James Bouknight

James Bouknight's Biography

Born on September 18, 2000, James David Bouknight is an American professional basketball player currently playing for Rip City Remix of the NBA G League. A Brooklyn native hailing from Crown Heights, Bouknight’s journey to professional sports is both inspiring and diversified.

During his early years, Bouknight played baseball while growing up in New York City. He switched his focus to basketball during his middle-school years, setting the foundation for his future career. To enhance his skills and make a name for himself in basketball, schools became an avenue for him.

He enrolled at La Salle Academy in Manhattan, New York, kickstarting his high school basketball journey. Bouknight dominated the court with a stellar performance in his junior year averaging 17.4 points per game. His remarkable performance led his team to secure the New York Federation Class B State Championship, earning him the title of tournament most valuable player (MVP).

Bouknight’s prowess didn’t stop there. He bagged heavy accolades such as the Catholic High School Athletic Association B Division MVP and New York State Sportswriters Association Class B Player of the Year. However, after his triumphant season, he transferred to MacDuffie School in Granby, Massachusetts, choosing to reclassify down to gain wider exposure.

In his reclassified junior season, despite an unfortunate season-ending torn meniscus in his left knee, Bouknight managed to average an impressive 19.3 points, five rebounds, and two assists per game. After recuperating from his injury, he returned to the courts to play for the PSA Cardinals alongside Cole Anthony. His triumphant senior year earned him All-New England Preparatory School Athletic Council AA honors.

While he was surging high as a four-star recruit and was ranked the 53rd-best player in the 2019 class by 247Sports, on September 18, 2018, he committed to play college basketball for UConn. He chose to play for the Huskies over several other college offers, including those from Indiana and VCU.

Bouknight’s freshman year at UConn wasn’t without trouble off the court. He faced a three-game suspension for allegedly fleeing a car crash incident, which led to charges of evading responsibility, interfering with a police officer, traveling too fast for conditions, and operating a vehicle without a license. Despite such setbacks, Bouknight’s on-court skills kept him in the forefront, culminating in a season-high 23 points in a victory over Cincinnati and winning the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Player of the Week. He ended his freshman year averaging 13 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.

His sophomore season started on a high note when he was named to the prestigious preseason John R. Wooden Award watch list, but an elbow injury and subsequent surgery led to him missing eight games. Nevertheless, he bounced back to average 18.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, which earned him First Team All-Big East honors.

In 2021, Bouknight declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility. The Charlotte Hornets selected him with the 11th pick in the 2021 NBA draft. After making his debut in the NBA on October 22, 2021, Bouknight gradually made his mark, scoring his career-high 24 points in a match against the Sacramento Kings.

However, Bouknight’s NBA journey took a sudden turn. Prior to the 2022–23 season, he changed his jersey number from 5 to 2. The Hornets waived him in early 2024, upon which he was picked up by the Portland Trail Blazers later that year. Sadly, this agreement was short-lived, and he was waived the very next day, eventually signing up with the Rip City Remix.

Off the court, Bouknight was arrested for driving while intoxicated in October 2022. He was found unconscious in a parking deck with a .40-caliber gun and a bag of Doritos. Although the incident led to a year of probation, he returned to practice the following day, further enforcing his resilience and dedication to his craft. Regardless of the bumps and turns life has thrown his way, Bouknight has persisted in his pursuit of basketball stardom, making him a unique element within the sport’s landscape.