Chris Chiozza

Christopher Xavier Chiozza, born on November 21, 1995, is an American born professional basketball player who currently plays for the Manisa Basket, a team within the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) and the Basketball Champions League (BCL). He rose through the ranks setting footprints in the world of basketball playing at Florida Gators, his college team and later the renowned NBA team, Golden State Warriors, which saw him win his first NBA championship in 2022.

Born and raised in America, basketball was embedded in his roots from the time he set foot in White Station High School, under the vigilant guidance of his coach, Jesus Patino. It was here that he made constructive strides in the junior ranks, marked by his performance in a crucial Pittsburgh tournament following his grandmother’s death. He averaged an outstanding 27 points, seven assists and seven steals, a performance that begun drawing major college interests his way.

By his senior year, he had improved his assists, averaging 15 points and eight assists per game. Notably, he was ranked No. 45 in his class by Rivals.com attesting to his world-class skills on court. Offers began pouring in from well-recognized colleges like Auburn, UMass, Memphis, Ohio State, Richmond and Tennessee. He chose Florida, a decision that initiated the path to his great basketball career.

His stint at Florida was nothing short of exceptional. During the Sweet Sixteen of the 2017 NCAA tournament coached by the college, he shot a 3-pointer defining the win against Wisconsin in an 84–83 defeat. This was done in overtime and it helped his team advance to the Elite Eight. His average stats during this time as a junior included 7.2 points, 3.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game.

In his senior year, he embraced a more significant role as a starter and stunned the SEC with a 3.22 assist-to-turnover ratio. Highlights of his performance included a last-minute steal and a layup that saw Florida defeating Missouri in January 2018. His breaking of Erving Walker’s Florida assists record on March 3rd of the same year spoke volumes about his leadership capability. Additionally, his average statistics surged to 11.1 points, 6.1 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game by the end of the season. His sterling efforts earned him a deserved subjection to the First Team All-SEC.

Despite going undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft, Chiozza’s skills couldn’t be ignored. He was picked by the Washington Wizards for the NBA Summer League. After waiving his contract, Chiozza joined the Capital City Go-Go into the NBA G League.

With huge basketball milestones under his belt, the Houston Rockets introduced their contract on February 22, 2019. Though he didn’t feature in any of the games, he joined Rockets’ G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. On playing his first game on March 24, he helped the team secure a 113–90 blowout win against the New Orleans Pelicans.

After enjoying a short spell with the Washington Wizards, Chiozza inked a two-way contract with the Brooklyn Nets on January 4, 2020. Here he was waived in at December’s end of training camp and was re-signed on December 22.

Chiozza steered his career towards a more rewarding step when he signed a two-way contract with the NBA champions the Golden State Warriors in August 2021. The June 2022 NBA finals saw him secure his first championship with the Warriors. After leaving the Nets, he was integrated to the Long Island Nets opening night roster on November 4, 2022. As the 2022-2023 season concluded, he earned his name in the USBasket.com All NBA G League Third Team.

In less than a decade of professional basketball, Chiozza played in several teams across various leagues. On April 4, 2023, he signed with UCAM Murcia of the Liga ACB and later with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz of the Liga ACB on November 1, 2023. By June 2024, he was signed with Valencia Basket, followed by Manisa Basket of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) in September 2024.

To crown his remarkable journey, on February 12, 2019, Chiozza was selected for the FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifying training camp roster for Team USA by the USA Basketball. It’s clear that his commitment, built from his early days at White Station High School right through to his current professional career, placed him among the pantheon of the basketball greats. He’s indeed a beacon of resilience, tenacity, and skill within the basketball fraternity, constantly stretching the limits of success.