Torrey Craig has been around the world and back. A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Craig played basketball on the collegiate level at the University of South Carolina Upstate. He was named an honorable mention All-American and Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year in 2012. He ended his four-year collegiate career in 2014 with 16.2 points per game average. Unfortunately, Craig would not hear his name called in the 2014 NBA Draft. His hoop dreams took the alternative route as Craig started his professional basketball career in New Zealand. As a member of the Wellington Saints, he won a championship and the New Zealand NBL Most Valuable Player Award in 2015. Craig averaged 20.9 points per game.
He would return to the United States a few years later to continue his basketball journey. Craig’s NBA career started in the Summer League in 2017. In December of the same year, he would take the ultimate step up as he became an official member of the Denver Nuggets. He averaged 5.4 points per game.
Three years later Craig signed with the Milwaukee Bucks. He appeared in 18 games. Four months later he was traded to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for cash. In 32 games with the Suns, Torrey Craig posted some of his best numbers. Now the undrafted NBA baller finds himself on a team that just earned a trip to the NBA Finals.
The 2021 NBA Finals has a good dose of star power. The Phoenix Suns Point guard Chris Paul and the Milwaukee Bucks Power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo look to lead their respective teams to an NBA championship. Chris Paul has been an elite player in the NBA for 16 seasons. Now he finally gets his first opportunity to earn a championship. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been considered one of the best overall players in the NBA for the past couple of years. He needs to earn an NBA championship to solidify his legacy. However, regardless of the outcome, Torrey Craig is the only player guaranteed to leave the NBA Finals with a ring. If the Phoenix Suns wins he will get an NBA championship ring. If his former team the Milwaukee Bucks win, then Craig has the option to accept a championship ring.
Torrey Craig is an undrafted NBA player who didn’t have many options at the start of his NBA career. Seven years later he’s playing with a full house as he is in a position of if he loses, he still comes out a winner.
