Torrey Craig
![]() Craig with the Denver Nuggets in 2018 | |
No. 3 – Milwaukee Bucks | |
---|---|
Position | Small forward / Shooting guard |
League | NBA |
Personal information | |
Born | Columbia, South Carolina | December 19, 1990
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
Listed weight | 221 lb (100 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Great Falls (Great Falls, South Carolina) |
College | USC Upstate (2010–2014) |
NBA draft | 2014: undrafted |
Playing career | 2014–present |
Career history | |
2014–2016 | Cairns Taipans |
2015–2016 | Wellington Saints |
2016–2017 | Brisbane Bullets |
2017 | Gold Coast Rollers |
2017–2020 | Denver Nuggets |
2017–2018 | →Sioux Falls Skyforce |
2020–present | Milwaukee Bucks |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Torrey Craig (born December 19, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the University of South Carolina Upstate where he was named an honorable mention All-American and Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year in 2012. After graduating from South Carolina in 2014, Craig spent his first three professional seasons in Australia and New Zealand. He was named New Zealand NBL MVP and won a New Zealand NBL championship with the Wellington Saints, and earned NBL Best Defensive Player honors with the Brisbane Bullets. In 2017, he returned home and began his NBA career with the Denver Nuggets.
College career
Craig came to USC Upstate from Great Falls High School in Great Falls, South Carolina, after winning 1A state Player of the Year honors in his senior season.[1] As a freshman, Craig entered the starting lineup and quickly made an impact, averaging 14.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game en route to winning Atlantic Sun Conference Freshman of the Year honors.[2]
In his sophomore season, Craig led the A-Sun in scoring at 16.4 points per game and helped the Spartans win 21 games. Craig was named the conference Player of the Year[3] and an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press.[4] As a junior, Craig once again led the A-Sun in scoring at 17.2 points per game. He was named first team All-Atlantic Sun.[1]
Prior to the start of his senior season, Craig was named preseason Player of the Year in the Atlantic Sun.[5] On February 10, 2014, Craig reached the 2,000 career point milestone with a 22-point game against East Tennessee State.[6]
Professional career
Cairns Taipans (2014–2016)
2014–15 season
On August 6, 2014, Craig signed with the Cairns Taipans for the 2014–15 NBL season.[7] On December 10, 2014, he was named Player of the Week for Round 9 after his double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds helped the Taipans over the line against the Adelaide 36ers on December 6.[8] On December 19, he scored a season-high 28 points in a 90–86 loss to the Adelaide 36ers.[9] Craig helped lead the Taipans to a win over the New Zealand Breakers in the final game of the regular season on February 22 to finish on top of the ladder for the first time in club history with a win/loss record of 21–7. After sweeping the Perth Wildcats in the semi-finals, the Taipans faced the Breakers in the Grand Final series, going on to lose the series 2–0 following a game-winning shot by Ekene Ibekwe in Game 2.[10] In 32 games for the Taipans in 2014–15, he averaged 8.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game coming off the bench as a back-up small forward to Stephen Weigh.[11][12]
2015–16 season
On August 7, 2015, Craig recommitted to the Cairns Taipans, re-signing with the club for the 2015–16 NBL season.[13][14] He averaged just 6.0 points over the first four games of the season before picking up his level of production on October 24, recording 18 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to Melbourne United.[15] He continued that good form over the next three games, scoring 17, 19 and 17 respectively, raising his averages up to 11.9 points and 4.9 rebounds after eight games. On January 13, 2016, in a loss to United, Craig became the first Taipans player to have at least 20 points and 15 rebounds in a game since Nathan Jawai did so in 2008.[16][17] The Taipans finished the season outside the top four, thus missing the playoffs with a 12–16 win/loss record. Craig appeared in all 28 games for the Taipans, averaging 11.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.1 blocks per game.
Wellington Saints (2015–2016)
2015 season
On March 17, 2015, Craig signed with the Wellington Saints for the 2015 New Zealand NBL season.[18] On April 17, he scored 41 points on 16-of-22 shooting against the Taranaki Mountainairs, ending the game just one point short of the all-time Wellington Saints scoring record, held by Mike Efevberha with 42.[19] On April 21, he was named Player of the Week for Round 3 after also recording 25 points and 14 rebounds against the Southland Sharks on April 18.[20] On June 18, he earned co-Player of the Week honors for Round 11 alongside Southland's Tai Wesley.[21] The following day, he was ruled out for the rest of the regular season with a knee injury.[22] Craig returned to the Saints line-up for their semi-final clash against the Nelson Giants. He managed a mere 15 minutes of action and scored just three points in a 97–85 win that advanced the Saints through to the Grand Final where they faced the Southland Sharks.[23] However, Craig fell just short of claiming championship success for a second time in a matter of months as he suffered another grand final defeat, this time at the hands of the No. 1 seeded Sharks who defeated the Saints 72–68.[24] Despite missing the final three games of the regular season, Craig was named league MVP for the 2015 season while also earning All-Star Five honors.[25] In 17 games for the Saints, he averaged 20.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.[26]
2016 season
On January 26, 2016, Craig re-signed with the Saints for the 2016 New Zealand NBL season.[27] He helped lead the Saints to two Round 1 wins, subsequently earning co-Player of the Week honors for the opening round.[28] On April 20, he was named co-Player of the Week for Round 6 after scoring 34 points against the Super City Rangers on April 14, and 18 points against the Canterbury Rams on April 15.[29] He led the Saints back to the Grand Final where they faced the Super City Rangers. With a 15-point effort, Craig helped the Saints claim their ninth NBL title with a 94–82 win.[30][31] He appeared in all 20 games for the Saints in 2016, averaging 20.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He subsequently earned All-Star Five honors for the second straight year.[32]
Brisbane Bullets (2016–2017)
On May 9, 2016, Craig signed a two-year deal with the Brisbane Bullets, a team re-joining the NBL for the 2016–17 season after an eight-year hiatus.[33][34] He made his debut for the Bullets in their season opener on October 6, scoring a team-high 16 points in a 72–65 win over the Perth Wildcats.[35] Two days later, he recorded nine points and 17 rebounds (career high in the NBL) in a 77–73 win over the Sydney Kings, helping the Bullets start the season 2–0.[36] On October 16, he scored a team-high 22 points in a 96–93 overtime loss to the Adelaide 36ers.[37] On November 19, he scored a career-high 34 points in a 105–87 win over the 36ers.[38] In the Bullets' regular season finale on February 11, 2017, Craig recorded game highs of 30 points and 18 rebounds (a new career high) in a 106–79 loss to the Illawarra Hawks.[39] He became just the second player in eight years to have 30 points and 18 rebounds in a game, the other being Josh Childress (36 points, 19 rebounds in November 2014).[40] The Bullets finished their first season back in the NBL in last place with a 10–18 record. At the NBL's end-of-season awards night, Craig was named the recipient of the NBL Best Defensive Player Award and earned All-NBL Second Team honors.[41][42] Craig appeared in all 28 games for the Bullets in 2016–17, averaging 15.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
Gold Coast Rollers (2017)
On January 18, 2017, Craig signed with the Gold Coast Rollers for the 2017 Queensland Basketball League season.[43][44] On May 13, 2017, in the Rollers' third game of the season, Craig recorded 42 points and 12 rebounds in a 95–92 win over the South West Metro Pirates.[45] He was subsequently named Player of the Week for Round 3.[46] On May 27, 2017, he recorded 32 points and 16 rebounds in a 107–100 loss to the Logan Thunder.[47] On June 16, 2017, he recorded 40 points and 13 rebounds in a 93–79 loss to the Mackay Meteors.[48] In 10 games for the Rollers, he averaged 28.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.[49]
Denver Nuggets (2017–2020)
In late June 2017, Craig returned to the United States to join the Denver Nuggets for 2017 NBA Summer League.[50] After impressing the Nuggets during the Summer League, he signed a two-way contract with the team on July 19, 2017.[51][52] On the two-way deal, Craig spent most of the season in the NBA G League with the Sioux Falls Skyforce due to the 45-day limit he could spend with the Nuggets.[53] Craig made his NBA debut on November 28, 2017, in the Nuggets' 106–77 loss to the Utah Jazz,[54][55] joining Mike Gibson as the only players in Upstate history to play in an NBA game.[56] Craig made his first career start on December 15, 2017, against the New Orleans Pelicans, scoring six points in a 117–111 overtime win.[57] Three days later, he scored a season-high 14 points in a 95–94 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.[58] On April 1, 2018, he recorded seven points and a season-high eight rebounds in a 128–125 overtime win over the Milwaukee Bucks.[59]
On July 10, 2018, Craig signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the Nuggets.[60][61] On February 1, 2019, he scored a career-high 22 points in a 136–122 win over the Houston Rockets.[62] In game four of the Nuggets' first-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs, Craig scored 18 points with five 3-pointers in a 117–103 win.[63]
On March 1, 2020, Craig scored a season-high 17 points against the Toronto Raptors.[64] In the COVID affected 2019–20 NBA season, Craig averaged 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds during the regular season and once again proved his worth while checking some of the NBA's best wings during the postseason.[65]
On November 17, 2020, the Nuggets extended Craig a $2.5 million qualifying offer to make him a restricted free agent.[65] They withdrew the qualifying offer four days later, thus making him an unrestricted free agent.[66]
Milwaukee Bucks (2020–present)
On November 26, 2020, Craig signed with the Milwaukee Bucks.[67]
Personal life
Craig's son, Braylon, was born on June 4, 2014.[68]
NBA career statistics
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 |
Regular season
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017–18 | Denver | 39 | 5 | 16.1 | .453 | .293 | .629 | 3.3 | .6 | .3 | .4 | 4.2 |
2018–19 | Denver | 75 | 37 | 20.0 | .442 | .324 | .700 | 3.5 | 1.0 | .5 | .6 | 5.7 |
2019–20 | Denver | 58 | 27 | 18.5 | .461 | .326 | .611 | 3.3 | .8 | .4 | .6 | 5.4 |
Career | 172 | 69 | 18.6 | .451 | .320 | .660 | 3.4 | .8 | .4 | .6 | 5.3 |
Playoffs
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Denver | 14 | 11 | 23.6 | .478 | .472 | .563 | 5.1 | .9 | .5 | .4 | 6.6 |
2020 | Denver | 19 | 3 | 19.7 | .423 | .262 | .692 | 3.3 | .7 | .4 | .4 | 4.5 |
Career | 33 | 14 | 21.3 | .449 | .359 | .621 | 4.1 | .8 | .4 | .4 | 5.4 |
References
- ^ a b "Torry Craig USC Upstate bio". USC Upstate Spartans. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
- ^ "ETSU's Smith Headlines All-Conference Teams". Atlantic Sun Conference. March 1, 2011. Archived from the original on January 5, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
- ^ McCormick, Bret (November 12, 2013). "Great Falls helped make USC Upstate's Craig into unassuming star". The Herald. Archived from the original on November 17, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
- ^ "Torrey Craig Named Honorable Mention AP All-American". USC Upstate Spartans. March 26, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
- ^ Shanesy, Todd (October 10, 2013). "USC Upstate's Craig named player of the year in preseason poll". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
- ^ "Second Half Surge Leads Upstate Past ETSU". USC Upstate Spartans. February 10, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
- ^ Wenzel, Murray (August 6, 2014). "South Carolina forward Torrey Craig is Cairns Taipans' latest recruit". CairnsPost.com.au. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
- ^ Wenzel, Murray (December 11, 2014). "Gifted Cairns Taipans import Torrey Craig has eye on the big picture". CairnsPost.com.au. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
- ^ Chalmers, Steve (December 19, 2014). "NBL 2014/15 Round 11: Sixers spur to victory over stung Snakes". PickAndRoll.com.au. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "Grand Final Report: Ibekwe jumper wins Breakers the Championship". NBL.com.au. March 8, 2015. Archived from the original on March 11, 2015.
- ^ "Player statistics for Torrey Craig – ANBL". FoxSportsPulse.com. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
- ^ McAuliffe, Hugh (March 17, 2015). "PJ Saints add Craig to their roster, ex Taipans". Australiabasket.com. Sports I.T. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
- ^ "TAIPANS RETAIN TORREY CRAIG". Taipans.com. NBL.com.au. August 7, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
- ^ Wenzel, Murray (August 7, 2015). "Import Torrey Craig returns for second season at Cairns Taipans". CairnsPost.com.au. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
- ^ "UNITED TOP SNAKES, REMAIN UNBEATEN". Taipans.com. NBL.com.au. October 24, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
- ^ "Taipans vs United". NBL.com.au. January 13, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
- ^ "Last night was the first time a..." Twitter. January 14, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
- ^ Worthington, Sam (March 17, 2015). "Cameron puts a Snake among Wellington Saints". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
- ^ Anderson, Niall (April 17, 2015). "Craig Has Monster Game As Saints Beat Airs". NZhoops.co.nz. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
- ^ "SAINTS CRAIG IS R3 PLAYER OF THE WEEK". Basketball.org.nz. April 21, 2015. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^ "CRAIG AND WESLEY WIN WEEKLY AWARD". Basketball.org.nz. June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ Hyslop, Liam (June 19, 2015). "Wellington Saints swingman Torrey Craig in doubt for rest of NBL season". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
- ^ Hyslop, Liam (July 4, 2015). "Lindsay Tait stars as Wellington Saints beat Nelson Giants in NBL semi". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
- ^ Hyslop, Liam (July 5, 2015). "Southland Sharks beat Wellington Saints in tense NBL final". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
- ^ "CRAIG WINS MVP". Basketball.org.nz. July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "Player statistics for Torrey Craig – NZNBL". FoxSportsPulse.com. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
- ^ Hyslop, Liam (January 26, 2016). "National Basketball League MVP Torrey Craig returns to Wellington Saints for 2016". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
- ^ "HENRY, CRAIG AND STRONG ARE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK". Basketball.org.nz. March 16, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
- ^ "ROBERTS AND CRAIG SHARE PLAYER OF THE WEEK". Basketball.org.nz. April 20, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
- ^ "SAINTS CLAIM 9TH NBL TITLE". Basketball.org.nz. June 6, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
- ^ "Rangers vs Saints". FIBALiveStats.com. June 4, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
- ^ "MOORE TAKES OUT NBL MVP". Basketball.org.nz. June 8, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
- ^ "TORREY CRAIG JOINS BRISBANE BULLETS". NBL.com.au. May 9, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
- ^ Davis, Greg (May 8, 2016). "Brisbane Bullets sign American import and former Taipans forward Torrey Craig". CourierMail.com.au. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
- ^ "Beal blasts Bullets to house-warming win". NBL.com.au. October 6, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
- ^ "BULLETS OUTMUSCLE KINGS IN SYDNEY OPENER". NBL.com.au. October 8, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
- ^ "RANDLE, GUTSY SIXERS CRASH BAIRSTOW DEBUT IN OT". NBL.com.au. October 16, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "CRAIG, PETRIE STAR IN BLOWOUT ROAD WIN". NBL.com.au. November 19, 2016. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
- ^ "Hawks vs Bullets". FIBALiveStats.com. February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
- ^ "Torrey Craig becomes 2nd player in last 8 years..." Twitter. February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
- ^ "BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: TORREY CRAIG". NBL.com.au. February 13, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
- ^ "ALL NBL FIRST & SECOND TEAMS 2016/17". NBL.com.au. February 13, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
- ^ Wilson, Terry (January 18, 2017). "Gold Coast Rollers sign Brisbane Bullets star Torrey Craig for their QBL campaign". GoldCoastBulletin.com.au. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
- ^ Royce, James (January 18, 2017). "NBL star signs on with Gold Coast Rollers". Hit.com.au. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
- ^ "Pirates vs Rollers". FIBALiveStats.com. May 13, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ^ "Player of the Week – Round 3". qbl.basketballqld.com.au. May 17, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
- ^ "Thunder vs Rollers". FIBALiveStats.com. May 27, 2017. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ "Rollers vs Meteors". FIBALiveStats.com. June 16, 2017. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
- ^ "Player statistics for Torrey Craig". SportsTG.com. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
- ^ Wilson, Terry (June 28, 2017). "Gold Coast Rollers resigned to losing star American import Torrey Craig to the NBA". GoldCoastBulletin.com.au. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
- ^ "Nuggets Sign Rookie Torrey Craig to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. July 19, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
- ^ "DENVER NUGGETS STRIKE GOLD WITH TORREY CRAIG". NBL.com.au. July 20, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
- ^ Crouse, Chris (July 19, 2017). "Nuggets Sign Torrey Craig To Two-Way Contract". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
- ^ Dempsey, Christopher (November 29, 2017). "Torrey Craig Making Most of Opportunity in G-League and With Nuggets". NBA.com. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ "Nuggets vs. Jazz – Box Score". ESPN.com. November 28, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ "Torrey Craig Earns Contract with Denver Nuggets". upstatespartans.com. July 17, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
- ^ "Barton leads Nuggets past Pelicans 117-111 in OT". ESPN.com. December 15, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
- ^ "Westbrook's season-high 38 lead Thunder past Nuggets, 95-94". ESPN.com. December 18, 2017. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- ^ "Torrey Craig 2017-18 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
- ^ "Denver Nuggets Sign Free Agent Torrey Craig". NBA.com. July 10, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
- ^ Mizell, Gina (July 9, 2018). "Torrey Craig signs 2-year, $4 million contract with Denver Nuggets". DenverPost.com. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
- ^ "Beasley, Craig Put Up Career Highs, Nuggets Down Rockets". NBA.com. February 1, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ "Nuggets beat Spurs 117-103 to tie series at 2-2". ESPN.com. April 20, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
- ^ "Torrey Craig 2019-20 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
- ^ a b Singer, Mike (November 17, 2020). "Nuggets issue Torrey Craig qualifying offer ahead of free agency, source confirms". denverpost.com. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
- ^ Adams, Luke (November 21, 2020). "Nuggets Withdraw QO For Torrey Craig, Making Him UFA". hoopsrumors.com. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
- ^ "Bucks Sign Torrey Craig, Bryn Forbes and Bobby Portis". NBA.com. November 26, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
- ^ Hyslop, Liam (May 29, 2015). "From South Carolina to Wellington: Torrey Craig's journey to the Saints". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Career statistics and player information from NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com
- Brisbane Bullets profile
- USC Upstate Spartans bio
- "Aussie Craig" at nbl.com.au
- "Gold Coast Rollers’ signing Torrey Craig Torrey has dream of representing Australia" at goldcoastbulletin.com.au
- "Craig gives up on NBA dream, finds Nugget of hope in Summer League" at couriermail.com.au
- Torrey Craig on X
- 1990 births
- Living people
- American expatriate basketball people in Australia
- American expatriate basketball people in New Zealand
- American men's basketball players
- Basketball players from South Carolina
- Brisbane Bullets players
- Cairns Taipans players
- Denver Nuggets players
- Milwaukee Bucks players
- Shooting guards
- Sioux Falls Skyforce players
- Small forwards
- Sportspeople from Columbia, South Carolina
- Undrafted National Basketball Association players
- USC Upstate Spartans men's basketball players
- Wellington Saints players