Duane Washington Jr., a point guard, had a flourishing varsity basketball career with Ohio State University and was also considered a four-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals.
After college, the undrafted player of the 2021 NBA Draft played for Indiana Pacers (2021-22) & then had a season with the Suns before they released him to sign Saban Lee on a two-way contract.
He was a solid contributor for the Phoenix Suns of the NBA but was waived by the team on February 1, 2023, after a season.
Duane signed the New York Knicks in a two-way contract in 2023, after which Washington divided his playing time with Westchester of the NBA G League.
At the end of the 2022-2023 season, Washington scored a career-high 26 points, four rebounds, and eight assists on December 27, 2022, in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Ohio State alumnus is the son of former NBA player Duane Washington who last played in the league for the Los Angeles Clippers during the 1992-93 season.
His father, Washington Sr., had a flourishing career but is more famous for his notorious legal issue.
Know more about Duane Washington Jr.’s journey in the NBA, but first, look at the bite-size facts.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Duane Eddy Washington Jr. |
| Known As | Duane Washington Jr. |
| Nickname | DWJ |
| Birthdate | March 24, 2000 |
| Age | 23 Years Old |
| Birthplace | Frankfurt, Germany |
| Current Residence | Phoenix, United States |
| Father’s Name | Duane Washington |
| Mother’s Name | Therese Washington |
| Siblings | Jalen Sartor & Seth Millner |
| Nationality | American-German |
| Relationship Status | Dating |
| Girlfriend | Jackson Kayla Michelle Adkins |
| Children | One Son; Three (Nov. 24, 2022) |
| Built | Athletic |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Weight | 89 Kg/197 lb. |
| Height | 6’2″/1.88 m/188 cm |
| Ethnicity | Afro-American |
| Zodiac Sign | Aries |
| Profession | Professional Basketball Player |
| Education |
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| Profession | Basketball Player |
| League | NBA |
| NBA Draft | Undrafted: 2021 |
| Team |
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| Position | Point Guard/Shooting Guard |
| Awards & Achievements | Third-team All-Big Ten (2021) |
| Playing Career | 2021-Present |
| Roster Status | Westchester Knicks |
| Salary | $500K |
| Net Worth | Estimated $1 Million |
| Social Media | |
| Last Update | March 2024 |
Early Life & Education
Duane Washington Jr. was born Duane Eddy Washington Jr. on March 24, 2000, in Frankfurt, Germany.
He comes from a lineage of basketball players. Washington is the son of former professional basketball player Duane Washington Sr. and Therese Washington.
His father played for the Skyliners Frankfurt in Germany, after which he did not play for any other team.
Along with his father, his uncle Derek Fisher also played in the NBA for 18 seasons until hanging his cleats in 2014.
DWJ was raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he attended Grand Rapids Christian High School for three years and then transferred to Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles.
DWJ later transferred to his uncle Fisher’s basketball camp to fulfill his NBA dreams and, during that time, was considered a three-star recruit by Rivals and a four-star by ESPN.
Consequently, he received athletic scholarships from UCLA, Butler, and Michigan, but he chose Ohio State and committed to play on September 20, 2017.
After playing for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2018 to 2021, he declared for the 2021 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility initially.
Nevertheless, he announced his intention to remain in the draft on June 29, 2021.
Undrafted In the 2021 NBA Draft
Despite his outstanding collegiate career, he went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, joining notable fellow undrafted players like Austin Reaves, Joel Ayayi & Aaron Henry.
Nevertheless, Indiana Pacers signed Washington on a two-way contract on August 5, 2021, during which he also played with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the Pacer’s G-League affiliate.
His two-way contract with the team was converted into a standard one on April 7, 2022. Nonetheless, the Pacers waived Washington Jr. on July 14, 2022.
While with the Pacers, Duane Washington Jr. made a franchise-high seven three-pointers in a loss against the Pelicans (117-113) on January 24, 2022.
It broke the previous record of six three-pointers, each by Chuck Person and Chris Duarte.
Then, Washington was signed by the Phoenix Suns on August 3, 2022, on a two-way contract.
His term with the team ended on February 1, 2023, making him a free agent when the Suns signed the Vanderbilt Commodores alumnus Saban Lee on a two-way contract.
With the Suns, the NBA player scored his career-high 26 points in a 125-108 victory against the Grizzlies on December 27, 2022.
Net Worth & Contracts
Net Worth
The former Pacers, Duane Washington Jr., who has just started his professional career in 2021, is estimated to have a net worth estimated at $1 million as of 2024.
According to his contracts, the amount of his net worth is justified, including the $40K average salary he is getting for an NBA G league player.
His most major contract was with the Pacers, a three-year deal worth $4.34 million with an average annual salary of $1.44 million and $950k guaranteed at signing.
But later, they waived him to clear the cap space of $1.56 million.
Similarly, the information about his endorsement deal appears under the veil. According to Spotrac, his NBA career earnings total just about $950k.
Son & Girlfriend
The NBA shooting guard is in a relationship with his girlfriend, Jackson Kayla Michelle Adkins.
With his beau Kayla, Washington Jr. welcomed a son named Three on Nov. 24, 2022.
Earlier, on June 23, 2022, the couple revealed their pregnancy via Instagram.
DWJ shared the news with his 44.1k Instagram followers with a cute picture of him and his significant other with a caption that read, “You plus I equals Three!!!! Mini me coming soon!!! DW3”.
The pair allegedly began dating in 2020, but further about their relationship’s whereabouts are still a mystery.
Even though some online sources claim that he and his girlfriend, Jackson Kayla, are married, no official confirmation from the couple’s side is out yet.
Apart from their adorable pictures with their almost a-year-old son, none of the duo posted or hinted about their marriage on social media.
Jackson Kayla
Talking a bit about his spouse, Adkins is an Indiana native raised by her folks Jenny (née Speck) Adkins and Donovan Adkins.
She has two younger siblings on her father’s side, but their names are unavailable.
For her early education, she went to Diocesan Chatard Secondary School, where she was a part of the cheerleading squad.
On her Facebook profile, Kayla often shares pictures of her parents, her boyfriend & their son.
Father Washington Sr. & Uncle Are Former NBA Players
As mentioned, Duane Washington Jr.’s father, Duane Washington Sr., played two seasons in the NBA for New Jersey Nets (1988) & Los Angeles Clippers (1993.)
Similarly, he played professionally overseas in Spain, France, Colombia, Venezuela, Germany, and Israel. Washington Sr. is famous for his professional career, as a father of an NBA player, and for his legal issues.
On September 18, 2012, Washington Sr. hit a pedestrian walking alongside I-96 in Michigan and left the accident scene.
After nine months, he accepted a plea and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, 100 hours of community service, and 18 months probation.
Regarding DWJ’s uncle, Derek Fisher played in the NBA for 18 seasons, spent most of his career with the Lakers, and won 5 NBA championships. After retiring from basketball, he began his coaching career.
He was announced as the head coach for the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA on December 5, 2018, and in 2020 was appointed as general manager.
After two years, Derek parted with the Sparks as a head coach and general manager in 2022. It is unknown if he is still in the coaching profession or has left it.
Trivia
- Duane Washington Jr. played with Cassius Stanley, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Kenyon Martin Jr. at Sierra Canyon in Los Angeles.
- 247Sports considered Washington a three-star recruit coming out of basketball camp.
- DWJ’s father, Washington Sr., with the New Jersey Nets, was suspended for two years for violating the substance-abuse agreement on October 1988.
- Duane Washington has dual nationality: American-German.
Popularity Graph
Duane was considered the celebrated player at Ohio State, and now he is striving to make his mark in the NBA with New York Knicks.
The point guard’s search rate is directly proportional to his game progress, which is illustrated in his graph.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Was Washington Jr. close to Kobe Bryant?
Duane Washington Jr. became close with the late Kobe Bryant through his uncle Derek Fisher. His Instagram bio reads RIP Uncle Kobe.
Is Duane Washington Jr. German?
Since Duane was born in Germany, he also holds German citizenship in addition to American.
Does Washington Jr. have a son?
Yes, the NBA shooting guard is father of a baby boy named Three with his girlfriend, Jackson Kayla Michelle Adkins.
Is Duane Washington Jr. still playing with the Suns?
Washington Jr. was signed on a two-way contract with Phoenix Suns on August 3, 2022. But in the mid-season of the 2022 NBA season, he was waived off to clear the cap to sign Saban Lee.
