Kendrick Nunn

BIOGRAPHY

Kendrick Melvin Nunn was born August 3, 1995, in Chicago, Illinois. His current passion for the game of basketball began early in his life when he was recognized for his talent as a freshman at Simeon Career Academy. It was there that he received his first basketball scholarship offer from Rick Majerus, who was the head coach at Saint Louis University at the time. Over his high school career, Nunn considered numerous schools, including Illinois, Marquette, Memphis, Ohio State, and more.

During his senior year at Simeon, his talents were so impactful that the school decided to retire his jersey, number 20, alongside fellow senior standout, Jabari Parker. Nunn’s prowess as a basketball player at Simeon led to four Illinois High School Association (IHSA) state titles and his decision to commit verbally to Texas A&M before his junior year in 2011. However, Nunn’s commitment to Texas A&M was short-lived as he de-committed a few months later, explaining that he had committed prematurely and wanted to explore other options.

In September 2012, Nunn decided to commit to his home state university and play for the University of Illinois under the leadership of coach John Groce. His debut season as a Fighting Illini was the 2013–14 season during which he played all 35 games and began starting games toward the end of the season. Nunn began really turning heads when he tied his career-high in points during a game against Minnesota, leading to him being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week.

Following several successive wins, Nunn was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the second time in 2014. This level of performance culminated in Nunn being selected for the Big Ten All-Freshman Team by the coaches by the end of the season. He was also named co-captain of the team for the 2015-2016 season. However, Nunn’s future at the University of Illinois was cut short after he pleaded guilty to a charge of misdemeanor battery and was subsequently dismissed from the team in May 2016.

It was at this time that the University of Oakland extended an opportunity to Nunn to revive his basketball career with the Golden Grizzlies. According to NCAA transfer rules, Nunn was required to bench the 2016-2017 season. During his tenure with the Golden Grizzlies in the 2017-2018 campaign, Nunn won numerous accolades, including being named the Horizon League Player of the Week three times. Nunn’s exemplary performance earned him another title: the Horizon League Player of the Year.

Nunn’s basketball career took an exciting turn when he went undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft and, subsequently, signed a contract with the Golden State Warriors. The agreement allowed him a guaranteed spot on the Warriors’ Summer League roster and an invitation to their fall camp. However, after Nunn was released by the Warriors in October 2018, he was quickly picked up by the Warriors’ G League affiliate team, the Santa Cruz Warriors.

His performance continued to improve in the G League, resulting in him signing with the Miami Heat in April 2019. The 2019-2020 season was a defining time for Nunn in the NBA, as he faced off in the NBA Finals with the Heat and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

In August 2021, Nunn took another significant step in his career by signing a two-year, $10 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. Unfortunately, in October 2021, he was diagnosed with a bone bruise in his right knee, initiating a series of setbacks in his career, causing him to miss the entirety of the season.

In October 2023, Nunn pivoted east, signing with the Greek Basketball League’s Panathinaikos. His venture into international basketball proved successful, with him winning the EuroLeague title in his first season in Europe and earning All-EuroLeague First Team honors.

Throughout his career, Nunn has also made significant contributions to his country through his basketball talents. In 2011, he was invited to the United States Olympic Training Center to try out for the FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship team. After rigorous tryouts, Nunn was one of four players from Chicago who made the national team, subsequently winning a gold medal in Cancun, Mexico.

In 2012, Nunn joined Team USA for the FIBA Under-17 World Championship, alongside his teammate Jabari Parker. The team played in Kaunas, Lithuania, and once again, Nunn’s contributions helped Team USA secure another gold medal. His journey from a high school basketball player in Chicago to a successful professional player in Greece highlights his relentless determination and undeniable talent for the game of basketball.