P.J. Washington Bio
Paul Jamaine Washington Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. Washington played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats and entered the NBA after being selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 12th overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft. He earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors in 2020 and was traded to the Dallas Mavericks at the February 2024 trade deadline, contributing to the team’s run to the 2024 NBA Finals.
Early Life and Background
Paul Jamaine Washington Jr. was born on August 23, 1998, in Louisville, Kentucky. His family moved several times during his childhood, living in St. Louis and Chicago before settling in Frisco, Texas, where Washington attended Lone Star High School briefly before transferring to Prime Prep Academy and later Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada.
Washington’s parents both played college basketball at Middle Tennessee State and later worked in education and business; his father served as a general manager at a car sales company and coached at the middle school level while his mother taught at his middle school. Washington has a brother, Spencer, and a sister, Alexandria.
Path to Basketball
Washington developed as a five-star recruit on the high school circuit and appeared in national showcase events, including the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic in 2017. At Findlay Prep he played alongside other top recruits and drew strong recruiting interest from major college programs.
He committed to the University of Kentucky and joined the Kentucky Wildcats for the 2017–2019 stretch. Washington’s performances at Kentucky, including a strong showing in the NCAA Tournament and recognition on All-SEC and All-American teams in 2019, positioned him for an early jump to the NBA draft.
P.J. Washington Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
Washington arrived at Kentucky as a highly rated freshman in 2017 and became a regular contributor through his two collegiate seasons. As a freshman he averaged double-digit scoring and logged important minutes despite playing through a pinkie injury that later required surgery.
In his sophomore season Washington raised his profile with improved production and earned First-team All-SEC and Third-team All-American honors in 2019. After Kentucky’s 2019 NCAA Tournament exit, he declared for the 2019 NBA draft and forewent the remainder of his collegiate eligibility.
Charlotte Hornets Breakthrough (2019–2024)
Selected 12th overall in the 2019 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets, Washington signed with the team and made an immediate impact in his NBA debut on October 23, 2019, when he scored 27 points and made seven three-pointers. That performance set an NBA record for most three-pointers in a player’s debut. He finished his rookie season with play that earned him selection to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2020.
Across his tenure with Charlotte, Washington recorded several notable scoring outbursts, including a then career-high 42 points against the Sacramento Kings in February 2021 and a career-high 43 points in a March 28, 2023 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. He re-signed with the Hornets on a three-year contract and established himself as a starting forward with perimeter shooting and the ability to create his own offense.
Dallas Mavericks Era (2024–Present)
On February 8, 2024, Washington was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He debuted for Dallas on February 10, 2024, producing 14 points and five rebounds in a win. As the 2024 postseason progressed, Washington delivered key contributions, including a 32-point game with a game-winning shot on April 5, 2024, in a regular-season victory over the Golden State Warriors and pivotal playoff scoring that helped Dallas advance through the Western Conference.
During the 2024 playoffs Washington was involved in several high-profile moments, including an ejection in the first round after a confrontation with Russell Westbrook and a critical free-throw sequence in a Western Conference Semifinals series-clinching win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Washington and the Mavericks advanced to the 2024 NBA Finals, where the team fell to the Boston Celtics in five games.
Driving Style and Strengths
Washington plays primarily at power forward with the versatility to slide to small forward, combining size and shooting ability to space the floor. He is known for catch-and-shoot range, the capacity to knock down spot-up threes, and the scoring touch to produce high-volume scoring nights. His physical frame and rebounding instincts allow him to defend multiple frontcourt positions and contribute on the glass.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Washington’s professional career include his record-setting NBA debut with seven three-pointers, selection to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2020, season-high scoring performances of 42 and 43 points, and playing a substantive role in the Dallas Mavericks’ 2024 playoff run to the NBA Finals.
P.J. Washington Career Wins
Washington’s career highlights include individual game-winning and high-scoring performances and postseason contributions that aided team advancement. He has accumulated multiple standout games in both Charlotte and Dallas that demonstrated his scoring range and late-game poise.
NBA Highlights
Across the NBA, Washington’s verified highlights include his October 23, 2019 NBA debut with 27 points and seven three-pointers, his 2019–20 All-Rookie Second Team selection, and consecutive career-high scoring games, including a 43-point performance in March 2023 and a matching 43 points in January 2024. He played a key scoring role for Dallas in the 2024 playoffs.
Other Wins & Perfromances
At the collegiate and youth levels, Washington earned Third-team All-American and First-team All-SEC honors in 2019 and was a McDonald’s All-American in 2017. Those accolades reflect his progression from high school prospect to a first-round NBA draft pick.
P.J. Washington Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Washington’s parents both played basketball at Middle Tennessee State. His father later worked as a general manager in car sales and coached at the middle school level, while his mother taught at his middle school. The family has supported Washington’s development from youth basketball through the NBA.
Personal Life
Washington married Alisah Chanel in October 2023. He has two sons: Paul Jamaine Washington III, born in 2021, and Preston, born in 2023. Washington resides in Frisco, Texas.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Washington remained under contract with the Dallas Mavericks and continued to occupy a rotational starting role as a forward valued for shooting and scoring. In September 2025 he signed a four-year extension with Dallas that runs through the 2029 season, reflecting the franchise’s commitment to his role moving forward.
The 2025 outlook centers on Washington maintaining floor spacing, contributing consistent perimeter shooting, and leveraging playoff experience to provide scoring depth. His combination of shooting and size gives the Mavericks a multi-positional forward who can impact both regular-season matchups and postseason rotations.