Wes Iwundu Explained

Wes Iwundu
Position:Small forward / shooting guard
Height Ft:6
Height In:6
Weight Lb:195
League:Greek Basket League
BCL
Team:Promitheas Patras
Birth Date:20 December 1994
Birth Place:Houston, Texas, U.S.
High School:Westfield (Houston, Texas)
College:Kansas State (2013–2017)
Draft Year:2017
Draft Round:2
Draft Pick:33
Draft Team:Orlando Magic
Career Start:2017
Years1:
Team1:Orlando Magic
Years2:2017–2018
Team2:Lakeland Magic
Team3:Dallas Mavericks
Team4:New Orleans Pelicans
Team5:Atlanta Hawks
Years6:2022
Team6:Cleveland Charge
Years7:2022–2023
Team7:Stockton Kings
Years8:2023–2024
Team8:Rasta Vechta
Years9:2024–present
Team9:Promitheas Patras
Highlights:
  • 2× Third-team All-Big 12 (2016, 2017)

Wesley Deshawn Iwundu (born December 20, 1994) is an American professional basketball player for Promitheas Patras of the Greek Basket League and the Basketball Champions League (BCL). He played college basketball for the Kansas State Wildcats.

College career

Iwundu was recruited by coach Bruce Weber to Kansas State out of Westfield High School in Houston. He would go on to be a starter from the beginning, breaking the Wildcats' career record for games started with 124.[1] He came in as a part of a heralded five-man 2013 recruiting class, but ultimately was the only player who stayed at K-State past two seasons.

He was named third-team All-Big 12 Conference in both his junior and senior seasons.[2] For his senior season, Iwundu averaged 13.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.[3]

Professional career

Orlando Magic (2017–2020)

Following the closure of his college career, Iwundu was invited to the 2017 NBA draft combine.[4] In the 2017 NBA draft, Iwundu was taken in the second round by the Orlando Magic with the 33rd pick, thus becoming the first Kansas State player to be taken in an NBA draft since Michael Beasley and Bill Walker in 2008.[5] Iwundu signed a three-year contract worth a total of $4,046,762.[6]

Dallas Mavericks (2020–2021)

On December 1, 2020, Iwundu signed with the Dallas Mavericks.[7]

New Orleans Pelicans (2021)

On March 26, 2021, Iwundu was traded, alongside James Johnson and a second-round draft pick, to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for JJ Redick and Nicolò Melli.[8]

On August 7, 2021, Iwundu was traded to the Charlotte Hornets[9] and was later waived prior to the start of the season.[10]

Atlanta Hawks (2021–2022)

On December 23, 2021, Iwundu signed a 10-day contract with the Atlanta Hawks.[11]

Cleveland Charge (2022)

On January 25, 2022, Iwundu was acquired off waivers by the Cleveland Charge.[12] However, he was waived on April 1 after suffering a season-ending injury.[12]

Stockton Kings (2022–2023)

Iwundu was signed to the Portland Trail Blazers on September 23, 2022 on a training camp contract. He was waived on October 7.[13] On November 3, 2022, Iwundu was named to the opening-night roster for the Stockton Kings.[14]

Rasta Vechta (2023–2024)

For the 2023–24 season, Iwundu signed with Rasta Vechta of the German Bundesliga.

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

|-| style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Orlando| 62 || 12 || 16.5 || .427 || .196 || .723 || 2.2 || .9 || .5 || .2 || 3.7|-| style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Orlando| 68 || 13 || 18.1 || .412 || .367 || .816 || 2.7 || 1.1 || .4 || .3 || 5.0|-| style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Orlando| 52 || 21 || 18.3 || .416 || .341 || .804 || 2.5 || 1.2 || .5 || .3 || 5.8|-| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2| | style="text-align:left;"| Dallas| 23 || 3 || 12.5 || .327 || .130 || .857 || 2.9 || .4 || .4 || .1 || 2.1|-| style="text-align:left;"| New Orleans| 18 || 1 || 13.9 || .340 || .111 || .824 || 2.6 || .4 || .3 || .1 || 2.8|-| style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta| 3 || 1 || 27.3 || .444 || .600 || .750 || 4.3 || .0 || .3 || .0 || 7.3|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 226 || 51 || 16.9 || .408 || .292 || .798 || 2.5 || .9 || .5 || .2 || 4.4

Playoffs

|-| style="text-align:left;"|2019| style="text-align:left;"|Orlando| 5 || 0 || 12.0 || .333 || .333 || 1.000 || 1.4 || .8 || .6 || .0 || 4.8|-| style="text-align:left;"|2020| style="text-align:left;"|Orlando| 5 || 0 || 15.2 || .300 || .571 || .625 || 2.2 || .8 ||.6 || .4 || 4.2 |- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 10 || 0 || 13.6 || .316 || .438 || .824 || 1.8 || .8 || .6 || .2 || 4.5

NBA G League

Regular season

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18| style="text-align:left;"| Lakeland| 9 || 9 || 35.3 || .405 || .125 || .755 || 8.4 || 2.0 || 1.1 || .4 || 15.2|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 9 || 9 || 35.3 || .405 || .125 || .755 || 8.4 || 2.0 || 1.1 || .4 || 15.2

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2013–14| style="text-align:left;"| Kansas State| 33 || 32 || 23.6 || .461 || .412 || .634 || 4.2 || 1.8 || .6 || .4 || 6.7|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2014–15 | style="text-align:left;"| Kansas State| 31 || 24 || 25.2 || .404 || .316 || .595 || 3.5 || 2.0 || .7 || .6 || 5.8|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2015–16 | style="text-align:left;"| Kansas State | 33 || 32 || 32.4 || .478 || .200 || .692 || 4.5 || 3.7 || 1.3 || .2 || 11.9|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17| style="text-align:left;"| Kansas State| 35 || 35 || 31.4 || .481 || .376 || .767 || 6.3 || 3.5 || 1.0 || .3 || 13.0|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 132 || 123 || 28.2 || .463 || .338 || .688 || 4.7 || 2.8 || .9 || .4 || 9.5

Personal

Iwundu has Nigerian roots. In 2021, it was reported that he was in talks with the Nigeria national basketball team to represent Nigeria in the 2024 Summer Olympics.[15]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Robinett . Kellis . April 11, 2017 . Wesley Iwundu poised to become K-State's first NBA Draft pick in nearly a decade . . June 4, 2017.
  2. News: Corbitt . Ken . March 5, 2017 . K-State's Wesley Iwundu working for final shot at NCAA Tournament . . June 4, 2017.
  3. Web site: Wesley Iwundu – men's college basketball stats . February 12, 2024 . ESPN.com . ESPN.
  4. News: Kellis. Robinett. Former Kansas State star Wesley Iwundu invited to NBA Draft Combine. Wichita Eagle. April 29, 2017. June 4, 2017.
  5. Web site: Greg. Woods. Wesley Iwundu drafted by Magic in second round of NBA Draft. BringOnTheCats.com. June 22, 2017. March 26, 2020.
  6. Web site: Wesley Iwundu Salary & Contract Salary Sport. SalarySport.com. August 15, 2020.
  7. Web site: Sefko . Eddie . December 1, 2020 . Mavericks sign eight, including Barea, Iwundu, Burke . December 1, 2020 . Mavs.com.
  8. Web site: Price . Dwain . March 26, 2021 . Mavs acquire sharpshooting guard Redick in trade with Pelicans . March 26, 2021 . Mavs.com.
  9. Web site: Hornets Acquire Wes Iwundu and Protected 2022 First-Round Pick in Three-Team Sign-and-Trade. NBA.com. August 7, 2021. August 7, 2021.
  10. Web site: Rochinski . Matt . October 18, 2021 . Hornets Waive Wes Iwundu . October 18, 2021 . NBA.com.
  11. Web site: Rehmann . Arman . December 23, 2021 . Hawks Sign Wes Iwundu To 10-Day Contract . December 23, 2021 . NBA.com.
  12. Web site: 2021-22 NBA G League Transactions. gleague.nba.com. January 25, 2022. January 25, 2022.
  13. Web site: Gomez . Fernando . October 7, 2022 . Trail Blazers waive Devontae Cacok, Wes Iwundu and Brandon Williams . October 14, 2022 . NBA.com.
  14. Web site: Stockton Kings Announce 2022-23 Opening Night Roster. oursportscentral.com. November 3, 2022. November 3, 2022.
  15. Web site: Udoh . Colin . March 20, 2021 . Denver Nuggets' Monte Morris commits to play for Nigeria internationally . February 12, 2024 . ESPN.com.