Greg Monroe

Greg Monroe's Biography

Gregory Keith Monroe Jr., more commonly known as Greg Monroe, was born on June 4, 1990, and has been in the basketball world since high school. He is from Harvey, Louisiana, and attended Helen Cox High School. Monroe caught the attention of many as a high school senior in the 2007-08 season. During his final year in high school, Monroe was named McDonald’s All-American and earned Parade All-America first team honors as he showcased his amazing talent, clinching an average of 21.0 points and 14.0 rebounds per game.

Monroe’s impressive high school stint led him to Georgetown University as a five-star recruit by Rivals.com. At Georgetown, he was ranked the No. 1 power forward and the No. 8 player in the nation in 2008. In his freshman year at the university, Monroe showed his promising talent, averaging 12.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks in 30.9 minutes per game over a span of 31 games. His excellent performance led him to be named the Big East Rookie of the Year, and he earned Big East All-Rookie team and CBSSports.com NCAA Freshman All-American first team honors.

In Monroe’s sophomore year, his outstanding performance continued. He was named to the All-BIG East first team, Big East All-Tournament team, USBWA All-District II team, NABC Division I All-District 5 first team, AP NCAA All-America third team and NABC Division I All-America third team. Playing 34 games, Monroe averaged 16.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.5 blocks in 34.2 minutes per game. On April 17, 2010, Monroe declared for the NBA draft and left his final two years of college eligibility behind.

Monroe’s professional journey commenced with the Detroit Pistons, selecting him as the seventh overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft. His regular season debut was on October 30, 2010, playing against the Chicago Bulls. On February 23, 2011, Monroe proved his capability by showcasing his best game of the season with 27 points and 12 rebounds on 11–17 shooting against the Indiana Pacers.

In the subsequent 2011-12 season, Monroe played in and started all of Detroit’s 66 games. He was selected to play in the NBA All-Star Weekend Rising Stars Challenge. Monroe’s production rose, earning him a sixth position in Rookie of the Year voting totals on May 4, 2011. He maintained his over 1,000 points and over 600 rebounds achievement for three consecutive seasons and thereby joined Grant Hill as the only Pistons players to do so since 1994-95.

In 2014, becoming a restricted free agent, Monroe signed a qualifying offer with the Pistons and was suspended for two games of the 2014-15 season due to impaired driving charges. Ultimately, he was set free and signed a three-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks on July 9, 2015, worth $50 million. In his debut game as a Buck, he recorded 22 points and 14 rebounds, a promising start to a new chapter.

With a subsequent trade to the Phoenix Suns in 2017, Monroe found himself in a string of team shuffles, plying his trade with the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, the Brooklyn Nets, the Philadelphia 76ers, and a series of teams in Germany and Russia before returning to the NBA G League with the Capital City Go-Go.

However, his love for the game and perseverance saw him through. Monroe continued showcasing his talent, earning his spot in the Minnesota Timberwolves and being reacquired by the Washington Wizards, playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, and finally landing a deal with the Utah Jazz before returning to the Timberwolves and briefly playing in China and Puerto Rico.

On September 26, 2024, Greg Monroe retired from professional basketball, leaving behind an impressive career marked by his love for the game and dedication. He was hired by the New Orleans Pelicans as a player development coach, a position that fully recognizes and utilizes his extensive basketball experience and knowledge. Monroe truly exemplifies a steadfast commitment and perseverance in the ever-evolving world of basketball.