.jpg) Washington at the2017 McDonald's All-American Game | |
| No. 25 – Dallas Mavericks | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward /small forward |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1998-08-23)August 23, 1998 (age 27) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | |
| College | Kentucky (2017–2019) |
| NBA draft | 2019: 1st round, 12th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Charlotte Hornets |
| Playing career | 2019–present |
| Career history | |
| 2019–2024 | Charlotte Hornets |
| 2024–present | Dallas Mavericks |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Medals | |
Paul Jamaine Washington Jr. (born August 23, 1998[1]) is an American professionalbasketball player for theDallas Mavericks of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). He playedcollege basketball for theKentucky Wildcats.
After being selected by theCharlotte Hornets in the first round of the2019 NBA draft with the 12th overall pick, he was named to theNBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2020. Washington was traded to the Mavericks at the trade deadline in February 2024, helping the team reach the2024 NBA Finals.
Washington was born inLouisville, Kentucky. His family moved toSt. Louis andChicago before settling inFrisco,Texas. Washington attendedPrime Prep Academy inDallas after a brief stint atLone Star High School inFrisco, before transferring toFindlay Prep inHenderson, Nevada, where he joined fellow five-star recruitsAllonzo Trier andDerryck Thornton.[1] As junior, he averaged 16.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. After his junior season, Washington suited up for hisAAU team, Team Penny, sponsored by former NBA All-StarPenny Hardaway, on theNike EYBL circuit.[2] As a senior, Washington averaged 19.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game.[3] Washington was selected to both the 2017Jordan Brand Classic andMcDonald's All-American Game.[4][5]
Washington was rated as a five-star recruit and the No. 12 overall recruit and No. 3 power forward in the 2017 high school class byScout.com,Rivals.com andESPN.[6][7][8] On November 10, 2016, he committed toKentucky, signing his letter of intent on November 20.[9]
| Name | Hometown | School | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P. J. Washington PF | Frisco, Texas | Findlay Prep (NV) | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | Nov 10, 2016 | |
Recruit ratings:Scout:  Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (95) | ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: Scout: #13 Rivals: #11 247Sports: #13 ESPN: #11 | ||||||
Sources:
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Throughout most of his freshman season at Kentucky, Washington played through a pinkie injury that required surgery in the summer. In the NCAA Tournament loss toKansas State, Washington led Kentucky with 18 points and 15 rebounds.[10] Washington averaged 10.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game as a freshman. After the season, he declared for the NBA draft, but announced his return on May 30, 2018.[11]
Following Kentucky's loss toAuburn in the2019 NCAA men's basketball tournament, Washington announced his intention to forgo his final two seasons of collegiate eligibility and declare for the2019 NBA draft, where he was projected to be a first-round selection.[12]
Washington was selected as the 12th overall pick by theCharlotte Hornets in the2019 NBA draft.[13] On July 3, 2019, Washington officially signed with the Hornets[14] and on October 23 he made his debut in NBA, started in a 126–125 win over theChicago Bulls with 27 points, 4 rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block. He also made 7 three-pointers, the most in an NBA debut in NBA history.[15] On October 31, he scored 23 points and 8 rebounds in a 118–111 win over theSacramento Kings.[16] On November 29, Washington put up 26 points and 5 rebounds in a 110–107 victory against theDetroit Pistons.[17] On September 15, 2020, Washington was named2019–20 NBA All-Rookie Second Team by theNBA.[18]
On February 28, 2021, Washington scored a then career-high 42 points to help theCharlotte Hornets win over theSacramento Kings.[19] On March 28, 2023, he scored a career-high 43 points in a 137–134 win over theOklahoma City Thunder.[20] On August 29, Washington re-signed with the Hornets on a 3-year, 48 million dollar contract.[21][22] On January 27, 2024, Washington tied his career-high 43 points in a 134–122 loss to theUtah Jazz.[23]
On February 8, 2024, Washington was traded, alongside two future second–round picks, to theDallas Mavericks in exchange forSeth Curry,Grant Williams, and a 2027 first–round pick that is top 2 protected.[24] On February 10, Washington made his Mavericks debut, putting up 14 points, five rebounds, and one steal in a 146–111 win over theOklahoma City Thunder.[25] On April 5, Washington put up 32 points alongside a game-winner in a 108–106 win over theGolden State Warriors.[26] On April 26, in Game 3 of thefirst round of the playoffs against theLos Angeles Clippers during a 101–90 win, Washington was ejected after being involved in a confrontation withRussell Westbrook.[27] On May 11, in Game 3 of theWestern Conference Semifinals, Washington led the Mavericks with 27 points during a 105–101 win over theOklahoma City Thunder.[28] In Game 6, Washington was fouled on a three-point attempt byShai Gilgeous-Alexander with 2.5 seconds to go. He sunk the first two free throws to put the Mavericks up by 1 and intentionally missed the third.Jalen Williams subsequently missed a half court shot, and the Mavericks beat the Thunder in a 117–116 victory to advance to the Western Conference Finals.[29] Washington helped the Mavericks reach the2024 NBA Finals where they lost to theBoston Celtics in five games.[30]
On December 27, 2024, Washington was involved in an altercation withJusuf Nurkić.[31] The next day, Washington was suspended for a game due to the altercation.
On September 10, 2025, Washington signed a four-year, $88.76 million extension with the Mavericks that runs through the 2029–30 season.[32]
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | Charlotte | 58 | 57 | 30.3 | .455 | .374 | .647 | 5.4 | 2.1 | .9 | .8 | 12.2 |
| 2020–21 | Charlotte | 64 | 61 | 30.5 | .440 | .386 | .745 | 6.5 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 12.9 |
| 2021–22 | Charlotte | 65 | 28 | 27.2 | .470 | .365 | .716 | 5.2 | 2.3 | .9 | .9 | 10.3 |
| 2022–23 | Charlotte | 73 | 73 | 32.6 | .444 | .348 | .730 | 4.9 | 2.4 | .9 | 1.1 | 15.7 |
| 2023–24 | Charlotte | 44 | 17 | 29.2 | .446 | .324 | .713 | 5.3 | 2.2 | .9 | .7 | 13.6 |
| Dallas | 29 | 28 | 32.2 | .421 | .314 | .627 | 6.2 | 1.5 | 1.2 | .9 | 11.7 | |
| 2024–25 | Dallas | 57 | 56 | 32.2 | .453 | .381 | .722 | 7.8 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 14.7 |
| Career | 390 | 320 | 30.6 | .448 | .358 | .709 | 5.9 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 13.1 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Dallas | 22* | 22* | 35.7 | .427 | .348 | .709 | 6.6 | 1.4 | .7 | .8 | 13.0 |
| Career | 22 | 22 | 35.7 | .427 | .348 | .709 | 6.6 | 1.4 | .7 | .8 | 13.0 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Kentucky | 37 | 30 | 27.4 | .519 | .238 | .606 | 5.7 | 1.5 | .8 | .8 | 10.8 |
| 2018–19 | Kentucky | 35 | 33 | 29.3 | .522 | .423 | .663 | 7.5 | 1.8 | .8 | 1.2 | 15.2 |
| Career | 72 | 63 | 28.3 | .521 | .384 | .632 | 6.6 | 1.7 | .8 | 1.0 | 12.9 | |
Washington's parents met atMiddle Tennessee State, where they both played basketball. Upon graduation, his father became a General Manager at a car sales company and coached his middle school team, while his mother went on to become a teacher at his middle school. Washington has a brother, Spencer, and a sister, Alexandria.[1]
Washington married Alisah Chanel in October 2023, with whom he has a son, named Preston.[33][34] He also has a son named Paul Jermaine Washington III, born in 2021 with Brittany Renner.[35]
· Basketball Reference 
