Nigerian-American basketball player
Chimezie Chukwudum Metu
(born March 22, 1997) is a Nigerian-American professional
basketball
player for the
Detroit Pistons
of the
National Basketball Association
(NBA). He played college basketball for the
USC Trojans
.
High school career
[
edit
]
Metu's attended
Lawndale High School
in
Lawndale, California
. A four-star recruit, he was the No. 46 recruit according to Rivals.com. Metu committed to the
University of Southern California
(USC) on May 12, 2014.
[1]
College career
[
edit
]
As a freshman, Metu played in 34 games, starting 2. He averaged 6.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. He also had 54 blocks, which was the 2nd most blocks by a USC freshman since
Taj Gibson
. He also played 10 minutes in USC's loss to Providence in the first round of the
2016 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
.
Metu started in all 36 games as a sophomore, averaging 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. He led the team to the 2nd round of the
2017 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
. He was named 2017 Pac-12 Most Improved Player, 2nd Team
All-Pac-12
and All-Academic Honorable Mention.
Metu played in 34 games as a junior, starting 33. He averaged 15.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. On February 23, 2018, he was named in a federal document that linked him to an alleged $2,000 payment from a sports agency, but was cleared by USC.
[2]
On March 5, 2018, he was named 1st Team
All-Pac-12
along with teammate
Jordan McLaughlin
.
[3]
Being set to graduate in three years and after sitting out the
2018 National Invitation Tournament
to avoid injury, he declared for the
2018 NBA draft
.
[4]
Professional career
[
edit
]
San Antonio Spurs (2018?2020)
[
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]
On June 21, 2018, Metu was drafted by the
San Antonio Spurs
with the 49th pick in the
2018 NBA draft
. Metu was later included in the 2018
NBA Summer League
roster of the
San Antonio Spurs
.
[5]
On September 4, 2018, Metu signed with the
San Antonio Spurs
.
[6]
On October 20, 2018, Metu made his NBA debut, coming off from bench for about three minutes with two points, two rebounds and a block in a 108?121 loss to
Portland Trail Blazers
.
[7]
On November 20, 2020, the Spurs waived Metu.
[8]
Sacramento Kings (2020?2023)
[
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]
On November 28, 2020, Metu signed with the
Sacramento Kings
,
[9]
but was waived on December 22 after appearing in four pre-season games.
[10]
Two days later, he signed a
two-way contract
with the Kings.
[11]
On April 28, 2021, the Kings signed him to a multi-year deal after making 28 appearances.
[12]
On August 15, 2021, during a 86?70
Las Vegas Summer League
victory over the
Dallas Mavericks
, Metu was ejected after throwing a punch at opposing forward
Eugene Omoruyi
.
[13]
The next day, the NBA suspended Metu for the Summer League championship game, which the Kings won.
[14]
On December 29, 2021, Metu hit a game-winning three from the right corner at the buzzer to propel Sacramento to a 95?94 home victory over the
Dallas Mavericks
.
[15]
Phoenix Suns (2023?2024)
[
edit
]
On July 4, 2023, Metu signed with the
Phoenix Suns
.
[16]
On Christmas Day, Metu had a career-high double-double of 23 points and 19 rebounds off the bench in a 128?114 loss to the
Dallas Mavericks
.
On February 8, 2024, Metu was traded to the
Memphis Grizzlies
in a three-team trade involving the
Brooklyn Nets
[17]
and the next day, he was waived.
[18]
Detroit Pistons (2024?present)
[
edit
]
On March 20, 2024, Metu signed a 10-day contract with the
Detroit Pistons
[19]
and on March 30, he signed for the rest of the season.
[20]
National team career
[
edit
]
On August 27, 2019, Metu was included in the
Nigerian
final roster for the
2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup
.
[21]
Career statistics
[
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]
Regular season
[
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]
Playoffs
[
edit
]
College
[
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]
Personal life
[
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]
Born in
Los Angeles
, he spent the first years of his life in California before moving to
Nigeria
with his father at the age of six. He then lived in Nigeria the following six years. In Nigeria, he played soccer.
[22]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Budrovich (May 12, 2014).
"Andy Enfield Lands Four-Star Recruit Chimezie Metu"
.
Conquest Chronicle
. Retrieved
January 4,
2020
.
- ^
Thiry, Lindsey (March 7, 2018).
"Even with all the turmoil, USC's Chimezie Metu says he's glad he returned for his junior season"
.
Los Angeles Times
. Retrieved
April 15,
2018
.
- ^
"2017-18 Pac-12 Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams announced"
.
Pac-12 Conference
. Pac-12 Conference.
- ^
Kaufman, Joey (March 22, 2018).
"USC junior Chimezie Metu declares for NBA draft"
.
Orange County Register
. Retrieved
April 15,
2018
.
- ^
"SPURS ANNOUNCE 2018 UTAH SUMMER LEAGUE ROSTER"
.
NBA.com
. June 28, 2018
. Retrieved
June 28,
2018
.
- ^
"SPURS SIGN 2018 SECOND ROUND PICK CHIMEZIE METU"
.
NBA.com
. September 4, 2018
. Retrieved
September 4,
2018
.
- ^
"Lillard has 29 and Portland beats San Antonio 121-108"
.
ESPN.com
. October 20, 2018
. Retrieved
October 20,
2018
.
- ^
"Spurs waive Chimezie Metu"
.
NBA.com
. November 20, 2020
. Retrieved
November 20,
2020
.
- ^
"Kings Sign Chimezie Metu"
.
NBA.com
. November 28, 2020
. Retrieved
November 28,
2020
.
- ^
"Kings Waive Chimezie Metu"
.
NBA.com
. December 22, 2020
. Retrieved
December 22,
2020
.
- ^
"Kings Sign Chimezie Metu To A Two-Way Contract"
.
NBA.com
. December 24, 2020
. Retrieved
December 24,
2020
.
- ^
"Kings Sign Chimezie Metu To Multi-Year Contract"
.
NBA.com
. April 28, 2021
. Retrieved
April 28,
2021
.
- ^
"Watch: Kings' Chimezie Metu throws punch in Summer League game"
.
Yardbarker
. Retrieved
January 27,
2022
.
- ^
"Kings' Chimezie Metu suspended for Summer League championship game after punching opponent in the head"
.
CBS Sports
. August 16, 2021
. Retrieved
January 27,
2022
.
- ^
"Metu's game-winning buzzer-beater seals Kings' win over Mavs"
.
NBA.com
. December 30, 2021
. Retrieved
December 31,
2021
.
- ^
"SUNS SIGN KEITA BATES-DIOP, DREW EUBANKS, CHIMEZIE METU AND YUTA WATANABE"
.
NBA.com
. July 4, 2023
. Retrieved
July 4,
2023
.
- ^
"Grizzlies complete three-team trade with Suns and Nets"
.
NBA.com
. February 8, 2024
. Retrieved
February 8,
2024
.
- ^
"Memphis Grizzlies sign GG Jackson II to Multi-Year Contract"
.
NBA.com
. February 9, 2024
. Retrieved
February 9,
2024
.
- ^
"DETROIT PISTONS SIGN CHIMEZIE METU TO 10-DAY CONTRACT"
.
NBA.com
. March 20, 2024
. Retrieved
March 30,
2024
.
- ^
Tucker, Tristan (March 30, 2024).
"Pistons Signing Chimezie Metu For Rest Of Season"
.
HoopsRumors.com
. Retrieved
March 30,
2024
.
- ^
"Guessing Game is over. It is now official! @alexnwora announces final 12 for @FIBAWC in China"
.
#NBBF on Twitter.com
. August 27, 2019
. Retrieved
August 27,
2019
.
- ^
Holm, Max.
"The High School Player Who Dunked on a Miami Heat Superstar"
.
OZY
. Archived from
the original
on April 22, 2018
. Retrieved
April 22,
2018
.
External links
[
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]