Jordan McLaughlin Bio
Jordan McLaughlin (born April 9, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A point guard listed at 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) and 185 lb (84 kg), he wears jersey number 0 for San Antonio. McLaughlin played college basketball for the USC Trojans, where he earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors as a senior in 2018 before beginning his professional career as an undrafted free agent.
After a season in the NBA G League with the Long Island Nets, McLaughlin joined the Minnesota Timberwolves and spent five seasons developing into a steady backup point guard. He later had a brief stint with the Sacramento Kings before being traded to the San Antonio Spurs in February 2025. Known for his passing and defensive energy, McLaughlin has carved out a long professional career as a reliable reserve guard.
Early Life and Background
Jordan McLaughlin was born on April 9, 1996, in Pasadena, California. He is the son of Thomas McLaughlin, who played minor league baseball, and he has an older sister named Amber. Growing up in Southern California, McLaughlin played multiple sports as a child, including baseball and football, before settling on basketball as his primary focus.
He attended Etiwanda High School in Rancho Cucamonga, California, where he became one of the top point guard prospects in the region. During his high school career, he scored 19 points in the 2013 Chicago Elite Classic, a performance that helped raise his national profile. McLaughlin originally crossed the USC Trojans off his list of college options after observing a former USC coach berate an injured player during a practice, but new head coach Andy Enfield prioritized him after seeing him play in an AAU game.
McLaughlin ultimately committed to USC over scholarship offers from Kansas and UCLA, beginning a four-year run with the Trojans that would shape his development as a lead guard.
Path to Professional Basketball
McLaughlin arrived at USC in 2014 and quickly became the engine of the Trojans offense. In his freshman season, USC won 12 games and McLaughlin averaged 12.1 points and 4.5 assists per game, though a shoulder injury cut his season short. He responded by leading USC to the NCAA Tournament in 2016, averaging 13.4 points per game while shooting 47 percent from the field.
The following year, McLaughlin led USC back to the NCAA Tournament in 2017, posting 12.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. Coming into his senior season, he was named to the preseason Bob Cousy Award Watchlist, an honor given to the country’s top point guards. His four-year body of work at USC cemented his reputation as a pass-first floor general with strong defensive instincts.
Jordan McLaughlin Career
Early Career (2014–2018)
As a senior at the University of Southern California in 2017–18, Jordan McLaughlin averaged 12.8 points, 7.8 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 35.3 minutes per game, while shooting 39.7 percent from three-point range. His 7.8 assists per game ranked third in NCAA Division I, and he became just the third Pac-12 player ever to record more than 600 assists and 1,600 points over a career. Those numbers earned him First Team All-Pac-12 honors, along with All-District IX recognition from the USBWA and First Team All-District 20 honors from the NABC.
Despite that production, McLaughlin went undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft. He signed with the Brooklyn Nets for NBA summer league play, recording seven points and six assists in a summer league loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on July 7, 2018. After being waived by the Nets in October 2018, he joined the Long Island Nets, the organization’s NBA G League affiliate, to begin his professional career.
Minnesota Timberwolves Breakthrough (2019–2024)
On July 20, 2019, Jordan McLaughlin signed a two-way contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, beginning the most significant stretch of his NBA career. During the 2019–20 season he split time between Minnesota and the G League’s Iowa Wolves. On February 8, 2020, he recorded a career-high 24 points and 11 assists in a game against the Los Angeles Clippers, announcing himself as a reliable playmaker off the bench.
After two seasons on a two-way deal, McLaughlin signed a standard NBA contract with the Timberwolves on September 15, 2021. He remained with Minnesota through the 2023–24 season, serving primarily as a backup point guard and developing a reputation for floor vision, on-ball defense and steady decision-making. His five-year run with the Timberwolves gave him the longest tenure of his career and allowed him to grow into a steady veteran presence in a rotation role.
Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs Era (2024–Present)
On July 10, 2024, McLaughlin signed with the Sacramento Kings, joining a deep backcourt rotation in California. His time in Sacramento lasted only a few months. On February 3, 2025, he was traded, alongside De’Aaron Fox, to the San Antonio Spurs in a three-team deal that also involved the Chicago Bulls. In that transaction, Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, three first-round picks and two second-round picks went to the Kings, while Zach Collins, Kevin Huerter, Tre Jones and a 2025 first-round pick were sent to the Bulls.
On July 12, 2025, McLaughlin re-signed with the Spurs on a one-year, $3 million contract, signaling that the organization viewed him as a useful veteran piece heading into the new season. He is expected to continue providing depth at the point guard position for San Antonio.
Playing Style and Strengths
McLaughlin is a pass-first point guard whose game is built on tempo control, court vision and defensive pressure. At 5 ft 11 in, he uses quickness and anticipation to disrupt opposing ball handlers, and his 7.8 assists per game as a college senior hinted at the playmaking instincts that have followed him to the NBA. He has also been a reliable shooter from beyond the arc, knocking down 39.7 percent of his three-point attempts during his senior season at USC.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of McLaughlin’s career are his 2018 First Team All-Pac-12 selection at USC, his career-high 24-point, 11-assist performance against the Los Angeles Clippers in February 2020, and his conversion from a two-way contract to a standard NBA deal with the Timberwolves in 2021. The February 2025 three-team trade that sent him to the Spurs marked one of the most high-profile transactions of his professional career.
Jordan McLaughlin Career Highlights
Although Jordan McLaughlin has not been a regular starter in the NBA, he has built a steady professional career as a backup point guard and was a multi-year contributor for the Minnesota Timberwolves. His greatest individual recognition to date came at the college level, where he was named First Team All-Pac-12 and finished among the top three assist men in NCAA Division I during his senior season.
College and Professional Highlights
As a senior at USC in 2017–18, McLaughlin earned First Team All-Pac-12 honors and was a finalist-level candidate for the Bob Cousy Award. He led the Pac-12 in assists and finished third nationally with 7.8 assists per game, while also averaging 2.0 steals per game as one of the better perimeter defenders in the conference.
In the NBA, McLaughlin’s most memorable single performance came on February 8, 2020, when he posted 24 points and 11 assists against the Los Angeles Clippers while on a two-way contract with the Timberwolves. That outing helped him earn a standard NBA contract the following year.
Jordan McLaughlin Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Jordan McLaughlin is the son of Thomas McLaughlin, a former minor league baseball player, and he has an older sister, Amber. The athletic background of his father helped shape an upbringing centered on multiple sports, including baseball and football, before Jordan committed to basketball as his primary focus. His family has remained a steady presence throughout his basketball journey from Pasadena to the NBA.
2025 Season Outlook
McLaughlin’s 2025 campaign began in Sacramento before shifting dramatically in February, when he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs as part of a three-team deal. After arriving in San Antonio, he signed a one-year, $3 million contract on July 12, 2025, locking in his spot on the roster heading into the new season. With the Spurs continuing a rebuilding phase built around young talent, McLaughlin is expected to serve as a veteran backup at point guard, providing playmaking, defense and stability off the bench. His familiarity with multiple systems from his time in Minnesota and Sacramento should help him earn a consistent rotation role in San Antonio.
