 Wolters with Crvena zvezda, 2017 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1991-05-15)May 15, 1991 (age 34) St. Cloud, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | St. Cloud Tech (St. Cloud, Minnesota) |
| College | South Dakota State (2009–2013) |
| NBA draft | 2013: 2nd round, 38th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Washington Wizards |
| Playing career | 2013–2023 |
| Position | Point guard |
| Number | 3, 4, 6, 7, 14, 16 |
| Career history | |
| 2013–2015 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2015 | New Orleans Pelicans |
| 2015 | Grand Rapids Drive |
| 2015–2016 | Beşiktaş |
| 2016–2017 | Crvena zvezda |
| 2017 | Utah Jazz |
| 2017 | →Salt Lake City Stars |
| 2018 | Élan Chalon |
| 2018–2019 | Žalgiris Kaunas |
| 2019–2020 | Maccabi Tel Aviv |
| 2020–2021 | UNICS Kazan |
| 2021–2022 | Crvena zvezda |
| 2022–2023 | Panathinaikos |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Nate Wolters (born May 15, 1991) is an American former professionalbasketball player. He playedcollege basketball forSouth Dakota State University and was an All-American for the Jackrabbits in 2013. He was selected by theWashington Wizards with the 38th overall pick in the2013 NBA draft.[1]
Wolters, a 6'4"point guard fromTechnical Senior High School inSt. Cloud, Minnesota, chose South Dakota State overColorado State andNorth Dakota State[1] after averaging 24.3points and 6.4rebounds per game as a senior.[2] As a freshman, Wolters played in all 30 games for the Jackrabbits, starting 11. For the season he averaged 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.9assists per game and was named toThe Summit League all-newcomer team.[2] In his sophomore season, Wolters moved into the starting lineup full-time and became one of the conference's top players. He averaged 19.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists. He led the league in assists and helped the team to a 19–12 record—the program's first winning season as a member ofNCAA Division I.[1]
As a junior, Wolters led the team to more new territory. The team finished the2011–12 season with a 27–7 record, finishing second in the Summit League regular season. The second-seeded Jackrabbits beatWestern Illinois 52–50 in overtime to advance to their firstDivision I NCAA tournament. Wolters was named tournament Most Valuable Player.[3] In the NCAA Tournament, #14 seed South Dakota State played third-seededBaylor in a tightly contested game, ultimately losing 68–60.[4] Individually, Wolters averaged 21.2 points, 5.9 assists (again leading the conference) and 5.1 rebounds per game. He was named first team all-conference and an honorable mention All-American by theAssociated Press.[5]
Entering his senior season, Wolters was named preseason Summit League player of the year.[6] He also was named to the preseason watch lists for theSenior CLASS Award[7] and theNaismith College Player of the Year award. He also made the midseason lists for theWooden Award (final 25 candidates)[8] and theBob Cousy Award (final 20).[9] On January 18, 2013, Wolters surpassed the 2,000 point mark for his college career in a win againstWestern Illinois.[10] Wolters led the Jackrabbits to their secondNCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament in 2013. A No. 13 seed, they played No. 4 seed Michigan, losing 71–56.[11]
Wolters was selected with the 38th overall pick in2013 NBA draft by theWashington Wizards. He was later traded to thePhiladelphia 76ers on draft night. The next day, he was again traded, this time to theMilwaukee Bucks.[12] In July 2013, he joined the Bucks for the2013 NBA Summer League and went on to sign his rookie scale contract with the franchise on August 1.[13] As the only healthy point guard the Bucks had on opening night of the 2013–14 season, Wolters ended up playing 30 minutes in his NBA debut, recording nine points, one rebound, four assists, one steal and one block in a 90–83 loss to theNew York Knicks.[14] WithLuke Ridnour andBrandon Knight out injured, Wolters started seven of Milwaukee's first nine games and averaged 26.2 minutes per game in November. Wolters averaged 8.3 points and 2.7 assists in 17 games after the All-Star break and later started the last 24 games he played in during his rookie season, most of the time alongside Knight as former coach Larry Drew opted to start two point guards.[15] His season ended, however, with 13 games left in the regular season when he suffered a fractured left hand fighting through a screen at Golden State on March 20.[16]
His hand injury did not require surgery and didn't prevent Wolters from missing any time in the offseason as he re-joined the Bucks for the2014 NBA Summer League.[16] He went on to play sparingly to begin the 2014–15 season under new head coach Jason Kidd and was eventually waived by the Bucks on January 9, 2015, to create roster space to sign veteran big manKenyon Martin.[17]
On January 14, 2015, Wolters signed a 10-day contract with theNew Orleans Pelicans.[18] Two days later, he made his debut for the Pelicans in a 96–81 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, recording two rebounds and one assist in six minutes off the bench.[19] On January 24, 2015, he signed a second 10-day contract with the Pelicans.[20] Following the conclusion of his second 10-day contract on February 3, the Pelicans decided against signing him for the rest of the season.[21]
On March 6, 2015, Wolters was acquired by theGrand Rapids Drive of theNBA Development League.[22] The next day, he made his D-League debut in a 105–96 loss to theSioux Falls Skyforce, recording five points, two rebounds and four assists in 21 minutes off the bench.[23] On March 29, 2015, Wolters recorded his first career triple-double after posting 24 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in a 108–107 win over the Maine Red Claws.[24]
In July 2015, Wolters joined theLos Angeles Clippers for the2015 NBA Summer League. However, a fractured middle finger on his left hand ended his summer league stint early after appearing in just three games.[25]
On July 24, 2015, Wolters signed with Turkish teamBeşiktaş Sompo Japan for the 2015–16 season.[26] On March 24, 2016, he parted ways with Beşiktaş.[27] In 21Turkish national league games, he averaged 11.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game.
On September 15, 2016, Wolters signed with theDenver Nuggets,[28] but was waived on October 22 after appearing in four preseason games.[29]
On October 24, 2016, Wolters signed a one-year deal with Serbian teamCrvena zvezda.[30]
On September 13, 2017, Wolters signed a two-way contract with theUtah Jazz. Under the terms of the deal, he split time between the Jazz and theirNBA G League affiliate, theSalt Lake City Stars.[31] On December 22, 2017, he was waived by the Jazz after appearing in five games.[32]
On January 17, 2018, Wolters signed withÉlan Chalon in France.[33]
On July 8, 2018, Wolters joinedŽalgiris Kaunas of theLithuanian Basketball League, signing a one-year deal with an option for another one.[34] Wolters helped Žalgiris reach the2019 EuroLeague Playoffs, where they eventually were eliminated byFenerbahçe. He also helped Žalgiris win their 9th consecutiveLKL championship.
On June 23, 2019, Wolters signed a two-year deal withMaccabi Tel Aviv of theIsraeli Premier League and theEuroLeague.[35] He averaged 7.5 points and 2.6 assists per game in Euroleague.[36]
On July 25, 2020, Wolters signed with Russian clubUNICS Kazan of theVTB United League and theEuroCup.[37] He averaged 8.3 points and 3.0 assists per game.[38]
On August 10, 2021, Wolters returned toCrvena zvezda for a second stint with the Serbian club.[38] He won theABA League andSerbian Cup in the 2021–22 season with them. He received theRadivoj Korać Cup MVP Award.[39] In June 2022, Wolters went to the U.S. upon the club's approval on personal matters, excluding him for theSerbian League season.[40]
On July 15, 2022, Wolters signed a one-year contract withPanathinaikos of theGreek Basket League and theEuroLeague.[41] In 23 EuroLeague games (17 starts), he averaged 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists, playing around 21 minutes per contest. Additionally, in 14 domestic league matches, he averaged 6 points, 3 rebounds and 2.6 assists, playing around 17 minutes per contest. Wolters suffered multiple injuries throughout the season and was eventually excluded from the club's final roster for theGreek Basket League play-offs, thus ending his stint with the Greens prematurely. On July 2, 2023, Wolters was officially released from the Greek powerhouse.
On February 9, 2024, Wolters announced his retirement from professional basketball.[42]
| 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 | PIR | Performance index rating |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | Milwaukee | 58 | 31 | 22.6 | .437 | .290 | .656 | 2.6 | 3.2 | .6 | .3 | 7.2 |
| 2014–15 | Milwaukee | 11 | 0 | 12.9 | .387 | .000 | .250 | 1.5 | .9 | .5 | .0 | 2.3 |
| 2014–15 | New Orleans | 10 | 0 | 10.6 | .286 | .000 | .500 | 1.8 | 1.1 | .3 | .2 | 1.7 |
| 2017–18 | Utah | 5 | 0 | 3.8 | .167 | – | – | .4 | .2 | .0 | .0 | .4 |
| Career | 84 | 31 | 18.8 | .423 | .261 | .635 | 2.2 | 2.5 | .5 | .2 | 5.5 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | Crvena zvezda | 27 | 1 | 15.1 | .435 | .380 | .781 | 2.1 | 2.2 | .7 | .0 | 7.1 | 6.8 |
| 2018–19 | Žalgiris | 28 | 19 | 22.9 | .512 | .368 | .694 | 2.8 | 3.8 | .8 | .0 | 11.2 | 11.6 |
| Career | 55 | 20 | 19.1 | .481 | .373 | .735 | 2.5 | 3.0 | .7 | .0 | 9.2 | 9.3 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | South Dakota State | 30 | 12 | 24.3 | .388 | .364 | .831 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 1.1 | .2 | 10.1 |
| 2010–11 | South Dakota State | 31 | 31 | 33.2 | .447 | .404 | .796 | 4.6 | 6.0 | 1.3 | .2 | 19.4 |
| 2011–12 | South Dakota State | 34 | 34 | 35.8 | .448 | .241 | .783 | 5.1 | 5.9 | 1.7 | .0 | 21.2 |
| 2012–13 | South Dakota State | 33 | 33 | 38.1 | .485 | .379 | .813 | 5.5 | 5.8 | 1.7 | .1 | 22.2 |
| Career | 128 | 110 | 33.0 | .451 | .342 | .803 | 4.7 | 5.2 | 1.5 | .1 | 18.4 | |
Source:RealGM
· Basketball Reference