Nate Darling

Canadian basketball player
Nate Darling
No. 3 – San Diego Clippers
PositionShooting guard
LeagueNBA G League
Personal information
Born (1998-08-30) August 30, 1998 (age 25)
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High schoolDeMatha Catholic
(Hyattsville, Maryland)
College
NBA draft2020: undrafted
Playing career2020–present
Career history
2020–2021Charlotte Hornets
2021→Greensboro Swarm
2021–presentAgua Caliente / Ontario / San Diego Clippers
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-CAA (2020)
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at NBA.com
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at Basketball-Reference.com

Nathan Joseph Darling (born August 30, 1998) is a Canadian professional basketball player for the San Diego Clippers of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the UAB Blazers and the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens. He is the first and only Blue Hens player in NBA history.[1]

High school career

Darling attended DeMatha Catholic High School and was teammates with top recruit Markelle Fultz and football star Chase Young.[2]

College career

Darling began his collegiate career at UAB and averaged 2.5 points per game. As a sophomore, he averaged 10.1 points per game while shooting 40.9 percent on three-pointers.[2] Following the season, he decided to transfer to the University of Delaware. On December 14, 2019, Darling scored a game-high 29 points against 20th-ranked Villanova in a 78–70 loss, after which his head coach Martin Ingelsby said he was playing like one of the best guards in college basketball.[3] As a junior, Darling averaged 21 points per game.[4] He earned first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) honors.[5] After the season, he declared for the 2020 NBA draft while retaining college eligibility.[6] However, on August 3 he announced he was remaining in the draft and turning professional.[7]

Professional career

Charlotte Hornets (2020–2021)

After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft, Darling signed a two-way contract with the Charlotte Hornets. Under the terms of the deal, he will split time between the Hornets and their NBA G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm.[8][9] This united him with Canadian assistant coach Jay Triano.

He made his NBA debut on March 13, 2021 against the Toronto Raptors, hitting a three-pointer in the fourth quarter, and became the first Nova Scotia born player in NBA history.[10]

Agua Caliente / Ontario / San Diego Clippers (2021–present)

On October 16, 2021, Darling was signed by the Los Angeles Clippers, but was waived shortly thereafter.[11] On October 23, he was selected by the Agua Caliente Clippers fifth overall in the 2021 NBA G League draft.[12]

On February 17, 2023, Darling signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.[13] He was waived four days later without having played a game for the NBA team.[14] On February 23, he was reacquired by the Ontario Clippers.[15]

On October 9, 2023, Darling signed with the Los Angeles Clippers,[16] but was waived on October 20, prior to the start of the 2023–24 season.[17] Ten days later, he rejoined the Ontario Clippers.[18]

Career statistics

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

NBA

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 Charlotte 7 0 3.7 .286 .286 1.000 .1 .1 .0 .1 1.3
Career 7 0 3.7 .286 .286 1.000 .1 .1 .0 .1 1.3

Play-in

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021 Charlotte 1 0 4.3 1.000 – – 3.0 1.0 .0 .0 2.0
Career 1 0 4.3 1.000 – – 3.0 1.0 .0 .0 2.0

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2016–17 UAB 30 1 9.4 .491 .462 .500 .5 .5 .1 .0 2.5
2017–18 UAB 33 31 28.0 .477 .409 .830 3.0 2.8 .4 .3 10.1
2018–19 Delaware Redshirt Redshirt
2019–20 Delaware 32 32 38.3 .446 .399 .854 3.9 2.8 .8 .2 21.0
Career 95 64 25.6 .459 .408 .841 2.5 2.1 .4 .2 11.4

References

  1. ^ "Delaware Players in the NBA". RealGM.com. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Tresolini, Kevin (April 25, 2018). "Former DeMatha guard Darling transfers to Delaware from UAB". The News Journal. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  3. ^ "Bedford's Nate Darling declares for NBA draft". The Chronicle Herald. April 8, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  4. ^ "Nate Darling Enters 2020 NBA Draft Process, Maintains Eligibility". Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens. April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  5. ^ "CAA Basketball Announces Men's Basketball Postseason Accolades" (Press release). Colonial Athletic Association. March 6, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  6. ^ Daly, Brian (April 7, 2020). "Bedford's Nate Darling declares for NBA draft, retains college eligibility". CBC. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  7. ^ "Bedford's Nate Darling goes all in on NBA Draft hopes". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. August 3, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  8. ^ Palmeter, Paul (November 19, 2020). "Nate Darling goes undrafted but will sign deal with NBA club". CBC News. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  9. ^ "Charlotte Hornets Sign Grant Riller and Nate Darling to Two-Way Contracts". NBA.com. November 30, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  10. ^ Rafferty, Scott (March 25, 2021). "Nova Scotia native and Charlotte Hornets guard Nate Darling scores first NBA basket". NBA.com. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  11. ^ Hill, Arthur (October 16, 2021). "Clippers Sign, Waive Nate Darling". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  12. ^ "2021 NBA G League Draft Board". NBA.com. October 23, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  13. ^ Maher, Rory. "Clippers Sign Nate Darling To Two-Way Deal". HoopsRumors.comdate=February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  14. ^ Greif, Andrew [@AndrewGreif] (February 21, 2023). "The Clippers say they've waived Nate Darling, who was recently signed to a two-way deal" (Tweet). Retrieved February 21, 2023 – via Twitter.
  15. ^ "2022-23 NBA G League Transactions". NBA.com. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  16. ^ Gauruder, Dana (October 9, 2023). "Clippers Waive Brodric Thomas, Sign Nate Darling". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  17. ^ Adams, Luke (October 20, 2023). "Clippers Sign Joey Hauser, Cut Two Players". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  18. ^ "ONTARIO CLIPPERS ANNOUNCE TRAINING CAMP ROSTER FOR 2023-24 NBA G LEAGUE SEASON". NBA.com. October 30, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.

External links

  • Delaware Blue Hens bio
  • UAB Blazers bio
  • v
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San Diego Clippers current roster