Saddiq Bey

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Saddiq Bey

| image = Saddiq Bey (cropped).jpg

| caption = Bey with the Detroit Pistons in 2022

| position = Small forward / power forward

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 7

| weight_lb = 215

| league = NBA

| team = Washington Wizards

| number = 14

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|4|9}}

| birth_place = Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.

| high_school =

| college = Villanova (2018–2020)

| draft_year = 2020

| draft_round = 1

| draft_pick = 19

| draft_team = Brooklyn Nets

| career_start = 2020

| years1 = {{nbay|2020|start}}–{{nbay|2022|end}}

| team1 = Detroit Pistons

| years2 = {{nbay|2022|end}}–{{nbay|2023|end}}

| team2 = Atlanta Hawks

| years3 = {{nbay|2024|start}}–present

| team3 = Washington Wizards

| highlights =

NBA All-Rookie First Team ({{nbay|2020|end}})
AP honorable mention All-American (2020)
Julius Erving Award (2020)
First-team All-Big East (2020)
Big East All-Freshman Team (2019)
Robert V. Geasey Trophy (2020)

}}

Saddiq Jaleel Bey ({{IPAc-en|s|ə|ˈ|d|iː|k|_|ˈ|b|eɪ}} {{respell|sə|DEEK|_|BAY}};[https://www.nba.com/gamenotes/hawks.pdf Atlanta Hawks (41-41) (2-3) vs. Boston Celtics (57-25) (3-2) Thursday, April 27th, 2023, State Farm Arena, 8:30 pm EDT, Postseason Game #6, Home Game #3 (official Hawks game notes)] Retrieved May 23, 2023. born April 9, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats.

High school career

Bey attended DeMatha Catholic High School his freshman year before transferring to Sidwell Friends School. He played AAU ball with D.C. Premier.{{cite news |last=Tracy |first=Marc |title=Top Private Schools Bring In the Power Elite (and the Power Forwards) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/30/sports/sidwell-basketball.html |access-date=December 5, 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=March 30, 2018}} He stood {{Height|ft=5|in=9|abbr=mos}} as a freshman before growing through high school.{{cite news |last=Jensen |first=Mike |title=Saddiq Bey's growth spurt helps Villanova in all sorts of ways |url=https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/villanova/saddiq-bey-villanova-basketball-jay-wright-growth-spurt-sidwell-friends-20200122.html |access-date=January 24, 2020 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=January 22, 2020}} Bey averaged 14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals per game as a junior to lead Sidwell to a conference championship. He injured his ankle as a senior and missed several games.{{cite news |last=Pell |first=Samantha |title=Four-star 2018 forward Saddiq Bey commits to Villanova |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/recruiting-insider/wp/2018/06/15/four-star-2018-forward-saddiq-bey-commits-to-villanova/ |access-date=December 5, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 15, 2018}} As a senior, Bey averaged 21 points and eight rebounds per game.

A four-star recruit, Bey was ranked the 83rd-best player in his class by 247Sports.com. Bey originally committed to North Carolina State on November 2, 2017.{{cite news|last=Alexander|first=Jonathan|date=November 2, 2017|title=Saddiq Bey, four-star basketball recruit, commits to NC State|work=The News & Observer|url=https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/nc-state/article182435386.html|access-date=December 5, 2019}} However, he asked to be released from his letter of intent in May 2018, and was denied a waiver to play in the Atlantic Coast Conference. After visiting Wake Forest, Boston College and Vanderbilt, he signed with Villanova on June 15. Villanova coach Jay Wright had recruited Bey earlier in high school but began targeting him after Omari Spellman left for the NBA and a scholarship became available.{{cite news |last=Juliano |first=Joe |title=Villanova freshman Saddiq Bey shows he was ready for big-time college basketball |url=https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/villanova/villanova-wildcats-saddiq-bey-jay-wright-big-east-freshman-20190307.html |access-date=December 5, 2019 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=March 6, 2019}}

College career

In his debut versus Morgan State, Bey finished with 16 points and four rebounds.{{cite news |last=Jensen |first=Mike |title=Villanova unveils the new pieces of its basketball puzzle |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/colleges/villanova-basketball-newcomers-saddiq-bey-joe-cremo-cole-swider-jahvon-quinerly-morgan-state-20181107.html |access-date=December 5, 2019 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=November 7, 2018}} In his first six games he averaged a little under 16 points per game. Bey had his first double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds on January 30, 2019, against DePaul. Villanova won the Big East tournament to become the first team with three straight tournament titles, with Bey contributing 16 points and 10 rebounds in the 74–72 championship against Seton Hall.{{cite news |last=Russo |first=Ralph D. |title=Villanova beats Seton Hall to become first team to win three consecutive Big East Tournament titles |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/villanova-wildcats/villanova-beats-seton-hall-become-first-team-win-three-consecutive-big-east |access-date=December 5, 2019 |work=NBC Sports |agency=Associated Press |date=March 16, 2019}} As a freshman, Bey averaged 8.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, starting 29 of 36 games.{{cite news |last=Juliano |first=Joe |title=An immediate offseason question at Villanova: Will Jahvon Quinerly transfer after frustrating season? |url=https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/villanova/villanova-wildcats-jay-wright-jahvon-quinerly-transfer-20190326.html |access-date=December 5, 2019 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=March 25, 2019}} He was named to the Big East All-Freshman Team.{{cite news |last=Watkins |first=Eric |title=Phil Booth, Eric Paschall and Saddiq Bey Earn Big East Honors |url=https://247sports.com/college/villanova/Article/Phil-Booth-Eric-Paschall-and-Saddiq-Bey-Earn-Big-East-Honors-129930246/ |access-date=March 29, 2019 |work=247 Sports |date=March 10, 2019}}

Coming into his sophomore season, Bey was named to the Julius Erving Award watchlist.{{cite web |title=College basketball awards: 20 small forwards named to 2020 Julius Erving Award preseason watch list |url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2019-10-16/college-basketball-awards-20-small-forwards-named-2020 |website=NCAA |access-date=December 5, 2019 |date=October 16, 2019}} On December 4, Bey scored 27 points to lead Villanova to an 80–69 win over Penn.{{cite news |title=Behind Bey, No. 23 Villanova holds off pesky Penn 80–69 |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401169782 |access-date=December 5, 2019 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=December 4, 2019}} He had a career-high 33 points including eight three-pointers, on January 11, 2020, to help the Wildcats to an 80–66 victory over Georgetown.{{cite news |title=Bey scores 33, leads No. 16 Villanova past Georgetown 80–66 |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401168396 |access-date=January 11, 2020 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=January 11, 2020}} Bey scored 18 points the following game in a 79–75 overtime win against DePaul.{{cite news |title=No. 14 Villanova survives scare, beats DePaul 79–75 in OT |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401168352 |access-date=January 24, 2020 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=January 14, 2020}} At the conclusion of the regular season, Bey was unanimously selected first-team All-Big East.{{cite news |last=Juliano |first=Joe |title=Saddiq Bey leads a group of four Villanova players receiving Big East postseason honors |url=https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/villanova/villanova-wildcats-saddiq-bey-all-conference-honors-collin-gillespie-jeremiah-robinson-earl-justin-moore-recognition-20200308.html |access-date=March 8, 2020 |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |date=March 8, 2020}} Bey was named the winner of the Robert V. Geasey Trophy as the top player in the Philadelphia Big 5.{{Cite web | title = Bey, Robinson-Earl Lead Wildcats' Big Five Award Winners | publisher = Villanova Wildcats | date = April 15, 2020 | url = https://villanova.com/news/2020/4/15/mens-basketball-bey-robinson-earl-lead-wildcats-big-five-award-winners.aspx | access-date = April 21, 2020}} Bey won the Julius Erving Award at the end of the season as the nation's top small forward.{{cite web |last=Juliano |first=Joe |title=Villanova's Saddiq Bey wins Julius Erving Award as nation's best small forward, says he'll enter NBA draft |url=https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/villanova/saddiq-bey-julius-erving-award-villanova-small-forward-20200407.html |access-date=October 8, 2020 |date=April 7, 2020}} Bey was the third Villanova player to win the award in the previous six seasons, following Josh Hart in 2017 and Mikal Bridges in 2018.{{cite web |last=Mayo |first=Quinton |date=April 7, 2020 |title=Bey Honored as Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year |url=https://villanova.com/news/2020/4/7/mens-basketball-bey-honored-as-julius-erving-small-forward-of-the-year.aspx |access-date=October 8, 2020 |website=villanova.com |quote=Josh Hart (2017) and Mikal Bridges (2018) were the previous Wildcats to have been recognized with this elite honor.}} He averaged 16.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game as a sophomore.{{cite news |last=Dauster |first=Rob |title=NBC Sports College Basketball All-American Teams |url=https://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2020/03/10/college-basketball-all-american-teams/ |access-date=March 16, 2020 |work=NBC Sports |date=March 10, 2020}}

Professional career

=Detroit Pistons (2020–2023)=

Bey was drafted 19th overall by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2020 NBA draft. The following day, November 19, 2020, the Detroit Pistons acquired the draft rights to Bey in a three-team trade.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/news/nets-acquire-shamet-from-clippers-in-3-team-trade|title=Nets acquire Shamet from Clippers in 3-team trade|work=NBA.com|date=November 19, 2020|access-date=November 20, 2020}} On December 1, the Pistons announced that they had signed Bey.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/detroit-pistons-sign-rookies-killian-hayes-isaiah-stewart-saddiq-bey-and-saben-lee|title=Detroit Pistons Sign Rookies Killian Hayes, Isaiah Stewart, Saddiq Bey and Saben Lee|date=December 1, 2020|website=NBA.com|access-date=December 1, 2020}} On February 15, 2021, Bey was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week.{{cite web|title=Devin Booker, Saddiq Bey named NBA Players of the Week|url=https://www.nba.com/news/devin-booker-saddiq-bey-named-nba-players-of-the-week|website=NBA.com|date=February 15, 2021|access-date=February 16, 2021}} Bey finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting with three third-place votes.{{cite web|title=Hornets' LaMelo Ball wins 2020-21 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year|url=https://www.nba.com/news/hornets-lamelo-ball-wins-kia-rookie-of-the-year|website=NBA.com|date=June 16, 2021|access-date=June 16, 2021}}

On January 1, 2022, Bey hit a game-winning three-pointer over two defenders in the final seconds of overtime to propel the Pistons to a 117–116 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.{{cite web |last=Sankofa |first=Omari II |date=January 1, 2022 |title=Saddiq Bey hits winning 3-pointer as Detroit Pistons beat San Antonio Spurs, 117-116 (OT) |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2022/01/01/detroit-pistons-score-san-antonio-spurs-saddiq-bey/9069806002/ |access-date=January 1, 2022 |work=Detroit Free Press}} Two days later, Bey scored a then-career-high 34 points, along with eight rebounds, leading the Pistons to a 115–106 upset road victory over the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks.{{cite web|title=Saddiq Bey's career-high 34 points help Pistons stun Bucks|url=https://www.wxyz.com/sports/saddiq-beys-career-high-34-helps-pistons-stun-bucks|work=WXYZ Detroit|date=January 3, 2022|access-date=January 5, 2022}} On March 17, 2022, Bey scored a career-high 51 points, along with nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals, in a 134–120 win against the Orlando Magic.{{cite web|url=https://clutchpoints.com/pistons-news-saddiq-bey-completes-epic-feat-with-lebron-james-nba-stars-not-seen-in-60-years/|title=Pistons forward Saddiq Bey completes epic feat with LeBron James, NBA stars not seen in 60 years|last=Samillano|first=Gerard|website=ClutchPoints|date=March 17, 2022|access-date=March 17, 2022}} On March 23, 2022, in a game against the Atlanta Hawks, Bey set a then Pistons franchise record for the most three-pointers made in a season with 192, breaking Allan Houston's previous record of 191.{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/nba/pistons/news/detroit-pistons-saddiq-bey-three-pointers-made-allan-houston-nba|title=Saddiq Bey Makes Pistons History|website=si.com|last=Brown|first=Brandon|date=March 23, 2022|access-date=January 5, 2023}}

On January 4, 2023, Bey scored 17 points and made a buzzer-beating, game-winning three-pointer in a 122–119 win over the Golden State Warriors.{{cite web|url=https://clutchpoints.com/pistons-news-saddiq-bey-sends-klay-thompson-warriors-home-unhappy-with-ice-cold-buzzer-beater|title=Pistons forward Saddiq Bey sends Klay Thompson, Warriors home unhappy with ice-cold buzzer beater|website=ClutchPoints|last=Pagaduan|first=Jedd|date=January 4, 2023|access-date=January 4, 2023}}

=Atlanta Hawks (2023–2024)=

On February 9, 2023, Bey was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in a four-team trade involving the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers.{{cite web |date=February 9, 2023 |title=Hawks Acquire Guard/Forward Saddiq Bey in Four-Team Trade with Golden State, Detroit and Portland |url=https://www.nba.com/hawks/news/hawks-acquire-guard-forward-saddiq-bey-in-four-team-trade-with-golden-state-detroit-and-portland |access-date=January 3, 2023 |work=NBA.com}} He made his Hawks debut on February 13, recording 12 points and five rebounds in a 144–138 loss to the Charlotte Hornets.{{Cite web |last=Reed |first=Steve |date=February 13, 2023 |title=LAMELO BALL LEADS HORNETS TO WIRE-TO-WIRE VICTORY OVER HAWKS |url=https://www.nba.com/game/0022200857 |access-date=February 16, 2023 |website=NBA.com}}

On January 28, 2024, Bey put up 26 points alongside a game-winning putback dunk in a 126–124 win over the Toronto Raptors.{{cite web|url=https://clutchpoints.com/hawks-news-saddiq-bey-saves-atlanta-raptors-shocker-fans-bonkers|title=Hawks' Saddiq Bey saves Atlanta from Raptors shocker, fans go bonkers|website=ClutchPoints|last=Buyawe|first=Brian|date=January 28, 2024|access-date=January 28, 2024}} On March 11, Bey suffered an ACL tear that ruled him out for the rest of the season.{{cite web |last=Grasso |first=Justin |date=March 11, 2024 |title=Former Detroit Pistons First-Rounder Suffers Major Injury |url=https://www.si.com/nba/pistons/news/former-detroit-pistons-first-rounder-suffers-major-injury |access-date=March 11, 2024 |website=SI.com}}

=Washington Wizards (2024–present)=

On July 12, 2024, Bey signed a three-year, $20 million deal with the Washington Wizards.{{cite web|title=Wizards Sign Bey|url=https://www.nba.com/wizards/news/wizards-sign-bey|website=NBA.com|date=July 12, 2024|access-date=July 12, 2024}}{{cite news |last=Wojnarowski |first=Adrian |author-link=Adrian Wojnarowski |date=July 11, 2024 |title=Saddiq Bey signs with Wizards on 3-year, $20 million deal |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40537110 |access-date=November 12, 2024 |work=ESPN.com |language=en}} He was expected to miss most of the season, but was recalled on March 23rd, 2025 from a rehab stint with the team's G League affiliate - the Capital City Go-Go - for a potential return within a month.{{cite web |title=Wizards Forward Takes Big Step in Injury Recovery |url=https://www.si.com/nba/wizards/washington-wizards-news/washington-wizards-saddiq-bey-big-step-injury-recovery |website=SI.com |date=March 22, 2025 |access-date=March 23, 2025}}{{cite web |title=Wizards' Saddiq Bey: Back with NBA club |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/wizards-saddiq-bey-back-with-nba-club/ |website=CBS Sports |date=March 23, 2025 |access-date=March 23, 2025}}