Jalen Bridges

Jalen Lashaun Bridges (born May 14, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association, on a two-way contract with the Valley Suns of the NBA G League.[1] He played college basketball for the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Baylor Bears.

Jalen Bridges
Phoenix Suns
PositionSmall forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2001-05-14) May 14, 2001
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High schoolFairmont Senior
(Fairmont, West Virginia)
College
NBA draft2024: undrafted
Playing career2024–present
Career history
2024—presentPhoenix Suns
2024—present→Valley Suns
Career highlights and awards

High school career

Bridges played basketball for Fairmont Senior High School in Fairmont, West Virginia. He helped his team win back-to-back Class AA state titles in his first two years.[2][3] As a senior, he averaged 21.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game, leading his team to its fourth straight state title game.[4] He won the Bill Evans Award as the top high school player in the state of West Virginia.[5] A consensus four-star recruit, he committed to playing college basketball for West Virginia over offers from Miami (Florida), Indiana, Xavier and Alabama.[6]

College career

After initially planning to play a postgraduate season, Bridges joined West Virginia for his first season as a redshirt.[7] On March 4, 2021, he recorded freshman season-highs of 22 points and 12 rebounds in a 76–67 win over TCU.[8] As a freshman, Bridges averaged 5.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, earning Big 12 All-Freshman Team honors.[9] He averaged 8.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game as a sophomore. Following the season, Bridges transferred to Baylor.[10] He averaged 10.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game as a junior. Bridges declared for the 2023 NBA draft before withdrawing to return to Baylor.[11]

Professional career

After going unselected in the 2024 NBA draft, Bridges signed a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns on June 27, 2024.[12]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2019–20 West Virginia Redshirt
2020–21 West Virginia 281918.1.496.409.7143.6.3.5.45.9
2021–22 West Virginia 333326.8.428.325.8234.8.81.0.78.4
2022–23 Baylor 343427.3.506.324.7785.61.0.91.010.3
2023–24 Baylor 353531.7.466.412.8235.71.41.1.612.2
Career 13012126.4.472.370.7965.0.9.9.79.4

References
  1. "BREAKING: Phoenix Suns Reportedly Sign Elite Three-Point Shooter". Fastbreak. 2024-06-27. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
  2. Welch, Matt (March 19, 2021). "'All About Basketball': Jalen Bridges' Basketball Career Has Always Been About Learning". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  3. Brocato, Joe (October 30, 2020). "Fairmont Senior grad Jalen Bridges finds new shooting form, expanded game at WVU". West Virginia MetroNews. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  4. Hunter, Greg (November 9, 2020). "Jalen Bridges Ready For His Mountaineer Debut". Blue Gold News. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  5. Hertzel, Bradley (March 24, 2019). "Fairmont Senior's Jalen Bridges wins Evans Award". The Parkersburg News and Sentinel. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  6. "Jalen Bridges commits to WVU basketball". Charleston Gazette-Mail. September 2, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  7. Hertzel, Bob (October 31, 2020). "Fairmont's Jalen Bridges adjusts his game for college play". Times West Virginian. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  8. "Jalen Bridges has a career-best game in leading No. 6 West Virginia past TCU". The Dominion Post. Associated Press. March 4, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  9. Callihan, Schuyler (May 19, 2021). "Jalen Bridges Switches Jersey Number". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  10. Watkins, Tim (April 20, 2022). "BREAKING: WVU Transfer Jalen Bridges commits to Baylor". 247 Sports. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  11. Peery, Wade (May 31, 2023). "Baylor small forward Jalen Bridges will withdraw his name from the 2023 NBA Draft". On3.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  12. "Jalen Bridges agrees to two-way deal with Phoenix Suns". on3.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
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