David Nwaba with the Brooklyn Nets during 2019-20 season (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE)
Photo by: NBAE via Getty Images
Former Mustang David Nwaba Signs with Houston Rockets
6/24/2020 3:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SAN LUIS OBISPO – The first Cal Poly men's basketball player to have signed with and appeared for an NBA franchise, David Nwaba joined his fifth NBA team on Wednesday as the guard signed a free agent deal with the Houston Rockets.
Nwaba joins Houston after making 20 appearances for the Brooklyn Nets last winter. Nwaba shot 42.9 percent from three-point range for Brooklyn before his 2019-20 season was derailed by an injury. Nwaba is anticipated to return to the floor with Houston for the 2020-21 season.
Two seasons ago, Nwaba played in 51 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers and averaged 6.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 19.3 minutes per game.
With the Chicago Bulls during the 2017-18 season, Nwaba averaged 7.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in 70 appearances and 21 starts.
Undrafted following his Cal Poly (2013-16) career, Nwaba signed with the Los Angeles Lakers' NBA G League affiliate – the Los Angeles D-Fenders – in November 2016. In 38 appearances and 29 starts with the D-Fenders, Nwaba averaged 13.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 64.5 percent from the floor. He was also named to the All-NBA Development League All-Defensive Team that season.
Nwaba then signed the first of two 10-day contracts with the Lakers in February 2018 before being signed through the remainder of the 2016-17 season. In 20 games and two starts with Los Angeles, Nwaba averaged 6.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.
Through four NBA seasons, Nwaba is averaging 6.9 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in 161 appearances and 37 starts.
One of Cal Poly's top two scorers during each of his three years and a member of the program's 2014 NCAA Tournament squad, Nwaba led the Mustangs during his 2015-16 senior season in points (12.5), rebounds (6.3), assists (3.5) and steals (1.3) per game. Nwaba finished his career ranked 15th in program history with 465 rebounds and as one of only 24 players to score 1,000-plus career points.
Nwaba joins Houston after making 20 appearances for the Brooklyn Nets last winter. Nwaba shot 42.9 percent from three-point range for Brooklyn before his 2019-20 season was derailed by an injury. Nwaba is anticipated to return to the floor with Houston for the 2020-21 season.
Two seasons ago, Nwaba played in 51 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers and averaged 6.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 19.3 minutes per game.
With the Chicago Bulls during the 2017-18 season, Nwaba averaged 7.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in 70 appearances and 21 starts.
Undrafted following his Cal Poly (2013-16) career, Nwaba signed with the Los Angeles Lakers' NBA G League affiliate – the Los Angeles D-Fenders – in November 2016. In 38 appearances and 29 starts with the D-Fenders, Nwaba averaged 13.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 64.5 percent from the floor. He was also named to the All-NBA Development League All-Defensive Team that season.
Nwaba then signed the first of two 10-day contracts with the Lakers in February 2018 before being signed through the remainder of the 2016-17 season. In 20 games and two starts with Los Angeles, Nwaba averaged 6.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.
Through four NBA seasons, Nwaba is averaging 6.9 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in 161 appearances and 37 starts.
One of Cal Poly's top two scorers during each of his three years and a member of the program's 2014 NCAA Tournament squad, Nwaba led the Mustangs during his 2015-16 senior season in points (12.5), rebounds (6.3), assists (3.5) and steals (1.3) per game. Nwaba finished his career ranked 15th in program history with 465 rebounds and as one of only 24 players to score 1,000-plus career points.
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