Justin Patton has bounced around the NBA and G League since getting drafted in 2017. He last appeared in an NBA game in January 2020 with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Justin Patton, a former Omaha North and Creighton basketball standout, has agreed to a two-way deal with the Houston Rockets.
The Rockets announced Friday they've called Patton up, and he'll join the NBA roster ahead of Houston's next scheduled game against Chicago on Monday.
The 23-year-old Patton had spent the early portion of the month inside the G League bubble in Orlando with the Westchester Knicks. He had a monster game in just 29 minutes of action Thursday with 15 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and two blocks.
And now he’s joining the Houston organization.
Michael Scotto, of HoopsHype.com, was the first to report the news Thursday night. Patton tweeted Thursday he’s “on a mission.”
The two-way deal gives Houston the freedom to move Patton back and forth between its NBA roster and the G League squad, while adjusting his salary based on the number of days he spends with the Rockets.
Houston could use some added depth at the center position with Christian Wood recently suffering an ankle injury.
Patton was the No. 16 overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft following a dynamic redshirt freshman season at Creighton. The 7-footer won the Big East’s freshman of the year award.
But injuries have hampered his professional career. He’s played in just nine NBA games as he’s bounced around the league.
Minnesota drafted Patton but traded him to Philadelphia. Dallas traded for him and waived him the next day. Then Oklahoma City picked him up before Detroit signed him to a one-year deal last summer.
If Patton were to get some NBA action this season, he'd join Doug McDermott (Indiana) as the only former Creighton products currently playing in the NBA. McDermott is averaging a career-best 13.1 points per game through 28 contests.
Longtime NBA vets Kyle Korver and Anthony Tolliver are free agents.
Former Jays guards Ty-Shon Alexander (Canton Charge) and Khyri Thomas (Austin Spurs) are competing inside the G League bubble this month. Alexander signed a two-way deal with Phoenix after going undrafted in November.
Photos: Creighton's NBA draft picks
Ed Cole
Ed Cole (1955)
Drafted: 4th round, No. 29 overall
Team: New York Knicks
Dick Harvey
Dick Harvey (1960)
Drafted: 10th round, No. 71 overall
Team: Minneapolis Lakers
Paul Silas
Paul Silas (1964)
Drafted: 2nd round, No. 12 overall
Team: St. Louis Hawks
Elton McGriff
Elton McGriff (1965)
Drafted: 12th round, No. 93 overall
Team: St. Louis Hawks
Neil Johnson
Neil Johnson (1966)
Drafted: 2nd round, No. 15 overall
Team: Baltimore Bullets
Tim Powers
Tim Powers (1967)
Drafted: 6th round, No. 65 overall
Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Wally Anderzunas
Wally Anderzunas (1968)
Drafted: 6th round, No. 70 overall
Team: Detroit Pistons
Bob Portman
Bob Portman (1969)
Drafted: 1st round, No. 7 overall
Team: San Francisco Warriors
Wally Anderzunas
Wally Anderzunas (1969)
Drafted: 2nd round, No. 25 overall
Team: Atlanta Hawks
Joe Bergman
Joe Bergman (1970)
Drafted: 7th round, No. 104 overall
Team: San Francisco Warriors
Cyril Baptiste
Cyril Baptiste (1971)
Drafted: 1st round, No. 3 overall*
Team: San Francisco Warriors
*—Baptiste was drafted in the NBA's Hardship Draft for underclassmen
Joe Bergman
Joe Bergman (1971)
Drafted: 2nd round, No. 31 overall
Team: Cincinnati Royals
Gene Harmon
Gene Harmon (1974)
Drafted: 6th round, No. 107 overall
Team: Boston Celtics
Ralph Bobik
Ralph Bobik (1974)
Drafted: 5th round, No. 76 overall
Team: Phoenix Suns
Doug Brookins
Doug Brookins (1975)
Drafted: 9th round, No. 160 overall
Team: Washington Bullets
Rick Apke
Rick Apke (1978)
Drafted: 3rd round, No. 58 overall
Team: Washington Bullets
John Johnson
John Johnson (1979)
Drafted: 7th round, No. 144 overall
Team: Denver Nuggets
Kevin McKenna
Kevin McKenna (1981)
Drafted: 4th round, No. 88 overall
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
George Morrow
George Morrow (1981)
Drafted: 8th round, No. 182 overall
Team: Boston Celtics
Daryl Stovall
Daryl Stovall (1982)
Drafted: 10th round, No. 207 overall
Team: San Diego Clippers
Greg Brandon
Greg Brandon (1984)
Drafted: 10th round, No. 219 overall
Team: Seattle SuperSonics
Benoit Benjamin
Benoit Benjamin (1985)
Drafted: 1st round, No. 3 overall
Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Vernon Moore
Vernon Moore (1985)
Drafted: 3rd round, No. 58 overall
Team: Washington Bullets
Chad Gallagher
Chad Gallagher (1991)
Drafted: 2nd round, No. 32 overall
Team: Phoenix Suns
Rodney Buford
Rodney Buford (1999)
Drafted: 2nd round, No. 53 overall
Team: Miami Heat
Kyle Korver
Kyle Korver in 2003.
Doug McDermott
Doug McDermott (2014)
Drafted: 1st round, No. 11 overall
Team: Denver Nuggets
Justin Patton
Justin Patton (2017)
Drafted: 1st round, No. 16 overall
Team: Minnesota Timberwolves (through the Chicago Bulls)
Khyri Thomas
Khyri Thomas (2018)
Drafted: 2nd round, No. 38 overall
Team: Detroit Pistons (through the Philadelphia 76ers)
Jon Nyatawa
Reporter - Creighton athletics
Jon covers Creighton athletics, the College World Series and more for The World-Herald. Follow him on Twitter @JonNyatawa. Phone: 402-444-6611
