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Patrick Connaughton, born January 6, 1993, is an American professional basketball player who made a significant impact in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks. Known for his versatility and athleticism, Connaughton has a unique background that includes a promising career in baseball.
Excellence in high school
Connaughton attended St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers, Massachusetts, where he excelled in football, baseball and basketball. As a quarterback in football and a standout in baseball and basketball, he attracted the attention of several NCAA Division I schools, including Boston College, the University of Virginia, and his original top pick , the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. However, his trajectory changed dramatically during the summer between his junior and senior years. Connaughton had only received a basketball offer from Bentley University, a Division II school, but a standout performance at the Amateur Athletic Union national tournament in Orlando, Fla., transformed his outlook. His exceptional week, marked by a 33-point, 20-rebound game, earned him multiple basketball scholarship offers.
Academic success at Notre Dame
Connaughton chose the University of Notre Dame, where he played baseball and basketball. As a freshman on the basketball team, he appeared in all 34 games, averaging 7.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. He then joined the baseball team as a relief pitcher. During his sophomore year, he averaged 8.9 points per game in basketball and a 1.71 ERA in baseball. During the summer, he played for the Harwich Mariners in the Cape Cod Baseball League.
His junior year saw him improve to 13.8 points per game in basketball while maintaining a 3.92 ERA in baseball. Despite the risk to his baseball draft prospects, Connaughton decided to return to Notre Dame for his senior basketball season. The move likely cost him a higher draft position in baseball, but he was drafted in the fourth round by the Baltimore Orioles in 2014, receiving a $428,000 signing bonus with permission to finish his basketball season -senior ball.
Debut in professional baseball
Connaughton made his professional baseball debut with the Aberdeen IronBirds of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League, impressing with a 96 mph fastball. However, he left the team in July 2014 to return to Notre Dame for his senior basketball season. Although the Orioles retained his baseball rights until 2020, Connaughton focused entirely on basketball after being drafted into the NBA.
NBA course
In the 2015 NBA Draft, Connaughton was selected 41st overall by the Brooklyn Nets and was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. He signed a three-year contract with the Blazers, which included a stipulation preventing him from playing professional baseball during the term of the contract. Connaughton made his NBA debut on October 30, 2015 and appeared in 34 games as a rookie.
His career highlights with the Trail Blazers included a career-high 19 points in April 2017 and a 24-point performance in the 2017–18 season opener. In August 2018, Connaughton signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he has since become a full player.
Championship glory with the Bucks
Connaughton participated in the Slam Dunk Contest during the 2020 NBA All-Star Game and played a crucial role in the Bucks winning the 2021 NBA championship. He averaged 9.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting at 44.1% at three points in the final. On November 10, 2021, he scored a season-high 23 points against the New York Knicks, making a career-high seven three-pointers.
Despite having surgery on his right hand in February 2022, Connaughton returned to make significant contributions in the playoffs, including a 20-point performance against the Chicago Bulls. In June 2022, he opted into his $5.7 million player option and subsequently signed a three-year extension worth $28.5 million with the Bucks.
Future prospects
As of January 26, 2023, Connaughton continues to be a key player for the Bucks, scoring 19 points and recording a game-high 12 rebounds against the Denver Nuggets. His journey from a high school multi-sport star to an NBA champion demonstrates his versatility, dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in professional sports.
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