Garrett Temple

Garrett Bartholomew Temple, an American professional basketball player currently linked with the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA), enjoyed an expansive journey to reach this level. Born on May 8, 1986, Temple’s basketball story began in his formative years when he attended LSU Laboratory School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

During his senior year, Temple made notable contributions to University High. He played a crucial role in steering his school to the 2004 Class 2A state championship with an average of 13.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. His athletic abilities weren’t confined to the basketball court; Temple also competed in track and field, specializing in long jump and triple jump events.

His enthusiasm for basketball drove him to Louisiana State University, where he redshirted the 2004-05 season to further nurture his game. The 2005-06 season witnessed his rise as a defensive stopper, playing 36 games and starting in 35 of them. His performance stats included an average of 5.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.

As a sophomore at LSU, he concluded the year with 138 assists and 83 turnovers. His skills earned him a place in the prestigious Reach USA Tour of China in May 2007, with the team winning six out of the eight games it played against two Chinese league teams.

His upswing continued into his junior year when he played a team-high of 1,066 minutes and made his mark in the league’s assist average. The momentum didn’t slow down in his senior season. Establishing himself as LSU’s all-time leader in minutes played, he broke a record set by Howard Carter in 1983. He was recognized within the All-SEC Defensive team and named to the coaches’ All-SEC second team.

Seizing the opportunity, Temple joined the Houston Rockets after the 2009 NBA draft. Although waived by the Rockets in October 2009, he didn’t stop in his pursuit for growth. Temple found a new beginning with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, an NBA Development League team. His persistent efforts led to various contracts with teams like the Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, and Milwaukee Bucks.

In 2011, Temple explored international grounds by signing a one-year deal with Novipiù Casale Monferrato of Italy. Driven to improve, he returned to the U.S. the next year, joining the Miami Heat, only to be waived by the team in October. However, Temple didn’t halt his journey and was traded to the Reno Bighorns.

His breakthrough arrived in 2012 when he signed with the Washington Wizards. After re-signing with the Wizards in the subsequent year, he started leaving his mark etched deeply within the NBA records. On November 1, 2014, he scored a then-career-high 18 points in a victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Temple went on to create new career highs scoring 21 points against the Charlotte Hornets and 23 points against the Sacramento Kings. This made him the first NBA player to score at least 20 points in three straight games after not reaching that level for his first 250 contests.

His career reached another milestone when he joined the Sacramento Kings in 2016. Despite a few cutbacks due to health concerns, he continued to prove his worth. In 2018, he went on to score a career-high of 34 points lifting the Kings to a win over the Orlando Magic. His journey took him through various teams, such as the Memphis Grizzlies, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Brooklyn Nets.

In November 2020, Temple was signed by the Chicago Bulls, and in August 2021, he was traded to his hometown team, the New Orleans Pelicans. However, the Pelicans waived him two years later. On August 1, 2023, Temple became part of the Toronto Raptors.

Off the court, Temple has a quite remarkable personal life. He is a son to Collis Temple and Soundra Johnson Temple. Collis, his father, was the first African American to play basketball at LSU (from 1971–1974).Temple, a devout Christian, is married to Kára McCullough, the winner of Miss USA 2017. The couple has two children.

Temple is also known for his charitable efforts. As a member of the “Starting Five”, along with fellow NBA players Malcolm Brogdon, Joe Harris, Justin Anderson, and Anthony Tolliver, he has participated in fund-raising for Hoops2O, aiming to fund the construction of water wells in East Africa.

Garrett Temple’s career represents a journey of perseverance, diversity, and constant growth both on and off the court. Always rising against all odds, he continues to be part of the dynamic world that is the National Basketball Association.