Patrick Baldwin Jr.

Patrick Baldwin Jr.'s Biography

A formidable presence on the basketball court, Patrick O’Neal Baldwin Jr. has carved a name for himself in the elite ranks of professional basketball. Born on November 18, 2002, Baldwin currently brings his skillful prowess to the Washington Wizards, a renowned team of the National Basketball Association (NBA). But before stepping onto the glamorous courts of professional basketball, Baldwin cut his teeth playing for the Milwaukee Panthers, a notable college basketball team.

Baldwin enjoyed an illustrious start to his career, gaining recognition as a five-star recruit and emerging as one of the top players of the 2021 class. His journey to the upper echelons of basketball began in Evanston, Illinois, where he was exposed to numerous local basketball leagues and honed his basketball skills. His exceptional talents shone bright in the league FAAM (Fellowship of Afro-American Men), where he stood out as a star player.

The year 2017 saw a decisive turn of events for Baldwin. His father, a distinguished basketball coach, secured a position as the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. This development led to the Baldwin family’s relocation to Wisconsin, which ultimately set the stage for Baldwin’s career in basketball.

After settling in Wisconsin, Baldwin joined Hamilton High School in Sussex, where he earned a reputation as a formidable basketball player. Especially memorable was his freshman year when he was an integral part of the school’s 2017-18 basketball team that made it to the state tournament. Their impressive run only ended against future NBA All-Star Tyrese Haliburton and Oshkosh North, a narrow loss by a single point.

As a junior in high school, Baldwin averaged an impressive 24.3 points and 10.8 rebounds per game, leading him to earn the much-coveted Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year honors. However, Baldwin faced a significant setback in his senior year when, during the second game, he sustained a severe ankle injury that called for a premature end to the season.

Despite this unfortunate incident, Baldwin continued to make waves in basketball, securing his name on the rosters for the McDonald’s All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic, and the Nike Hoop Summit. It was his unanimous five-star recruit status and his standing as one of the top players in the 2021 class that propelled him to a college career in basketball.

Baldwin ultimately chose to play for Milwaukee under the tutelage of his father, despite receiving generous offers from reputed institutions like Duke, Arizona State, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan, North Carolina, USC, and Georgetown. His acceptance of this offer set another record: Baldwin became the highest-rated recruit to ever commit to a Horizon League program.

Baldwin’s college debut saw him post an impressive 21 points and 10 rebounds against North Dakota, leading his team to a well-deserved 75-60 win. However, his college career was not without its challenges. In a game against Bowling Green, Baldwin sustained a leg injury that caused him to sit out several games, and later in a match against Green Bay, he incurred an ankle injury. Although he returned later that season, his performance was hampered, and he eventually had to sit out the remainder of the season.

While his freshman year was plagued by injuries, Baldwin still managed to post average scores of 12.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. His commitment to the game didn’t waver. Instead, he declared for the NBA draft on April 22, 2022, forgoing his remaining eligibility in college basketball.

As the 28th overall pick, Baldwin was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA draft on July 6, 2022. Shortly after, the Warriors announced they had successfully signed Baldwin. His career trajectory soon led him to the Golden State G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors.

However, Baldwin’s journey to his present post at the Washington Wizards involved a detour via several other teams. Certain memorable moments included setting a career-high of 17 points against the Brooklyn Nets, followed up by an 11-point contribution in a victory over the Utah Jazz.

In 2023, the Golden State Warriors struck a deal with the Washington Wizards, sending Baldwin along with Jordan Poole, Ryan Rollins, and several other draft picks in exchange for Chris Paul. Patrick Baldwin Jr.’s stature as an international basketball player also saw him representing the United States at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 World Cup held in Latvia. For that event, Baldwin averaged 7.7 points and five rebounds per game, significantly contributing to the team’s gold medal victory.

Baldwin’s story wouldn’t be complete without mentioning his family. Born in Evanston, Illinois, his father, Pat, was a remarkable college basketball player at Northwestern and later served as a head coach at Milwaukee, with his current position as an assistant at Valparaiso. His mother, Shawn, was a volleyball player at Northwestern. Inspired by their sporting prowess, Patrick Baldwin Jr.’s journey to NBA stardom was fuelled by his undeniable talent, willpower, and passion for the game.