TJ Leaf had a very successful year with the UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team during the 2016-17 season.
He was part of the team led by star point guard Lonzo Ball, and they made it to the Sweet 16 before losing to De’Aaron Fox and the Kentucky Wildcats.
After averaging 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game on more than 61% shooting from the field, Leaf was the 18th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by Indiana. Pacers.
However, he would only play for the team that drafted him for just three seasons.
Recently, the 25-year-old joined the Chinese Basketball Association’s Beijing Ducks.
Last July, Emiliano Carchia from Sportando reported the news for the first time.
Leaf most recently played in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2021 season.
His NBA career averages are 3.3 points and 1.9 rebounds per game in 146 regular season games.
He also appeared in five NBA playoff games for the Pacers and Trail Blazers.
As a rookie, Leaf played three G League games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants and a very impressive average of 23.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
This past season, he played for the Loong Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association and averaged 25.0 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.7 blocks per game in 15 games.
A player on the fringes of roster building can often make more money overseas (rather than playing in the G League).