Freddie Gillespie

Frederick Gillespie (born June 14, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for Bayern Munich of the German Basketball Bundesliga and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the Carleton Knights and the Baylor Bears.

Freddie Gillespie
Gillespie with Munich in November 2022
No. 33 – FC Bayern Munich
PositionCenter
LeagueBasketball Bundesliga
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1997-06-14) June 14, 1997
Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High schoolEast Ridge
(Woodbury, Minnesota)
College
NBA draft2020: undrafted
Playing career2020–present
Career history
2021Memphis Hustle
2021Toronto Raptors
2021Memphis Hustle
2021–2022Orlando Magic
2022Memphis Hustle
2022–2023Bayern Munich
Career highlights and awards
  • German Cup winner (2023)
  • Big 12 Most Improved Player (2020)
  • Second-team All-Big 12 (2020)
  • Big 12 All-Defensive Team (2020)
  • Second-team All-MIAC (2017)
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

Early life and high school career

Gillespie grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota and played football growing up until trying basketball in eighth grade.[1] He entered East Ridge High School at 5'11" and did not play basketball his freshman year, after breaking his ankle on the first day of team tryouts.[2] He grew to 6'4" by the time he was a sophomore, and subsequently played on the junior varsity team. Gillespie played varsity ball as a junior but tore his ACL late in the season, causing him to miss the summer AAU circuit.[3] He finally returned to the court healthy in his senior season, although Gillespie did not receive any all-conference honors.[1] After receiving no Division I or II scholarship offers, Gillespie opted to attend Division III Carleton College.[4]

College career
Gillespie playing for Baylor in 2019

Gillespie started his collegiate career at Division III Carleton College, choosing the school due to its academic pedigree. He played only 16 total minutes in his true freshman season despite being, in his words, “the most athletic, biggest guy in that whole conference." As a sophomore, Gillespie averaged 10.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game, shooting 53.2 percent from the field. He was named second-team All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.[5] Following the season, he decided to attempt to transfer to a Division I program. A friend of Gillespie's mother, former Minnesota player and assistant coach Al Nuness, was able to put him in contact with Baylor coach Scott Drew through his son, Jared Nuness, a member of the Baylor coaching staff.[6]

Gillespie joined the Baylor basketball team as a walk-on, sitting out a year due to NCAA transfer rules and then earning a scholarship.[7] As a redshirt junior, he averaged 5.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in 26 games played.[2] On December 9, 2019, Gillespie was named Big 12 Player of the Week after contributing 17 points, 13 rebounds, and five blocks in a win over Arizona.[8] At the conclusion of the regular season, Gillespie was named Big 12 Most Improved Player, Second Team All-Big 12 and to the All-Defensive Team after averaging 9.6 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.[9][10]

Professional career

Memphis Hustle (2021)

After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft, Gillespie signed a training camp contract with the Dallas Mavericks,[11] but didn't make the final roster.[12]

On January 11, 2021, the Memphis Hustle selected Gillespie with the 2nd pick overall in the 2020–2021 NBA G League draft.[13] In 15 games, he averaged 10.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 27.8 minutes while shooting .570 from the field and recording six double-doubles.[14]

Toronto Raptors (2021)

On April 8, 2021, Gillespie signed a 10-day contract with the Toronto Raptors.[14] Two days later, he made his debut with the Raptors, recording six points, four rebounds, one assist, three steals and one block in 18 minutes during a 135–115 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.[15] On April 14, in a 122–117 win over the San Antonio Spurs, he scored 9 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and recorded 2 blocks, all career-highs.[16] Two days later, he reached a new career-high of 10 points, with seven rebounds, in a 113–102 win against the Orlando Magic.[17] On April 18, Gillespie signed a second 10-day contract[18] and tied his career-high with 10 points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal, going a perfect 4 of 4 from the field in a 112–106 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder.[19] Three days later, he had four points, five rebounds, and a career-high five blocks in a 114–103 win against the Brooklyn Nets.[20] On April 28, Gillespie signed for the remainder of the season.[21] He was represented by sports agency Beyond Athlete Management. On May 2, 2021, Gillespie had a new career-high of 11 points, with seven rebounds and one steal, in a 121–114 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.[22]

On October 13, 2021, Gillespie was waived by the Raptors.[23]

Return to the Hustle (2021)

On October 23, 2021, Gillespie re-signed with the Memphis Hustle.[24] In 12 games, he averaged 11.4 points, 12.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 2.75 blocks and 1.17 steals in 33.2 minutes per game, leading the team in rebounding and leading the entire league in blocked shots.[25]

Orlando Magic (2021–2022)

On December 21, 2021, Gillespie signed a 10-day contract with the Orlando Magic.[25] He signed a second 10-day contract with the team on December 31.[26]

Third stint with the Memphis Hustle (2022)

On January 10, 2022, Gillespie was reacquired and activated by the Memphis Hustle.[27]

Bayern Munich (2022–present)

On July 25, 2022, he has signed with Bayern Munich of the Basketball Bundesliga.[28]

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

Regular season
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 Toronto 20219.6.524—.6974.9.5.71.05.6
2021–22 Orlando 9213.2.409.000.4294.0.6.31.02.3
Career 29417.6.500.000.6504.6.5.61.04.6

NCAA Division I
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 Baylor Redshirt Redshirt
2018–19 Baylor 261118.3.652–.5314.4.3.71.15.3
2019–20 Baylor 303028.4.550–.6849.0.51.12.29.6
Career 564123.7.582–.6466.9.4.91.77.6

NCAA Division III
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2015–16 Carleton 404.0.500–.2501.8.3.3.51.0
2016–17 Carleton 272322.8.532–.5838.3.8.62.610.0
Career 312320.4.532–.5447.5.7.52.38.8

References
  1. Frederick, Jace (January 17, 2020). "Late-blooming Freddie Gillespie goes from East Ridge role player to Baylor beast". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  2. Fuller, Marcus (January 17, 2020). "Surprise, surprise: Freddie Gillespie's leap from low-level hoops to Final Four dreams". Star Tribune. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  3. Werner, John (February 15, 2019). "Gillespie makes big leap, major impact for Baylor men". Waco Tribune-Herald. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  4. Heyen, Billy (March 20, 2019). "'No idea this would happen': Freddie Gillespie's rise from a D-III player to an important Baylor big". The Daily Orange. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  5. Hines, Travis (November 8, 2019). "'I had no idea I'd end up being here': Freddie Gillespie's path from Division III to Baylor starter". NBCSports.com. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  6. Eisenberg, Jeff (June 8, 2017). "Late-blooming big man attempts to make the leap from Division III to Baylor". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  7. "Baylor walk-on Gillespie gets men's basketball scholarship". Waco Tribune-Herald. May 17, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  8. "First Time Honorees Receive Men's Basketball Awards". Big 12 Conference. December 9, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  9. "Men's Basketball All-Big 12 Awards Announced". Big 12 Conference (Press release). March 8, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  10. "This year, Minnesotans took over college basketball. Here's our best of the best". St. Paul Pioneer Press. March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  11. "Mavericks sign eight, including Barea, Iwundu, Burke". Mavs.com. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  12. Sefko, Eddie (December 19, 2020). "Mavericks briefs: These players are 'dumb and dumber,' plus roster is set". Mavs.com. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  13. "NBA G League 2020–21 Draft Results". NBA.com. January 11, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  14. Jamshidi, Soheil (April 8, 2021). "Raptors Sign Gillespie To 10-Day Contract". NBA.com. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  15. "Trent scores career-high 44, Raptors rout Cavaliers 135–115". ESPN.com. April 10, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  16. "Anunoby, Siakam rally Raptors past Spurs 117–112". ESPN.com. April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  17. "Watson, Watanabe lead Raptors past Magic, 113-02". ESPN.com. April 16, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  18. Jamshidi, Soheil (April 18, 2021). "Raptors Sign Gillespie To A Second 10-day Contract". NBA.com. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  19. "Boucher, Raptors hand Thunder 10th straight loss, 112–106". ESPN.com. April 18, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  20. "Raptors ride strong 3rd quarter to 114–103 win over Nets". ESPN.com. April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  21. Jamshidi, Soheil (April 28, 2021). "Raptors Sign Gillespie". NBA.com. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  22. Greenspan, Dan (May 3, 2021). "Lowry leads depleted Raptors past Lakers; LeBron exits early". TheStar.com. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  23. "Raptors Waive Gillespie and Perry". NBA.com. October 13, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  24. Moore, Corey (October 23, 2021). "Memphis Hustle announce 2021–22 training camp roster". NBA.com. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  25. "Orlando Magic Sign Tim Frazier and Freddie Gillespie to 10-Day Contracts". NBA.com. December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  26. "Orlando Magic Sign Tim Frazier and Freddie Gillespie to Second 10-Day Contracts". NBA.com. December 31, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  27. "2021–22 NBA G League transactions". gleague.nba.com. January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  28. Maggi, Alessandro (July 25, 2022). "Bayern Basketball officially signs Freddie Gillespie". Sportando. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
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