Darius Days

Darius Days's Biography

Darius Days, born October 20, 1999, has established a promising career in the world of professional basketball. Chiefly known for his tenure as a leading player for the Illawarra Hawks in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL), Days’ journey to professional basketball was paved by years of hard work, perseverance, and dedication to the game. He is the son of Tracy and Greg Days, and throughout his life, he has drawn inspiration from his favorite NBA players: Draymond Green, whom he admires and compares himself to, along with Carmelo Anthony.

Days’ passion for sports was already evident during his freshman year at Williston High School in Williston, Florida, where he was a member of the junior varsity football team. However, he soon transferred to The Rock School in Gainesville, Florida for his sophomore year, where he switched his focus completely to basketball. The moving proved fruitful as, in his junior year, Days achieved a laudable average of 21 points and 10 rebounds per game, a performance that earned him the Gainesville Sun Small Schools Co-Player of the Year honors. For his senior year, Days attended IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, further ingraining his dedication to the sport.

After high school, Days committed to play college basketball at Louisiana State University (LSU). This choice came despite offers from prestigious basketball programs like North Carolina, Louisville, Ohio State, and Xavier. His freshman year at LSU saw him average 5.3 points and four rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game. As a sophomore, Days’ performance elevated him to a starter position, where he recorded 16 points and 16 rebounds in a 79–77 win over Arkansas. Consequently, he declared for the NBA draft, but withdrew his name to return to college and further refine his game.

Days’ junior season saw him debuting with a 24-point game in a 94–81 victory over SIU Edwardsville. Despite a sprained ankle that saw him miss a game, Days finished his junior season, averaging 11.6 points and a leading 7.8 rebounds per game. Subsequently, he declared alongside his peers for the 2021 NBA draft but chose to return to LSU and finish his final year as a student.

In his senior year and once again led his team in rebounds averaging 7.8 and increased his scoring to 13.7 points per game. His standout performance that year earned him a place in the Second Team All-SEC. However, despite his impressive college credits, Days sadly went undrafted during the 2022 NBA draft.

Undeterred, this setback saw Days participating in the 2022 NBA Summer League with the San Antonio Spurs. He later signed a two-way contract with the Miami Heat, playing a couple of pre-season games before getting waived. Days swiftly moved on to sign an Exhibit 10 deal with the Houston Rockets and split his season playing for the Rockets and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League.

Days continued his basketball journey with the Winnipeg Sea Bears of the Canadian Elite Basketball League, and the TNT Tropang Giga of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) as the team’s import for the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup.

After a pre-season tryout stint with the Shanghai Sharks, Days found his footing within the Australian National Basketball League (NBL), signing with the Illawarra Hawks on September 3, 2024. Through each of these experiences, Darius Days has consistently demonstrated his tenacity and passion for the game and continues to leave a resounding impact on the world of professional basketball.