Kevin McCullar Jr. Bio
Kevin Dewayne McCullar Jr. (born March 15, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League. A 6 ft 6 in shooting guard, he played college basketball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Kansas Jayhawks before being selected in the 2024 NBA draft.
McCullar entered the NBA after a decorated college career in the Big 12 Conference, where he earned All-American and all-defensive recognition. He went on to become an NBA Cup champion in 2025 and an NBA champion in 2026 with the Knicks, establishing himself as a versatile wing prospect at the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Kevin Dewayne McCullar Jr. was born on March 15, 2001, in San Antonio, Texas. He grew up in the same city where he would later build his basketball reputation, attending Karen Wagner High School and developing his game in one of Texas’s most competitive high school regions.
McCullar is the son of Kevin McCullar Sr., who played college football for Texas Tech as a linebacker before playing professionally with the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe and the Chicago Enforcers of the XFL. Raised in a household with a strong athletic background, McCullar was exposed early to high-level competitive sports, which shaped his approach to the game and his understanding of professional preparation.
Path to Basketball
At Karen Wagner High School, McCullar emerged as a talented wing prospect. As a sophomore, he helped his team reach the Class 6A state title game, signaling his ability to perform on big stages. In his junior season, he averaged 16.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game before fracturing his tibia during the playoffs, an injury that briefly interrupted his momentum.
Rather than wait for his senior year, McCullar opted to graduate early and pursue college basketball. A consensus four-star recruit, he chose Texas Tech over offers from Houston, Kansas State, and Louisville. He redshirted his first season in Lubbock to rehabilitate from the tibia injury, and his Red Raiders teammates reached the national championship game during his absence, providing him a close look at the highest level of college competition.
Kevin McCullar Jr. Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
McCullar began his college career at Texas Tech during the 2019–20 season, redshirting as he recovered from his high school injury. As a freshman the following year, he averaged 6.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game, showing the two-way potential that had made him a sought-after recruit.
In his sophomore season, he raised his production to 10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game, earning All-Big 12 honorable mention. He set a career high of 24 points on November 12, 2021, in an 88–62 win against Grambling State. As a junior, he averaged 10.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game, while shooting 31.1 percent from three-point range on 90 attempts, before deciding to explore his professional options.
Kansas Breakthrough (2022–2024)
On April 27, 2022, McCullar entered the transfer portal and declared for the 2022 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility. He announced his transfer to Kansas on May 19, 2022, before withdrawing from the draft on June 1, 2022, to play for the Jayhawks.
In his senior season at Kansas, McCullar was named Third-team All-Big 12 and selected to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team, capping his college career with recognition on both ends of the floor. He was also named a Third-team All-American by the NABC in 2024, cementing his status as one of the top wings in the country and setting the stage for his professional transition.
New York Knicks Era (2024–Present)
On June 27, 2024, McCullar was selected with the 56th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns and was traded to the New York Knicks on draft night. On August 5, 2024, he signed a two-way contract with the Knicks, splitting his time between the NBA roster and the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League.
McCullar made his NBA debut on March 25, 2025, scoring his first two career points in a 128–113 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. He later helped the Knicks win the NBA Cup in 2025, an early milestone in his young career. On June 13, 2026, McCullar and the Knicks won the 2026 NBA Finals, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 4–1, adding an NBA championship to his growing list of achievements.
Driving Style and Strengths
McCullar is listed at 6 ft 6 in and 210 lb, giving him the size of a prototypical NBA wing. His college profile highlighted defense, rebounding, and playmaking, with his Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection reflecting his ability to guard multiple positions. He has developed his perimeter shooting and on-ball creation since turning professional, fitting the modern role of a connective wing within a contending roster.
Notable Events and Milestones
McCullar’s signature early professional moment came when he helped the Knicks capture the NBA Cup in 2025, his first major professional title. He reached an even larger stage in 2026, winning the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs in five games. Earlier, his career-high 24 points against Grambling State in 2021 had served as an offensive benchmark during his time at Texas Tech.
Kevin McCullar Jr. Career Wins
Across his college and professional career, Kevin Dewayne McCullar Jr. has built a résumé that includes individual conference and national honors as well as team championships. His trophy case features the 2025 NBA Cup and the 2026 NBA Championship, both earned with the New York Knicks.
NBA Highlights
McCullar’s first major professional win came in 2025 when the Knicks captured the NBA Cup, rewarding his growth during his rookie season. He added an NBA Championship in 2026, helping New York defeat the San Antonio Spurs 4–1 in the Finals. His debut NBA points came on March 25, 2025, in a victory over the Dallas Mavericks, opening his scoring account in the league.
Other Wins & Performances
At Karen Wagner High School, McCullar helped his team reach the Class 6A state title game as a sophomore. At Texas Tech, his teammates reached the national championship game during the season he redshirted, giving him a close connection to a deep tournament run. He earned All-Big 12 honorable mention, Third-team All-Big 12, First-team All-Big 12, and Big 12 All-Defensive Team honors across his college career.
Kevin McCullar Jr. Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kevin Dewayne McCullar Jr. is the son of Kevin McCullar Sr., a former Texas Tech college football linebacker. His father went on to play professionally with the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe and the Chicago Enforcers of the XFL, giving the family a multi-sport athletic background. McCullar’s own path followed basketball, but the professional sports experience within his family informed his understanding of the demands of an athletic career.
Personal Life
McCullar was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, the same city where he attended Karen Wagner High School. He balances his professional commitments between the New York Knicks and their G League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks, as part of his two-way contract.
2025 Season Performance
McCullar’s 2025 campaign marked his first full professional season after joining the Knicks on a two-way contract in August 2024. He made his NBA debut on March 25, 2025, against the Dallas Mavericks, scoring his first two points in a 128–113 victory. The early portion of the season was spent continuing his development with Westchester in the G League, where he could log consistent minutes and refine his role as a two-way wing.
The highlight of his 2025 season came when the Knicks won the NBA Cup, giving McCullar his first major professional title and validating his two-way status. Working within a contending New York roster, he contributed as a defender and connective offensive player while continuing to expand his perimeter game.
Looking forward, McCullar was positioned to build on his NBA Cup success, with the Knicks’ continued contention offering a platform for expanded minutes. His combination of size, defensive versatility, and improving shooting made him a developmental priority for the organization heading into the next stages of his contract.