Alex O’Connell Bio
Alex David O’Connell is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for Alba Berlin of the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) and competes in the FIBA Champions League. Standing 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) and listed at 185 lb (84 kg), he plays the shooting guard position and wears jersey number 3 for Alba Berlin. After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, O’Connell has built his professional career through the NBA G League and European basketball.
Born on June 2, 1999, in Baltimore, Maryland, O’Connell grew up in Milton, Georgia, where he developed into a highly rated college prospect. He played NCAA Division I basketball for the Duke Blue Devils and the Creighton Bluejays before launching his professional career in 2022.
Early Life and Background
Alex David O’Connell was born on June 2, 1999, in Baltimore, Maryland, and raised in the United States. He later relocated to Milton, Georgia, a community located about 30 miles north of Atlanta, where he attended Milton High School. The move positioned him within one of the most competitive high school basketball regions in the country, and he quickly developed into a standout player for the Milton Eagles.
As a junior at Milton High School, O’Connell averaged 22.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, earning Georgia Class 6A All-State honors. His production drew attention from major college programs, and he was rated as a four-star recruit in the class of 2017. O’Connell comes from a basketball family; his father, David O’Connell, also played college basketball at Duke from 1973 to 1976, giving the younger O’Connell a direct connection to the Blue Devils program.
Path to Basketball
On August 26, 2016, O’Connell committed to Duke over other scholarship offers from Louisville, Syracuse, and UCLA. The decision reflected his family ties to the program through his father and his standing as one of the top shooting guards in his high school class. He enrolled at Duke and joined the Blue Devils for the 2017-18 season, beginning his college career in one of the most storied programs in NCAA basketball.
O’Connell spent three seasons at Duke from 2017 to 2020, gradually increasing his role within the rotation. After his junior year, on April 8, 2020, he announced his decision to transfer, ultimately landing at Creighton, where he finished his college career from 2021 to 2022. His path from a four-star high school recruit to a Division I veteran prepared him for the next step in professional basketball.
Alex O’Connell Career
College Career at Duke (2017-2020)
In his freshman season at Duke, O’Connell averaged 3.3 points and 1.4 rebounds per game while playing behind guard Grayson Allen. As a sophomore on the 2018-19 team, he saw expanded minutes and became a key reserve, raising his averages to 5.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. His development as a role player helped him earn a more consistent spot in the rotation during his time in Durham.
During his junior season at Duke, O’Connell appeared in 29 games and averaged 5.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 40 percent from the field and 27 percent from three-point range. After three seasons with the Blue Devils, he entered the transfer portal and joined Creighton in April 2020, where he would play out his final year of college eligibility.
Creighton Bluejays (2021-2022)
O’Connell’s lone season at Creighton proved to be his most productive year in college basketball. On January 19, 2022, he scored 28 points and added 7 rebounds in an 87-64 win against St. John’s, signaling his emergence as a featured scorer for the Bluejays. He followed that performance with 27 points and 3 rebounds in an 88-77 victory over Georgetown on February 14, 2022.
His scoring outbursts helped establish him as a perimeter threat at the Big East level. O’Connell’s strong senior season positioned him as a professional prospect, and he declared for the 2022 NBA draft following the conclusion of the Creighton campaign.
Stockton Kings (2022-2023)
After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, O’Connell signed with the Sacramento Kings on October 14, 2022, but was waived the next day. He quickly found a landing spot in the NBA G League, joining the Stockton Kings on October 24, 2022. His time with Stockton marked his first full professional season and gave him a chance to adjust to the pace and physicality of pro basketball.
Umana Reyer Venezia (2023-2024)
On July 20, 2023, O’Connell signed with Umana Reyer Venezia of the Lega Basket Serie A, Italy’s top professional basketball league. The move to Europe represented his first overseas opportunity and exposed him to a higher level of tactical, team-oriented basketball. He spent the 2023-2024 campaign with the Italian club, further developing his game against experienced international competition.
Westchester Knicks (2024-2025)
On October 2, 2024, O’Connell signed with the New York Knicks of the NBA, but was waived on October 9. He then joined the Westchester Knicks, the Knicks’ G League affiliate, on October 28, 2024. During the 2024-2025 season, O’Connell was part of the team that won the NBA G League Winter Showcase in 2024, one of the most prestigious in-season events on the G League calendar.
Alba Berlin Era (2025-Present)
On November 5, 2025, O’Connell signed with Alba Berlin of the Basketball Bundesliga, taking another step forward in his European career. Alba Berlin competes in both the German BBL and the FIBA Champions League, giving O’Connell a chance to play high-level competition on multiple fronts. Wearing jersey number 3, he joined a program with a strong tradition in German and European basketball.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among O’Connell’s career highlights, the 2024 NBA G League Winter Showcase championship stands out as a signature team achievement. His transition from undrafted rookie to champion in the G League and then to a starter on a EuroLeague-level roster in Germany reflects a steady upward trajectory in professional basketball.
Alex O’Connell Career Highlights
Across his college and professional career, O’Connell has produced several memorable performances. His 28-point game against St. John’s on January 19, 2022, and his 27-point outing against Georgetown on February 14, 2022, both came during his senior season at Creighton and remain among his most notable scoring displays.
Professional Highlights
In the professional ranks, O’Connell has competed in the NBA G League with the Stockton Kings and the Westchester Knicks, in the Lega Basket Serie A with Umana Reyer Venezia, and now in the German Basketball Bundesliga with Alba Berlin. His 2024 NBA G League Winter Showcase title with the Westchester Knicks is his most prominent team accomplishment to date, and his move to Alba Berlin in 2025 marks his most significant European opportunity.
Alex O’Connell Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
O’Connell’s father, David O’Connell, played college basketball at Duke from 1973 to 1976, giving the family a direct connection to one of the most decorated programs in NCAA history. This lineage helped shape O’Connell’s path to the Blue Devils and contributed to his decision to commit to Duke in 2016.
Personal Life
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, O’Connell was raised in Milton, Georgia, where he attended Milton High School. He is an American citizen by birth and has spent his early professional years moving between the United States and Europe, most recently settling with Alba Berlin in Germany.
2025 Season Performance
O’Connell’s 2025 calendar year has been defined by change and progression. He opened the year finishing the 2024-2025 season with the Westchester Knicks, capping the campaign with an NBA G League Winter Showcase title in 2024. That success provided momentum heading into the next phase of his career.
Following the conclusion of his G League season, O’Connell signed with Alba Berlin of the Basketball Bundesliga on November 5, 2025. The move places him in one of Europe’s most competitive domestic leagues and on a roster that also competes in the FIBA Champions League, giving him a broader stage to showcase his shooting and scoring ability.
With Alba Berlin, O’Connell is expected to contribute as a perimeter scorer and shooting guard. His blend of size, three-point shooting, and experience across multiple professional leagues gives him a clear role within the team as the 2025-2026 season unfolds in Germany and across the Champions League schedule.