Jahmir Young is grinder who took the long road to major college basketball, starring at Charlotte as an unheralded recruit before transferring to Maryland and establishing himself as a top point guard nationally. So it should come as no surprise that Young has climbed from undrafted and unmentioned free agent to G league to NBA player, with his best chance yet arriving this season.
The Miami Heat converted the former Terps star's Exhibit 10 contract into a two-way deal on Saturday, meaning he could earn more than $2 million this season and should have a legitimate chance to earn a roster spot. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, one of the NBA's best developers of under-the-radar guys like Young, has been impressed.
"He's got a good way about him. He's an experienced player. That speed and quickness with the ball, his ability to get in the paint, knock down threes, is unique," Spoelstra said, per the Miami Herald.
Last year, Young split the season between Chicago and the Grand Rapids Gold and Windy City Bulls of the G League. He appeared in 30 total regular season G League games and averaged 21.5 points, 7.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 2.00 steals and 34.5 minutes while shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 86.1 percent from the foul line. He recorded 20 20-point games, including four 30-point performances and scored a season-high 40 points.
Playing for the Bulls Summer League team he set a team summer league record with 37 points against Milwaukee in July. In four preseason games with the Heat, he averaged 9.0 points, 2.3 assists, 1.5 rebounds, 1.25 steals and 18.8 minutes while shooting 44.8 percent from the field, 50 percent from three-point range and a perfect 6-of-6 from the line. That earned him the Heat's final open two-way deal and is likely to earn him some chances for real minutes early in the season.
"I was with my agent," Young told the Miami Herald. "We went out to dinner and he just broke it to me. My emotions, of course I'm happy. I called my mom right away. But yeah, just glad and thankful for the opportunity."
Nothing is guaranteed for Young, though, or anyone on a two-way deal.
"They just have to continue to stack those days day after day," Spoelstra said. "It's a tough decision process, but that's the life of players trying to make it and get a guaranteed contract."
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