Tony Snell Bio
Tony Rena Snell Jr. (born November 10, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for Boulazac Basket Dordogne of the LNB Pro A, the top professional league in France. Standing 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) and listed at 213 lb (97 kg), he plays as a shooting guard and small forward. He played college basketball for the New Mexico Lobos and was selected with the 20th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls. In June 2023, he became the first NBA player to be publicly diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
Born in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, Snell has built a career that has carried him through the NBA, the NBA G League, and European basketball. He is widely respected for his length, outside shooting, and defensive versatility.
Early Life and Background
Tony Rena Snell Jr. was born on November 10, 1991, in Los Angeles, California. He was raised primarily by his mother, Sherika Brown, who worked multiple jobs as a single parent in the Watts neighborhood. The challenges of his upbringing shaped a quiet, focused personality, and his mother later nicknamed him the “silent assassin,” a label that New Mexico Lobo fans embraced during his college years.
Snell attended Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, California, during the 2008–09 school year. There he played alongside Kawhi Leonard, a future two-time NBA Finals MVP, and helped lead the Wolves to a 30–3 record and a No. 7 national ranking in the MaxPreps/National Guard computer rankings. He averaged 14 points, seven rebounds, four blocks, and five assists per game. Before his senior year, he transferred to Westwind Preparatory Academy in Phoenix, Arizona, where he averaged 19.5 points, 10 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 2.7 steals, and 1.8 blocks. At Westwind, he was a teammate of Jamaal Franklin, who later played for San Diego State and was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2013.
Path to Professional Basketball
ESPN scouting reports in 2009 called Snell “one of the top sleepers on the West Coast” and a “diamond in the rough.” On September 15, 2009, he committed to play for the New Mexico Lobos, signing in November 2009. He became part of one of the most accomplished recruiting classes in program history, alongside Kendall Williams, Alex Kirk, and Cameron Bairstow.
As a freshman in 2010–11, Snell played in all but one game, averaging 4.4 points and 2.0 rebounds, with a standout 16-point performance against then-No. 9 BYU. By his sophomore year he had earned a starting spot, averaging 10.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists and helping the Lobos to a share of the MWC regular-season title and the conference tournament championship, earning All-Tournament honors. As a junior, he led the team in scoring ten times and averaged 12.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, becoming the fifth most accurate free-throw shooter in Lobo history. He was named Third-team All-MWC and the MWC tournament MVP after the 2012–13 season, then chose to forgo his senior year and declared for the 2013 NBA draft.
Tony Snell Career
Early Career (2013–2016)
Snell was selected with the 20th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls and signed with the team on July 10, 2013. He joined the Bulls for the 2013 NBA Summer League, where he averaged 11.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.99 steals across five games. As a rookie in 2013–14, he appeared in 77 games, averaging 4.5 points and 1.6 rebounds per game.
In 2014 Summer League play, Snell averaged 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, earning All-NBA Summer League first-team honors. On February 10, 2015, he scored a career-high 24 points in the Bulls’ 104–86 win over the Sacramento Kings. To begin 2015–16 he was installed as the starting small forward before being removed from the rotation in December 2015. He reclaimed his role with a 22-point performance off the bench against the Toronto Raptors on December 28, 2015, helping Chicago to a 104–97 win.
Chicago Bulls Breakthrough (2013–2016)
Snell’s three seasons in Chicago established him as a reliable perimeter option. He became a regular in the rotation, was used as a starter when needed, and showed flashes of his three-point shooting. The 24-point game against Sacramento in February 2015 stood as his career high with the Bulls and foreshadowed the offensive ceiling that would later appear in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Bucks Era (2016–2019)
On October 17, 2016, Snell was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Michael Carter-Williams. He was named starting shooting guard after an injury to Khris Middleton and made his Bucks debut on October 29, 2016, scoring six points in 21 minutes in a 110–108 win over the Brooklyn Nets. On December 26, 2016, he hit a career-high six three-pointers and scored 20 points in a loss to the Washington Wizards. He set a new career high with 26 points on March 28, 2017, in a 118–108 win over the Charlotte Hornets.
In the 2017 playoffs, Snell recorded 19 points and five three-pointers in Game 4 against the Toronto Raptors, tying the first-round series at 2–2. He earned praise from head coach Jason Kidd for his defense, shooting, and team-first approach. On July 31, 2017, he re-signed with Milwaukee on a four-year, $44 million contract that included a player option and incentives that could push the total to $46 million.
Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks (2019–2021)
On June 20, 2019, Snell was traded, along with the draft rights to Kevin Porter Jr., to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Jon Leuer. On November 20, 2020, he and Khyri Thomas were sent to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Dewayne Dedmon. While with Atlanta, he hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer on March 11, 2021, to cap a 15-point fourth-quarter comeback in a 121–120 victory over the Toronto Raptors.
Portland Trail Blazers and New Orleans Pelicans (2021–2022)
On August 10, 2021, the Portland Trail Blazers announced that they had signed Snell. On February 8, 2022, Portland traded him, along with Larry Nance Jr. and CJ McCollum, to the New Orleans Pelicans in a multi-player deal that brought back Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Tomáš Satoranský, Didi Louzada, and multiple draft picks.
Maine Celtics and Sioux Falls Skyforce (2023–2025)
On January 27, 2023, Snell was acquired by the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League. He returned to Maine on October 29, 2023, and on October 2, 2024, was traded to the Sioux Falls Skyforce, where he spent the 2024–25 season.
Boulazac Basket Dordogne Era (2025–Present)
On August 23, 2025, Snell signed with Boulazac Basket Dordogne of the LNB Pro A. In his second game with the club, on October 3, 2025, he scored 27 points against Cholet Basket. On February 1, 2026, he helped Boulazac earn a landmark road win at reigning French champion Paris Basketball, contributing as a key long-range shooter. During the first part of the 2025–26 season, he ranked fourth in Betclic Élite with a 50.9% three-point percentage after 16 games, drawing public praise from his head coach for his accuracy and overall impact.
Driving Style and Strengths
Snell is recognized for his length, perimeter shooting, and defensive versatility. His high release and steady shooting mechanics have made him a reliable three-point threat, while his size allows him to defend multiple positions. He has consistently been praised by coaches for his team-first approach and willingness to fit into a defined role.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key moments in Snell’s career include being named the 20th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft, scoring a career-high 26 points for the Bucks against the Charlotte Hornets in 2017, hitting a buzzer-beating three-pointer for the Atlanta Hawks against the Toronto Raptors in 2021, and becoming the first NBA player to be publicly diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in 2023.
Tony Snell Career Wins
Snell has accumulated a steady resume of team and individual achievements across college and professional basketball. He helped the New Mexico Lobos to back-to-back Mountain West Conference regular-season and tournament championships in 2012 and 2013, and he contributed to multiple playoff appearances during his NBA career, including a first-round series with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2017.
NBA and Pro Career Highlights
Snell appeared in 77 games as a rookie with the Chicago Bulls and reached the playoffs with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2017. With the Atlanta Hawks, he delivered one of the most memorable moments of his career with a buzzer-beating three-pointer against the Toronto Raptors in 2021. In France, he ranked among the league leaders in three-point percentage early in the 2025–26 season.
Other Wins and Performances
At the collegiate level, Snell was a two-time Mountain West Conference tournament champion (2012, 2013), a Third-team All-MWC selection (2013), and the MWC tournament MVP (2013). He was also named to the All-Tournament team in 2012 and earned All-NBA Summer League first-team honors in 2014.
Tony Snell Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Tony Rena Snell Jr. was raised by his mother, Sherika Brown, who worked multiple jobs as a single parent in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. His mother’s nickname for him, the “silent assassin,” became a fan favorite during his New Mexico days.
Snell met his wife, Ashley, at a barbecue hosted by his Chicago Bulls teammate Jimmy Butler. They have two sons, both of whom have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The evaluation of his eldest son helped him recognize similarities with his own experience, and on June 16, 2023, he revealed his own autism diagnosis on The Today Show, becoming the first NBA player to be publicly identified with the condition.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025–26 season marked Snell’s move to European basketball, as he signed with Boulazac Basket Dordogne of the LNB Pro A in August 2025. He wasted little time making an impact, scoring 27 points in his second game against Cholet Basket on October 3, 2025. By mid-season he had emerged as one of the most efficient three-point shooters in Betclic Élite, ranking fourth in the league at 50.9% from beyond the arc after 16 games.
On February 1, 2026, he played a key role in a landmark road win at reigning French champion Paris Basketball, helping the club build a commanding lead with his long-range shooting. His head coach publicly praised his accuracy and overall impact on the team, and Snell established himself as a central figure in Boulazac’s rotation.
Looking ahead, Snell is expected to continue providing veteran perimeter shooting and defensive versatility for Boulazac as the club pushes for a strong finish in the LNB Pro A standings. His experience across the NBA and the G League, combined with his early success in France, suggests he will remain a productive contributor through the remainder of the 2025–26 campaign and beyond.