Matt Mooney

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Matt Mooney

| image = Matt Mooney (cropped).jpg

| caption = Mooney in December 2018

| position = Shooting guard

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lbs = 199

| league =

| team = Free agent

| number =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|2|7}}

| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

| high_school = Notre Dame College Prep
(Niles, Illinois)

| college =

Air Force (2014–2015)
South Dakota (2016–2018)
Texas Tech (2018–2019)

| draft_year = 2019

| career_start = 2019

| career_end =

| years1 = 2019–2020

| team1 = Memphis Hustle

| years2 = {{nbay|2019|end}}

| team2 = Cleveland Cavaliers

| years3 = 2020

| team3 = →Canton Charge

| years4 = 2021

| team4 = Raptors 905

| years5 = 2021

| team5 = Mexico City Capitanes

| years6 = {{nbay|2021|full=y}}

| team6 = New York Knicks

| years7 = 2022

| team7 = Unicaja

| years8 = 2022

| team8 = Niners Chemnitz

| years9 = 2022–2023

| team9 = Beşiktaş

| years10 = 2023

| team10 = Darüşşafaka

| years11 = 2023–2024

| team11 = Samsunspor

| years12 = 2024

| team12 = Dolomiti Energia Trento

| years13 = 2024–2025

| team13 = New Zealand Breakers

| highlights =

Second-team All-Big 12 (2019)
Big 12 All-Defensive Team (2019)
Big 12 All-Newcomer Team (2019)
2× First-team All-Summit League (2017, 2018)
Summit League Transfer of the Year (2017)
Summit League All-Newcomer Team (2017)

}}

Matthew Marren Mooney (born February 7, 1995) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders and South Dakota having transferred after his freshman year at Air Force.

Early life

Mooney has a younger brother Joe who is also a basketball player. He attended Notre Dame College Prep and commuted two hours from Wauconda, Illinois to play under coach Tom Les.{{Cite news |last=Mawicke |first=Megan |date=April 3, 2019 |title=Wauconda Native And Texas Tech's Matt Mooney Takes Long, Winding Road to Final Four |work=CBS |url=https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/04/03/wauconda-native-and-texas-techs-matt-mooney-takes-long-winding-road-to-final-four/ |access-date=April 4, 2019}} Mooney was lightly recruited. He had two college offers coming out of high school and signed with Air Force.{{Cite news |last=Van Dril |first=Eric |date=April 21, 2015 |title=Matt Mooney alleges bullying at Air Force Academy, plans to transfer |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/niles/sports/ct-mgc-matt-mooney-air-force-academy-bullying-tl-0420-20150421-story.html |access-date=April 4, 2019}}

College career

Mooney averaged 6.9 points per game as a freshman at Air Force. However, he had trouble getting adjusted to the strictness of the military culture and experienced bullying. After the season, he opted to transfer.

After sitting out a season, Mooney averaged 18.6 points per game as a sophomore for South Dakota, leading the team to a regular season championship. He was named to the First–team All-Summit League and newcomer of the year.{{Cite news |last=Garry |first=Mick |date=April 16, 2018 |title=It's official: Matt Mooney leaving South Dakota |work=Argus Leader |url=https://www.argusleader.com/story/sports/college/university-of-south-dakota/2018/04/15/its-official-mooney-leaving-south-dakota/519091002/ |access-date=April 4, 2019}} As a junior, Mooney averaged 18.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He was named to the First–team All-Summit League again. He had 31 points in a loss to TCU and 30 points in a loss to South Dakota State in the Summit League championship. Following the season, Mooney opted to transfer as a graduate student, selecting Texas Tech over offers from Northwestern and Creighton.{{Cite news |last=Borzello |first=Jeff |date=May 14, 2018 |title=South Dakota grad transfer Matt Mooney commits to Texas Tech |work=ESPN |url=http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/23505147/south-dakota-coyotes-transfer-matt-mooney-commits-texas-tech-red-raiders |access-date=April 4, 2019}}

Texas Tech was coming off a season in which the team reached the Elite Eight but lost some important pieces. Mooney averaged 11 points per game and shot 38 percent from behind the arc. He partnered with Jarrett Culver to help the team reach its first-ever Final Four.{{Cite news |last=Hawkins |first=Stephen |date=April 2, 2019 |title=Wauconda's Matt Mooney took a winding path to Texas Tech and the Final Four |work=Chicago Tribune |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-spt-matt-mooney-texas-tech-final-four-20190402-story.html |access-date=April 4, 2019}} Mooney scored 17 points in an upset of Gonzaga in the Elite Eight. In Texas Tech's first Final Four appearance on April 6, 2019, Mooney scored 22 points in Texas Tech's 61–51 defeat of Michigan State to advance to the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game.{{Cite web |title=Texas Tech vs. Michigan State - Box Score - April 6, 2019 - ESPN |url=http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=401123376 |access-date=April 7, 2019 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} Texas Tech would lose the championship game to Virginia 85–77 in overtime. Mooney was then named to the 2019 All-Tournament Team.

Professional career

=Memphis Hustle (2019–2020)=

After going undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft, Mooney joined the Atlanta Hawks' Summer League roster.{{cite web|title=As some of you have heard, I've agreed to play with the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA summer league.|website=Matt Mooney on Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/moonswag13/status/1142135623794511885|date=June 21, 2019|access-date=June 21, 2019}}{{cite web|title=Atlanta Hawks Announce Summer League Roster|url=https://www.nba.com/hawks/atlanta-hawks-announce-summer-league-roster|website=NBA.com|date=July 2, 2019|access-date=July 2, 2019}}

On September 4, 2019, Mooney signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Memphis Grizzlies,{{cite web|title=Memphis Grizzlies sign Matt Mooney|url=https://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/memphis-grizzlies-sign-matt-mooney-190904|website=NBA.com|date=September 4, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2019}} but was waived on October 14.{{cite web|title=Memphis Grizzlies sign Dusty Hannahs|url=https://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/memphis-grizzlies-sign-dusty-hannahs-191014|website=NBA.com|date=October 14, 2019|access-date=October 14, 2019}} He was named to the roster of the Grizzlies’ NBA G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle.{{cite web|first=Geoff|last=Langham|title=Memphis Hustle announce final roster|url=https://memphis.gleague.nba.com/news/memphis-hustle-announce-final-roster-191104/|website=NBA.com|date=November 4, 2019|access-date=December 5, 2019|archive-date=November 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107023529/https://memphis.gleague.nba.com/news/memphis-hustle-announce-final-roster-191104/|url-status=dead}}

=Cleveland Cavaliers (2020)=

On January 15, 2020, Mooney was signed to a two-way contract by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Under the terms of the deal, he will split time between the Cavs and their G League affiliate, the Canton Charge.{{cite web|title=Cavs Sign Matt Mooney to Two-Way Contract|url=https://www.nba.com/cavaliers/releases/matt-mooney-signing-200115|website=NBA.com|date=January 15, 2020|access-date=January 15, 2020}} He made his NBA debut on January 20, recording two points, a rebound and an assist in three minutes in a 106–86 loss to the New York Knicks.{{cite news|title=Matt Mooney scores first NBA points with Cavaliers|url=https://www.everythinglubbock.com/sports/red-raider-nation/matt-mooney-scores-first-nba-points-with-cavaliers/|work=KLBK|date=January 20, 2020|access-date=January 20, 2020}} Mooney was waived on December 19, 2020.

=Raptors 905 (2021)=

On January 27, 2021, Mooney signed with Raptors 905.{{cite web|title=RAPTORS 905 ANNOUNCE ROSTER AND SEASON SCHEDULE|url=https://raptors905.gleague.nba.com/news/raptors-905-announce-roster-and-season-schedule/|website=NBA.com|date=January 27, 2021|access-date=January 29, 2021}} He averaged 11.6 points and 5.7 assists per game.{{cite web|first=Soheil|last=Jamshidi|title=Sanders Named NBA G League Executive of the Year|url=https://raptors905.gleague.nba.com/news/sanders-named-nba-g-league-executive-of-the-year/|website=NBA.com|date=March 19, 2021|access-date=October 13, 2021}}

=Mexico City Capitanes (2021)=

On October 24, 2021, Mooney signed with the Mexico City Capitanes of the NBA G League.{{cite web|title=Capitanes begin to announce 2021-22 roster|url=https://capitanes.gleague.nba.com/news/capitanes-begin-to-announce-2021-22-roster/|website=NBA.com|date=October 22, 2021|access-date=October 31, 2021}} In 12 games, he averaged 15.2 points, 4.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.17 steals over 32.8 minutes per game.{{cite web|title=Knicks Sign Matt Mooney to a 10-Day Contract|url=https://www.nba.com/knicks/front-office-news/knicks-sign-matt-mooney-10-day-contract|website=NBA.com|date=December 21, 2021|access-date=December 21, 2021}}

=New York Knicks (2021–2022)=

On December 21, 2021, Mooney signed a 10-day contract with the New York Knicks. He signed a second 10-day contract with the Knicks on December 31.{{cite web |last1=Almo |first1=Alder |title=Knicks sign Damyean Dotson, Matt Mooney to second 10-day contracts |url=https://empiresportsmedia.com/new-york-knicks/knicks-sign-damyean-dotson-matt-mooney-to-second-10-day-contracts/ |website=Empire Sports Media |access-date=December 31, 2021 |date=December 31, 2021}} Mooney played one game for the Knicks and had one steal.{{cite web |last1=Yahyabeyoglu |first1=Fersu |title=Matt Mooney signs at Unicaja |url=https://www.eurobasket.com/Spain/news/728956/Matt-Mooney-signs-at-Unicaja |website=Eurobasket |access-date=January 31, 2022 |date=January 31, 2022}}

=Unicaja (2022)=

On January 31, 2022, Mooney signed with Unicaja of the Liga ACB.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unicajabaloncesto.com/noticia/ver/id/170009/titulo/mas-refuerzos-para-el-unicaja-llega-matt-mooney.html|title=Más refuerzos para el Unicaja: llega Matt Mooney|last=|first=|date=January 31, 2022|website=unicajabaloncesto.com|publisher=|language=es|access-date=January 31, 2022}}

=Niners Chemnitz (2022)=

On August 12, 2022, Mooney signed with Niners Chemnitz of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).{{Cite news|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/matt-mooney-joins-chemnitz-niners/|title=Matt Mooney joins Chemnitz Niners|last=|first=|date=August 12, 2022|website=|newspaper=Sportando|language=En|access-date=August 15, 2022|last1=Skerletic |first1=Dario }}

=Beşiktaş (2022–2023)=

On October 7, 2022, Mooney signed with Beşiktaş Emlakjet of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL).{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurobasket.com/Turkey/news/771153/Besiktas-tab-Matt-Mooney,-ex-Chemnitz|title=Besiktas tab Matt Mooney, ex Chemnitz|last=|first=|date=October 7, 2022|website=|publisher=Eurobasket|language=En|access-date=October 7, 2022}}

=Darüşşafaka (2023)=

On January 29, 2023, Mooney signed with Darüşşafaka Lassa of the Basketball Super League (BSL).{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketfaul.com/haber?haber=106101|title=Beşiktaş'tan ayrıldı, Daçkalı oldu|last=|first=|date=January 29, 2023|website=|publisher=basketfaul|language=tr|access-date=January 29, 2023}}

=Samsunspor (2023–2024)=

On July 12, 2023, Mooney signed with Reeder Samsunspor of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL).{{Cite tweet |user=SSBasketbol |number=1679193323083268115 |title=Welcome Matt Mooney!}}

=Aquila Basket Trento (2024)=

On February 1, 2024, Mooney signed with Dolomiti Energia Trento of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).{{Cite web|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/aquila-trento-officially-signs-matt-mooney/|title=Aquila Trento officially signs Matt Mooney|last=|first=|date=February 1, 2024|website=|publisher=Sportando|language=En|access-date=February 1, 2024}}

=New Zealand Breakers (2024–2025)=

On August 9, 2024, Mooney signed with the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) for the 2024–25 season.{{Cite web|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/breakers-secure-final-import|title=Breakers secure final import|last=|first=|date=August 9, 2024|website=NBL.com.au|language=En|access-date=August 9, 2024}}

Career statistics

=NBA=

==Regular season==

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

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

| 4 || 0 || 4.8 || .250 || .000 || – || .8 || .3 || .5 || .3 || .5

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

| style="text-align:left;"|New York

| 1 || 0 || 2.0 || .000 || .000 || {{sort|-|—}} || .0 || .0 || 1.0 || .0 || .0

|- class="sortbottom"

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

| 5 || 0 || 4.2 || .200 || .000 || {{sort|-|—}} || .6 || .2 || .6 || .2 || .4

=College=

| style="text-align:left;"|2014–15

| style="text-align:left;"|Air Force

| 29 || 8 || 19.2 || .448 || .387 || .786 || 1.9 || 1.8 || .8 || .1 || 6.9

| style="text-align:left;"|2016–17

| style="text-align:left;"|South Dakota

| 34 || 34 || 31.1 || .460 || .367 || .717 || 4.5 || 2.1 || 2.2 || .1 || 18.6

| style="text-align:left;"|2017–18

| style="text-align:left;"|South Dakota

| 34 || 34 || 30.6 || .445 || .352 || .829 || 4.1 || 3.1 || 2.0 || .1 || 18.7

| style="text-align:left;"|2018–19

| style="text-align:left;"|Texas Tech

| 38 || 38 || 31.0 || .426 || .386 || .782 || 3.1 || 3.3 || 1.8 || .1 || 11.3

|- class="sortbottom"

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

| 135 || 114 || 28.4 || .446 || .368 || .772 || 3.4 || 2.6 || 1.7 || .1 || 14.1

References

External links

[https://www.legabasket.it/protagonisti/giocatori/7335/matt-mooney Italian League profile]
[https://texastech.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7893 Texas Tech Red Raiders bio]
[https://www.proballers.com/basketball/player/178441/matt-mooney Proballers profile]

Category:1997 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:Air Force Falcons men's basketball players

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Canada

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Mexico

Category:American expatriate basketball people in New Zealand

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:Baloncesto Málaga players

Category:Basketball players from Chicago

Category:Basketball players from Lake County, Illinois

Category:Beşiktaş men's basketball players