Joey Baker Bio
Joseph William Baker (born September 13, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Joondalup Wolves of the NBL1 West in Australia. He plays the small forward and shooting guard positions, stands 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) tall, and weighs 205 lb (93 kg). Baker is best known for his college career with the Duke Blue Devils and the Michigan Wolverines, and for being a four-star high school recruit from North Carolina.
After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, Baker began his professional career in Europe with Pieno žvaigždės Pasvalys in Lithuania, then moved to the NBA G League with the Grand Rapids Gold, before signing with the Joondalup Wolves in March 2025.
Early Life and Background
Joseph William Baker was born on September 13, 2000, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in the United States. He grew up in a supportive household shaped by service and education. His father, Michael Baker, served in the United States Army, while his mother, Jennifer Baker, works as a Special Education teacher.
That family background gave Baker a steady foundation as he developed an early interest in basketball. He attended Trinity Christian School in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he played for the school’s basketball program and built the skills that would later make him a nationally recognized recruit.
Path to Basketball
Baker emerged as a top-level high school prospect during his time at Trinity Christian School. He was rated a four-star recruit and was ranked the number 3 player in the state of North Carolina by ESPN. He was also ranked the No. 41 overall recruit in the class of 2018 after reclassifying from the 2019 class.
On October 29, 2017, Baker committed to playing college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils, choosing the program over offers from Kansas, Tennessee, and UCLA. He joined a star-studded Duke recruiting class that included future NBA players RJ Barrett, Cam Reddish, and Zion Williamson, marking the start of his path toward national-level competition.
Joey Baker Career
Early Career (2018–2023)
Baker played his first four college seasons at Duke University from 2018 to 2022. As a freshman, he was originally set to redshirt the entire 2018–19 season before head coach Mike Krzyzewski inserted him into a game against Syracuse on February 23, 2019, to replace the injured Zion Williamson. On December 19, 2019, he scored a then-career-high 22 points against the Wofford Terriers, and as a junior he appeared in 23 games while averaging 2.9 points and 1.2 rebounds per game. On October 11, 2021, he was named team captain alongside Wendell Moore Jr. for the 2021–22 season, and he graduated from Duke on May 8, 2022, with an undergraduate degree in Political Science.
On June 18, 2022, Baker transferred to the University of Michigan as a graduate transfer to use his final year of eligibility. After offseason hip surgery, he returned to the floor and celebrated senior night with the 2022–23 Michigan Wolverines on February 26 against Wisconsin. In the opening round of the 2023 National Invitation Tournament, he posted season-highs of 21 points, eight made field goals, and five made three-pointers on 8-of-11 shooting against Toledo on March 14, 2023. He later decided to hire an agent and pursue professional basketball.
Duke Blue Devils Breakthrough (2018–2022)
Baker’s most memorable college moment came during the 2018–19 season, when he was unexpectedly called on to fill in for the injured Zion Williamson. That experience marked his arrival as a contributor on one of the most talked-about teams in college basketball. His scoring high of 22 points against Wofford in December 2019 showed what he could do when given minutes.
By his senior season in 2021–22, Baker had grown into a leadership role at Duke, serving as team captain. He averaged 4.5 points and 1.2 rebounds per game that year and closed his time at Duke by earning his Political Science degree in May 2022. His growth from a planned redshirt to a team captain reflected his steady development within the Blue Devils program.
Michigan Wolverines Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Baker joined the Michigan Wolverines in June 2022 for his final year of college eligibility. After recovering from offseason hip surgery, he carved out a role in the rotation and provided key scoring in the postseason. His 21-point performance against Toledo in the 2023 NIT opener was a season-defining outing and a strong final college statement before turning professional.
Joondalup Wolves Era (2025–Present)
In March 2025, Baker signed with the Joondalup Wolves of the NBL1 West in Australia for the 2025 season. The move marked a new chapter in his professional career, taking him to a semi-professional league in Western Australia after stints in Lithuania and the NBA G League. He continues to play the small forward and shooting guard positions for the Wolves.
Driving Style and Strengths
Baker is a perimeter-oriented wing listed at 6 ft 7 in with the size to play both small forward and shooting guard. His offensive game has leaned on outside shooting, highlighted by his career-best 8-of-11 shooting performance against Toledo in 2023, when he made five three-pointers. His ability to space the floor and step into a starting role when called upon has been a defining part of his career path.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Baker’s signature moments are his unexpected debut in place of the injured Zion Williamson at Duke in February 2019, his team captaincy at Duke in 2021–22, and his 21-point outburst against Toledo in the 2023 NIT. His first professional contract with Pieno žvaigždės Pasvalys in September 2023 and his signing with the Joondalup Wolves in March 2025 also stand out as key career milestones.
Joey Baker Career Wins
Joey Baker’s professional career has been built more on steady contributions and team movement than on headline win totals. Across stops in Lithuania, the NBA G League, and Australia, he has appeared in regular-season games for Pieno žvaigždės Pasvalys, the Grand Rapids Gold, and the Joondalup Wolves.
NBL1 West Highlights
Baker joined the Joondalup Wolves of the NBL1 West in March 2025 for the 2025 season. Detailed win totals from the NBL1 West are not clearly documented in the available sources, and specific individual win figures have been omitted to avoid speculation.
Other Wins and Performances
Baker appeared in 14 games for Pieno žvaigždės Pasvalys of the Lithuanian Basketball League in 2023–24, averaging 5.4 points per game before leaving the team in February 2024. He then joined the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League, averaging 4.6 points and 1.4 rebounds in nine games in 2023–24, and 3.9 points and 1.2 rebounds in 19 games during the 2024–25 season.
Joey Baker Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Joey Baker comes from a service-oriented family. His father, Michael Baker, served in the United States Army, while his mother, Jennifer Baker, works as a Special Education teacher. Their support helped shape his path from Fayetteville, North Carolina, to college basketball at Duke and Michigan, and into a professional career that has spanned three countries.
Personal Life
Baker keeps his personal life largely private. He is not publicly known to be married and has no publicly confirmed spouse or children. Public records about his residence and personal relationships beyond his immediate family are not clearly documented in the available sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season is shaping up as a transitional year for Joey Baker. He began 2025 still listed with the Grand Rapids Gold, where he had averaged 3.9 points and 1.2 rebounds over 19 games during the 2024–25 NBA G League season. In March 2025, he signed with the Joondalup Wolves of the NBL1 West in Australia, taking his career to a new league in Western Australia.
Through his time in the NBL1 West, Baker has continued to play a perimeter role for the Joondalup Wolves as a small forward and shooting guard. Specific in-season statistics and playoff positioning for 2025 are not clearly documented in the available sources, and detailed outlook notes have been omitted to avoid speculation.
Looking ahead, Baker’s 2025 campaign offers a chance to showcase his shooting ability in a new environment and to build momentum for future professional opportunities, whether in Australia or elsewhere in the international game.