P.J. Washington Bio
Paul Jamaine Washington Jr., known professionally as P.J. Washington, is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Listed at 6 feet 7 inches and 230 pounds, he plays the power forward and small forward positions while wearing jersey number 25. After being selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 12th overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2020. Washington was traded to the Dallas Mavericks at the trade deadline in February 2024, helping the team reach the 2024 NBA Finals before falling to the Boston Celtics in five games.
Early Life and Background
Paul Jamaine Washington Jr. was born on August 23, 1998, in Louisville, Kentucky. His family later moved to St. Louis and Chicago before settling in Frisco, Texas, where he spent much of his childhood. Both of his parents met while playing basketball at Middle Tennessee State, and athletics quickly became a central part of his upbringing. His father went on to become a general manager at a car sales company and coached his middle school team, while his mother became a teacher at the same school.
Washington has a brother, Spencer, and a sister, Alexandria. The basketball environment at home helped shape his early development, and he has spoken about the influence of his family on his work ethic. He has credited his parents for teaching him the discipline that carried him through high school and into one of the most prestigious college basketball programs in the country.
Path to Basketball
Washington attended Prime Prep Academy in Dallas, after a brief stint at Lone Star High School in Frisco, before transferring to Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada. At Findlay Prep, he joined fellow five-star recruits Allonzo Trier and Derryck Thornton, and his stock as a college prospect rose quickly. As a junior, he averaged 16.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, and he later suited up for his AAU team, Team Penny, sponsored by former NBA All-Star Penny Hardaway, on the Nike EYBL circuit.
As a senior, Washington averaged 19.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game. He was selected to both the 2017 Jordan Brand Classic and the McDonald’s All-American Game, and was rated as a five-star recruit and the No. 12 overall prospect in the 2017 high school class. On November 10, 2016, he committed to the University of Kentucky, signing his letter of intent on November 20.
P.J. Washington Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
Washington played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats from 2017 to 2019 under coach John Calipari. As a freshman, he played through a lingering pinkie injury that required offseason surgery, yet he still managed to average 10.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. In a 2018 NCAA Tournament loss to Kansas State, Washington led Kentucky with 18 points and 15 rebounds. After the season, he initially declared for the NBA draft before reversing course and announcing his return to Kentucky on May 30, 2018.
Following Kentucky’s loss to Auburn in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, Washington announced his intention to forgo his remaining eligibility and enter the 2019 NBA draft. He was a Third-team All-American and a First-team All-SEC selection that year, cementing his place as one of the top forwards in the class.
Charlotte Hornets Era (2019–2024)
Washington was selected as the 12th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2019 NBA draft. On July 3, 2019, he officially signed with the team, and on October 23 he made his NBA debut in a 126–125 win over the Chicago Bulls, posting 27 points, 4 rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a block. He also made 7 three-pointers in that debut, the most in an NBA debut in league history. On September 15, 2020, Washington was named to the 2019–20 NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
He continued to develop into a reliable scorer in Charlotte. On February 28, 2021, Washington scored a then career-high 42 points in a win over the Sacramento Kings. He later set a new career high of 43 points in a 137–134 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 28, 2023, a mark he matched on January 27, 2024, in a 134–122 loss to the Utah Jazz. On August 29, 2023, he re-signed with the Hornets on a three-year, $48 million contract.
Dallas Mavericks Era (2024–Present)
On February 8, 2024, Washington was traded, alongside two future second-round picks, to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Seth Curry, Grant Williams, and a top-2 protected 2027 first-round pick. He made his Mavericks debut two days later, putting up 14 points, five rebounds, and one steal in a 146–111 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. On April 5, 2024, he added 32 points and a game-winner in a 108–106 win over the Golden State Warriors.
In the 2024 playoffs, Washington helped the Mavericks navigate a challenging postseason run. He led the team with 27 points in a 105–101 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals, and in Game 6 he sank two intentional free throws in the final seconds to seal a 117–116 win and send Dallas to the Western Conference Finals. Washington helped the Mavericks reach the 2024 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Boston Celtics in five games. On September 10, 2025, Washington signed a four-year, $88.76 million extension with the Mavericks that runs through the 2029–30 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Washington is best described as a versatile two-way forward whose skill set fits a modern NBA rotation. He is comfortable operating as a stretch four, where his three-point shooting helps space the floor, and he is also active on the glass and as a helper defender. His ability to guard multiple positions and contribute as a secondary scorer has made him a valuable piece in Dallas’s rotation.
Notable Events and Milestones
Washington set an NBA record for made three-pointers in a debut with 7 against the Chicago Bulls on October 23, 2019. He later matched his career high of 43 points twice, first on March 28, 2023, against the Oklahoma City Thunder and again on January 27, 2024, against the Utah Jazz. His clutch free throws in Game 6 of the 2024 Western Conference Semifinals helped send the Mavericks to the conference finals and, ultimately, the NBA Finals.
P.J. Washington Career Wins
Washington’s individual milestones tell the story of a player who has steadily grown into a reliable NBA contributor. From his record-setting debut in Chicago to his career-high 43-point nights in Charlotte and a key role on a Mavericks team that reached the 2024 NBA Finals, he has produced several signature performances.
NBA Highlights
Washington made his NBA debut on October 23, 2019, with 27 points and a record 7 three-pointers in a win over the Chicago Bulls. He set a then career high of 42 points against the Sacramento Kings on February 28, 2021, and later raised that mark to 43 points in a 137–134 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 28, 2023. In Dallas, he added a 32-point performance with a game-winner against the Golden State Warriors on April 5, 2024, and a 27-point effort in a 105–101 playoff win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on May 11, 2024.
Other Wins and Performances
At the high school level, Washington was named a 2017 McDonald’s All-American and a Jordan Brand Classic selection. With the Kentucky Wildcats, he earned Third-team All-American and First-team All-SEC honors in 2019. Internationally, he represented the United States at the 2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship in Chile and the 2017 FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Egypt.
P.J. Washington Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Washington’s parents met while playing basketball at Middle Tennessee State, giving him a strong athletic foundation. His father later became a general manager at a car sales company and coached his middle school team, while his mother became a teacher at the same school. He has a brother, Spencer, and a sister, Alexandria, and the family eventually settled in Frisco, Texas.
Personal Life
Washington married Alisah Chanel in October 2023. He has two sons, Paul Jermaine Washington III, born in 2021 with Brittany Renner, and Preston, born in 2023. The family resides in Frisco, Texas.
2025 Season Performance
Washington entered the 2025 season as a key rotation piece for the Dallas Mavericks following his team’s run to the 2024 NBA Finals. On September 10, 2025, he signed a four-year, $88.76 million extension that secures his place in Dallas through the 2029–30 season, signaling the franchise’s confidence in his long-term role. The extension also reflects his continued growth as a two-way forward capable of guarding multiple positions and contributing as a secondary scorer.
His experience playing through high-pressure playoff moments in 2024, including his crucial free throws against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals, has translated into steady regular-season contributions. He remains a versatile piece who can space the floor, rebound, and defend at a high level. With Dallas continuing to build around its core, Washington’s role as a connector on both ends of the floor is expected to remain central to the team’s outlook.
