Nathan Knight

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Nathan Knight

| image = Nathan Knight (cropped).jpg

| caption = Knight with William & Mary in 2020

| position = Power forward / center

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 9

| weight_lbs = 235

| league = CBA

| team = Zhejiang Lions

| number = 2

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|9|20}}

| birth_place = Syracuse, New York, U.S.

| high_school = * Nottingham
(Syracuse, New York)

Kimball Union Academy
(Meriden, New Hampshire)

| college = William & Mary (2016–2020)

| draft_year = 2020

| career_start = 2020

| years1 = {{nbay|2020|full=y}}

| team1 = Atlanta Hawks

| years2 = {{nbay|2021|start}}–{{nbay|2022|end}}

| team2 = Minnesota Timberwolves

| years3 = 2021–2022

| team3 = →Iowa Wolves

| years4 = 2023

| team4 = Maine Celtics

| years5 = 2023–2024

| team5 = Motor City Cruise

| years6 = 2024–present

| team6 = Zhejiang Lions

| highlights =

CBA champion (2025)
Lou Henson Award (2020)
CAA Player of the Year (2020)
CAA Defensive Player of the Year (2020)
2× First-team All-CAA (2019, 2020)
Second-team All-CAA (2018)
3× CAA All-Defensive Team (2018–2020)
CAA All-Rookie Team (2017)

}}

Nathan Solomon Kapahukula Knight (born September 20, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the Zhejiang Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He played college basketball for the William & Mary Tribe.

Early life

Knight grew up in Syracuse, New York and attended Nottingham High School. As a freshman, he was a pitcher on the baseball team before deciding to focus on basketball after experiencing a growth spurt. As a senior, he averaged 14.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game and was named All-Central New York. Knight completed a postgraduate year at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire. In AAU play, he competed for Gym Ratz, coached by Billy Edelin. On October 5, 2015, he committed to William & Mary over offers from Temple, Duquesne, George Mason, and Canisius among others.{{cite web|url=https://www.syracuse.com/collegebasketball/2015/10/former_nottingham_high_school_player_nate_knight_announces_his_college_choice.html|title=Former Nottingham High School player Nate Knight announces college choice|first=Mike|last=Waters|website=The Post-Standard|date=October 8, 2015|access-date=January 22, 2020}} Knight appreciated the rich history of the college and felt at home on the campus, saying it was an easy decision to make.

College career

As a true freshman, Knight averaged 8.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in 31 games played (six starts).{{cite web|url=https://newdayreview.com/2017/11/17/whos-next-william-mary-features-dominating-forward-nathan-knight/|title=Who's Next?: William & Mary Features Dominating Forward Nathan Knight|first=Victor|last=Tan|website=NewDayReview.com|date=November 17, 2017|access-date=January 20, 2020}} Coach Tony Shaver praised his work ethic for losing 45 pounds before his sophomore season. As a sophomore, he averaged 18.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and two blocks per game and was named second team All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).{{cite web|url=http://flathatnews.com/2018/11/06/for-nathan-knight-hard-work-pays-off/|title=For Nathan Knight, hard work pays off|first=Brendan|last=Doyle|work=The Flat Hat|date=November 6, 2018|access-date=January 20, 2020}} On February 9, 2019, Knight had a career-high 39 points to go with 14 rebounds at Hofstra. He followed that up with 35 points and 13 rebounds against Elon on February 16 and 30 points in a win over College of Charleston on February 21. Knight was named first team All-CAA as a junior after averaging 21 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.3 blocks per game. Knight became the first college basketball player since Tim Duncan at Wake Forest University in 1997 to average 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots per game, and his scoring average was the highest for a Tribe player since 1968. He also had 12 double-doubles. After entering the 2019 NBA draft, Knight withdrew from the draft before the deadline and decided to return to William & Mary for his senior season.{{cite web|url=https://wtkr.com/2019/05/29/nathan-knight-returning-to-william-mary-after-testing-nba-draft-waters/|title=Nathan Knight returning to William & Mary after testing NBA Draft waters|first=Mitch|last=Brown|website=WKTR.com|date=May 29, 2019|access-date=January 20, 2020}}

Coming into his senior season, coach Shaver was fired and replaced by Dane Fischer while four players transferred, though Knight decided to stay on the team.{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Dave |title=Nathan Knight announces he'll return to William & Mary for senior season |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/sports/college/article_37384846-823f-11e9-9740-13e0cde968e1.html |access-date=January 22, 2020 |work=The Virginian-Pilot |date=May 29, 2019}} During his senior season, Knight put up 30-point games against Buffalo and Oklahoma.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1443421/2019/12/09/this-week-in-mid-major-william-mary-big-mans-steady-dominance-wku-loses-bassey-and-dayton-aces-a-test/|title=This Week in Mid-Major: William & Mary big man's steady dominance, WKU loses Bassey and Dayton aces a test|first=Brian|last=Bennett|website=The Athletic|date=December 9, 2019|access-date=January 22, 2020}} On January 4, 2020, Knight hit a last-second shot in a 66–64 win against Northeastern and finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds.{{cite news |last1=Winkler |first1=Adam |title=Nathan Knight's last-second bucket sends W&M men's basketball to nation-leading seventh road win |url=https://wtkr.com/2020/01/05/nathan-knights-last-second-bucket-sends-wm-mens-basketball-to-nation-leading-seventh-road-win/ |access-date=January 22, 2020 |work=WTKR.com |date=January 5, 2020}} On February 8, 2020, Knight passed the 2,000 career point mark by scoring 16 points while also grabbing 13 rebounds. He became the fourth player in program history to reach the milestone.{{cite news|last=Plain|first=Megan|title= William & Mary men's hoops drops third straight, falls to UNCW 70-64|url= https://www.wtkr.com/sports/william-mary-mens-hoops-drops-third-straight-falls-to-uncw-70-64|access-date=February 9, 2020 |work=wtkr.com|date=February 9, 2020}} At the conclusion of the regular season, Knight was named CAA Player of the Year and CAA Defensive Player of the Year.{{cite press release|url=https://caasports.com/news/2020/3/4/caa-announces-mens-basketball-postseason-accolades.aspx |title=CAA Basketball Announces Men's Basketball Postseason Accolades |publisher=Colonial Athletic Association |date=March 6, 2020 |access-date=March 6, 2020}} He became just the second men's basketball player in CAA history to earn both awards in the same season, joining George Mason's George Evans (1999, 2001). Knight finished the season averaging 20.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, the fourth CAA player to average 20 points and 10 rebounds in a season.{{cite news |title=Tribe's Knight Tabbed AP Honorable Mention All-American |url=https://www.13newsnow.com/article/sports/caaknight1/291-32e87556-b5cd-4f6c-82a9-63cc89478334 |access-date=March 23, 2020 |work=13 News Now |date=March 20, 2020}}

Professional career

=Atlanta Hawks (2020–2021)=

Knight was signed to a two-way contract by the Atlanta Hawks on November 19, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1329477504978051074/|title=Undrafted William & Mary center Nathan Knight is signing a two-way deal with the Atlanta Hawks, source tells ESPN.|first=Adrian|last=Wojnarowski|work=Twitter|date=November 19, 2020|access-date=November 19, 2020}} He played 33 games for the Hawks in the 2020–21 season, averaging 3.8 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. He did not appear for the Hawks' NBA G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks, as the team sat out the season due to the COVID pandemic.

=Minnesota Timberwolves (2021–2023)=

For the 2021–22 season, Knight signed another two-way deal, this time with the Minnesota Timberwolves and their G League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves.{{cite web|title=Timberwolves Sign Nathan Knight and McKinley Wright IV to Two-Way Contracts|url=https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/timberwolves-sign-nathan-knight-and-mckinley-wright-iv-two-way-contracts|website=NBA.com|date=August 6, 2021|access-date=August 14, 2021}} In his first career NBA start on December 27, 2021, Knight recorded 20 points, 11 rebounds, one steal, and one block in a win against the Boston Celtics.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/timberwolves-nathan-knight-excels-in-first-career-start/|title=Timberwolves' Nathan Knight: Excels in first career start|website=CBS Sports|date=December 28, 2021|access-date=December 30, 2021}} He averaged 3.7 points and 2.3 rebounds in 37 appearances.{{Cite web |title=Nathan Knight statistics |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/knighna01.html |access-date=July 25, 2023 |website=basketball-reference.com |publisher = Sports Reference LLC}}

On July 23, 2022, Knight re-signed with the Timberwolves,{{Cite web |title=Nathan Knight re-signs with Timberwolves |url=https://www.startribune.com/nathan-knight-signs-timberwolves/600192661/ |access-date=July 24, 2022 |website=Star Tribune}} where he went on to average 3.7 points and 1.5 rebounds in 38 appearances.

=Maine Celtics (2023)=

On July 21, 2023, Knight signed a two-way contract with the New York Knicks,{{cite web|title=New York Knicks Sign Nathan Knight|url=https://www.nba.com/knicks/news/new-york-knicks-sign-nathan-knight|website=NBA.com|date=July 21, 2023|access-date=July 21, 2023}} but was waived on October 19.{{cite tweet|author=NY_KnicksPR|title=Knicks waive Nathan Knight|number=1715113433446633865|user=NY_KnicksPR|date=October 19, 2023|access-date=October 20, 2023}} Three days later, he signed a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics.{{cite web|title=Boston Celtics Sign Knight|url=https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease-20231022-boston-celtics-sign-knight|website=NBA.com|date=October 22, 2023|access-date=October 24, 2023}} On December 12, Boston waived Knight.{{cite tweet|first=Jared|last=Weiss|title=Celtics announced they have waived two-way player Nathan Knight.|number=1734696775594954805|user=JaredWeissNBA|date=December 12, 2023|access-date=December 13, 2023}} He averaged 8.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 22.9 minutes in 12 games with the Maine Celtics.{{cite web|first=Bobby|last=Krivitsky|title=Evaluating Celtics' Options After Waiving Nathan Knight|url=https://www.si.com/nba/celtics/transactions-rumors/evaluating-celtics-options-after-waiving-nathan-knight|work=Sports Illustrated|date=December 12, 2023|access-date=December 17, 2023}}

=Motor City Cruise (2023–2024)=

On December 17, 2023, Knight was acquired by the Motor City Cruise after he had returned to Maine.{{cite tweet|author=Blake|title=The @MotorCityCruise acquired Nathan Knight from the Maine Celtics in exchange for a 2024 first round draft pick. In a related move, the Cruise have waived Yor Anei. @detroitbadboys|number=1736396910682923474|user=blakesilverman|date=December 17, 2023|access-date=December 17, 2023}}

=Zhejiang Lions (2024–present)=

On August 3, 2024, Knight signed with the Zhejiang Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association.{{cite web|title=公告{{!}}浙江广厦篮球俱乐部与内森·奈特签约|url=https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309405063587722035521|website=Weibo.com|publisher=Zhejiang Lions|date=August 3, 2024|access-date=August 4, 2024|language=Chinese}}

Career statistics

=NBA=

==Regular season==

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

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

| 33 || 0 || 8.5 || .370 || .182 || .800 || 2.2 || .2 || .3 || .3 || 3.8

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

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

| 37 || 2 || 7.2 || .511 || .308 || .733 || 2.3 || .6 || .2 || .2 || 3.7

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

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

| 38 || 0 || 7.7 || .568 || .364 || .684 || 1.5 || .3 || .3 || .2 || 3.7

|- class="sortbottom"

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

| 108 || 2 || 7.8 || .476 || .265 || .738 || 2.0 || .4 || .2 || .2 || 3.7

==Playoffs==

| style="text-align:left;"|2021

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

| 6 || 0 || 2.3 || .286 || .000 || .000 || 1.0 || .0 || .0 || .3 || .7

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

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

| 2 || 0 || 2.4 || .250 || .000 || {{sort|-|–}} || .5 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 1.0

|- class="sortbottom"

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

| 8 || 0 || 2.3 || .273 || .000 || .000 || .9 || .0 || .0 || .3 || .8

=College=

| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17

| style="text-align:left;"| William & Mary

| 31 || 6 || 17.2 || .578 || .167 || .594 || 4.4 || 1.1 || .4 || 1.3 || 8.2

| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18

| style="text-align:left;"| William & Mary

| 31 || 30 || 28.7 || .575 || .306 || .769 || 7.3 || 2.2 || .6 || 2.0 || 18.5

| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19

| style="text-align:left;"| William & Mary

| 31 || 30 || 30.6 || .578 || .244 || .732 || 8.6 || 3.5 || .4 || 2.3 || 21.0

| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20

| style="text-align:left;"| William & Mary

| 32 || 32 || 29.6 || .524 || .305 || .773 || 10.5 || 1.8 || .8 || 1.5 || 20.7

|- class="sortbottom"

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

| 125 || 98 || 26.6 || .560 || .283 || .736 || 7.7 || 2.1 || .5 || 1.8 || 17.1

Personal life

Knight is the youngest of four children.{{cite web |last1=Speed |first1=Ashley |title=A Knight Returns To W&M |url=https://magazine.wm.edu/issue/2020-winter/a-knight-returns-to-wm.php |website=William & Mary |access-date=January 22, 2020 |date=January 7, 2020}} In December 2008, Knight's 18-year-old sister Yeisha Howard was stabbed to death in Syracuse. According to the prosecutor, it was part of a longstanding feud, and the perpetrator of the attack was sentenced to seven years in prison.{{cite web |last1=Ducibella |first1=Jim |title=A Knight's tale: Reaching for greatness |url=https://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2019/a-knights-tale-reaching-for-greatness.php |website=William & Mary |date=March 8, 2019|access-date=January 22, 2019}}