Josh Christopher, aka Jaygup, is an American professional basketball player from Carson, California, who currently plays shooting guard for the Houston Rockets of the NBA.
He splits his time between the Rockets and its G League affiliate Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
On February 15, 2023, Josh garnered 10 points, two rebounds, one block, one steal, and three assists over 22 minutes of gameplay in a 133-96 loss to Thunder.
He reached double figures in scoring for the first time since February 4.
Nevertheless, he has not seen a notable hike in minutes since the Rockets traded Eric Gordon at the NBA trade deadline.
For more, please continue with the article.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Joshua Evan Christopher |
| Known As | Haywood Highsmith |
| Nickname | Jaygup |
| Birthdate | December 8, 2001 |
| Age | 22 Years Old |
| Birthplace | Carson, California, United States |
| Current Residence | Houston, Texas, United States |
| Father’s Name | Laron Christopher |
| Mother’s Name | Halona Christopher |
| Siblings | Patrick, Caleb & Paris Christopher |
| Nationality | American |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Girlfriend | None |
| Children | Not Yet |
| Built | Athletic |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Height | 6 ft. 4 in/1.93 m/193 cm |
| Weight | 215 lb/98 kg |
| Ethnicity | Afro-American |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Profession | Professional Basketball Player |
| Education | Mayfair High School, Arizona State University |
| NBA Draft | Houston Rockets: 2021/Round 1/24th Overall Pick |
| Awards & Achievements | McDonald’s All-American (2020) |
| Playing Career | 2021-Present |
| Association | Houston Rockets (2021-Present)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers (2021) |
| Position | Shooting Guard |
| Shirt Number | 9 |
| Salary | $2.37 Million |
| Net Worth | $1-$3 Million |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
| Last Update | March 2024 |
Early Life & Education
Early Life
Joshua Evan Christopher was born on December 8, 2001, in Carson, California, United States, to his father, Laron Cristopher, and mother, Halona Christopher. His father, Laron, is a musician.
Joshua is the youngest of four siblings and grew up in a Christian household.
All three of his siblings are into sports in one way or the other. One of his brothers, Patrick, played professional basketball and had a brief stint with the Utah Jazz of the NBA.
Similarly, his older brother Caleb currently plays for Tennessee Tech, and his sister Paris played basketball for Saint Mary’s but bid goodbye to the sport after sustaining a career-ending injury as a freshman.
Education
Josh attended Mayfair High Scholl in Lakewood, California, for the first two years, and for his junior and senior he went to Servite High School.
In his junior year, Josh averaged 25 points per game, and 29.2 points per game in his senior year.
He was selected to play in Jordan Brand Classic, Nike Hoop Summit, and McDonald’s All-American Game, but all three games were canceled because of Covid-19.
Josh was the number two shooting guard in the recruiting class of 2020. After high school, he announced his commitment to Arizona over Missouri, UCLA, USC, and Michigan.
Similarly, he became the program’s first five-star recruit since Harden in 2007.
After a season with the Arizona State Sun Devils, he declared for the 2021 NBA Draft on March 31, 2021.
Career
As expected by the scouts and the pundits, Josh got drafted 24th overall in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft by the Rockets, joining Jalen Green & Usman Garuba on the team.
He signed a rookie contract with the team on August 5, 2021, and made his summer league debut against the Cavaliers in the 28th minute.
His official NBA debut came on October 20, coming off the bench in a game loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
All in all, Josh played 74 games throughout the 2021-22 season and started out his rookie season in the G-League.
On February 15, 2023, Josh garnered 10 points, two rebounds, one block, one steal, and three assists over 22 minutes of gameplay in a 133-96 loss to Thunder.
Net Worth, Endorsements & Contracts
Net Worth
As of March 2024, the Rockets rookie Josh Christopher has an estimated net worth between $1 and $3 million.
Even though sources online claim it to be more than that, looking at his contracts and career earnings, it seems unlikely.
Besides, he is just getting started with his professional career and is yet to make it big in the league.
According to Spotrac, the rookie has so far made $4.63 million in salaries and incentives.
But his net worth is bound to hike in the coming years, given his $11.46 million deal with the Rockets. And by the time his ongoing four-year contract comes to a conclusion in the 2024-25 season, he would have made $11.46 million in NBA earnings.
And we are not even including his potential add-ons from shoe and apparel deals.
Endorsements
Josh is a sneakerhead, and he credits developing his kick fondness to his older brother, Patrick Christopher, who is a big shoe guy himself.
As soon he was drafted, every big brand, including Nike, Reebok, Li-Ning, Converse, and Nike, were tapping in.
However, being a big Jordan brand aficionado, he chose to endorse Air Jordan.
Josh had his initial meeting with the Jordan representatives during New York Fashion Week in September 2021. To begin the season, he wore a batch of recent performance models from the brand.
Off the court, Josh like rocking Off-White 2 Lows and a batch of Retros, which he purchased on the day he signed his NBA deal.
Similarly, he also wears the grey 5Lab3s, SoleFly 16s, and Doernbecher 12s.
He announced his deal with the Jordan brand on his social media channels in a collaborative effort with videographer and editor Cam Beverly.
Contracts
On August 7, 2021, Josh signed a four-year, $11.6 million rookie contract with the Rockets. The contract includes the full amount guaranteed and an average annual salary of $2.86 million.
On October 20, 2022, the team exercised a $2.49 million option for the 2023-24 season.
Relationships & Social Media
As of this writing, Joshua Christopher is single and has not been romantically engaged to anyone.
He could be dating someone but has not dropped any hints, even on his social media handles.
Talking about his social media, Josh is active on Instagram and Twitter, via which he connects with his fans.
His Instagram has over 819k followers, and his Twitter has 99.8k followers.
To keep his followers entertained, he uploads his game pictures, workout reels, and some personal fun times on both of these platforms.
Similarly, he also promotes the Jordan brand via his Instagram, earning a decent sum.
Unknown Facts About Josh Christopher
- Sources compare Josh’s size and skills with the Bucks’ point guards, Jrue Holiday and Norman Powell.
- Houston Rockets assigned Josh to its G League affiliate Rio Grande Valley Vipers, on November 24, 2021.
- He was announced on the 2022 Summer League roster for the Rockets, and in the first game, he scored 22 points against the Orlando Magic.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
What is Josh Christopher’s wingspan?
Josh’s listed wingspan is 6 feet 9 inches (2.05 m). He has good size for a point guard, along with an impressive combination of explosiveness and speed.
