NBA champion Trey Jemison III, a center who just celebrated a title with the New York Knicks, is heading north, agreeing to a two-way deal with the Toronto Raptors. This is a guy who just hoisted the NBA Cup at a ticker-tape parade in New York City after the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs in five games to snag their first championship in 53 years. That’s a legacy moment right there, even if his role was… unique.
From Undrafted Grit to Championship Glory (Sort Of)
Jemison’s journey to being an NBA champ has been a grind, honestly. He went undrafted back in 2023 after a long college run at Clemson and UAB. He popped up first with the Wizards in January 2024 before landing with the Grizzlies, where he actually found a role, averaging 7.4 points and 5.8 rebounds across 23 games down the stretch. But even that wasn’t enough to stick, as he bounced around in 2024-25, splitting 38 games as a depth big with the Pelicans and Lakers on a mix of two-way and 10-day deals. It’s the kind of career that makes you wonder how he even *got* to a championship team.
The Knicks Chapter: Minimal Minutes, Maximum Celebration
When the Knicks called last September, it was for another two-way contract, putting him as the fourth center on their depth chart. He barely saw the floor for New York, logging only 13 games and a grand total of 82 minutes, with 13 points and 18 rebounds. Yeah, you read that right. He did step up on Opening Night due to injuries, but mostly he was holding it down in Westchester, waiting for an opportunity that just never came. His contract kept him out of the playoffs, but he was still front and center for the celebration, hauling the NBA Cup around for the fans. Plus, the dude was the only non-rotation player at the ESPYs. What a wild ride for a guy who barely played!
Now, Jemison is off to Toronto, landing the exact same two-way contract he had with the Knicks. The Raptors’ current center situation? Yikes. With Jakob Poeltl, Colin Murray-Boyles, and Trayce Jackson-Davis, their center rotation might just be the weakest among any team trying to contend. Given that setup, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Jemison get some legitimate, important minutes in Toronto. Maybe this is where he finally carves out that consistent role.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Posting and Toasting.
Leave a Reply