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Kevin McCullar Jr.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kevin McCullar Jr.
McCullar in 2022
Free agent
PositionShooting guard
Personal information
Born (2001-03-15) March 15, 2001 (age 25)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High schoolKaren Wagner
(San Antonio, Texas)
College
NBA draft2024: 2nd round, 56th overall pick
Drafted byPhoenix Suns
Playing career2024–present
Career history
2024–2026New York Knicks
2024–2026→Westchester Knicks
Career highlights
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Kevin Dewayne McCullar Jr. (born March 15, 2001) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders and Kansas Jayhawks.

High school career

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McCullar played basketball for Karen Wagner High School in San Antonio, Texas. As a sophomore, he helped his team reach the Class 6A state title game. In his junior season, McCullar averaged 16.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, before fracturing his tibia during the playoffs.[1] He opted to graduate early and bypass his senior season.[2] A consensus four-star recruit, he committed to playing college basketball for Texas Tech over offers from Houston, Kansas State and Louisville.[3]

College career

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McCullar redshirted his first season at Texas Tech to rehabilitate after fracturing his tibia as a junior in high school. Despite his absence, his team reached the national championship game.[4] As a freshman, McCullar averaged six points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.[5] In his sophomore season, he averaged 10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, earning All-Big 12 honorable mention.[6] On November 12, 2021, he scored a career-high 24 points in an 88–62 win against Grambling State.[7] As a junior, McCullar averaged 10.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. He hit 28 of 90 three pointers for 31.1%.[8]

On April 27, 2022, he entered the transfer portal while also declaring for the 2022 NBA draft and maintaining his college eligibility.[9] On May 19, 2022, McCullar announced he was transferring to Kansas while also remaining in the NBA draft.[10] On June 1, 2022, McCullar removed himself from the NBA Draft and announced he would be playing for the Jayhawks.[11] As a senior, he was named to the Third Team All-Big 12 as well as the All-Defensive Team.[12]

Professional career

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On June 27, 2024, McCullar was selected with the 56th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns, however, immediately on draft night, he was traded to the New York Knicks.[13] On August 5, he signed a two-way contract with the Knicks.[14] On March 25, 2025, McCullar made his NBA debut, and scored his first two career points in a 128–113 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.[15]

On December 27, 2025, McCullar had his career best game yet, as he recorded career highs in several statistical categories. Scoring 13 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, 4 of them offensive, 2 assists and 2 steals, whilst also going 3-of-6 from three-point range in 23 minutes in a 128-125 road victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Which earned him glowing praise from Knicks Head Coach Mike Brown in the post-game press conference, who commended McCullar’s defense, effort and mentality in being ready to step up when needed for his team. He was also voted Defensive Player Of The Game for the first time by his fellow Knicks teammates and coaches.

On June 13, 2026, McCullar and the Knicks won the 2026 NBA Finals, beating the San Antonio Spurs 4–1.[16][17]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
 †  Won an NBA championship

NBA

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2024–25 New York 407.3.286.0001.0002.0.5.3.31.5
2025–26† New York 2107.4.426.333.4001.31.0.4.02.4
Career 2507.4.407.320.5711.4.9.4.02.2

College

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Texas Tech Redshirt Redshirt
2019–20 Texas Tech 29618.6.512.286.7253.2.71.2.36.0
2020–21 Texas Tech 201930.4.416.283.7046.32.11.7.810.4
2021–22 Texas Tech 292429.9.402.311.7254.63.11.4.210.1
2022–23 Kansas 343330.6.444.296.7617.02.42.0.710.7
2023–24 Kansas 262634.2.454.333.8056.04.11.5.418.3
Career 13810828.6.441.309.7565.42.41.6.511.0

Personal life

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McCullar's father, Kevin Sr., played college football for Texas Tech as a linebacker, before playing professionally with the Frankfurt Galaxy and Chicago Enforcers.[18][19]

References

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  1. ↑ Silva Jr., Carlos (July 5, 2018). "McCullar pledges to play for Texas Tech". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  2. ↑ Zuvanich, Adam (May 9, 2018). "Wagner standout McCullar to skip senior season". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  3. ↑ Hinojosa, David (July 5, 2018). "Wagner's McCullar commits to Texas Tech". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  4. ↑ Strader, Jay (February 19, 2020). "McCullar finds role for Red Raiders". The Daily Toreador. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  5. ↑ Mainville, Ryan (October 28, 2020). "McCullar feeling prepared for new season". The Daily Toreador. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  6. ↑ Marquez, RJ (July 19, 2021). "Former SA Wagner standout, Texas Tech star Kevin McCullar Jr. using new NIL laws to build brand, give back to community". KSAT-TV. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Texas Tech overwhelms Grambling in second half, wins 88–62". ESPN. Associated Press. November 12, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  8. ↑ Bedore, Gary (June 1, 2022). "Former Texas Tech Red Raider Kevin McCullar exits NBA Draft, will play for KU Jayhawks". Kansas City Star. Kansas City, Missouri. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  9. ↑ Silva Jr., Carlos (April 27, 2022). "Texas Tech basketball player Kevin McCullar enters name into the NCAA transfer portal". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  10. ↑ Williams, Madison (May 19, 2022). "Texas Tech's Kevin McCullar Announces Decision to Transfer to Kansas". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  11. ↑ Guskey, Jordan (June 1, 2022). "Kevin McCullar announces he's exiting NBA draft process, returning to college at Kansas". Topeka Capital-Journal. Topeka, Kansas. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  12. ↑ "🏀 Jayhawk Starters Headline 2023 All-Big 12 Honors for Kansas". Kansas Jayhawks. March 5, 2023. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  13. ↑ Davis, Kyle (June 27, 2024). "Johnny Furphy, Kevin McCullar Taken in Second Round of NBA Draft". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  14. ↑ "New York Knicks Sign Kevin McCullar Jr. to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. August 5, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  15. ↑ Bondy, Stefan (March 26, 2025). "Knicks' Kevin McCullar Jr. scores first two points in NBA debut after long, arduous road". New York Post. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  16. ↑ Siegel, Brett (June 13, 2026). "Knicks win first championship in 53 years after NBA Finals Game 5 triumph vs. Spurs". ClutchPoints. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  17. ↑ Lambert, Ben (June 13, 2026). "Recap: The Knicks win the 2026 NBA championship". NBA.com. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  18. ↑ Johnson, Jarret (June 13, 2018). "4-Star Legacy Kevin McCullar Set to Visit Texas Tech". 247Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Kevin McCullar Stats". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
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