Brandon Knight possesses the rare combination of strength, quickness, soundness, and grace required of a basketball player.
He last played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Dallas Mavericks.
Brandon, a two-time Gatorade National Player of the Year, played one season of collegiate basketball for Kentucky before being drafted in the 2011 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons.
He was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks after two seasons with the Pistons. In February 2015, he was dealt with the Phoenix Suns after a season and a half in Milwaukee.
The athlete was traded to the Houston Rockets in August 2018. Brandon dealt with the Cleveland Cavaliers at the 2019 trade deadline before returning to the Pistons at the 2020 deadline.
Injuries and inefficiency have marred knight’s career, but he’s a decent step-back 3-point shooter, a key NBA skill.
Quick Facts
Full Name | Brandon Emmanuel Knight |
Known as | Brandon Knight |
Nickname | The Whopper |
Birth Date | December 2, 1991 |
Birth Place | Margate, Florida |
Residence | Not Available |
Religion | Christianity |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | African American |
Education | Pine Crest (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) and Kentucky (2010–2011) |
Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
Father’s Name | Efrem Knight |
Mother’s Name | Tonya Knight |
Siblings | Efrem Knight Jr. |
Age | 32 years old |
Height | 6 feet 2 inches |
Weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
Eye Color | Brown |
Hair Color | Black |
Body type | Athletic |
Profession | Basketball Player |
Marital Status | Married |
Wife | Not Available |
Children | None |
Active since | 2011 – present |
Teams |
|
Endorsements | Not Available |
Net Worth | $10 million |
NBA Draft Pick | 2011 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8th overall |
Position | Point Guard |
League | NBA |
Merch | NBA trading card |
Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
Last Update | November 2024 |
High School Career
Brandon attended Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale and had a 4.3 grade-point average as a student-athlete at Pine Crest.
He was crowned Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2009 and 2010.
He guided Pine Crest to four state championship games, including two in 2008 and 2009.
Brandon was also a four-time class 3A-1A Basketball Player of the Year and a two-time Florida Mr. Basketball (as named by the Miami Herald).
He has 3,515 career points, ranking him second all-time in Florida high school basketball scoring.
Knight competed in the McDonald’s All-American Game, Nike Hoop Summit, and Jordan Brand Classic following his senior year. He scored a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the West a 107–104 victory in the 2010 McDonald’s All-American Game.
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College Career
In 38 matches as a freshman for the Kentucky Wildcats, Knight averaged 17.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists.
Moreover, he led the team in SEC play earning him First-Team All-SEC honors from the coaches, Second-Team All-SEC honors from the media and selection to the SEC All-Freshman team.
He subsequently went on to win the NCAA East Region All-Tournament Most Outstanding Player award after scoring 22 points, seven rebounds, and four assists against North Carolina in the Elite Eight.
Knight entered the NBA draft in April 2011, preceding his remaining three years of college eligibility.
Professional Career
The Detroit Pistons selected Knight with the eighth overall choice in the 2011 NBA Draft. The athlete was chosen to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in May 2012, becoming the 1st Pistons rookie to do so since Grant Hill (1994–95).
Knight put up some impressive numbers as a rookie and was named to the All-Rookie team, but it was clear early on that he wasn’t cut out for starting NBA point guard duty, as he battled with offense efficiency.
After two seasons, the athlete was sent to the Bucks in exchange for Brandon Jennings, the Swag King.
Knight spent a year and a half in Milwaukee, where he was a part of a surprisingly good Bucks squad, before being moved to the Suns in a deal that brought the Bucks Michael Carter-Williams.
Knight had an excellent first season in Phoenix but was limited by injuries and was moved to Houston in a salary dump deal after two years with the Suns.
He was rarely on the court before being dealt again in a salary dump move from Houston to Cleveland in Houston.
Brandon signed a 10-day contract with the Dallas Mavericks on December 23, 2021, and when the 10-day agreement expired, he was reacquired by Sioux Falls on January 14, 2022. He signed a second 10-day deal with the Mavericks on March 29.
Exterior Features
Brandon Knight is a combination guard who is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 175 pounds.
He is undoubtedly the size of a point guard at 6-foot-2 and thin, and he can score; however, he has always struggled as a facilitator and playmaker and thus prefers to work off the ball.
Knight may never live up to his status as the eighth overall pick in a draft that included Klay Thompson and Kawhi Leonard, but he possesses the ability to be an outstanding player in the NBA for a long time.
He has shown promise of developing into a capable NBA guard at various periods in his career.
Injury
Knight was traded to the Phoenix Suns, along with Kendall Marshall, in a three-team trade that also featured the Philadelphia 76ers on February 19, 2015.
In March, he was out for a month due to a left ankle ailment, then missed the rest of the season due to a left heel bone bruise that necessitated surgery.
Knight came off the bench for the first half of the 2016–17 season before being shut down despite being healthy in the second half.
After sustaining a ruptured ACL in his left knee in July 2017, he was forced to miss the 2017–18 season.
He appeared in 12 games for the Rockets, the last of which was against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 11. In January, he was forced to sit out due to his left knee pain.
Knight hasn’t been able to keep on a roster since 2018, and his three-game stint with the Mavs was the first time he’s played in the NBA since the 2019-2020 season when he spent 16 games with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons.
Brandon Knight: Family
Brandon Emmanuel Knight was born in Miami, Florida, on December 2, 1991. Tonya and Efrem Knight are his parents, and he was reared with an elder brother, Efrem Jr.
His racial background is black, and his zodiac sign is Sagittarius. With his professional achievements, he made his parents proud.
He has shown a strong interest in basketball since he was a child. He is a devout follower of Christ.
Tonya was a brilliant student who excelled in school as a child. His mom stated that he wishes to pursue engineering, architecture, or a pure maths degree in an interview.
Tonya says, “He’s [Brandon]a fierce competitor, and we’ve always demanded greatness. We knew he was capable from the time he achieved consecutive A’s in first grade.”
After 33 years on the Florida East Coast Railway, his father retired, allowing his parents to attend up to 50 games per season. Efrem Jr., Knight’s older brother, is also his business manager.
Wife
Brandon Knight is a married man. Despite being one of the most popular basketball players, Brandon has never been involved in rumors of girlfriends or affairs.
There is no news of Brandon being in a relationship with anyone. His supporters have a slew of questions about his personal life.
On the other hand, the player has shared a wedding photo with a lady. He wanted to keep her hidden, so he only shared images of her back in a wedding gown.
The athlete has never spoken openly about his personal life before the public, making it incredibly difficult to learn about his wife.
However, because he is well-known and successful, his followers will learn about his love life sooner or later.
Moreover, his sexual orientation raised a lot of questions. Some of his admirers thought he was homosexual. However, he doesn’t appear to be gay in the least.
Net Worth
According to multiple sources, Brandon Knight’s basketball career has netted him a cumulative net worth of $10 million as of 2019.
Knight signed a five-year, $70 million contract with the Suns on July 17, 2015.
Furthermore, while with the Bucks, Sean Deveney of the Sporting News reported that Knight was seeking a four-year contract worth $48 million in April.
Brandon Knight agreed to a one-year contract worth $895,000 with the Baltimore Ravens, with an average annual salary of $895,000.
The Florida native will be paid a basic salary of $895,000 in 2022, with a cap hit of $895,000.
On the other hand, Brandon must have made money through his other sponsorships deals as an NBA basketball player.
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Fitness Enthusiast
Brandon Knight is well aware of his good fortune as a child. His Florida upbringing provided him with educational and athletic opportunities.
He took advantage of this by achieving a 4.3 GPA in high school and an athletic scholarship to the University of Kentucky.
The 6-3 guard turned his accomplishment into a long NBA career, which he now uses to help others worldwide.
And he thinks that his NBA experience would be beneficial to his young and bright colleagues who are also aspiring to the NBA.
He frequently conducts clinics and speaks out in support of physical fitness.
Knight has been a continuous presence at Talking Stick Resort Arena, working on his body and game with many players to be in peak physical shape for next season.
Awards & Achievements
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (2012)
- SEC All-Freshman Team (2011)
- First-team All-SEC (2011)
- Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year (2010)
- First-team Parade All-American (2010)
- Two-time Gatorade National Player of the Year (2009, 2010)
- Second-team Parade All-American (2009)
- 2× Florida Mr. Basketball (2009, 2010)
- McDonald’s All-American (2010)
Social Media Presence
Brandon Knight is pretty active on various social media platforms. He constantly posts on his social media to connect with his fans and followers.
Knight routinely uses the hashtag “TGBTG” (“To God Be The Glory”) on Twitter. Knight also wears “TGBTG” and “Faith” wristbands.
Below is the link to his social media accounts;
Instagram– 140k followers
Twitter– 199.5k followers
FAQs
Where does Brandon Knight coach?
After being appointed to the role on April 18, 2016, Brandon Knight began his sixth season as Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach for Rutgers University in 2020-21.
Is Brandon Knight good?
Knight is a good shooter in general, and despite his ailments, he appears to be moving well. For stepback threes, he can beat practically anyone.
If a big man is switched on him, he can cook them with crossovers, and despite his lack of passing ability, he has done a decent job of limiting turnovers.