Koby Brea Bio
Koby Brea (born November 6, 2002) is a Dominican-American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He signed a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns and their NBA G League affiliate, the Valley Suns, after being drafted in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft. Brea played college basketball for the Dayton Flyers and the Kentucky Wildcats before beginning his professional career. He was selected with the 41st overall pick by the Golden State Warriors in the 2025 NBA Draft and immediately traded to the Phoenix Suns.
Early Life and Background
Koby Brea was born on November 6, 2002, in New York City, New York. His parents are both from the Dominican Republic, and he grew up in Washington Heights, a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan. Brea attended Norman Thomas High School in Manhattan as a freshman, where he initially tried out for the basketball team but was cut. He then transferred to Monsignor Scanlan High School in The Bronx as a sophomore and played for the junior varsity team.
After working on his game during his sophomore year, Brea earned a spot on the Monsignor Scanlan varsity team as a junior. He averaged 18 points and five rebounds per game that season. As a senior, he served as team captain and improved his production to 20.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. His outstanding performance earned him second-team All-New York honors. Following his high school career, Brea committed to play college basketball for the University of Dayton Flyers.
Path to Professional Basketball
During his senior year of high school, Brea established himself as a productive scoring option with leadership qualities that attracted college recruiters. His performance at Monsignor Scanlan High School, combined with his 20-plus points per game average, convinced Dayton to offer him a scholarship. The transition from high school to college basketball required significant adjustments, as he moved from the New York City Public Schools Athletic League to the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Brea arrived at Dayton as a freshman during the 2020-21 season and experienced the typical challenges of adapting to the college game. He appeared in limited games and averaged just 2.9 points per game. However, his dedication to improvement during his sophomore year paid off, as he became a key contributor off the bench for the Flyers. His shooting ability, particularly from three-point range, became his signature skill that would define his college career and eventual NBA prospects.
Koby Brea Career
Dayton Flyers Years (2020–2024)
Brea emerged as a valuable role player for Dayton during his sophomore season in 2021-22. He averaged 8.1 points per game and shot an impressive 42.3 percent from three-point range. His ability to space the floor and provide instant offense off the bench made him one of the top sixth men in the Atlantic 10 Conference. For his efforts, he was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Sixth Man of the Year, recognizing him as the best bench player in the league.
Following his breakthrough season, Brea faced a significant setback. After the 2021-22 campaign, he discovered that he had suffered stress fractures in both of his legs. He chose not to undergo surgery immediately, which caused him to miss practice and the beginning of the 2022-23 season as he recovered. Brea returned to action that season and appeared in 28 games while averaging 6.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. His three-point shooting percentage dropped to 37.0 percent as he played through pain throughout the season. After the season concluded, he decided to have surgery, which involved having metal rods inserted into his legs. He spent several weeks in a wheelchair during his recovery.
Healthy and fully recovered, Brea returned for his senior season in 2023-24 and delivered his best statistical campaign. He appeared in all 33 games and averaged 11.1 points per game. Most impressively, he led the entire nation in three-point shooting percentage, making an exceptional 49.8 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. His sharpshooting helped Dayton advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. His outstanding performance earned him Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year honors for the second time in his career, making him one of only two players in conference history to achieve that distinction.
Kentucky Wildcats Transfer (2024–2025)
For his final season of college eligibility, Brea transferred to the Kentucky Wildcats in 2024. Joining one of the premier basketball programs in the country, he continued to demonstrate his exceptional shooting ability. Brea averaged 11.6 points per game during the 2024-25 season and led the entire Southeastern Conference in three-point shooting with a 43.5 percent accuracy rate. His performance at Kentucky solidified his reputation as one of the best shooters in college basketball and strengthened his case for an NBA career.
Phoenix Suns Era (2025–Present)
Brea declared for the 2025 NBA Draft following his standout senior season at Kentucky. The Golden State Warriors selected him with the 41st overall pick in the second round. However, his draft rights were immediately traded to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the draft rights to the 52nd and 59th overall picks. The trade became official on July 6, 2025. Brea signed a two-way contract with the Suns, meaning he would split time between the NBA team and their G League affiliate, the Valley Suns.
Driving Style and Strengths
Brea has established himself as an elite three-point shooter throughout his basketball career. His ability to shoot with high efficiency from beyond the arc, including a national-leading 49.8 percent conversion rate during his senior year at Dayton, defines his offensive game. He demonstrates consistent form on his shot and can make contested looks from long range. His shooting ability projects well to the NBA, where floor spacing is highly valued. As a sixth man throughout college, he showed his ability to contribute immediately without needing to be the primary option, making him a potentially valuable piece for a team looking for bench scoring.
Notable Events and Milestones
Several key moments shaped Brea’s path to the NBA. Being named Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year twice, including becoming one of only two players in conference history to earn the honor twice, highlighted his consistent production over multiple seasons. His national leadership in three-point percentage during the 2023-24 season brought national attention to his shooting prowess. The adversity he faced with his leg injuries and subsequent recovery demonstrated his mental toughness and commitment to the sport. His selection in the 2025 NBA Draft represented the culmination of his journey from a high school freshman who was cut from his team to a professional basketball player.
Koby Brea Career Wins
Throughout his collegiate career spanning four seasons, Brea accumulated significant achievements at both Dayton and Kentucky. His greatest success came as a sixth man, where his scoring ability and three-point shooting provided instant offense for his teams. His two Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year awards represent his most significant career honors to date.
College Career Highlights
Brea’s most decorated season came during his time at Dayton, where he earned Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year honors twice, in 2022 and 2024. He was the national leader in three-point percentage during the 2023-24 season, converting 49.8 percent of his attempts. At Kentucky during the 2024-25 season, he led the Southeastern Conference in three-point shooting at 43.5 percent. His career high point total came during his senior season at Kentucky, where he averaged 11.6 points per game against the strongest competition in college basketball.
Other Achievements
Before his college career, Brea earned second-team All-New York honors during his senior season at Monsignor Scanlan High School. He also represented the Dominican Republic on the under-17 national team in 2019, participating in the U17 Centrobasket tournament where he averaged 9.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. Those international experiences provided him with valuable competition against the best young players from the Caribbean region.
Koby Brea Family
Family Background
Brea was born in New York City to parents who both immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic. He grew up in Washington Heights, a predominantly Dominican neighborhood in Upper Manhattan. His heritage has remained an important part of his identity throughout his life, and he represented the Dominican Republic in international competition as a teenager.
Personal Life
Brea maintains active profiles on social media, where he shares updates about his basketball career with his followers. He completed his college education at both Dayton and Kentucky, graduating from the basketball programs at both institutions. His journey from being cut from his high school freshman team to earning a spot on an NBA roster represents a significant personal accomplishment and demonstrates his perseverance through adversity.
2025 Season Performance
Following his selection in the 2025 NBA Draft and subsequent trade to the Phoenix Suns, Brea began his professional career with the organization. Signed to a two-way contract, he is expected to spend time developing with the Valley Suns in the NBA G League while also being available for call-ups to the NBA roster. The Suns organization sees potential in his three-point shooting ability as a valuable asset for their system.
Brea enters the 2025 season as a rookie looking to establish himself in the NBA. His primary strength, elite three-point shooting, aligns well with modern NBA offensive strategies that emphasize floor spacing and perimeter scoring. The two-way contract structure allows the Suns development staff to work with him consistently and help him adjust to the speed and physicality of professional basketball while giving him opportunities to showcase his skills at the NBA level.
The outlook for Brea’s rookie season centers on his development as a shooter and his adaptation to the professional game. He will look to follow in the footsteps of other recent players who transitioned from college sixth men to productive NBA contributors. With his proven ability to shoot at a high percentage from three-point range and his experience playing in competitive conferences like the Atlantic 10 and Southeastern Conference, Brea has the foundational skills necessary to compete for minutes on an NBA roster as his career progresses.