Matt Ryan Bio
Matthew Richard Ryan (born April 17, 1997) is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for Dubai Basketball of the ABA League and the EuroLeague. A versatile forward, Ryan has competed across the G League and the NBA, and he represents one of the more traveled journeyman stories of his draft class. He currently stands as a 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m), 215 lb (98 kg) small forward.
Ryan went undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft, yet he built a professional career through G League stops, two-way contracts, and short NBA stints. His journey has carried him from the suburbs of New York to international competition in the United Arab Emirates.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Richard Ryan was born on April 17, 1997, in Valhalla, New York. He grew up in a close-knit family and is the son of Richard Ryan and Laurie Ryan. He has two siblings, Mikela and Michael, and his upbringing in the New York City suburbs gave him early exposure to competitive basketball culture.
Ryan attended Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, New York, where he emerged as one of the state’s most decorated high school players. As a senior, he led the Gaels to a 22–6 record and the program’s first Class AA Archdiocesan Championship. He averaged 20 points, eight rebounds, and five assists per game during that championship season.
His senior year brought individual recognition that elevated his national profile. He was named Mr. New York Basketball in 2015 and earned first-team Parade All-American honors in the same year, confirming his status as one of the top prep forwards in the country.
Path to Basketball
Coming out of Iona Prep, Ryan received scholarship offers from multiple Division I programs and committed to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He played sparingly during his two seasons in South Bend, working to adjust to the speed and physicality of major-conference basketball. Following his sophomore campaign, he elected to transfer in search of a larger role.
Ryan landed at Vanderbilt, where he became a more consistent contributor as a junior. He averaged 8.1 points and 2.7 rebounds per game for the Commodores, showing a reliable shooting touch from the perimeter. After that season, he transferred once more, this time to Chattanooga, in search of a featured role.
At Chattanooga, Ryan produced his best college season. As a senior, he played 33 games and averaged 15.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 30.6 minutes per game. He shot 42.3 percent from the field, 35.9 percent from three-point range, and 87.9 percent from the free-throw line, earning Second-team All-SoCon honors in 2020.
Matt Ryan Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Ryan declared for the 2020 NBA draft and went undrafted. His prospects were further limited by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted the traditional path to professional opportunities. He did not earn a roster spot in the G League bubble during the 2020–21 season.
During that uncertain stretch, Ryan worked multiple jobs to support himself. He delivered food for DoorDash and UberEats, coached a grassroots basketball team, and worked at a cemetery in Yonkers, New York. Those experiences underscored the resilience that would later define his professional journey.
G League Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Ryan joined the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2021 NBA Summer League and spent preseason with the Denver Nuggets. He then signed with the Grand Rapids Gold of the G League for the 2021–22 season, where he averaged 15.8 points across 28 games and re-established himself as a scoring forward.
On February 28, 2022, Ryan signed a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics, though he was assigned to the Maine Red Claws of the G League. He averaged 20.4 points in 14 games for Maine to finish the season. He made his first and only appearance for the Celtics on April 10, 2022, against the Memphis Grizzlies, scoring three points in five minutes. The Celtics reached the 2022 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games.
Los Angeles Lakers (2022)
On September 26, 2022, Ryan signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. He made 37.5 percent of his three-pointers during the preseason and earned the final spot on the team’s 15-man roster out of training camp. His most memorable moment came on November 2, 2022, when he hit a corner three-pointer to tie the game at the regulation buzzer against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Lakers went on to win 120–117 in overtime, and Ryan finished with 11 points. He was waived by the Lakers on December 1, 2022.
Minnesota Timberwolves and Iowa Wolves (2022–2023)
On December 8, 2022, Ryan signed a two-way contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves and was assigned to the Iowa Wolves. He re-signed with the Timberwolves on a two-way deal on September 28, 2023, but was waived on October 20, 2023, as the team reshaped its roster.
New Orleans Pelicans and Birmingham Squadron (2023–2024)
On October 22, 2023, Ryan was claimed off waivers by the New Orleans Pelicans and signed to a two-way contract. He recorded his first NBA start on November 2 against the Detroit Pistons, and on April 13, 2024, he signed a standard contract with the Pelicans. He was waived on August 24, re-signed three days later, and waived again on October 11, 2024.
Westchester Knicks Era (2024–2025)
On October 26, 2024, Ryan was selected first overall in the 2024 NBA G League draft by the Westchester Knicks. He signed with the New York Knicks on November 4, 2024, and was assigned multiple times to Westchester. After being waived on December 22, 2024, he returned two days later on a two-way contract before the Knicks waived him again on March 2, 2025. On September 16, 2025, Ryan signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Knicks, and was waived prior to the regular season on October 18, 2025.
Dubai Basketball (2025–2026)
On November 8, 2025, Ryan signed with Dubai Basketball of the ABA League and the EuroLeague, beginning a new chapter in his professional career abroad. The move marked his first overseas opportunity since leaving college.
Matt Ryan Career Wins
Across his professional career, Matt Ryan has notched notable scoring outputs in the G League, including 15.8 points per game with the Grand Rapids Gold and 20.4 points per game with the Maine Red Claws. He earned a roster spot with the Los Angeles Lakers out of preseason and secured a standard NBA contract with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2024.
G League Highlights
Ryan’s top G League averages came during the 2021–22 season, when he split time between the Grand Rapids Gold and the Maine Red Claws. His efficiency from beyond the arc in NBA preseason games, including 37.5 percent shooting with the Lakers, has been a consistent strength of his offensive profile.
Other Wins and Performances
Ryan was the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA G League draft, selected by the Westchester Knicks. He was also a Second-team All-SoCon selection in 2020, a first-team Parade All-American in 2015, and Mr. New York Basketball in 2015.
Matt Ryan Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Matthew Richard Ryan is the son of Richard Ryan and Laurie Ryan. He has two siblings, Mikela and Michael, and grew up in Valhalla, New York. His family supported his basketball journey from his earliest years in the New York prep scene.
Personal Life
Ryan earned a bachelor’s degree in economics at Vanderbilt and later worked on his MBA at Chattanooga. Beyond basketball, he has shown a willingness to take on varied jobs during difficult stretches, including food delivery and coaching grassroots teams. He continues to pursue professional opportunities in both the NBA and overseas leagues.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year has been a period of transition for Matt Ryan. He spent the early portion of the year with the Westchester Knicks and the New York Knicks before being waived on March 2, 2025. He returned to the Knicks organization on an Exhibit 10 deal in September 2025 but was waived before the regular season began.
On November 8, 2025, Ryan signed with Dubai Basketball of the ABA League and the EuroLeague, giving him a platform to showcase his perimeter shooting on a high-profile international stage. The move represents an opportunity to stabilize his career after several years of short-term NBA contracts.
Looking ahead, Ryan’s outlook in Dubai will depend on his three-point shooting and his ability to adapt to the European style of play. His track record of earning roster spots out of training camp suggests he has the resilience to compete for meaningful minutes in 2025 and beyond.
