Dewayne Dedmon

Dewayne Dedmon's Biography

Dewayne Jamal Dedmon, born on August 12, 1989, in Lancaster, California, is an American pro basketball player known for his prowess in the NBA and NBA G League. Dedmon, commonly referred to as “the Mechanic”, made a name for himself as a skilled player representing Lancaster High School, Antelope Valley College, USC, and later, several professional basketball teams.

During his schooling at Lancaster High School, Dedmon faced unique circumstances. Despite his height and athleticism, his mother, a staunch Jehovah’s Witness, feared that involvement in competitive basketball would compromise his religious beliefs. However, as he turned 18, Dedmon, standing at 6 ft 8 in, decided to defy this decision and kicked off his sports career in his final year of high school.

In 2008, upon graduating from Lancaster High School, Dedmon enrolled as a part-time student at Antelope Valley College. Here, he continued his academic pursuits without engaging in basketball games for the 2008-2009 season.

However, Dedmon eventually returned to the court for the 2009-10 season when he grew to 7 ft tall. His formidable skills contributed significantly to Antelope Valley’s impressive 17-14 record and he was instrumental in several critical games. Notably, he accomplished 46 blocks and made school history by recording seven blocks against Chaffey College. However, a physical altercation led to a broken bone in his forehead and an injured nasal cavity, causing him to miss the last seven games of the regular season.

Dedmon returned for the playoffs, demonstrating his dedication to the game. In his first game after the injury, he registered an impressive 5 points and 13 rebounds, contributing to his team’s victory against Miramar College. In April 2010, he secured a spot at the University of Southern California (USC), where he continued to expand his career.

Dedmon’s tenure at USC was marked by minor injuries which temporarily hindered his progress. Nevertheless, he managed to maintain a .551 shooting percentage and led the team in several games. However, in his second year at USC, Dedmon faced a significant setback – a torn left MCL that ended his 2011-2012 season prematurely. For the next season, his scores improved, and he led the Trojans with 7.0 rebounds per game.

In April 2013, Dedmon made a significant career switch when he declared for the NBA draft. While the NBA draft proved to be unsuccessful, Dedmon secured a position with the Miami Heat for the Orlando Summer League and later on, the Dallas Mavericks for the Las Vegas Summer League, before signing with the Golden State Warriors.

Unfortunately, his tenure with the Warriors was brief, and he was waived after only a few games. Despite this setback, Dedmon persisted, eventually securing contracts with Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic after showcasing his abilities in the NBA D-League.

Dedmon’s career continued to flourish in 2016 when he signed with the San Antonio Spurs. His excellent performance became a staple of the Spurs’ success, with the player setting multiple career and season-high records. In July 2017, Dedmon continued his professional conquest with the Atlanta Hawks, where he again enhanced his basketball abilities.

Despite some injuries throughout his time with the Hawks, Dedmon performed remarkably, frequently recording career and season-high statistics. By July 2019, Dedmon had moved once again, this time to the Sacramento Kings, where his playing time was, unfortunately, reduced. Dedmon was then briefly traded back to Atlanta and later to the Detroit Pistons, before signing with the Miami Heat in April 2021.

In November 2023, Dedmon took a new direction, signing with the Ontario Clippers of the NBA G League. By February 2024, however, Dedmon’s time with the Clippers was cut short when he was waived from the team.

Off the court, Dedmon’s personal life reflects his perseverance. The son of Thomas Dedmon and Gail Lewis, he has two older sisters, Sabrina and Marina. His father passed away when he was just three, while his mother continued to be a devoted Jehovah’s Witness. Dedmon married his wife, Kayla, in 2019, and the couple has two children.