Paul Reed Bio
Paul Reed (born June 14, 1999), nicknamed “BBall Paul,” is an American professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A 6 ft 9 in, 210 lb center and power forward, Reed has built a reputation as a versatile, hard-working frontcourt player. He played college basketball for the DePaul Blue Demons before beginning his professional career in 2020.
After being selected in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, Reed quickly established himself as a standout in the NBA G League, where he was named the league’s Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year in 2021. He later moved on to the Detroit Pistons in 2024, where he continues to develop his game and contribute as a depth big man with strong rebounding and defensive instincts.
Early Life and Background
Paul Reed was born on June 14, 1999, in Orlando, Florida, where he grew up and developed his early love for basketball. He attended Wekiva High School in nearby Apopka, Florida, where he played for the Mustangs and steadily grew into a high-major college prospect. Reed’s father, Paul, played college basketball at Old Dominion and UCF before going on to play professionally in Europe, giving his son an early model of what a basketball career could look like.
Reed experienced a remarkable physical growth spurt during his high school years, going from 6 ft 2 in as a freshman to 6 ft 6 in as a junior, and reaching 6 ft 8 in by the start of his senior year. As a senior, he averaged 18.2 points and 11.4 rebounds and was named the Central Florida Player of the Year, leading Wekiva to the state championship game. Rated a three-star recruit and the No. 235 prospect in his class, he chose DePaul over offers from Clemson, Kansas State, Rutgers, and Murray State. Reed also has four sisters and an uncle, Mike Sims-Walker, who played in the National Football League.
Path to Professional Basketball
Reed’s path to the professional ranks began at DePaul, where he appeared in 28 games off the bench as a true freshman, averaging 3.6 points and 3.1 rebounds. He earned more playing time as the season went on, posting averages of 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds over his final 14 games, a sign of the rapid development that would soon follow. Inspired in part by the work ethic of teammate Max Strus, Reed made a major leap in his sophomore year.
As a sophomore, Reed averaged 12.3 points and a Big East Conference-leading 8.5 rebounds per game, earning Big East Most Improved Player honors. He carried that momentum into his junior season, where he was a preseason All-Big East selection, recorded 18 double-doubles, scored 23 points on 8-of-9 shooting in a 79-66 upset of No. 5 Butler, and was named Second Team All-Big East after averaging 15.1 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and 1.9 steals. After the season, he declared for the 2020 NBA Draft, forgoing his final year of eligibility.
Paul Reed Career
Early Career (2020-2021)
Paul Reed was selected 58th overall in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. On December 3, 2020, he signed a two-way contract that allowed him to split time between the 76ers and their G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. He made his NBA debut on January 4, 2021, playing the final 90 seconds of a 118-101 win over the Charlotte Hornets and scoring two points on his only field goal attempt.
Reed spent much of the shortened 2021 G League season with the Delaware Blue Coats, where he put together a dominant run. His play earned him both the G League Most Valuable Player award and the Rookie of the Year award, and he was also named to the All-NBA G League First Team, the G League All-Defensive Team, and the G League All-Rookie Team. On March 26, 2021, the 76ers converted his two-way deal into a standard NBA contract, formally beginning his full-time NBA career.
Philadelphia 76ers Breakthrough (2021-2024)
Over the next several seasons, Reed carved out a role as an energy big off the bench for the 76ers. On November 27, 2022, he recorded 12 points and 13 rebounds in a win over the Orlando Magic, showing the rebounding and hustle that defined his game. During the 2023 playoffs, he delivered one of his most memorable moments on May 2, 2023, when he sank four clutch free throws to seal a Game 1 win for Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals against the Boston Celtics.
Reed’s value was recognized in free agency in July 2023, when the Utah Jazz signed him to a three-year, $23 million offer sheet that Philadelphia matched the very next day to keep him. He produced a career-high 30 points along with 13 rebounds on January 27, 2024, in a 111-105 loss to the Denver Nuggets. Philadelphia waived Reed on July 6, 2024, ending his four-year stint with the franchise.
Detroit Pistons Era (2024-Present)
On July 9, 2024, the Detroit Pistons claimed Paul Reed off waivers, only to waive him again on December 14 of that year. He re-signed with the Pistons the very next day and continued to provide frontcourt depth and energy for the young Detroit roster. On December 19, 2024, Reed was involved in an on-court altercation with Jordan Clarkson, and was fined $15,000 two days later.
Reed’s play was rewarded on June 30, 2025, when he agreed to a two-year, $11 million contract to remain with the Pistons, signaling the organization’s confidence in his role moving forward. He continues to serve as a versatile, defense-first big man in Detroit’s rebuilding core.
Playing Style and Strengths
Paul Reed is best known for his rebounding, defensive activity, and willingness to do the little things that don’t always show up in a box score. His combination of length, mobility, and effort makes him a strong rim protector and a reliable weak-side helper, while his growing face-up game and ball-handling allow him to function as a small-ball five. His tireless motor and team-first mentality have helped him stand out at every level of his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Reed’s career are his 2021 G League MVP and Rookie of the Year honors, his four clutch free throws in Game 1 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Semi-finals against the Boston Celtics, and his career-high 30-point, 13-rebound performance against the Denver Nuggets in January 2024. He has also been a popular figure off the court thanks to his “BBall Paul” nickname and his “Out the Mud” clothing brand.
Paul Reed Career Highlights
Across both the NBA and the G League, Paul Reed has built a résumé that reflects steady, year-over-year improvement. He is a former NBA G League MVP, G League Rookie of the Year, Big East Most Improved Player, and Second Team All-Big East selection, highlighting the many levels at which he has earned recognition.
NBA and G League Highlights
Reed’s biggest G League season came in 2021 with the Delaware Blue Coats, when he swept the league’s top individual awards, including MVP, Rookie of the Year, First Team, All-Defensive Team, and All-Rookie Team. In the NBA, he has delivered key playoff moments for the Philadelphia 76ers, including his clutch free throws against the Boston Celtics in 2023 and a 30-point career high against the Denver Nuggets in 2024. More recently, he agreed to a two-year, $11 million contract to return to the Detroit Pistons in 2025.
College and Other Performances
At DePaul, Reed developed from a reserve freshman into one of the most productive big men in the Big East Conference. He was named Big East Most Improved Player in 2019, then earned Second Team All-Big East honors in 2020 after averaging 15.1 points and 10.7 rebounds, while finishing among the conference leaders in blocks and steals.
Paul Reed Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Basketball runs in Paul Reed’s family. His father, Paul, played college basketball at Old Dominion and the University of Central Florida before playing professionally in Europe, giving Paul a direct connection to the game from a young age. Reed also has four sisters, and his uncle, Mike Sims-Walker, played in the National Football League.
Personal Life
Outside of basketball, Paul Reed is widely known for his “BBall Paul” nickname and his “Out the Mud” branded hoodies, which he has promoted through social media. The “Out the Mud” name traces back to a tweet he posted after a game in which he did not receive any playing time, referencing the Lil Baby and Future song of the same name.
2025 Season Performance
Paul Reed’s 2025 season is set against the backdrop of his June 30, 2025 agreement to a two-year, $11 million contract to remain with the Detroit Pistons, underscoring the franchise’s belief in his role as a versatile frontcourt piece. The Pistons continued their rebuild around young talent, with Reed offering energy, rebounding, and defensive switching off the bench.
As the season unfolded, Reed was leaned on as a defense-first big who could guard multiple positions, protect the rim, and crash the offensive glass. His activity and effort have remained consistent strengths, even as his role has fluctuated, and he has provided valuable minutes alongside Detroit’s developing core.
Looking ahead, Reed’s combination of team-friendly contract, positional flexibility, and relentless motor should keep him firmly in the Pistons’ rotation. With playoff expectations still developing in Detroit, his ability to anchor the defense and spark transition play will be a key piece of the Pistons’ outlook for the rest of 2025 and beyond.
