Daniel Blake Ahearn (born May 27, 1984) is an American professionalbasketball coach and former player who was anassistant coach for theMemphis Grizzlies of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). He playedcollege basketball forMissouri State.
Ahearn attendedDe Smet Jesuit High School inSt. Louis, Missouri.[1] He played three years of varsity. He averaged 17.7 points per game as a junior and 18.5 as a senior. He was an All-Metro Selection his junior and senior years and an All-State selection his junior year. In his junior year, he broke his hand in the divisional semifinal game. He was unable to play for the duration of his junior year. His team was state runner-up his junior year losing to Missouri powerhouseVashon High School in the state championship game.[2]
Ahearn played collegiately for theMissouri State Bears from 2003 to 2007. He was poised to finish his career with four straightNCAAfree-throw titles but failed, and finished with an accuracy of 92.5% during his senior year. He finished his college career as a 94.6% free throw shooter, 435 for 460, all-time best percentage.[3] He also holds a single-season record at 97.5%. He made 60 consecutive free-throws twice in his career (December 20, 2003, through February 14, 2004, and December 19, 2004, to February 26, 2005) which are school and Missouri Valley Conference records. He missed his final attempt against theSan Diego State Aztecs in theNIT on March 24, 2007, his final college game. He holds the record for career three-pointers at Missouri State with 276 and was selected the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Freshman of the Year (2004), also being a two-time all-MVC first teamer (2006 and 2007).[3] He came within one game each season of making the NCAA tournament but failed to reach any. His team lost in double overtime to Northern Iowa in the MVC Tournament finals his freshman year and to Creighton in the MVC finals his sophomore year. His team was rated 21st in theRPI his junior year and 33rd his senior year, which included a win over #7 in the nationWisconsin.
In 2016, he was inducted into theMissouri State University Athletics Hall of Fame.[4]
In the 2007–2008 season, Ahearn played with theNBA Development League'sDakota Wizards. He worked his way to the starting lineup, averaging 19 points, with a 96% free-throw percentage, shooting 49% from the field and 44% from 3-point range in 41 games.
On March 21, 2008, Ahearn was signed to a 10-day contract by theNBA'sMiami Heat, whose roster had been depleted by injuries.[5] On March 27, Ahearn scored a team-high 15 points in a loss to theDetroit Pistons.[6]
On April 10, Ahearn was named the Rookie of the Year of the D-League and All-NBA Development League Second Team.[7]
Despite posting a solidNBA preseason during which he averaged 8 points per game, Ahearn was cut by theMinnesota Timberwolves on October 23, 2008. After being waived by the Timberwolves he joined the Dakota Wizards. On November 16, Ahearn was signed by theSan Antonio Spurs becoming the 2008–09 season's first D-League call-up.[3] Ahearn was in camp with the Wizards prior to signing with the Spurs.[3] On November 30, Ahearn was assigned to the Spurs'D-League affiliateAustin Toros.[8]
The Spurs waived Ahearn on December 15, 2008, and he re-joined the Dakota Wizards. He was selected to play in theD-League All-Star Game on February 14, 2009, where he was awarded MVP alongside Courtney Sims.[9]
The following season Ahearn signed a contract withEstudiantes Madrid in Spain, until he moved back and played for theBakersfield Jam and for theErie BayHawks in theNBA Development League.
On August 1, Ahearn signed a contract with the Italian teamTeramo Basket but he was waived after a few games.
On December 29, he re-signed with the Erie BayHawks.
Blake started the 2011–12 season participating for the United States Basketball Team in the2011 Pan American Games. The United States won the bronze medal with a win over the Dominican Republic in the Medal Rounds. Blake was second on the team in scoring, averaging 10 points per game, including a team-high 21 points vs Brazil in round robin play.[10]
After the games, Blake signed with the Erie Bayhawks in the NBA Development League. On draft day Blake was traded to the Reno Bighorns.[11]
Blake attended training camp with the Los Angeles Clippers during the first part of the D-League season. He then returned to the Bighorns.
During the 2011–12 season Blake led the NBA-D League in scoring at 23.8 points per game[12] He was selected to play in theD-League All-Star Game and had 21 points and 8 assists during the game.[citation needed] Blake also set the NBA and NBA D-League mark of 110 consecutive free throws during his season in Reno,[13] which still stands as the second-best streak in professional Basketball, only behindJohn Wooden at 134.[14] Blake set the all-time career points record for the NBA Development league in 2012.[15]
On April 10, theUtah Jazz signed Blake Ahearn to a 10-day contract.[13] On April 20, he was signed for the remainder of the season.[16]
In September 2012, Ahearn signed with theIndiana Pacers of the NBA.[17] On October 22, 2012, Ahearn was waived by theIndiana Pacers.[18]
In December 2012, he signed with theDongguan Leopards of theCBA.[19]
On August 12, 2013, Ahearn signed withBudivelnyk Kyiv.[20]
On December 18, 2014, Ahearn signed withCapitanes de Arecibo for the 2015BSN season.[21] However, he left the club in February 2015 after appearing in just three games.
On March 11, 2015, he was acquired by theSanta Cruz Warriors.[22] On April 26, he won the D-League championship with the Warriors.[23]
In 2015, Ahearn became head boys' coach atClayton High School inClayton, Missouri. Following a 7–17 season there he was hired to coach his alma mater, De Smet Jesuit.[24]
On August 1, 2017, Ahearn was named the head coach of theAustin Spurs of theNBA G League.[25]
On June 20, 2020, theMemphis Grizzlies announced that they had hired Ahearn as assistant coach.[26]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| † | Won anNBA championship | * | Led the league | ‡ | NBA record |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 | Miami | 12 | 0 | 14.8 | .263 | .294 | .968 | 1.6 | 1.6 | .5 | .0 | 5.8 |
| 2008–09 | San Antonio | 3 | 0 | 6.3 | .333 | .500 | 1.000 | .3 | .7 | .3 | .0 | 2.7 |
| 2011–12 | Utah | 4 | 0 | 7.5 | .286 | .222 | .000 | .5 | .3 | .0 | .0 | 2.5 |
| Career | 19 | 0 | 11.9 | .273 | .298 | .970 | 1.2 | 1.2 | .4 | .0 | 4.6 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Utah | 3 | 0 | 2.7 | .667 | 1.000 | .000 | .0 | .7 | .0 | .0 | 1.7 |
| Career | 3 | 0 | 2.7 | .667 | 1.000 | .000 | .0 | .7 | .0 | .0 | 1.7 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 | Dakota | 41 | 15 | 29.4 | .486 | .439 | .960* | 2.0 | 3.5 | .7 | .0 | 19.0 |
| 2008–09 | Austin | 6 | 6 | 34.3 | .444 | .531 | .914* | 2.3 | 6.0 | .8 | .0 | 18.8 |
| 2008–09 | Dakota | 41 | 41 | 38.7 | .445 | .420 | .957* | 2.4 | 5.0 | .7 | .0 | 22.7 |
| 2009–10 | Bakersfield | 17 | 10 | 32.8 | .367 | .277 | .932* | 2.1 | 4.1 | 1.2 | .1 | 14.3 |
| 2009–10 | Erie | 13 | 13 | 45.1 | .433 | .440 | .961* | 4.5 | 6.7 | 1.2 | .3 | 25.7 |
| 2010–11 | Erie | 31 | 25 | 33.7 | .406 | .354 | .962* | 2.7 | 5.8 | 1.1 | .2 | 16.9 |
| 2011–12 | Reno | 37 | 37 | 37.5 | .469 | .409 | .962* | 3.5 | 5.1 | 1.1 | .1 | 23.8 |
| 2014–15† | Santa Cruz | 9 | 0 | 21.2 | .397 | .375 | .944 | 1.9 | 2.7 | .7 | .0 | 9.6 |
| Career | 195 | 147 | 34.7 | .444 | .404 | .956‡ | 2.5 | 4.8 | .9 | .1 | 19.9 | |
| Season | Team | League | GP | MPG | FG% | 3PT FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | CB Estudiantes | Liga ACB | 13 | 25.1 | .294 | .414 | .983 | 1.1 | .8 | .7 | .1 | 14.2 |
| 2010–11 | Teramo Basket | Lega A | 6 | 24.5 | .286 | .345 | 1.000 | 1.7 | 1.3 | .5 | .0 | 9.3 |
| 2012–13 | Dongguan Leopards | CBA | 17 | 28.6 | .468 | .333 | .905 | 3.1 | 3.4 | .9 | .0 | 23.0 |
| 2013–14 | BC Budivelnyk | SuperLeague | 20 | 24.8 | .449 | .383 | .853 | 1.7 | 3.2 | .7 | .2 | 11.6 |
| Season | Team | League | GP | MPG | FG% | 3PT FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | BC Budivelnyk | Euroleague | 9 | 20.8 | .378 | .361 | .905 | 1.6 | 1.7 | .0 | .1 | 9.6 |
| EuroCup | 10 | 23.7 | .525 | .457 | .978 | 1.5 | 2.6 | .6 | .0 | 15.0 | ||
| 2014–15 | Capitanes de Arecibo | Americas League | 3 | 25.0 | .125 | .316 | .750 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 1.0 | .0 | 8.7 |
Ahearn is the son of Daniel and Erin Ahearn. His dad played basketball atWashburn University. Ahearn and his wife had their first child in 2012.[27] The couple has three kids.[28]
