 Freeman withAkron in 2024 | |
| No. 8 – Indiana Pacers | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (2000-07-29)July 29, 2000 (age 24) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 206 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | St. Martin de Porres (Cleveland, Ohio) |
| College | Akron (2019–2024) |
| NBA draft | 2024: 2nd round, 50th overall pick |
| Selected by theIndiana Pacers | |
| Playing career | 2024–present |
| Career history | |
| 2024–present | Indiana Pacers |
| 2024–present | →Indiana Mad Ants |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Enrique Gabriel Freeman (born July 29, 2000) is an Americanbasketball player for theIndiana Pacers of theNational Basketball Association (NBA), on atwo-way contract with theIndiana Mad Ants of theNBA G League. He playedcollege basketball for theAkron Zips.
After a prep career atSt. Martin de Porres High School inCleveland, Freeman had no college basketball offers. He accepted an academic scholarship to theUniversity of Akron and at the urging of friends and family, tried out for awalk-on spot with the school's basketball team, earning a roster spot. He played sparingly as a freshman, totaling 13 minutes on the season. He grew four inches between his first and second years and earned a scholarship and a starting role for the Zips. He earned his firstMid-American Conference (MAC) all-defensive team honor.[1]
As Freeman established himself as one of the top defensive players in the MAC during the2021–22 season, his offense began to develop as well. He averaged adouble-double for the season and led the nation infield goal percentage. He earned second-team All-MAC honors and was named the conference Defensive Player of the Year. He led the Zips to aMAC tournament title, and was named the tournament MVP.[2]
Following the2022–23 season, Freeman declared for the2023 NBA draft but retained his college eligibility. He worked out for several teams but ultimately decided to return to Akron for his senior season.[3]
Entering his final season at Akron, Freeman was named preseason All-MAC and added to the 20-man watch list for theKarl Malone Award for toppower forward in the nation.[4][5] On February 2, 2024, he was named to the 10-man finalist pool for the award.[6]
At the close of the regular season, Freeman was namedMAC Player of the Year.[7]
On June 27, 2024, Freeman was selected with the 50th overall pick by theIndiana Pacers in the2024 NBA Draft.[8] On August 8, 2024, Freeman signed atwo-way contract with them.[9]
Freeman made his NBA debut on October 23, 2024, in a 115-109 win over theDetroit Pistons, scoring 2 points.[10]
| 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 |
| * | Led NCAA Division I |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | Akron | 7 | 0 | 1.9 | 1.000 | — | .750 | .6 | .0 | .0 | .1 | .7 |
| 2020–21 | Akron | 23 | 20 | 22.3 | .740 | — | .659 | 9.2 | .3 | .5 | 1.9 | 7.9 |
| 2021–22 | Akron | 34 | 34 | 28.8 | .665 | .000 | .649 | 10.8 | 1.4 | .5 | 1.1 | 13.2 |
| 2022–23 | Akron | 33 | 33 | 31.2 | .616 | .333 | .616 | 11.2 | 1.9 | .6 | 1.2 | 16.8 |
| 2023–24 | Akron | 35 | 35 | 32.5 | .584 | .370 | .728 | 12.9* | 1.6 | .8 | 1.7 | 18.6 |
| Career | 132 | 122 | 27.8 | .628 | .350 | .670 | 10.6 | 1.3 | .6 | 1.4 | 14.0 | |
Freeman is ofPuerto Rican descent.[11]