American basketball player
Joseph William Baker (born September 13, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League . He played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils and the Michigan Wolverines . Baker was a four-star recruit in high school and the number 3 player in North Carolina according to ESPN .
High school career
Baker attended Trinity Christian School in Fayetteville, North Carolina .[ 1]
Recruiting
Baker was a four-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2019 class, before reclassifying to the 2018 class.[ 2] He was ranked No.41 overall recruit in the class of 2018.[ 3] [ 4]
College career
Duke (2018–2022)
Freshman season (2018-19)
On October 29, 2017, Baker committed to playing college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils over offers from Kansas , Tennessee and UCLA .[ 5] Baker would join a recruiting class that featured future NBA players RJ Barrett , Cam Reddish , and Zion Williamson ,[ 6] as well as Tre Jones for the 2018–19 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team .[ 2] During his freshman year, Baker was set to redshirt for the entire season, until Coach K put him into the game against Syracuse to fill in for the injured Williamson on February 23, 2019.[ 7] [ 8]
Sophomore season (2019-20)
On December 19, 2019, Baker put up a career high in points scored with 22 against the Wofford Terriers .[ 9]
Junior season (2020-21)
As a junior, Baker appeared in 23 games only averaging 2.9 points and 1.2 rebounds per game.[ 10]
Senior season (2021-22)
On October 11, 2021, Mike Krzyzewski named Baker team captain alongside Wendell Moore Jr. for the 2021-22 season.[ 11] As a senior, Baker averaged 4.5 points and 1.2 rebound per game.[ 12] On May 8, 2022, Baker completed his undergraduate degree in Political Science and graduated from Duke University .[ 13] [ 14]
Michigan (2022–2023)
On June 18, 2022, Baker transferred to the University of Michigan as a graduate transfer for his final year of college basketball eligibility.[ 15] [ 16] During the offseason Baker had offseason hip surgery.[ 17] Baker didn't celebrate Senior night with the 2021-22 Duke Blue Devils , because he anticipated playing his fifth year there, but he did celebrate it with the 2022–23 Michigan Wolverines on February 26 against Wisconsin .[ 18] In the opening round of the 2023 National Invitation Tournament , against Toledo on March 14, 2023, Baker posted season-highs in points (21), field goals made (eight), and three-pointers made (five) on 8–11 shooting.[ 19] Following the game, he announced that he was pursuing a retroactive redshirt from his freshman season for the 2018-19 Duke Blue Devils .[ 20] Baker later decided to hire an agent and pursue professional opportunities.[ 21] [ 22]
Professional career
Pieno žvaigždės Pasvalys (2023–2024)
After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft , Baker signed his first professional contract with Pieno žvaigždės Pasvalys of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) on September 14, 2023.[ 23]
Grand Rapids Gold (2024–present)
On March 4, 2024, Baker joined the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League .[ 24]
Career statistics
College
Personal life
His father, Michael Baker, served in the United States Army . His mother, Jennifer Baker, is a Special Education teacher.[ 25]
References
^ "Joey Baker Recruiting Profile" . 247sports.com . July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018 .
^ a b "Five-star F Joey Baker to join Duke a year earlier than expected" . ESPN.com . May 2, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2018 .
^ "Joey Baker – Basketball Recruiting – Player Profiles" . ESPN.com . Retrieved January 2, 2024 .
^ "Joey Baker, 2018 Small Forward" . Rivals.com . Retrieved January 2, 2024 .
^ "Joey Baker commits to Blue Devils; No. 13 in ESPN 60 for 2019 class" . ESPN.com . October 29, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2017 .
^ Moody, Aaron (May 26, 2018). "Five-star power forward Joey Baker signs with Duke as Class of 2018" . The Charlotte Observer . Retrieved November 29, 2022 .
^ "Coach K Unexpectedly Burns Joey Baker's Redshirt At Syracuse" . thespun.com . February 23, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2019 .
^ "Duke Freshman Joey Baker Loses Redshirt Season After Playing vs. Syracuse" . bleacherreport.com . February 23, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2019 .
^ "Baker's Career Night Leads No. 4 Duke Past Wofford, 86-57" . goduke.com . December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019 .
^ Naseri, Romana (March 27, 2021). "Duke men's basketball 2020-21 player review: Joey Baker" . Duke Chronicle . Retrieved January 2, 2024 .
^ "Baker, Moore Named Duke Captains" . Duke Blue Devils . October 11, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2024 .
^ Hurewitz, Micah (April 7, 2022). "Duke men's basketball 2021-22 player review: Joey Baker" . Duke Chronicle . Retrieved January 2, 2024 .
^ "Duke basketball: Joey Baker officially finished with Blue Devil career" . balldurham.com . July 2, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2022 .
^ "Joey Baker graduates from Duke... on crutches" . May 8, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022 .
^ "Duke transfer Joey Baker discusses transfer to Michigan, fit with the Wolverines and more" . 247sports.com . July 31, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022 .
^ "Duke's Joey Baker Transferring to Michigan" . SI.com . June 18, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022 .
^ Zuniga, Alejandro (March 14, 2023). "Joey Baker, Hunter Dickinson overpower Toledo as Michigan advances in NIT" . 247Sports . Retrieved March 15, 2023 .
^ Kahn, Andrew (February 27, 2023). "On Senior Day, young Michigan team honors 'wise owl' Joey Baker" . Mlive.com . Retrieved March 15, 2023 .
^ Wyrot, Tom (March 14, 2023). "Sharp Shooting Propels Michigan to Win over Toledo in NIT First Round" . MGoBlue.com . Retrieved March 15, 2023 .
^ Shaw, Zach (March 14, 2023). "Michigan's Joey Baker pursuing sixth season of eligibility: 'We'll see what happens' " . 247Sports . Retrieved March 15, 2023 .
^ Backus, Will (April 10, 2023). "Michigan basketball: Duke transfer Joey Baker to sign with agent, pursue pro career for 2023-24 season" . 247Sports . Retrieved April 11, 2023 .
^ Garcia, Tony (April 10, 2023). "Michigan basketball's Joey Baker reportedly to pursue pro career" . Detroit Free Press . Retrieved April 11, 2023 .
^ " "Pieno žvaigždes" papildė du naujokai" . BCPienoZvaigzdes.lt (in Lithuanian). September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023 .
^ Grand Rapids Gold [@NBAGrandRapids] (March 4, 2024). "Welcome to Grand Rapids 🏙️" (Tweet ). Retrieved March 4, 2024 – via Twitter .
^ " 'He knows what he wants': Duke's Joey Baker eager to show he's more than truncated freshman season" . theathletic.com . June 5, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2019 .
External links