 McDaniels with thePhiladelphia 76ers in 2014 | |
| No. 32 – Pelita Jaya | |
|---|---|
| Position | Small forward |
| League | IBL |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1993-02-09)February 9, 1993 (age 32) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Central Park Christian School (Birmingham, Alabama) |
| College | Clemson (2011–2014) |
| NBA draft | 2014: 2nd round, 32nd overall pick |
| Drafted by | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Playing career | 2014–present |
| Career history | |
| 2014–2015 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2015–2017 | Houston Rockets |
| 2015–2016 | →Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| 2017 | Brooklyn Nets |
| 2017–2018 | Grand Rapids Drive |
| 2018–2019 | Oklahoma City Blue |
| 2019 | TNT KaTropa |
| 2020–2021 | Greensboro Swarm |
| 2021–2022 | NLEX Road Warriors |
| 2022–2023 | Meralco Bolts |
| 2023 | Al Hilal |
| 2023–present | Pelita Jaya |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Kevin Ornell Chapman "K. J." McDaniels Jr. (born February 9, 1993) is an American professionalbasketball player for thePelita Jaya of theIndonesian Basketball League (IBL). He playedcollege basketball forClemson University before he was selected by thePhiladelphia 76ers with the 32nd overall pick in the2014 NBA draft.
McDaniels attended Central Park Christian School inBirmingham, Alabama.[1] Considered a three-star recruit byESPN.com, McDaniels was listed as the No. 35 small forward in the nation in 2011.[2]
McDaniels played limited minutes as a freshman forClemson in2011–12, averaging 3.9points and 1.8rebounds per game. As a sophomore, McDaniels became a starter for the Tigers. He averaged 10.9 points and 5.0 rebounds, and finished second in theAtlantic Coast Conference (ACC) inblocked shots with 2.1 per game.[3]
As a junior in2013–14, McDaniels became one of the top players in the ACC. He averaged 17.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. He led the ACC in blocks per game at 2.8 and at the conclusion of the regular season was named first team All-ACC and the conference Defensive Player of the Year.[4] In the postseason, he led the Tigers to the2014 National Invitation Tournament. McDaniels led the team to the tournament semifinals inMadison Square Garden.[5]
In April 2014, McDaniels declared for the NBA draft, foregoing his final year of college eligibility.[6]
On June 26, 2014, McDaniels was selected by thePhiladelphia 76ers with the 32nd overall pick in the2014 NBA draft.[7] In July 2014, he joined the 76ers for the2014 NBA Summer League.[8] After being named in the 76ers' 2014 training camp roster on September 29, 2014,[9] McDaniels was not present at Richard Stockton College the next day for the opening day of training camp after he and his agent were not happy with the contract he was offered by the 76ers.[10] Subsequently, his deal was restructured and on October 1, McDaniels agreed to a one-year, non-guaranteed tender worth $507,000, allowing him to become a restricted free agent in 2015.[11] He went on to start his rookie season in fine form, becoming one of the 76ers main players off the bench and earned notoriety for hisshot-blocking prowess.[12] He recorded his first career double-double on November 29 with season-highs of 21 points (career high) and 13 rebounds in a loss to theDallas Mavericks.[13] McDaniels played 52 games for Philadelphia and averaged 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 25.4 minutes per game.
On February 19, 2015, McDaniels was traded to theHouston Rockets in exchange forIsaiah Canaan and a 2015 second-round pick; he was one of a record 43 players to be traded on the day of the trade deadline.[14] He appeared in just 10 games for Houston to finish the regular season, and missed the team's entire playoff run after suffering a non-displaced fracture in his right elbow in the regular season finale.[15]
On July 21, 2015, McDaniels re-signed with the Rockets to a three-year, $10 million contract.[16][17] On April 3, 2016, he played a season-high 18 minutes and scored 10 points in the Rockets' 118–110 win over theOklahoma City Thunder.[18] During the 2015–16 season, he received multiple assignments to theRio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets'D-League affiliate.[19]
On February 23, 2017, McDaniels was traded to theBrooklyn Nets in exchange for cash considerations.[20] On March 23, 2017, he had a season-high 16 points in a 126–98 win over thePhoenix Suns.[21]
On August 22, 2017, McDaniels signed with theToronto Raptors.[22] He was waived by the Raptors on October 22, 2017, before appearing in a game for them.[23]
On December 13, 2017, McDaniels joined theGrand Rapids Drive of theNBA G League.[24]
In July 2018, McDaniels played for thePortland Trail Blazers during the2018 NBA Summer League and was named MVP of the championship game in Las Vegas.[25]
On September 23, 2018, McDaniels signed with theOklahoma City Thunder.[26] On October 10, 2018, McDaniels was waived by the Thunder.[27] McDaniels was added to theOklahoma City Blue training camp roster on October 23, 2018.[28]
In his first game with the OKC Blue, McDaniels recorded 10 points and 3 rebounds in 27 minutes of playing time as they got the win over theStockton Kings, 124–89.[29] On November 4, McDaniels recorded 21 points and 8 rebounds in a 128–118 win over theAgua Caliente Clippers.[30]
In August 2019, McDaniels signed with theTNT KaTropa as the team's import for the2019 PBA Governors' Cup.[31] In hisPhilippine Basketball Association (PBA) debut, he recorded a career-high 41 points and 22 rebounds as well as 7 assists and 5 blocks in a 135–107 win over theBlackwater Elite.[32] Three days after, McDaniels recorded 37 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 blocks in a 103–91 win over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.[33]
On February 22, 2020, theGreensboro Swarm acquired the returning right to McDaniels from theOklahoma City Blue in exchange for the returning right to Zach Smith and a first-round pick in the 2020 NBA G League Draft.[34] Six days later on February 28, 2020, theGreensboro Swarm announced that McDaniels was added to their roster.[35] He rejoined the team for the 2020–21 season.[36]
On July 18, 2021, McDaniels signed withFormosa Taishin Dreamers of theP. League+.[37] On September 22, his contract was terminated due to his pregnant wife.[38]
In November 2021, McDaniels signed withNLEX Road Warriors of the PBA.[39]
On May 25, 2022, McDaniels was drafted by theKiller 3's with the eighteenth overall pick of the 2022BIG3 draft.[40]
On October 31, 2022, McDaniels signed with theMeralco Bolts of the PBA to replaceJohnny O'Bryant III as the team's import for the2022–23 PBA Commissioner's Cup.[41] In December 2022, he returned with the team as their import for the2023 PBA Governors' Cup.[42]
In December 2023, McDaniels signed with thePelita Jaya of theIndonesian Basketball League (IBL).[43] In December 2024, he returned to the Pelita Jaya for the 2025 IBL season.[44]
| 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 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | Philadelphia | 52 | 15 | 25.4 | .399 | .293 | .756 | 3.8 | 1.3 | .8 | 1.3 | 9.2 |
| 2014–15 | Houston | 10 | 0 | 3.3 | .333 | .000 | .500 | .5 | .2 | .0 | .2 | 1.1 |
| 2015–16 | Houston | 37 | 1 | 6.4 | .403 | .280 | .800 | 1.1 | .3 | .2 | .2 | 2.4 |
| 2016–17 | Houston | 29 | 0 | 7.3 | .454 | .333 | .900 | 1.0 | .1 | .2 | .3 | 2.8 |
| 2016–17 | Brooklyn | 20 | 0 | 14.7 | .455 | .282 | .821 | 2.6 | .5 | .6 | .5 | 6.3 |
| Career | 148 | 16 | 14.1 | .412 | .290 | .776 | 2.2 | .6 | .5 | .6 | 5.3 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Houston | 4 | 0 | 8.5 | .308 | .333 | .000 | 1.8 | .3 | .0 | .8 | 2.3 |
| Career | 4 | 0 | 8.5 | .308 | .333 | .000 | 1.8 | .3 | .0 | .8 | 2.3 | |
McDaniels is the son of Kevin and Shawn McDaniels,[45] and has a younger brother named Dylan.[46] He was also a college major of Communication Studies.
