.jpg) Pöltl with theToronto Raptors in 2018 | |
| No. 19 – Toronto Raptors | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1995-10-15)October 15, 1995 (age 30) Vienna, Austria |
| Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
| Listed weight | 253 lb (115 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Utah (2014–2016) |
| NBA draft | 2016: 1st round, 9th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Toronto Raptors |
| Playing career | 2013–present |
| Career history | |
| 2013–2014 | Traiskirchen Lions |
| 2016–2018 | Toronto Raptors |
| 2016–2017 | →Raptors 905 |
| 2018–2023 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2023–present | Toronto Raptors |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Jakob Pöltl (sometimes spelledJakob Poeltl;German pronunciation:['ja:kop'pœltl]; born October 15, 1995) is an Austrian professionalbasketball player for theToronto Raptors of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). He playedcollege basketball for theUtah Utes.
In his sophomore year for the Utes, Pöltl was a consensus second-teamAll-American, and won theKareem Abdul-Jabbar Award andPete Newell Big Man Award as the top collegiate center andlow-post player, respectively. After the season, he declared for the2016 NBA draft, where theToronto Raptors selected him in the first round with the ninth overall pick. He was traded to theSan Antonio Spurs in July 2018. After five seasons with the team he was traded back to the Raptors in February 2023.
Pöltl was born inVienna, Austria. Both his parents were members of the Austrian nationalvolleyball teams.[1] His parents opted for basketball for their son because there was a youth basketball program near their Vienna home during his childhood.[2] Pöltl played seven years in the youth program ofVienna DC Timberwolves. He played one year for theArkadia Traiskirchen Lions of theAustrian Bundesliga in 2013–14.[2][3][4]
Pöltl was relatively unknown in the United States until the2013FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship.University of Utah assistant Andy Hill went to the tournament, held inStrumica, largely to scout potential prospects from other teams; he only sawAustria's opening game against theNetherlands because he vowed to watch all 38 teams in person. After seeing Pöltl's 15-rebound performance, Hill began sounding Pöltl out for potential interest in playingcollege basketball in the United States. Pöltl went on to average a double-double in points and rebounds during the tournament and was named to the second all-tournament team, despite Austria going 1–6 and finishing 20th out of 22 teams in the second-level Division B.[2]
Pöltl began drawing interest from severalNCAA Division I programs, forcing him to decide between a professional career and a U.S. college education. In a 2014 interview, Pöltl revealed part of his decision-making process:[2]
If I went pro in Europe, I probably wouldn't have a chance to go to a university and get my degree. ... I could have basketball and an education at the same time [in the U.S.]. Also I think I wasn't ready for 100 percent professional basketball at that time.
In 2014, Pöltlcommitted toUtah to play college basketball, in large part due to the relationship he had developed with their coaching staff.[2][5] Utah head coachLarry Krystkowiak was one of three Division I head coaches and two assistant coaches to travel to Vienna to recruit him in person, and made the trip of over 5,000 miles (8,000 km) twice. Pöltl was impressed that Krystkowiak made the effort to visit him in person, and was intrigued that the 6-foot-10-inch (2.08 m) coach playedpower forward in the NBA and had a history of developing young big men.[2]
Pöltl became a starter in his first year, and in his first game he scored 18points and had 10rebounds.[6] During his second season in 2015–16, he was named to the 35-man midseason watchlist for theNaismith Trophy on February 11.[7] On March 7, 2016, Pöltl was named thePac-12 Player of the Year and All-Pac-12 First Team. He was subsequently named the winner of both thePete Newell Big Man Award and theKareem Abdul-Jabbar Award.[8]
On April 13, 2016, Pöltl declared for theNBA draft, forgoing his final two years of college eligibility.[9][10]
On June 23, 2016, Pöltl was selected by theToronto Raptors with the ninth overall pick in the2016 NBA draft, becoming the first Austrian to be drafted to theNBA.[11] On July 9, 2016, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Raptors.[12] He made his debut for the Raptors in their season opener on October 26, 2016, becoming the first Austrian to play in the NBA. He finished with two points in 12:47 of court time in a 109–91 win over theDetroit Pistons.[13] During his rookie season, Pöltl received multiple assignments toRaptors 905, Toronto'sG-League affiliate.[14]
On October 21, 2017, Pöltl scored a then career-high 14 points in a 128–94 win over thePhiladelphia 76ers.[15] On December 1, he made all eight of his field goal attempts and had a career-high 18 points in a 120–115 win over theIndiana Pacers.[16] Pöltl ended the 2017–18 regular season having made 34 of his last 39 shots in the final eight games. He was also the only Raptors player to appear in all 82 regular-season contests.[17]
On July 18, 2018, Pöltl was traded, along withDeMar DeRozan and a protected 2019 first-round draft pick, to theSan Antonio Spurs in exchange forKawhi Leonard andDanny Green.[18] In his debut for the Spurs in their season opener on October 17, 2018, Pöltl recorded four points, four rebounds and two assists in eight minutes in a 112–108 win over theMinnesota Timberwolves.[19] He made just his fifth career start and first since February 14, 2017, with Toronto.[20] On February 25, 2022, Pöltl posted a career high 28 points along with 11 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 blocks in a 157–153 win against theWashington Wizards.[21]On November 24, 2020, theSan Antonio Spurs announced that they had re-signed Pöltl.[22]
On March 17, 2021, Pöltl logged his second consecutivedouble-double with 20 points and a career-high 16 rebounds in a 106–99 win over theChicago Bulls.[23][24]
On November 22, 2022, Pöltl scored a career-high 31 points during a 117–110 loss to thePortland Trail Blazers.[25]
On February 9, 2023, Pöltl was traded back to theToronto Raptors in exchange forKhem Birch, a 2024 first-round pick, a 2023 second-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick, reuniting with his longtime friend and fellow drafteePascal Siakam.[26] On February 14, Pöltl scored 30 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and blocked six shots during a 133–123 win over theOrlando Magic.[27] On July 6, 2023, Pöltl re-signed with the Raptors on a four-year, $78 million deal.[28]
On November 16, 2024, Pöltl scored a career-high 35 points on 16-of-19 shooting in a 126–123 loss to theBoston Celtics.[29]
On July 7, 2025, Pöltl signed a 4-year, $104 million extension through the 2029–30 season.[30]
| 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 the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | Toronto | 54 | 4 | 11.6 | .583 | — | .544 | 3.1 | .2 | .3 | .4 | 3.1 |
| 2017–18 | Toronto | 82* | 0 | 18.6 | .659 | .500 | .594 | 4.8 | .7 | .5 | 1.2 | 6.9 |
| 2018–19 | San Antonio | 77 | 24 | 16.5 | .645 | — | .533 | 5.3 | 1.2 | .4 | .9 | 5.5 |
| 2019–20 | San Antonio | 66 | 18 | 17.7 | .624 | — | .465 | 5.7 | 1.8 | .6 | 1.4 | 5.6 |
| 2020–21 | San Antonio | 69 | 51 | 26.7 | .616 | — | .508 | 7.9 | 1.9 | .7 | 1.8 | 8.6 |
| 2021–22 | San Antonio | 68 | 67 | 29.0 | .618 | 1.000 | .495 | 9.3 | 2.8 | .7 | 1.7 | 13.5 |
| 2022–23 | San Antonio | 46 | 46 | 26.1 | .616 | .000 | .605 | 9.0 | 3.1 | .8 | 1.1 | 12.1 |
| Toronto | 26 | 25 | 27.2 | .652 | — | .569 | 9.1 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 13.1 | |
| 2023–24 | Toronto | 50 | 50 | 26.4 | .656 | — | .551 | 8.6 | 2.5 | .7 | 1.5 | 11.1 |
| 2024–25 | Toronto | 57 | 56 | 29.6 | .627 | .333 | .674 | 9.6 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 14.5 |
| Career | 595 | 341 | 22.4 | .631 | .429 | .555 | 7.0 | 1.8 | .6 | 1.3 | 8.9 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Toronto | 6 | 0 | 4.3 | .455 | — | .000 | 2.0 | .0 | .2 | .2 | 1.7 |
| 2018 | Toronto | 9 | 0 | 15.6 | .548 | .000 | .789 | 4.0 | .7 | .3 | .4 | 5.4 |
| 2019 | San Antonio | 7 | 7 | 25.3 | .638 | .000 | .556 | 7.7 | 1.7 | .3 | .7 | 7.3 |
| Career | 22 | 7 | 15.6 | .577 | .000 | .667 | 4.6 | .8 | .3 | .5 | 5.0 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | Utah | 34 | 34 | 23.3 | .681 | .000 | .444 | 6.8 | .7 | .4 | 1.9 | 9.1 |
| 2015–16 | Utah | 36 | 36 | 30.4 | .646 | — | .689 | 9.1 | 1.9 | .6 | 1.6 | 17.2 |
| Career | 70 | 70 | 26.9 | .658 | .000 | .605 | 8.0 | 1.3 | .5 | 1.7 | 13.3 | |
On February 25, 2022, a game similar to the word guessing gameWordle titledPoeltl was released.[31] In the game, which is named after Pöltl, players try to guess a daily NBA Player based on their silhouette in a maximum of eight tries.[32][33]
