Matthew Richard Ryan (born April 17, 1997)[1][2] is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and Chattanooga.[3]
![]() Ryan with the United States national team during the qualifiers for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup | |
No. 37 – New Orleans Pelicans | |
---|---|
Position | Small forward / power forward |
League | NBA |
Personal information | |
Born | White Plains, New York, U.S. | April 17, 1997
Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Iona Prep (New Rochelle, New York) |
College |
|
NBA draft | 2020: undrafted |
Playing career | 2020–present |
Career history | |
2021–2022 | Grand Rapids Gold |
2022 | Boston Celtics |
2022 | →Maine Celtics |
2022 | Los Angeles Lakers |
2022–2023 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
2022–2023 | →Iowa Wolves |
2023–present | New Orleans Pelicans |
2023–2024 | →Birmingham Squadron |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
High school career
editRyan attended Iona Prep where he led the Gaels to a 22–6 record en route to the program’s first Class AA Archdiocesan Championship while averaging 20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game as a senior while also being named Mr. New York Basketball.[4] He was also named a first-team Parade All-American.[5]
College career
editRyan began his college career at Notre Dame, where he played sparingly before transferring to Vanderbilt after his sophomore season.[6] As a junior, he averaged 8.1 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. Following the season, Ryan transferred to Chattanooga.[7] As a senior, he had his best season, playing 33 games and averaging 15.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 30.6 minutes per game, while shooting 42.3 percent from the field, 35.9 percent from three-point range and 87.9 percent from the free-throw line.[8]
Professional career
editRyan went undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft.[9] His prospects were limited by the COVID-19 pandemic,[9] and he did not land a spot in the G League's bubble in 2020–21.[10] He resorted to working for DoorDash and UberEats while coaching a grassroots basketball team. He also worked at a cemetery in Yonkers, New York.[9]
Grand Rapids Gold (2021–2022)
editRyan joined the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2021 NBA Summer League and spent preseason with the Denver Nuggets.[11][12][13][14] He subsequently joined the Grand Rapids Gold of the G League for the 2021–22 season.[15] He averaged 15.8 points in 28 games for the Gold.[16]
Boston / Maine Celtics (2022)
editOn February 28, 2022, Ryan signed a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics.[8] He averaged 20.4 points in 14 games for the Maine Red Claws to finish the 2021–22 NBA G League season.[16] He made his first and only appearance for the Celtics on April 10, 2022, against the Memphis Grizzlies, scoring three points in five minutes.[17] The Celtics made it to the 2022 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games.[18]
Ryan joined the Celtics for the 2022 NBA Summer League.[16]
Los Angeles Lakers (2022)
editOn September 26, 2022, Ryan signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.[19] He made 37.5% of his 3-pointers in the preseason and earned the final spot on the team's 15-man roster out of training camp.[10][20] On November 2, he hit a corner 3-pointer to tie the game at the regulation buzzer against the New Orleans Pelicans, with the Lakers going on to win 120–117 in overtime. He had missed six of his first seven 3-point attempts against the Pelicans and finished the game with 11 points.[21] Ryan was waived by the Lakers on December 1.[22]
Minnesota Timberwolves / Iowa Wolves (2022–2023)
editOn December 8, 2022, Ryan signed a two-way contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves.[23]
On September 28, 2023, Ryan re-signed with the Timberwolves on another two-way contract,[24] but was waived on October 20.[25]
New Orleans Pelicans / Birmingham Squadron (2023–present)
editOn October 22, 2023, Ryan was claimed off waivers by the New Orleans Pelicans and subsequently signed to a two-way contract.[26] On November 2, Ryan had his first NBA start against the Pistons and on April 13, 2024, he signed a standard contract with the Pelicans.[27] On August 24, he was waived by the Pelicans,[28] but was re-signed three days later.[29]
Career statistics
editGP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
NBA
editRegular season
editYear | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021–22 | Boston | 1 | 0 | 5.3 | .200 | .200 | — | .0 | .0 | 1.0 | .0 | 3.0 |
2022–23 | L.A. Lakers | 12 | 0 | 10.8 | .306 | .371 | .800 | 1.2 | .3 | .2 | .0 | 3.9 |
2022–23 | Minnesota | 22 | 0 | 8.2 | .424 | .388 | .857 | .5 | .5 | .1 | .0 | 3.4 |
2023–24 | New Orleans | 28 | 1 | 13.9 | .434 | .451 | .929 | 1.4 | .6 | .2 | .0 | 5.4 |
Career | 63 | 1 | 11.2 | .398 | .411 | .885 | 1.0 | .5 | .2 | .0 | 4.4 |
Playoffs
editYear | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | New Orleans | 1 | 0 | 2.5 | .000 | .000 | — | 1.0 | .0 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 |
Career | 1 | 0 | 2.5 | .000 | .000 | — | 1.0 | .0 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 |
Personal life
editHe is the son of Richard and Laurie Ryan and has two siblings, Mikela and Michael. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics at Vanderbilt and worked on his MBA at Chattanooga.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Matt Ryan - 2016-17 MEN'S BASKETBALL ROSTER". UND.com. July 9, 2018. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
- ^ "Matt Ryan - Basketball-Reference.com". Basketball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
- ^ a b "Matt Ryan - 2019-20 Men's Basketball Roster". GoMocs.com. Archived from the original on November 26, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
- ^ Fallor, Evan (March 19, 2015). "Iona Prep's Matt Ryan named New York's Mr. Basketball". lohud.com. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ McLaughlin, Brian (May 29, 2015). "Meet Parade's 2015 All-America Basketball Teams". Parade.com. Archived from the original on May 30, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
- ^ Johnson, Jesse (April 25, 2017). "Vanderbilt gains Notre Dame transfer Matt Ryan". 247 Sports. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ Sparks, Adam (May 2, 2019). "Vanderbilt basketball: Matt Ryan transfers to Chattanooga, trims Jerry Stackhouse's first team". The Tennessean. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ a b George, Kyle (February 28, 2022). "Celtics Sign Matt Ryan To Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
- ^ a b c Baer, Jack (November 3, 2022). "Lakers' Matt Ryan goes from DoorDash driver to buzzer-beater hero in much-needed win over Pelicans". Yahoo.com. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ a b Goon, Kyle (October 15, 2022). "Matt Ryan survives cuts, makes Lakers' roster". The Orange County Register. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ Maher, Rory (September 27, 2021). "Nuggets Sign Matt Ryan, Set 20-Man Camp Roster". HoopsRumors.com. Archived from the original on October 30, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
- ^ "Denver Nuggets Announce 2021-22 Training Camp Roster and Schedule". NBA.com. September 27, 2021. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
- ^ Adams, Luke (October 11, 2021). "Nuggets Waive Matt Ryan". HoopsRumors.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
- ^ Denver Nuggets [@nuggets] (October 11, 2021). "OFFICIAL: We have signed Giorgi Bezhanishvili to an Exhibit 10 contract and have waived Matt Ryan. #MileHighBasketball" (Tweet). Retrieved November 26, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Grand Rapids Gold Announce 2021-22 Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. October 28, 2021. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Matt Ryan". RealGM.com. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ^ "Matt Ryan 2021-22 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ^ Reynolds, Tim (June 17, 2022). "Celtics take bitter with sweet after losing in NBA Finals". NBA.com. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
- ^ "Lakers Sign Dwayne Bacon and Matt Ryan". NBA.com. September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
- ^ Woike, Dan (November 30, 2022). "LeBron James, Austin Reaves power Lakers over Trail Blazers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
The team also will waive wing Matt Ryan, who made the team as the 15th player out of training camp.
- ^ "Ryan forces OT, Lakers rally for 120-117 win over Pelicans". ESPN.com. November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ "Lakers Waive Matt Ryan". NBA.com. December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ "Timberwolves Sign Matt Ryan to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. December 8, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ Stanton, Matt (September 28, 2023). "Timberwolves Announce Training Camp Roster and Information". NBA.com. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- ^ "Timberwolves Waive Four Players". NBA.com. October 20, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ "Pelicans Add Matt Ryan On Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. October 22, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Pelicans convert Matt Ryan to standard NBA contract". NBA.com. April 13, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
- ^ "New Orleans Pelicans waive Matt Ryan". NBA.com. August 24, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ "New Orleans Pelicans sign Matt Ryan". NBA.com. August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
External links
edit- Career statistics and player information from NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com
- Chattanooga Mocs bio
- Vanderbilt Commodores bio
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish bio
- RealGM.com profile