Ron Baker is a former professional basketball player from the United States. He was a Wichita State Shockers basketball player in college.
He went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft and played three seasons with the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards.
The player has also written a children’s book named “You’re Too Big to Dream Small”. It is an illustrated book with rhyming text written mainly by Baker and based closely on his life.
Ron personally signed the initial print run of 6,000 copies when it was launched on August 3, 2016.
Today, we have gathered information about Ron Baker, his basketball career, his reason for retirement, his family, net worth, and more.
However, firstly, look at some quick facts about the retired basketball player.
Quick Facts
Full Name | Ronald Delaine Baker |
Birth Date | March 30, 1993 |
Birth Place | Hays, Kansas |
Nick Name | Ron |
Religion | Christianity |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | White |
High School | Scott City High School |
College | Wichita State (2012–2016) |
Playing Career | 2016 – 2020 |
Zodiac | Aries |
Chinese Zodiac | Rooster |
Father’s Name | Neil Baker |
Mother’s Name | Ranae Baker |
Siblings | Two (1 sister and one brother) |
Age | 31 years old |
Height | 6 feet 4 inches |
Weight | 100 kg |
Chest Size | Not available |
Biceps Size | Not available |
Waist Size | Not available |
Shoe Size | 8 (UK) |
Food Habits | Non-vegetarian |
NBA Draft | 2016, Undrafted |
Hair Color | Light Brown |
Eye Color | Blue |
Career Highlights and Awards |
|
Build | Athletic |
Marital Status | Not married |
Children | None |
Girlfriend | Chloe Burkhead |
Retired on | 2016 |
Position | Point guard |
Profession | Former basketball player |
Net Worth | $4 million |
Salary | Under review |
League | NBA |
Social Media | Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter |
Merch | Basketball Card |
Last Update | November 2024 |
Ron Baker: Early Life and Family
On March 30, 1993, Ron Baker was born in Hays, Kansas. His mother’s name is Ranae Baker, and his father’s name is Neil Baker.
Ron spent his early youth in the small rural community of Utica, Kansas, where he grew up with one sister and one brother.
He said in a 2014 interview that he has recollections of when he was very, very tiny, clutching a basketball in his dog’s doghouse when he was around 1.
His father observed that he eventually gravitated toward basketball for practical reasons. Neil said that it was easier to take Ron about.
Moreover, it was also easier to get five or six children to play basketball than playing baseball, where you’d need 12 or 14.
Ron Baker: High School Career
While Ron grew into a star at Scott Community High and aspired to play for the state’s top college program at Kansas, he was slow and steady to grow into his body.
He was only 6 feet (1.83 m) tall by the end of his junior year and had drawn interest from only two Division I programs: Arkansas–Little Rock and South Dakota State.
Between his junior and senior seasons summertime, he grew to 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m).
Ron contributed to the team’s 25–1 record in his senior year. In exchange, he was selected to the Kansas 3A First-Team All-State team.
His high school basketball career peaked when he shot a game-winning put-back buzzer-beater against Minneapolis High School to win the Class 3A state title, ending with 26 points and 9 rebounds.
Consequently, Ron helped the school win its first-ever Class 3A championship, even though the school had previously made two trips.
Kansas encouraged Ron to visit the school following his senior year. Ron considered walking on, but the offer came in the middle of his high school baseball season.
Ron’s father noted that his son believed his basketball game was rusty and that he “didn’t want to humiliate himself” in a possible scrimmage.
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Ron Baker: College Career
Ron chose to play for the Wichita State Shockers over Arkansas–Little Rock, Eastern Illinois, and South Dakota State.
After receiving hesitant consent from head coach Gregg Marshall, the player redshirted his first season with the Shockers.
Similarly, Baker also established himself as one of Wichita State’s top free-throw shooters in his debut season.
The player concluded the season with the most significant free-throw percentage of any qualifying player on the club (.822).
However, Ron failed to establish himself as an efficient scorer, appearing in only eighteen games due to a stress fracture in his left foot.
Likewise, Ron established himself as one of the MVC’s top shooters heading into the 2013–14 NCAA Division I men’s basketball season.
After concluding his first season with a double-digit scoring average, Baker was selected to the 2014 MVC All-Conference First Team and the CBE Hall of Fame Classic’s Most Valuable Player.
Ron was also a member of three Missouri Valley Conference titles (2013, 2014, 2015), nine NCAA Tournament wins, two Sweet 16 appearances (2013, 2015), and a trip to the 2013 Final Four.
The player averaged 14.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.51 steals in 31.6 minutes per game as a senior in 2015–16.
Ron Baker: Professional career
New York Knicks
Ron signed with the New York Knicks for the 2016 NBA Summer League after going undrafted in the 2016 NBA draft.
Despite a disorganized Summer League campaign, Baker signed with the Knicks on August 1, 2016, and earned an opening-night roster berth.
He made his Knicks debut on October 25, 2016, earning five points and one rebound in seven minutes off the bench in a 117–88 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ron set a career-best on December 15, 2016, with 13 points in a 103–90 defeat to the Golden State Warriors.
On January 16, 2017, the player got his first career start for the Knicks, scoring 12 points in a 108–107 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks.
Ron was sent to the Westchester Knicks, New York’s D-League/G League club during his rookie and sophomore seasons. However, Baker re-signed with the Knicks on August 7, 2017.
Ron missed the Knicks’ game against the San Antonio Spurs on January 2, 2018.
The player fractured the left orbital bone received when he was smacked in the face while blocking Anthony Davis‘ drive to the basket.
Moreover, Ron was ruled out for the rest of the season on February 5, 2018, when it was discovered that he needed right shoulder surgery. On December 13, 2018, the Knicks released Baker.
Other Teams
Ron Baker signed a contract with the Washington Wizards on December 20, 2018. He was released on January 7, 2019, after four games.
On August 1, 2019, he signed a deal with CSKA Moscow in the VTB United League and the EuroLeague.
Similarly, Ron averaged 2.5 points per game in 27 EuroLeague appearances. He left the team on May 27, 2020.
Ron Baker: Retirement
In the May 2021 edition of Inside TBT, The Basketball Tournament’s official podcast, Ron Baker announced his retirement from basketball.
He told the presenters that he underwent hip surgery while abroad and wanted to move on with his life, hoping to enter the corporate sector.
In the 2021 TBT, he is the general manager of the AfterShocks, a TBT team mostly comprised of Wichita State basketball alumni.
The player also stated that he would not be participating in this or any future editions of TBT.
Ron was designated project manager in the strategy and business development department of Ascension Via Christi Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas, in August 2021.
Additionally, he is an enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.
Ron Baker: Home Nurse!
Ron’s home dog is none other than his dog, Oakley. Ron says that his DOG took good care of him when he was injured and had just undergone surgery.
The dog helped him move around the house and keep his meds in order.
The player came on to Instagram and introduced his dog to his followers after having successful hip surgery in 2020.
Ron Baker: Body Measurements
The former basketball player, Ron Baker, was born in 1993. So, he is currently 31 years old.
Ron was born in the Rooster year, according to the Chinese calendar.
Talking about Ron’s physical appearance, he has a healthy and well-maintained body. The American player stands 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs around 100 kg.
Baker’s other body measurements are currently unknown. We will update you with the measures as soon as possible.
Likewise, the player also does not have any tattoos inked to his body. He has blue eyes and light brown hair.
Further, Ron’s zodiac is Aries. Sapiens with the Aries sign are determined, generous, and bold. They also live their life to the fullest and are never afraid to take chances. Ron Baker is no different.
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Ron Baker: Girlfriend
The former basketball player is in a relationship with Chloe Burkhead.
On February 14, 2020, Ron posted a photo with Chloe with the caption “Hey Valentine, ❤️!
Hey @chloeburkhead , ❤️!”.
Likewise, Chloe often posts pictures with Ron on her social media and showcases her love for him.
Social Media Presence
Ron Baker has a significant social media presence and a wide fan following. The former basketball player can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Ron has thousands of followers altogether. He has 59.5k followers on his Instagram page and more than 135K followers on Twitter. Both of his accounts are verified.
His Instagram bio explains himself as “WSU Alum – FamilyFriendsFaithFuture – Sports Medicine Ascension Via Christi. “
Ron is very active on his social media and frequently posts about his professional and personal life there. In addition, he also often interacts with his fans via his social media pages.
Ron Baker: Net Worth
The basketball player has total career earnings of $9,569,294. His past salary for 2018/19 with the Washington Wizards was $165,852. Likewise, the player earned $4,899,367 with the New York Knicks.
We can say that the player has made enough money for himself. Ron Baker has an estimated net worth of $4 Million.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ron Baker’s favorite color?
Ron Baker’s favorite color is grey. The player revealed this via his Instagram as he asked his followers to guess his favorite color. He provided the tip that it rhymed with ‘frey.’
Apart from basketball, what sport does Ron Baker take an interest in?
Ron Baker often plays golf with his friends and family. The former basketball player occasionally shares pictures of him in the golf field on his social media.