=National Basketball Association|access-date=July 5, 2017|date=July 4, 2017}} Patton made his NBA debut on April 1, 2018, against the Utah Jazz, scoring two points on two shots and made one steal in his only game with the Timberwolves. Patton remained with the team for the rest of their season.{{cite web|title=Former Creighton, Omaha North star Justin Patton makes NBA debut with Minnesota Timberwolves|url=http://www.omaha.com/creighton/blog/former-creighton-omaha-north-star-justin-patton-makes-nba-debut/article_2425ada6-fcd5-5ecd-9bc4-b0cb48bdd998.html|website=omaha.com/creighton/|access-date=April 19, 2018|date=April 2, 2018}} On April 18, 2018, Patton underwent surgery on his left foot to encourage further healing of the injury he suffered the previous summer. The team announced he would be sidelined indefinitely. Patton spent the majority of his rookie season with the Iowa Wolves, and started in 38 games, while averaging 12.7 points and 5.4 rebounds in 23.2 minutes per game.{{cite web|title=Timberwolves' rookie Justin Patton sidelined indefinitely after another foot surgery|url=https://www.twincities.com/2018/04/19/timberwolves-rookie-justin-patton-sidelined-indefinitely-after-another-foot-surgery/|website=twincities.com|access-date=April 19, 2018|date=April 19, 2018}} On September 18, 2018, Patton underwent surgery for a broken right foot.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2018/09/18/timberwolves-justin-patton-again-has-surgery-on-broken-foot/37856665/|title=Timberwolves' Justin Patton again has surgery on broken foot|website=USA Today |access-date=November 13, 2018}}

=Philadelphia 76ers (2018–2019)=

On November 12, 2018, Patton was traded, along with Jimmy Butler, to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Robert Covington, Dario Šarić, Jerryd Bayless, and a 2022 second-round draft pick. On April 3, 2019, Patton was waived by the 76ers after appearing in 3 games.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/sixers/news/team-acquires-four-time-all-star-jimmy-butler|title=Team Acquires Four-Time All-Star Jimmy Butler|publisher=National Basketball Association|date=November 12, 2018|access-date=November 12, 2018}}

=Oklahoma City Thunder (2019–2020)=

On August 13, 2019, Patton signed with the Thunder.{{cite web |title=Thunder Signs Justin Patton |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release-patton-190813 |publisher=National Basketball Association |access-date=August 13, 2019 }} On January 14, 2020, while on assignment for the Oklahoma City Blue, Patton scored a G League-high 45 points to go with 13 rebounds, nine assists, and six blocks in a 149–140 win over the South Bay Lakers.{{cite news |last1=Nyatawa |first1=Jon |title=Former Bluejay Justin Patton scores G League-high 45 points Tuesday |url=https://www.omaha.com/sports/college/creighton/former-bluejay-justin-patton-scores-g-league-high-points-tuesday/article_42853b1a-736a-5ee5-9091-82f9a57220fa.html |access-date=January 15, 2020 |work=Omaha World-Herald |date=January 15, 2020}}

On January 24, 2020, Patton was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Isaiah Roby and cash considerations.{{cite news |title=Mavericks deal Roby to OKC, reportedly eyeing Warriors' Cauley-Stein|url=https://www.mavs.com/cauley-stein-to-the-mavs/|access-date=January 12, 2020 |work=CBS Sports |date=January 24, 2020}} He was waived the next day when the team obtained Willie Cauley-Stein.{{cite news |title=Mavericks acquire Willie Cauley-Stein from Warriors|url=https://www.nba.com/article/2020/01/24/willie-cauley-stein-trade-warriors-mavs|access-date=January 24, 2020|work=nba.com|date=January 24, 2020}}

=Wisconsin Herd (2020)=

On February 20, 2020, the Wisconsin Herd announced that they had acquired Patton off waivers.{{cite web|title=WISCONSIN HERD ACQUIRES CENTER JUSTIN PATTON|url=https://wisconsin.gleague.nba.com/news/wisconsin-herd-acquires-center-justin-patton|date=February 20, 2020|website=NBA.com|access-date=February 20, 2020|archive-date=February 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222061259/https://wisconsin.gleague.nba.com/news/wisconsin-herd-acquires-center-justin-patton/|url-status=dead}} Patton played seven games for the Herd before the season was ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He averaged 12 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game with the team.

On June 26, 2020, the Detroit Pistons announced they had signed Patton.{{cite web|title= Pistons Sign Center Justin Patton|url= https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/pistons-sign-center-justin-patton|date=June 26, 2020|website=NBA.com|access-date=June 27, 2020}}

Without appearing in an official game with the Pistons, on November 19, 2020, Patton was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in a three-team trade.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/clippers/news/la-clippers-acquire-kennard-patton-scrubb-and-four-second-round-picks-three-team-deal|title=LA Clippers Acquire Kennard, Patton, Scrubb and Four Second-Round Picks In Three-Team Deal|work=NBA.com|date=November 19, 2020}} He was waived without appearing in a game for the team.{{Cite web|last=Greif|first=Andrew|date=November 25, 2020|title=Clippers waive Justin Patton to open room under salary cap|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2020-11-24/clippers-waive-justin-patton|access-date=March 10, 2021|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}

On December 3, 2020, Patton was signed to a training camp deal by the Milwaukee Bucks.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/bucks/milwaukee-bucks-finalize-training-camp-roster|title=Milwaukee Bucks Finalize Training Camp Roster|work=NBA.com|date=December 3, 2020|access-date=December 5, 2020}} He was waived on December 17.{{Cite web|last=Hill|first=Arthur|date=December 16, 2020|title=Bucks Waive EJ Montgomery, Justin Patton|url=https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2020/12/bucks-waive-ej-montgomery-justin-patton.html|access-date=March 10, 2021|website=Hoops Rumors}}

=Westchester Knicks (2021)=

On January 11, 2021, Patton was selected ninth overall by the Westchester Knicks in the first 2021 NBA G League draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/bucks/milwaukee-bucks-finalize-training-camp-roster|title=Westchester Knicks Select Justin Patton No. 9 Overall|date=January 11, 2021|website=NBA.com|access-date=January 11, 2021}}

=Houston Rockets (2021)=

On February 19, 2021, the Houston Rockets signed Patton to a two-way contract with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.{{cite web|title=ROSTER UPDATE: The Houston Rockets today announced they have called up center Justin Patton from the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League.|url=https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1362877295501877255|date=February 19, 2021|website=Houston Rockets on Twitter.com|access-date=February 19, 2021}} However, he was waived on April 3.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/rockets/rockets-sign-armoni-brooks-two-way-contract|title=Rockets Sign Armoni Brooks to Two-Way Contract|date=April 3, 2021|website=NBA.com|access-date=April 4, 2021}}

=Hapoel Eilat (2021–2022)=

On August 26, 2021, Patton signed with Hapoel Eilat of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.{{cite web |last1=Mor |first1=Lior |title=H.Eilat inks Justin Patton |url=https://www.eurobasket.com/Israel/news/701932/H.Eilat-inks-Justin-Patton |website=Eurobasket |access-date=August 26, 2021 |date=August 26, 2021}} In 2021–22, he led the league in blocks average, averaging 1.6 per game.{{Cite web|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/international/league/11/Israeli-BSL/stats/2022/Averages/Qualified/All/points/All/desc/1/Regular_Season|title=Israeli BSL Stats - RealGM|website=basketball.realgm.com}}

=Cholet Basket (2022–2023)=

On August 3, 2022, Patton signed with Cholet Basket of the French LNB Pro A.{{Cite news|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/cholet-basket-inks-former-nba-first-round-pick-justin-patton/|title=Cholet Basket inks former NBA first-round pick Justin Patton|last=|first=|date=August 3, 2022|website=|newspaper=Sportando|language=En|access-date=August 15, 2022 |last1=Skerletic |first1=Dario }}

=Shanxi Loongs (2023)=

On September 1, 2023, Patton signed with Shanxi Loongs of the Chinese Basketball Association.{{Cite news|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/justin-patton-signs-with-shanxi/|title=Justin Patton signs with Shanxi|last=|first=|date=September 12, 2023|website=|newspaper=Sportando|language=En|access-date=September 13, 2023 |last1=Carchia |first1=Emiliano }}

=Taipei Fubon Braves (2024)=

On January 14, 2024, Patton signed with the Taipei Fubon Braves of the P. League+.{{cite web |title=富邦勇士簽下2017年NBA首輪長人他曾效力雷霆、火箭等隊 |url=https://sports.ettoday.net/news/2662789 |website=ETtoday運動雲 |access-date=January 2, 2025 |date=January 12, 2024}} On March 15, he was released by the team.{{cite web |title=富邦勇士大刀闊斧一口氣砍2洋將找回前T1洋將伊貝 |url=https://sports.ettoday.net/news/2700940 |website=ETtoday運動雲 |access-date=January 2, 2025 |date=March 15, 2024}}

=Indios de San Francisco de Macorís (2024)=

On June 13, 2024, Patton signed with the Indios de San Francisco de Macorís of the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto.{{cite web |title=El centro Justin Patton anunciado por los Indios como refuerzo |url=https://cdndeportes.com.do/baloncesto/el-centro-justin-patton-anunciado-por-los-indios-como-refuerzo/ |website=CDN Deportes |access-date=January 2, 2025 |date=June 13, 2024}}

=Peristeri (2024)=

On August 7, 2024, Patton signed with the Peristeri of the Greek Basketball League.{{cite web |title=Ο Τζάστιν Πάτον στο Περιστέρι! |url=https://www.peristeribc.gr/2024/08/07/%ce%bf-%cf%84%ce%b6%ce%ac%cf%83%cf%84%ce%b9%ce%bd-%cf%80%ce%ac%cf%84%ce%bf%ce%bd-%cf%83%cf%84%ce%bf-%cf%80%ce%b5%cf%81%ce%b9%cf%83%cf%84%ce%ad%cf%81%ce%b9/ |website=PERISTERI BC |access-date=January 2, 2025 |date=August 7, 2024}}

=Liaoning Flying Leopards (2024–2025)=

On December 31, 2024, Patton signed with the Liaoning Flying Leopards of the Chinese Basketball Association.{{cite web |title=Flying Leopards sign Justin Patton, ex Peristeri |url=https://www.asia-basket.com/China/news/909748/Flying-Leopards-sign-Justin-Patton,-ex-Peristeri |website=Eurobasket.com |access-date=January 2, 2025 |date=December 31, 2024}}

Career statistics

=NBA=

==Regular season==

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2017}}

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

| 1 || 0 || 4.0 || .500 || — || — || .0 || .0 || 1.0 || .0 || 2.0

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2018}}

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

| 3 || 0 || 7.0 || .286 || .000 || .500 || 2.0 || 1.0 || .7 || .0 || 1.7

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

| style="text-align:left;"| Oklahoma City

| 5 || 0 || 4.8 || .400 || .250 || — || 1.0 || .4 || .0 || .0 || 1.8

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

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

| 13 || 6 || 19.0 || .414 || .265 || .750 || 3.8 || 1.1 || .9 || 1.1 || 5.4

|- class="sortbottom"

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

| 22 || 6 || 13.8 || .404 || .250 || .667 || 2.7 || .9 || .7 || .6 || 3.9

=NBA G League=

==Regular season==

| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18

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

| 38 || 28 || 23.1 || .476 || .300 || .764 || 5.4 || 1.6 || 1.0 || 1.3 || 12.7

| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19

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

| 11 || 2 || 18.5 || .500 || .167 || .625 || 5.6 || 1.6 || .9 || 2.0 || 8.7

|- class="sortbottom"

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

| 49 || 30 || 22.1 || .480 || .286 || .735 || 5.4 || 1.6 || 1.0 || 1.5 || 11.8

=College=

| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17

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

| 35 || 34 || 25.3 || .676 || .533 || .517 || 6.2 || 1.2 || .9 || 1.4 || 12.9

Player profile

At 7'0, 250 pounds, with a 7'2 ½ wingspan, Patton was initially recruited to Creighton as a defensive center.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}} He is a strong rim-runner, and his passing ability has been compared to that of Vlade Divac.{{cite web|title=Timberwolves rookie Justin Patton flashing a high hoops IQ in Iowa |first=Jace |last=Frederick|url=https://www.twincities.com/2018/02/19/timberwolves-rookie-justin-patton-flashing-a-high-hoops-iq-in-iowa/|website=twincities.com|access-date=April 19, 2018|date=February 19, 2018}} He is able to effectively play above the rim, as a strong finisher. He has sometimes struggled with positioning for rebounds.{{cite web|title=Justin Patton Nba Draft Scouting Report And Video Analysis|first1=Mike|last1=Schmitz|first2=Josh |last2=Riddell|url=http://www.draftexpress.com/article/justin-patton-nba-draft-scouting-report-and-video-analysis-5912/|website=draftexpress.com|access-date=April 19, 2018|date=May 2, 2017}} He is sometimes late to challenge shots at the basket, and sometimes needlessly swipes at the ball, which leads to foul trouble.