Doug McDermott Bio
Douglas Richard McDermott (born January 3, 1992) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) small forward listed at 225 lb (102 kg), McDermott is known for his outside shooting and has built a long professional career as a role-playing scorer and reliable perimeter threat. He first gained national fame as a college star at Creighton University, where he became one of the most decorated players in NCAA history.
McDermott was a three-time consensus first-team All-American and the consensus national player of the year as a senior in 2014, finishing his college career with 3,150 points, the fifth-most in NCAA Division I men’s basketball history. Since being drafted in 2014, he has played for the Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs, in addition to the Sacramento Kings.
Early Life and Background
Douglas Richard McDermott was born on January 3, 1992, in Grand Forks, North Dakota, where his father, Greg McDermott, was working as an assistant coach with the University of North Dakota men’s basketball team. Growing up in a basketball family gave McDermott an early and constant introduction to the sport, and his father’s career eventually moved the family to Ames, Iowa, where he took the helm at Iowa State University.
McDermott attended Ames High School in Ames, Iowa, where he played alongside future NBA star Harrison Barnes. The duo led the program on a 53-game winning streak through their junior and senior seasons and won back-to-back Iowa state titles. As a senior, McDermott averaged 20.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game and was named first team All-State. He was rated as a three-star recruit and the No. 28 small forward in the nation in the 2010 class.
Path to Basketball
McDermott originally signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Northern Iowa, but when his father left Iowa State to become the head coach at Creighton, he was released from his commitment and followed his father to the Creighton Bluejays. The family connection gave him a smooth transition into the college game and placed him under the guidance of a familiar, trusted coach.
He quickly made his mark in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), setting the conference record for points by a freshman with 581 points in 2010-11 and earning conference freshman and newcomer of the year honors. After his freshman season, McDermott was selected to the United States team that competed at the 2011 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in Riga, Latvia, where he averaged 11.3 points and 6.1 rebounds across nine games and helped the U.S. finish fifth.
Doug McDermott Career
Early Career (2010-2014)
McDermott’s college career at Creighton unfolded across one of the most decorated runs in program history. As a sophomore in 2011-12, he averaged 22.9 points per game, the third-best mark in the nation, while setting single-season school records for points (801) and three-point shooting accuracy (48.6 percent). He was named a first-team All-American by The Associated Press and became the first Creighton player to earn NABC first-team All-America honors.
His junior season in 2012-13 saw him lead the nation in total points scored and finish second in scoring average, while setting school records for points in a single season and in a career. After initially considering the 2013 NBA Draft, McDermott returned for his senior year and led the nation in scoring at 26.7 points per game. He scored a career-high 45 points on Senior Night against Providence, passed the 3,000-point mark, and became one of only three players in NCAA men’s basketball history to record 3,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
Creighton Bluejays Highlights (2010-2014)
McDermott’s senior year cemented his place among the all-time greats. He won the Big East Player of the Year in Creighton’s first season in the conference, was named a first-team All-American for the third straight year, and swept every major national player of the year award, including the Wooden, Naismith, AP, NABC, USBWA, and Sporting News honors. He also set an NCAA record by scoring in double figures in 135 consecutive games and finished fifth on the all-time Division I scoring list, ahead of Hall of Famer Larry Bird. Creighton retired his No. 3 jersey in recognition of his impact on the program.
Chicago Bulls Era (2014-2017)
McDermott was selected 11th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets and was traded on draft night to the Chicago Bulls. After a strong summer league showing, he signed his rookie contract and made his NBA debut on October 29, 2014, scoring 12 points in a win over the New York Knicks. His rookie season was interrupted by a knee injury that required surgery in December 2014.
Under new head coach Fred Hoiberg in 2015-16, McDermott emerged as a scoring weapon off the bench. He set a then-career high with 30 points against the Toronto Raptors in February 2016, then posted three straight 20-point games a month later, tying his career best with five three-pointers against the Brooklyn Nets. In January 2017, he recorded his first career double-double with 17 points and a career-high 10 rebounds against the Toronto Raptors, followed by a career-high 31 points in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Oklahoma City Thunder (2017)
On February 23, 2017, McDermott was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of a deal that also sent Taj Gibson to OKC. He finished the 2016-17 season as a rotation player in OKC’s contending lineup, and his best night came on March 18, 2017, when he went 8 of 9 from the field and 4 of 5 from three-point range for 21 points in a win over the Sacramento Kings.
New York Knicks (2017-2018)
McDermott was moved again on September 25, 2017, when he was sent to the New York Knicks as part of the Carmelo Anthony trade, along with Enes Kanter. He made his Knicks debut in the 2017-18 season opener on October 19, 2017, finishing with four points in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Dallas Mavericks (2018)
On February 8, 2018, McDermott was acquired by the Dallas Mavericks in a three-team trade involving the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets. He scored eight points in his Mavericks debut two days later in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers. He received a qualifying offer from Dallas in June 2018, but the offer was later withdrawn.
Indiana Pacers Era (2018-2021)
McDermott signed a three-year, $22 million contract with the Indiana Pacers on July 6, 2018, settling into a four-season run in Indianapolis. He set a season high with 21 points in a November 2018 win over the Utah Jazz, and on May 1, 2021, he tied his career high of 31 points and hit a season-best six three-pointers in a 152-95 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
San Antonio Spurs (2021-2024)
On August 8, 2021, McDermott joined the San Antonio Spurs in a sign-and-trade deal that brought him a three-year, $42 million contract. His time in San Antonio was cut short in March 2022 when a right ankle injury was diagnosed as a grade 3 sprain, forcing him to miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season.
Sacramento Kings Era (2024-Present)
On February 8, 2024, McDermott was traded back to the Indiana Pacers as part of a three-team deal that sent Buddy Hield to the Philadelphia 76ers. He later signed with the Sacramento Kings on October 16, 2024, and on July 21, 2025, he re-signed with the Kings on a one-year, $3.6 million contract to remain in Sacramento.
Driving Style and Strengths
McDermott is regarded around the league as one of the most reliable perimeter shooters of his generation, a 6-7 forward whose stroke from beyond the arc has been the foundation of his offensive game. He is comfortable playing off screens, spotting up from the corner, and stretching defenses as a small-ball four, and he has carved out a long career as a shooter-first role player who spaces the floor for bigger names around him.
Notable Events and Milestones
McDermott’s career has been punctuated by several memorable scoring nights, including a 45-point Senior Night explosion for Creighton against Providence, a 31-point outburst for the Chicago Bulls against the Memphis Grizzlies, and a matching 31-point performance for the Indiana Pacers against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He is the only Creighton player to be honored on the NABC first-team All-America squad, and his No. 3 jersey was retired by the Bluejays.
Doug McDermott Career Wins
Across more than a decade of professional basketball, Doug McDermott has built a reputation as a steady, high-volume shooter who has reached the NBA postseason multiple times. He has appeared in playoff action with the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, and Sacramento Kings, and his scoring outbursts have delivered several of the most memorable single-game performances of his career.
NBA Highlights
McDermott has reached the postseason with multiple franchises and posted signature performances along the way. He went for 30 points off the bench against the Toronto Raptors in February 2016, scored 31 points against the Memphis Grizzlies in January 2017, and matched that career high of 31 points in 2021 for the Indiana Pacers against the Oklahoma City Thunder. After joining the Sacramento Kings in 2024, he re-signed with the franchise in July 2025 to continue his role as a veteran shooter.
Other Wins and Performances
On the international stage, McDermott represented the United States at the 2011 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in Riga, Latvia, starting all nine games and helping the Americans to a fifth-place finish. In 2014, he was also named to the USA Select Team, further cementing his standing within the USA Basketball pipeline.
Doug McDermott Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
McDermott is the son of longtime college coach Greg McDermott, who has served as the head coach of the Creighton Bluejays men’s basketball program. Being raised by a coach shaped McDermott’s understanding of the game from an early age, and the two have shared a close professional relationship, including four seasons together at Creighton.
Personal Life
McDermott was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and later moved with his family to Ames, Iowa, where he attended Ames High School and starred alongside Harrison Barnes. Public details about his personal relationships have not been widely reported.
2025 Season Performance
Doug McDermott returned to the Sacramento Kings for the 2025-26 season after re-signing with the club on July 21, 2025, on a one-year, $3.6 million contract. He remains a key part of the Kings’ bench unit, providing veteran spacing and outside shooting on a roster that features multiple young scorers.
As a 6-7 small forward in his 11th NBA season, McDermott continues to focus on what has defined his career: efficient perimeter shooting, smart off-ball movement, and steady production in limited minutes. His experience and professionalism make him a valuable locker-room presence as Sacramento looks to remain competitive in a crowded Western Conference.
Looking ahead through the rest of 2025, McDermott’s role with the Kings is expected to stay consistent, serving as a high-IQ shooter who can swing a game with a quick burst of three-point shooting. With his contract running through the 2025-26 season, he is positioned to continue contributing for Sacramento while mentoring younger teammates in the fold.
