Jerami Grant Bio
Jerami Grant is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall, he plays the power forward and small forward positions and is known for his scoring ability and versatile game. A 2014 second-round draft pick, Grant has built a long NBA career across four franchises and represented the United States at the Olympics.
Born in Portland, Oregon, Grant comes from one of basketball’s most well-known families. He is the son of former NBA player Harvey Grant and Beverly Grant, and his relatives include several professional and collegiate players. In May 2024, he became a minority owner of D.C. United of Major League Soccer.
Early Life and Background
Jerami Grant was born on March 12, 1994, in Portland, Oregon. He grew up in a basketball household as the son of Harvey Grant, a former NBA forward who played for the Chicago Bulls, Washington Bullets, and Dallas Mavericks, and Beverly Grant. His uncle, Horace Grant, is a four-time NBA champion known for his years with the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers, and his brothers Jerai, Jerian, and Jaelin have all played the sport at high levels.
Grant attended DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, a program with a deep tradition of producing college and professional talent. As a senior in 2011–12, he averaged 12.5 points across 23 games and was ranked the No. 11 power forward and No. 37 overall player in the 2012 recruiting class by ESPN. He played his high school basketball in the same region as his father and uncle once did, building on the family’s athletic foundation.
Path to Basketball
After graduating from DeMatha Catholic, Grant committed to Syracuse University, where he joined a competitive Atlantic Coast Conference program. In his lone season of major college action in 2013–14, he averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 31.4 minutes per game while shooting 49.6 percent from the floor. He scored in double figures in 24 of 32 games, posted 19 points three times, and earned 2014 All-ACC Honorable Mention recognition.
In April 2014, Grant declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his final two years of college eligibility. His time at Syracuse prepared him for the next level, where he would need to adjust from playing as a guard to a small forward and later a power forward. That positional flexibility became a defining part of his early professional identity.
Jerami Grant Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
On June 26, 2014, Jerami Grant was selected with the 39th overall pick in the second round of the 2014 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. He signed a four-year contract with the franchise in September 2014 and joined the team for the 2014 NBA Summer League. As a rookie, he showed flashes of defensive potential, recording eight blocks in a January 2015 loss to the New York Knicks, the most by a 76er since Samuel Dalembert in 2007.
In his second season in Philadelphia, Grant took on a larger role. He recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in a November 2015 loss to the Toronto Raptors, and he posted 16 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks in a December 2015 win over the Sacramento Kings. He played two seasons with the 76ers before being traded in November 2016.
Oklahoma City Thunder Breakthrough (2016–2019)
On November 1, 2016, Jerami Grant was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a deal that sent Ersan İlyasova and a protected draft pick to Philadelphia. He debuted the next day against the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring six points with two rebounds and two blocks off the bench in 18 minutes. He settled into a reserve role and continued to develop his perimeter game alongside stars Russell Westbrook and Paul George.
Grant’s role grew steadily in Oklahoma City, and in July 2018 he re-signed with the Thunder on a three-year, $27 million contract. By the 2018–19 season, he was a regular starter and began setting new scoring marks, including 25 points and 12 rebounds in a January 2019 double-overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs, 27 points against the Miami Heat in March 2019, and a then-career-high 28 points in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks. His three seasons in Oklahoma City established him as a dependable two-way forward.
Denver Nuggets Era (2019–2020)
On July 8, 2019, Grant was traded to the Denver Nuggets for a 2020 first-round pick. With the Nuggets, he embraced a sixth-man role and posted a then-career-high 29 points in a February 2020 win over the Detroit Pistons. He became a key piece of Denver’s playoff rotation and helped the team reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time in a decade.
Grant produced some of his most memorable postseason moments with the Nuggets. In the 2020 second-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers, he outscored Paul George 14 to 10 in a Game 7 win while playing nine fewer minutes. He scored 26 points in a Game 3 victory in the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers and averaged 11.6 points and 3.3 rebounds across the playoffs. Denver ultimately fell to the Lakers in five games.
Detroit Pistons Era (2020–2022)
On November 22, 2020, Grant signed a three-year, $60 million contract with the Detroit Pistons through a sign-and-trade arrangement with Denver. In his first season with the Pistons, he emerged as a primary scoring option and set a then-career high with 43 points in a February 2021 loss to the Chicago Bulls. He finished the season as a finalist for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, placing second behind Julius Randle while averaging a career high in points per game.
The following season was more difficult, as a right thumb injury suffered in December 2021 required surgery and forced him to miss at least six weeks. A calf strain later ended his 2021–22 campaign in March 2022, limiting his time on the court. Despite the setbacks, his contract and statistical leap in Detroit established him as one of the league’s most improved wings.
Portland Trail Blazers Era (2022–Present)
On July 6, 2022, Grant was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers along with the draft rights to Ismaël Kamagate. He quickly became a central figure in the Blazers’ rotation, scoring 16 points with a game-winning layup in a 106–104 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in October 2022, and hitting a game-winning jumper in a 108–106 victory over the Phoenix Suns in November 2022. He set a then-career high with 44 points in an overtime win over the New York Knicks on November 25, 2022.
On July 9, 2023, Grant re-signed with the Blazers on a five-year, $160 million contract, signaling his long-term importance to the franchise. On February 8, 2024, he scored a career-high 49 points in a 128–122 loss to the Detroit Pistons, his former team. His Portland tenure has been defined by late-game shot-making and steady scoring output.
Driving Style and Strengths
Grant is known for his ability to score from multiple spots on the floor, including three-point shooting, mid-range pull-ups, and drives to the basket. His length and athleticism allow him to defend multiple positions, and his positional versatility has been a major asset for every team he has joined.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights of Grant’s career include his 2020 Olympic gold medal with Team USA in Tokyo, his 2018–19 Most Improved Player finalist run with Detroit, and multiple game-winning shots in Portland. He has set new career scoring highs in nearly every stop along his journey from Philadelphia to Portland.
Jerami Grant Career Wins
Jerami Grant has collected a range of team and individual achievements across his NBA career. His most celebrated honor came on the international stage, where he helped the United States win gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He has also been recognized at the conference and individual levels for his steady improvement.
NBA Highlights
Grant’s NBA resume features steady production rather than a deep individual trophy case, but he earned a 2014 All-ACC Honorable Mention at Syracuse and was a finalist for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award after the 2020–21 season with the Detroit Pistons. He has set several career-high scoring marks in Portland, including 49 points in February 2024, and he contributed to a Western Conference Finals run with the Denver Nuggets in 2020.
Other Wins and Performances
At the international level, Grant won a gold medal with the 2020 U.S. Olympic team in Tokyo. Earlier, as a teenager, he represented the United States at the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship in Brazil, an experience that helped shape his transition to college basketball at Syracuse.
Jerami Grant Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jerami Grant is the son of Beverly Grant and Harvey Grant, a former NBA forward who played 11 seasons in the league. He has three brothers, Jerai, Jerian, and Jaelin, two of whom have also played professional basketball. His uncle, Horace Grant, played college basketball at Clemson and won four NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Personal Life
Grant is a native of Portland, Oregon, though he spent much of his youth in the Washington, D.C., area while attending DeMatha Catholic High School. In May 2024, he expanded his footprint in professional sports by becoming a minority owner of D.C. United of Major League Soccer. He continues to be recognized as a member of one of basketball’s most prominent family trees.
2025 Season Performance
Jerami Grant enters the 2025 NBA season as a featured scorer and veteran leader for the Portland Trail Blazers following his five-year, $160 million extension signed in July 2023. Coming off a 49-point career high set in February 2024, he is expected to remain the focal point of the team’s offense and a primary option in clutch situations. His ability to create his own shot continues to be a defining part of Portland’s half-court identity.
The Blazers are in the midst of a roster rebuild, and Grant’s experience will be central to mentoring younger teammates while the team evaluates its long-term direction. He is likely to be called upon as a leader in the locker room and on the court, providing a steady presence during another season of transition. His combination of scoring versatility and defensive flexibility gives Portland a reliable building block around younger talent.
Looking ahead, Grant’s outlook in 2025 depends on his health and his ability to maintain the perimeter shooting and driving efficiency that defined his breakout in Detroit and his early Portland years. If he stays consistent, he is positioned to reach further scoring milestones and remain a go-to option for the Blazers as the franchise charts its next competitive phase.
