Ray Spalding

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Ray Spalding

| image = Ray Spalding.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Spalding being defended by Virginia Tech

| position = Power forward

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 9

| weight_lb = 225

| league = Israeli Basketball Premier League

| team = Hapoel Be'er Sheva

| number = 21

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|3|11}}

| birth_place = Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.

| high_school = Trinity (Louisville, Kentucky)

| college = Louisville (2015–2018)

| draft_year = 2018

| draft_round = 2

| draft_pick = 56

| draft_team = Philadelphia 76ers

| career_start = 2018

| career_end =

| years1 = {{nbay|2018|full=y}}

| team1 = Dallas Mavericks

| years2 = 2018–2019

| team2 = →Texas Legends

| years3 = {{nbay|2018|end}}

| team3 = Phoenix Suns

| years4 = 2019–2020

| team4 = Rio Grande Valley Vipers

| years5 = {{nbay|2019|end}}

| team5 = Charlotte Hornets

| years6 = 2020

| team6 = →Greensboro Swarm

| years7 = {{nbay|2020|end}}

| team7 = Houston Rockets

| years8 = 2021

| team8 = →Rio Grande Valley Vipers

| years9 = 2022–2024

| team9 = Rio Grande Valley Vipers

| years10 = 2024

| team10 = Osos de Manatí

| years11 = 2024–present

| team11 = Hapoel Be'er Sheva

| highlights =

}}

Raymond Mark Spalding (born March 11, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for Hapoel Be'er Sheva of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. He played college basketball for Louisville, and was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second of the 2018 NBA Draft.

High school career

Spalding is the son of Raymond Brooks and Gerri Spalding. Spalding, is a descendant of the Spalding basketball family.{{cite web |url=https://spalding-basketball.com/about-spalding/history/ |title=History - Spalding Basketball |date=February 22, 2021 |publisher=Spalding |access-date=22 October 2021}} He grew up playing lacrosse, soccer, kickball, table tennis, lacrosse, fencing and basketball.{{cite news|last1=Greer|first1=Jeff|title=Louisville basketball's Ray Spalding is chasing his dream of being a household name in his hometown|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/louisville/2017/12/27/ray-spalding-louisville-cardinals-basketball-nba-draft/944726001/|access-date=May 13, 2018|work=Louisville Courier-Journal|date=December 27, 2017}} He attended Trinity High School in Louisville, Kentucky, where he was coached by Mike Szabo.{{cite news|last1=Greer|first1=Jeff|title=Ray Spalding announces he'll leave Louisville, stay in the NBA draft pool|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/louisville/2018/04/03/ray-spalding-announces-hell-leave-louisville-stay-nba-draft-pool/481775002/|access-date=May 13, 2018|work=Louisville Courier Journal|date=April 3, 2018}} Spalding began to receive college looks after scoring 34 points in an AAU tournament the summer before his senior year of high school. He committed to the Louisville Cardinals because he wanted to become a household name in his hometown.

College career

Coming into Louisville, former head coach Rick Pitino raved about Spalding, claiming he has the most potential of any player he has coached.{{Cite news|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/louisville/2015/11/06/louisville-basketball-coach-rick-pitinos-radio-show-covers-ray-spalding-quentin-snider-anas-mahmoud-and-more/75314922/|title=Rick Pitino: Ray Spalding loaded with potential|work=The Courier-Journal|access-date=July 7, 2018}} Spalding came off the bench his first two years at Louisville. He averaged 5.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore.{{cite news|date=March 12, 2017|title=No. 2 Midwest seed Louisville draws familiar foe in first round|work=Lexington Herald-Leader|url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-louisville/article138088423.html|access-date=September 4, 2020}} After the season, Spalding noticed the work teammate Donovan Mitchell put in to become an NBA player and resolved to do the same. He pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds to go with 21 points in a win versus Grand Canyon in December 2017. Spalding had a career-high 23 points to go with 12 rebounds in an 82–78 double-overtime win over Notre Dame on January 16, 2018.{{cite news|title=Spalding scores 23, Louisville beats Notre Dame 82–78 in 2OT|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400986207|access-date=May 13, 2018|publisher=ESPN|agency=Associated Press|date=January 16, 2018}} He moved into the starting lineup as a junior, averaging 12.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.5 steals per game. Spalding led the team to a 22–14 season and the quarterfinals of the NIT.{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Raphielle|title=Louisville forward Ray Spalding to enter 2018 NBA Draft|url=https://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2018/04/03/louisville-forward-ray-spalding-to-enter-2018-nba-draft/|access-date=May 13, 2018|work=NBC Sports|date=April 3, 2018}} He was an Honorable Mention All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection. After the season, Spalding entered the 2018 NBA draft and hired an agent, thus forgoing his final season at Louisville.

Professional career

=Dallas Mavericks (2018–2019)=

On June 21, 2018, Spalding was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 56th pick in the 2018 NBA draft. He was subsequently traded to the Dallas Mavericks alongside the last pick of the draft, Kostas Antetokounmpo for the rights to the 54th pick, Shake Milton.{{cite web|title=Mavericks acquire draft rights to Ray Spalding and Kostas Antetokounmpo|url=https://www.mavs.com/mavericks-acquire-draft-rights-to-ray-spalding-and-kostas-antetokounmpo/|website=Mavs.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.|date=June 21, 2018|access-date=June 21, 2018}} He signed his rookie contract on July 20, 2018.{{cite web|title=Mavericks sign forward Ray Spalding|url=https://www.mavs.com/mavericks-sign-forward-ray-spalding/|website=Mavs.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.|date=July 20, 2018|access-date=July 20, 2018}} He made his NBA debut on October 17, 2018, playing one minute, in a 121–100 loss against the Phoenix Suns.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401070216|title=Booker's late onslaught lifts Suns past Mavs 121–100|publisher=National Basketball Association|date=October 17, 2018|access-date=October 17, 2018}} It was the only game he played with Dallas. The rest of his tenure was spent being assigned to the affiliate Texas Legends in the NBA G League.

On January 31, 2019, Spalding was dismissed by the Mavericks.{{cite web|title=Mavericks acquire All-Star Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee, and Trey Burke in trade with Knicks|url=https://www.mavs.com/mavericks-acquire-all-star-kristaps-porzingis-tim-hardaway-jr-courtney-lee-and-trey-burke-in-trade-with-knicks/|website=Mavs.com|date=January 31, 2019|access-date=January 31, 2019}}

=Phoenix Suns (2019)=

On February 20, 2019, Spalding signed to a 10-day contract with the Phoenix Suns.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/suns/press-release/suns-sign-ray-spalding|title=Phoenix Suns Sign Ray Spalding|date=February 20, 2019|website=Phoenix Suns}} While he never played during the proper contract, he was given a two-year partially guaranteed contract on March 3.{{cite tweet|number=1102215128995557378|user=ShamsCharania|title=The Phoenix Suns are signing forward Ray Spalding to a two-year deal, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.…|date=March 3, 2019}}{{Primary source inline|date=April 2019}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.nba.com/suns/press-release/phoenix-suns-sign-ray-spalding | title=Phoenix Suns Sign Ray Spalding| website=NBA.com}} Spalding eventually recorded his first rebound on March 9, playing in only 3 minutes in a 127–120 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.{{Cite web | url=https://www.nba.com/games/20190309/PHXPOR#/boxscore | title=Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers - March 09, 2019| website=NBA.com}} A week later, Spalding would have his best game of the season in the NBA at that point against the New Orleans Pelicans, recording 8 points on 4-of-5 shooting, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 assists in 14 minutes of action in a 138–136 overtime win.{{Cite web | url=https://www.nba.com/games/20190316/PHXNOP#/boxscore | title=Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Pelicans - March 16, 2019| website=NBA.com}} On April 5, Spalding had his first start in the league, putting up a double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds in a 133–126 overtime win over the Pelicans.[https://www.nba.com/games/20190405/NOPPHX#/recap Jackson nets 35 points, Suns beat Pelicans in overtime]

=Rio Grande Valley Vipers (2019–2020)=

On July 31, 2019, Spalding signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Atlanta Hawks.{{cite web|title=Atlanta Hawks Sign Ray Spalding|url=https://www.nba.com/hawks/news/atlanta-hawks-sign-ray-spalding|website=NBA.com|access-date=July 31, 2019|date=July 31, 2019}} On October 8, 2019, he was waived by the Hawks.{{cite web|title=Atlanta Hawks Request Waivers on Ray Spalding|url=https://www.nba.com/hawks/atlanta-hawks-request-waivers-ray-spalding|website=NBA.com|access-date=October 9, 2019|date=October 8, 2019}} On October 10, 2019, Spalding signed with the Houston Rockets. He was waived by the Rockets on October 19, 2019. Following his release, he was added to the roster of the Rockets' G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.{{cite news |title= Vipers Finalize Training Camp Roster |url= https://riograndevalley.gleague.nba.com/news/vipers-finalize-training-camp-roster/ |access-date=November 2, 2019 |work=NBA.com |date=October 27, 2019}} Spalding was suspended one game without pay after leaving the bench during an altercation in a 132–109 loss to the Memphis Hustle on December 17.{{cite news |title=Four Rio Grande Valley Vipers Players Suspended |url=https://gleague.nba.com/news/four-rio-grande-valley-vipers-players-suspended/|work=NBA.com|date=December 19, 2019|access-date=December 24, 2019}}

=Greensboro Swarm (2020)=

On January 15, 2020, the Charlotte Hornets announced that they had signed with Spalding to a two-way contract.{{cite web|title=Hornets Sign Ray Spalding|url=https://www.nba.com/hornets/press-releases/hornet-sign-ray-spalding|date=January 15, 2020|website=NBA.com|access-date=January 15, 2020}} He scored 15 points in his G League debut for the Greensboro Swarm in a win over the Iowa Wolves.{{cite magazine |last1=Northam |first1=Mitchell |title=Ray Spalding scores 15 points in Greensboro Swarm debut |url=https://www.si.com/nba/hornets/news/greensboro-swarm-gleague-ray-spalding-charlotte-hornets-2020-nba |access-date=January 26, 2020 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=January 21, 2020}} Spalding never played a game for the Hornets.

Spalding was waived by the Hornets on November 29, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/hornets/hornets-waive-ray-spalding|title=Hornets Waive Ray Spalding|work=NBA.com|date=November 29, 2020}}

=Houston Rockets (2021)=

On February 12, 2021, the Houston Rockets announced that they had signed with Spalding to a two-way contract.{{cite web|title=Rockets Sign Ray Spalding to Two-Way Contract|url=https://www.nba.com/rockets/news/rockets-sign-ray-spalding-two-way-contract|date=February 12, 2021|website=NBA.com|access-date=February 12, 2021}} He was waived on February 16 after two games with the team.{{Cite magazine|last=McGavic|first=Matthew|title=Rockets Waive Ray Spalding Following Achilles Injury|url=https://www.si.com/college/louisville/basketball/rockets-waive-spalding|access-date=2021-03-10|magazine=Sports Illustrated|language=en}}

=Return to Rio Grande Valley (2022–2024)=

On November 3, 2022, Spalding was named to the opening night roster for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.{{cite web|title=Vipers Finalize 2022-23 Opening Night Roster|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/vipers-finalize-2022-23-opening-night-roster/n-5895553|website=OurSportsCentral.com|date=November 3, 2022|access-date=November 3, 2022}}

=Osos de Manatí (2024–present)=

On April 16, 2024, Spalding signed with the Osos de Manatí of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional.{{cite web|title=Ray Spalding es el nuevo refuerzo de los Osos de Manatí|url=https://www.elvocero.com/deportes/ray-spalding-es-el-nuevo-refuerzo-de-los-osos-de-manat/article_1bc2a812-fc25-11ee-8a3f-8b3a949e8e89.html|website=ElVocero.com|date=April 16, 2024|access-date=April 16, 2024|language=Spanish}}