Duane Washington Jr.

Duane Washington Jr.'s Biography

A champion both on and off the court, German-American professional basketball player Duane Eddy Washington Jr. has exemplified a unique vigor and relentless sporting spirit through his illustrious career. His continued resilience to rise through adversity marks his inimitable journey in the sporting world.

Washington was born on March 24, 2000, in Frankfurt, Germany. His father, former NBA player, Duane Washington brought him into a basketball-playing household, laying the foundation for his son’s future career. Washington’s bond with basketball strengthened when his family relocated to Grand Rapids, Michigan. In Grand Rapids Christian High School, he spent his initial three years honing his skills, where he demonstrated his remarkable talent by averaging 13.1 points and 4.5 assists as a junior.

Fate further steered him familiar basketball terrains when he transferred to Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles for his final year of high school. His uncle, Derek Fisher, was instrumental in facilitating this move as Washington attended his basketball camp and lived under the same roof. At Sierra Canyon, Washington’s skills further blossomed as he played alongside Scotty Pippen Jr., Cassius Stanley, and Kenyon Martin Jr., maintaining a significant average of 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game as a senior.

His steadfast dedication and competitive performance in high school paid off when ESPN recognized him as a four-star recruit, while 247 Sports and Rivals credited him as a three-star recruit. Among numerous offers from top-notch teams such as Michigan, UCLA, and Butler, Washington chose to commit his college basketball years to Ohio State on September 20, 2017.

Entering college, Washington made an immediate impact, remarkably scoring 20 points within 21 minutes in his second game with Ohio State against Purdue Fort Wayne. Throughout the year, he showcased his talent in 35 games, including two as a starter, and maintained impressive overall statistics.

During his sophomore year at Ohio State, he demonstrated consistent growth by reaching his then-career-high of scoring 20 points twice. However, his journey faced hurdles when he, coupled with small forward Luther Muhammad, was suspended for ‘failure to meet program standards.’ Despite the setback, he started 15 of the 28 games he played that season and boasted the second-highest points average on the team.

In his junior year, Washington’s prominence magnified with a career high of 30 points against Michigan. The iconic moment of his basketball journey arrived during the 2021 NCAA tournament. Although his team lost in the overtime first-round matchup against Oral Roberts, he displayed remarkable courage and skill.

His successful college stint and skills prompted him to declare for the 2021 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility. After a series of consistent performances, he finally announced his decision to stay in the draft on June 29. Despite not being initially drafted, Washington scored a significant contract with the Indiana Pacers on August 5, 2021, and started splitting his time with the G League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

He continued to break records, including the most three-pointers by a rookie in a single game in Pacers’ history, leading him to sign a standard contract with the Pacers on April 7. However, his time with the Pacers was brief as he was waived on July 14, 2022.

Following his departure from the Pacers, Washington signed a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns on August 3, 2022. With the Suns, he reached a career-high of 26 points in a game against the Memphis Grizzlies, once again demonstrating his evolving skillset.

Washington’s journey, however, took another turn as he was waived by the Suns and then, signed a two-way contract with the New York Knicks by late February 2023. The Knicks, however, waived his contract in July. Although he re-signed a contract with them, he faced another waive in October only to sign another two-way contract and, again, was waived in November.

Despite the repeated adversities, Washington weathered the storm and rejoined the New York Knicks on January 3, 2024, for the 2024 playoffs but unfortunately did not appear.

On August 20, 2024, Washington inked a deal with Partizan Mozzart Bet of the ABA League, Basketball League of Serbia (KLS) and the EuroLeague, proving yet again his excellent performance by featuring in two ABA League games and averaging 6.5 points within 8.5 minutes of playing time.

His NBA journey saw another twist when the New York Knicks signed him and then traded him to the Charlotte Hornets. However, Washington faced another waive from the Hornets and then, he rejoined Partizan, once again focusing on overseas basketball.

His father, Duane Washington Sr., and his uncle, Derek Fisher, both had decorated careers in the NBA, further fueling Washington’s approach towards the sport. His friendship with the late great Kobe Bryant, who was close to his uncle, has also been instrumental in shaping his outlook towards the game. Not only in the United States but Washington is also cherished in Germany, with dual citizenship providing him with a significant fan base across the Atlantic.

Despite the obstacles in his path, Duane Eddy Washington Jr.’s passion, relentless efforts, and undeterred spirit have endeared him to fans worldwide. Carving himself an enduring legacy, Washington’s story continues to inspire other aspiring athletes to persevere through hardships, demonstrating that success indeed is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.