Quick Facts
SagittariusBiography
Joshua Evan Christopher (born December 8, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Arizona State Sun Devils. He is a 6-foot-4-inch (1.93 m), 215-pound (98 kg) shooting guard.
Early life and high school career
Christopher grew up playing basketball with his older brother, Caleb, in elementary school, middle school and his first two years with Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California, as well as on the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circuit. In his childhood, he often played against older opponents. As a sophomore at Mayfair, Christopher averaged 25.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3.6 assists per game, leading his team to a 21–8 record. In his junior season, he averaged 25 points per game and won the Division 2AA championship. As a senior, Christopher was joined by Dior Johnson, one of the highest-rated sophomores in the country. He averaged 29.2 points, 8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3.1 steals per game, leading his team to the CIF Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals. Christopher was selected to play in the McDonald's All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoop Summit, but all three games were canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Recruiting
Christopher was a consensus five-star recruit and the number two shooting guard in the 2020 recruiting class. On April 13, 2020, he announced his commitment to Arizona State over Michigan, USC, Missouri and UCLA. His brother, Caleb, had served one year there as well. As such, Christopher became Arizona State's highest-ranked recruit in the modern recruiting era and the program's first five-star recruit since James Harden in 2007.
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Christopher SG | Carson, CA | Mayfair (CA) | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | Apr 13, 2020 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 95 | ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: 12 247Sports: 8 ESPN: 11 | ||||||
Sources:
| ||||||
College career
On November 26, 2020, Christopher scored a career-high 28 points for Arizona State in an 83–74 loss to third-ranked Villanova. As a freshman, he was limited to 15 games due to injury, and averaged 14.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. On March 31, 2021, Christopher declared for the 2021 NBA draft.
Professional career
Houston Rockets (2021–2023)
Christopher was selected with the 24th pick of the 2021 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets. On August 7, 2021, Christopher signed with the Rockets. He made his official NBA debut on October 20, coming off the bench with five points in eight minutes in a loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves. On November 24, the Rockets assigned Christopher to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. After averaging 20 points in three games with the Vipers, he was recalled by the Rockets. On December 8, Christopher logged 18 points in a 7-of-7 from the field with four three-pointers in a 104–114 win over the Brooklyn Nets. On February 4, 2022, Christopher registered 23 points, four assists and five rebounds in a loss against the San Antonio Spurs. On March 23, he scored 21 points in a 139–130 overtime win against the Los Angeles Lakers. In April, he recorded his first 30-point effort by shooting 11-of-14 from the field, and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, along with three assists and two steals in a home loss against the Timberwolves.
Christopher fell out of the rotation in the 2022-2023 season, not coming off the bench in several games. His minutes and numbers decreased as the Rockets used Daishen Nix as the point guard for the second unit.
On July 8, 2023, the Memphis Grizzlies acquired Christopher from the Houston Rockets for Dillon Brooks (via sign-and-trade) in a five-team deal. However, he was waived on September 30.
Salt Lake City Stars (2023–2024)
On October 13, 2023, Christopher signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz, but was waived on January 9, 2024, without playing for the team. However, he made 22 appearances with the Jazz's G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars.
Miami Heat / Sioux Falls Skyforce (2024–present)
On January 14, 2024, Christopher joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce and on July 25, he signed a two-way contract with the Miami Heat.
Career statistics
NBA
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | Houston | 74 | 2 | 18.0 | .448 | .296 | .735 | 2.5 | 2.0 | .8 | .2 | 7.9 |
| 2022–23 | Houston | 64 | 2 | 12.3 | .465 | .236 | .750 | 1.1 | 1.0 | .5 | .2 | 5.8 |
| Career | 138 | 4 | 15.4 | .455 | .277 | .740 | 1.9 | 1.6 | .7 | .2 | 6.9 | |
College
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | Arizona State | 15 | 15 | 29.7 | .432 | .305 | .800 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 1.5 | .5 | 14.3 |
Personal life
Christopher is the youngest of four siblings, all of whom have played basketball. His brother, Patrick, played professionally, including a brief stint with the Utah Jazz of the NBA. Patrick's godbrother is former NBA player Tayshaun Prince. Christopher's sister, Paris, played college basketball for Saint Mary's but suffered a career-ending injury as a freshman. His brother, Caleb, was a player for both Arizona State University and Tennessee Tech, but is now at Hope International University. Christopher's father, Laron, is a musician. His parents are devout Christians. Christopher is often known as "Jaygup," a nickname created in his childhood.
