Darius Bazley

Darius Denayr Bazley was born on June 12, 2000, and is known for his professional career in basketball. His latest stint was as a player for the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Bazley’s journey in basketball started in Ohio, where he spent his high school years excelling in the sport. With an impressive career at high schools like Finneytown and Princeton in Sharonville, he started drawing attention as a basketball prodigy in his state. The peak of his high-school success was garnering McDonald’s All-American honors in 2018, solidifying his reputation as a top prospect.

After high school, Bazley’s path took an unconventional turn. While he initially committed to Syracuse University, he decided not to pursue college basketball. Instead, he intended to join the NBA G League with the aim of going professional. His decision to bypass college stirred waves in the basketball community, attracting national attention.

Instead of joining the G League, Bazley decided to train independently and secure an internship with New Balance. His training and internship period spanned the season before the 2019 NBA draft. The draft saw him picked 23rd overall by the Utah Jazz, immediately followed by trades to the Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder. After four seasons with the Thunder, Bazley was again traded, this time heading to the Phoenix Suns, in 2023.

Before moving to Princeton, Bazley began his basketball stint at Finneytown High School, where he faced eligibility issues in his freshman year. However, his sophomore year saw his prowess in the sport draw attention from several college basketball programs, including Ohio State and West Virginia. On one occasion, he posted an impressive score of 25 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks against Woodward High School.

Before his transfer to Princeton High School in Sharonville, Bazley was on top of the rankings in Ohio by his junior year. His first appearance for Princeton ended in a loss at the Flyin’ To The Hoop Invitational, where he recorded his impressive stats.

His high school career ended with him making it to the West team for the 2018 McDonald’s All-American Boys Game, with performances in other prestigious games, like the Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoop Summit.

Following his announcement to bypass college, Bazley appointed Rich Paul from Klutch Sports Group as his sports agent. The decision set into motion a series of career moves, which included his internship at New Balance and entry into the 2019 NBA draft.

At the draft, after being picked by the Jazz and traded to the Grizzlies and then the Thunder, Bazley made his NBA debut in an overtime win over the Philadelphia 76ers. His NBA journey saw him score career-best performances, with the highest overall standing at 29 points in a match against the Memphis Grizzlies in March 2022. Unfortunately, later that year, he suffered a tibial plateau fracture in his right knee, putting his NBA career on hold for the rest of the season.

In 2023, Bazley was traded to the Suns, where he stayed only briefly before signing with the Brooklyn Nets. By year-end, he had joined the NBA G League team, the Delaware Blue Coats. After stints with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Utah Jazz, Bazley signed with the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) in September 2024. His journey demonstrates his mettle as a player; willing to adapt and take unconventional routes to success, Bazley has made his unique mark in the world of professional basketball.