Malachi Flynn Bio
Malachi Emmanuel Flynn is an American-Turkish professional basketball player who most recently played for Bahçeşehir Koleji of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) and the EuroCup. A point guard standing 6 feet 1 inch tall, Flynn began his career in the Pacific Northwest and rose through college basketball before being selected 29th overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 2020 NBA draft. He has since played for multiple NBA and NBA G League franchises before moving his career overseas.
Early Life and Background
Malachi Emmanuel Flynn was born on May 9, 1998, in Tacoma, Washington. He is the youngest of seven children in his family. As a child, Flynn was a late bloomer in terms of height, standing only 5 feet 2 inches during his freshman year of high school. He grew to 5 feet 6 inches as a sophomore before a final growth spurt brought him to his current listed height of 6 feet 1 inch. That late growth did not slow his development as a basketball player, as he became one of the top guards in the state of Washington.
Flynn attended Bellarmine College Preparatory School in Tacoma, where he became a star. As a senior, he averaged 29.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 48 percent from the floor. He won multiple state and regional honors, including The News Tribune’s All-Area Player of the Year, the Associated Press Washington Player of the Year, the Class 4A Player of the Year from the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association, and the 4A Narrows League MVP. His 743 points as a senior set the single-season scoring record at Bellarmine Prep, and he finished with 1,625 career points, second only to Abdul Gaddy in school history. Flynn originally committed to the University of the Pacific before reopening his recruitment late in the signing period.
Path to Basketball
On April 13, 2016, Flynn signed with the Washington State Cougars, beginning his college career in the Pac-12 Conference. As a freshman, he made an immediate impact, scoring 27 points in an 83–76 victory over Utah Valley in November 2016, the sixth-highest single-game scoring total by a Cougar freshman in program history. He finished his freshman year averaging 9.7 points per game and shooting 38.7 percent from three-point range. As a sophomore, Flynn averaged 15.8 points and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 41.3 percent from the field, serving as the top player on a Washington State team that finished 12–19. Following that season, he announced his decision to transfer.
Flyn drew interest from several major programs, including Gonzaga, Texas A&M, Baylor, and Creighton, before signing with San Diego State in May 2018. After sitting out a redshirt year to adjust to his new program, he entered his redshirt junior season as the preseason Mountain West Player of the Year according to Mountain West Wire. On December 8, 2019, he hit a last-second three-pointer to defeat San Jose State 59–57, and on February 29, 2020, he scored a career-high 36 points in an 83–76 comeback win over Nevada, the highest total by any Aztec since 2005. He was named to the midseason Wooden Award watchlist and, at season’s end, swept the Mountain West’s top individual awards. Following the season, Flynn declared for the 2020 NBA draft.
Malachi Flynn Career
Early Career (2016–2020)
Flynn’s college journey spanned three seasons split between two programs. His first two years at Washington State showed steady growth, as he moved from a role player to the team’s primary offensive option. His time in Pullman, Washington, helped him develop the passing and scoring instincts that became central to his game. His transfer to San Diego State gave him the opportunity to compete for conference and national recognition at a high level.
His redshirt junior year at San Diego State was the launchpad for his professional career. He averaged 17.6 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game, leading the Aztecs to a strong regular season. His combination of scoring, playmaking, and defense earned him consensus second-team All-American honors, the Mountain West Player of the Year award, the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year award, and First-Team All-Mountain West recognition. Those honors pushed him into the first round of the 2020 NBA draft, where the Toronto Raptors selected him 29th overall.
Toronto Raptors Era (2020–2023)
Flynn was the first San Diego State player to be drafted in the first round since Kawhi Leonard in 2011. He made his NBA debut on December 23, 2020, against the New Orleans Pelicans, playing one minute in the contest. On February 3, 2021, he was assigned to the Raptors’ NBA G League affiliate, Raptors 905, where he earned All-NBA G League Second Team and NBA G League All-Rookie Team honors for the 2020–21 season. He was recalled two weeks later and, on April 10, 2021, posted a then career-high 20 points and a career-high 11 assists in a 135–115 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Four days later, he scored a then career-high 22 points with five rebounds, three assists, and two steals in a narrow loss to the Atlanta Hawks. On May 4, 2021, he was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for April 2021, capping a strong first season.
His second year in Toronto saw him continue to grow in a backup role. On March 4, 2022, he scored a season-high 20 points with three rebounds and eight assists in a 97–103 loss to the Orlando Magic. Throughout his time with the Raptors, Flynn developed a reputation as a steady ball-handler and perimeter defender, providing veteran stability behind the team’s primary guards.
New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons (2023–2024)
On December 30, 2023, Flynn was traded, along with O.G. Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa, to the New York Knicks in exchange for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a second-round pick. His time in New York was brief, as he was moved again on February 8, 2024, in a package that sent him, Ryan Arcidiacono, Evan Fournier, Quentin Grimes, and two second-round picks to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Bojan Bogdanović and Alec Burks.
In Detroit, Flynn delivered one of the most memorable performances of his career. On April 3, 2024, he scored a career-high 50 points against the Atlanta Hawks, tying Nick Anderson for the second-most points scored by a player coming off the bench in NBA history, behind Jamal Crawford. He also became the player with the lowest career scoring average, 5.2 points per game, to score 50 points in a single NBA game, surpassing a mark previously held by Terrence Ross.
Austin Spurs and Charlotte Hornets (2024–2025)
On August 7, 2024, Flynn signed with the San Antonio Spurs but was waived on October 19. He then joined the Austin Spurs of the NBA G League on October 29, where he was named to the All-NBA G League First Team for 2025. On February 28, 2025, he signed a 10-day contract with the Charlotte Hornets, briefly returning to the NBA.
Bahçeşehir Koleji Era (2025–Present)
On June 1, 2025, Flynn signed with Bahçeşehir Koleji of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL), beginning a new chapter of his career overseas. He quickly became a central figure for the Turkish club. On November 5, 2025, he received a Hoops Agents Player of the Week Award for Round 6 after posting a game-high 36 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists in a victory. He was also named to the All-EuroCup First Team for 2026.
In the 2025–26 EuroCup regular season, Flynn led Bahçeşehir in points (17.8), assists (4.0), steals (1.7) per game, and Player Impact Rating (18.9), reinforcing his reputation as a high-level playmaker in international competition. His performances have established him as one of the top American guards in European basketball.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most remarkable moments of Flynn’s career is his 50-point outburst off the bench for the Detroit Pistons on April 3, 2024, a record-setting game that made national headlines. He also became the first San Diego State player to be drafted in the NBA first round since Kawhi Leonard in 2011, marking a meaningful program milestone. In 2025, his selection to the All-NBA G League First Team further confirmed his standing as one of the most productive guards in professional basketball.
Malachi Flynn Career Wins
Malachi Emmanuel Flynn has earned individual recognition at nearly every level of competitive basketball, from high school to the EuroCup. His résumé includes a Consensus second-team All-American selection, Mountain West Player of the Year, Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, NBA G League All-Rookie Team, All-NBA G League Second Team, All-NBA G League First Team, and All-EuroCup First Team honors.
NBA and EuroCup Highlights
Flynn’s NBA highlights include a 50-point game off the bench against the Atlanta Hawks, then a career-high 36 points for the San Diego State Aztecs against Nevada in 2020, and a 20-point, 11-assist performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2021. In the 2025–26 EuroCup regular season, he averaged 17.8 points, 4.0 assists, 1.7 steals, and an 18.9 PIR per game, leading his Turkish club in all four categories. He was also named EuroCup Player of the Week for Round 6 of the 2025–26 season.
Malachi Flynn Family
Personal Life
Malachi Emmanuel Flynn is the youngest of seven children. He is an American-Turkish national, having been born in Tacoma, Washington, and later acquiring Turkish citizenship during his time playing in Turkey. Little additional public information about his personal or family life is available from verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year was a transformative one for Malachi Emmanuel Flynn’s career. After spending the early months in the NBA G League with the Austin Spurs, where he was named to the All-NBA G League First Team, he signed a 10-day contract with the Charlotte Hornets in February. He then made a significant move overseas in June 2025, joining Bahçeşehir Koleji of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi.
With Bahçeşehir, Flynn became the team’s clear offensive engine. He led the club in points, assists, steals, and Player Impact Rating during the 2025–26 EuroCup regular season. He was recognized as EuroCup Player of the Week for Round 6, and his strong play helped his team remain competitive in both the BSL and EuroCup competitions throughout the calendar year.
Looking ahead, Flynn appears to have found a stable, high-impact role in international basketball, with his All-EuroCup First Team selection validating his level of play. His continued production in Europe sets up an intriguing next phase of his professional journey.