Josh Christopher Bio
Joshua Evan Christopher, known professionally as Josh Christopher, is an American professional basketball player for the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League. A 6-foot-4, 215-pound shooting guard, Christopher is recognized for his scoring touch, athleticism, and ability to create shots at multiple levels of the game. He previously spent time with the Houston Rockets and the Miami Heat, while also developing his game through assignments in the G League with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Salt Lake City Stars, and Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Born on December 8, 2001, in Carson, California, Christopher rose to national attention as a five-star high school recruit before playing one season of college basketball at Arizona State. He was selected 24th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft and has since built a professional career that includes an NBA G League championship and All-NBA G League recognition.
Early Life and Background
Joshua Evan Christopher was born in Carson, California, and raised in the surrounding Southern California basketball community. He grew up playing the sport with his older brother, Caleb, progressing through elementary school, middle school, and his first two years at Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California. He also competed on the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circuit, often facing older opponents during his youth, which helped sharpen his competitive edge from a young age.
As a sophomore at Mayfair, Christopher averaged 25.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3.6 assists per game, leading his team to a 21-8 record. In his junior season, he averaged 25 points per game and won the Division 2AA championship. During his senior year, he was joined by Dior Johnson and produced 29.2 points, 8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3.1 steals per game, leading Mayfair to the CIF Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals. His play earned him selections to the McDonald’s All-American Game, the Jordan Brand Classic, and the Nike Hoop Summit, though all three events were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Path to Basketball
Christopher was a consensus five-star recruit and the number two shooting guard in the 2020 recruiting class. On April 13, 2020, he announced his commitment to Arizona State over Michigan, USC, Missouri, and UCLA. His brother Caleb had already spent one year with the program, and the family connection helped shape Christopher’s decision. He became Arizona State’s highest-ranked recruit in the modern recruiting era and the program’s first five-star signee since James Harden in 2007.
On November 26, 2020, Christopher scored a career-high 28 points for Arizona State in an 83-74 loss to third-ranked Villanova. His freshman season was limited to 15 games due to injury, and he averaged 14.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. On March 31, 2021, he declared for the 2021 NBA Draft, officially closing his college chapter and beginning his professional journey.
Josh Christopher Career
Houston Rockets (2021–2023)
Christopher was selected with the 24th overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. On August 7, 2021, he signed his rookie contract with the team and made his official NBA debut on October 20, 2021, coming off the bench with five points in eight minutes during a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. On November 24, the Rockets assigned him to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League, where he averaged 20 points across three games before being recalled.
During his rookie season, Christopher showed flashes of scoring potential. On December 8, 2021, he logged 18 points while shooting 7-of-7 from the field and 4-of-4 from three-point range in a 104-114 win over the Brooklyn Nets. He later recorded 23 points, four assists, and five rebounds against the San Antonio Spurs on February 4, 2022, and added 21 points in a 139-130 overtime win against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 23, 2022. In April 2022, he posted his first 30-point game, shooting 11-of-14 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, along with three assists and two steals against the Timberwolves.
NBA G League Assignments and the Memphis Trade
Christopher fell out of the Rockets’ rotation during the 2022-2023 season as the team adjusted its guard combinations. On July 8, 2023, he was acquired by the Memphis Grizzlies from Houston in a five-team sign-and-trade deal that sent Dillon Brooks to the Rockets, but he was waived by Memphis on September 30, 2023, without appearing for the team.
Following his release, Christopher signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz on October 13, 2023, though he was waived on January 9, 2024, without playing for the parent club. He appeared in 22 games for the Jazz’s G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars, continuing to refine his professional game.
Sioux Falls Skyforce and Miami Heat Era (2024–2025)
On January 14, 2024, Christopher joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce. His play for the Skyforce helped him earn a two-way contract with the Miami Heat on July 25, 2024, giving him another opportunity to compete in the NBA. He is currently listed as a member of the Sioux Falls Skyforce, where he continues to develop as a scoring guard.
His 2024-2025 campaign included All-NBA G League Third Team honors, recognizing his impact at that level. Christopher’s combination of perimeter shot-making, drives to the basket, and improving court vision has made him a notable G League performer.
Driving Style and Strengths
Christopher is best known for his scoring versatility. He can create offense off the dribble, finish at the rim with athleticism, and shoot from beyond the arc with rhythm. His ability to play both on and off the ball, paired with a strong frame for a guard, allows him to absorb contact and finish through traffic. Defensively, his lateral quickness and instincts, sharpened through years of AAU competition, give him the tools to compete on that end of the floor as well.
Notable Events and Milestones
Christopher was a McDonald’s All-American selection in 2020, an NBA G League champion in 2022 with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, and an All-NBA G League Third Team member in 2025. His 28-point performance against Villanova in college and his 30-point game against the Timberwolves in the NBA stand out as scoring milestones that announced his offensive potential.
Josh Christopher Career Wins
Across his professional career, Joshua Evan Christopher has built a resume that includes championship and individual recognition in the NBA G League. His trophy collection reflects both team success and personal production at the development level of professional basketball.
NBA G League Highlights
Christopher won an NBA G League championship in 2022 as a member of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers during his time on assignment from the Houston Rockets. In 2025, he was named to the All-NBA G League Third Team while playing for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, an honor that recognized his impact as one of the league’s top performers that season.
Other Performances
Beyond his G League honors, Christopher was a McDonald’s All-American in 2020, a prestigious recognition reserved for the top high school players in the country. His college and NBA performances, including his freshman career-high 28 points at Arizona State and multiple 20-plus point games with the Rockets, rounded out a body of work that has continued to draw league-wide attention.
Josh Christopher Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Basketball runs deep in the Christopher household. Christopher is the youngest of four siblings, all of whom have played the sport. His brother Patrick played professionally, including a brief stint with the Utah Jazz, and Patrick’s godbrother is former NBA player Tayshaun Prince. His sister, Paris, played college basketball at Saint Mary’s before suffering a career-ending injury as a freshman. His brother, Caleb, played for both Arizona State and Tennessee Tech, finishing his career at NAIA Hope International University.
Personal Life
Christopher’s father, Laron, is a musician, and the family identifies as devout Christians. Within the basketball community, Christopher is often known by the nickname “Jaygup,” a moniker created during his childhood. He is also closely connected to the University of Arizona State basketball program through his brother Caleb’s previous time there.
2025 Season Performance
Joshua Evan Christopher’s 2025 campaign has been highlighted by his All-NBA G League Third Team selection while playing for the Sioux Falls Skyforce. That recognition underscored his role as a primary scoring option and playmaker within the team’s system, and it reinforced the steady improvement he has shown since his rookie season with the Houston Rockets.
His two-way contract with the Miami Heat during the 2024-2025 season gave him a pathway between the NBA parent club and the G League affiliate, a structure that has allowed him to log meaningful minutes and continue refining his game. Heading into the remainder of 2025, Christopher’s combination of scoring punch, physical tools, and growing experience positions him as a player to watch in the G League and a candidate for further NBA opportunities.