14-Year NBA Veteran Wesley Matthews Now Calls Atlanta Hawks Home

NBA veteran Wesley Matthews finds himself a new home in Atlanta. The Atlanta Hawks recently confirmed the signing, this recent shift marks another significant milestone in Matthews’ diverse career path across the basketball landscape.

Matthews brings with him an impressive record of 950 games, 754 of which he started. His NBA journey, spanning 14 years, has seen him don the jerseys of multiple teams, starting with the Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks, and on to the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers. He later joined the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks (2019–2023). Among undrafted players, only three other NBA stalwarts – Moses Malone (1,329), Ben Wallace (1,088), and Avery Johnson (1,054) – have played more games than Matthews.

Further cementing his position in NBA lore, Matthews holds the distinction of making the most three-pointers – 1,821 – for an undrafted player. Among active players, he ranks 10th for the number of three-pointers.

In his latest season with the Bucks (2022-23), Matthews played 52 games, averaging 3.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game. His career total now stands at 11,100 points, which he achieved on Jan. 23, 2023, during a 150-130 win over the Detroit Pistons. This accomplishment places him third in the list of most points scored by an undrafted player in NBA history, following Moses Malone (27,409 points) and David Wesley (11,842 points).

Matthews was twice invited to the NBA All-Star Weekend’s three-point contest in 2015 and 2017. As a testament to his early career promise, he also participated in the 2011 Rising Stars Challenge in his second NBA season.

Throughout his career, Matthews has consistently showcased his skills in the playoffs, participating in nine seasons out of his total 14, including the past five years consecutively since 2019. His playoff stats are commendable, with averages of 9.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.0 steals across 66 games, where he started 59.

This recent contract with the Atlanta Hawks adds a new chapter to Wesley Matthews’ notable career, which continues to be an exemplar of consistent performance and perseverance.

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