Bub Carrington

Bub Carrington Bio

Carlton Kaleel “Bub” Carrington III is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on July 21, 2005, in Baltimore, Maryland, Carrington was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the fourteenth overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft before being traded to the Wizards during the draft. He played college basketball for the Pittsburgh Panthers, where his exceptional play as a freshman earned him ACC All-Rookie team honors and established him as one of the most promising young guards in basketball. Carrington has established himself as a durable and productive player through his first two professional seasons, earning NBA All-Rookie Second Team recognition in 2025.

Early Life and Background

Carrington was born on July 21, 2005, in Baltimore, Maryland, to parents Carlton “Bub” Carrington and Karima Carrington. He was the third person in his family to carry the name Carlton Kaleel Carrington, and he received the nickname “Bub” after his father, who was a basketball coach and shared the same nickname. The younger Carrington was known as “lil’ bub” before the nickname was shortened to simply “Bub” over time. He grew up in a basketball-oriented household that helped foster his love and development for the game from an early age.

Carrington attended Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore, Maryland, where he excelled in multiple sports beyond basketball, also playing baseball and football while being a member of the school’s chess club. His versatility and competitive drive were evident from his early high school years, as he balanced these diverse athletic pursuits alongside his academic responsibilities. The combination of his natural abilities and varied athletic background contributed to his development as a well-rounded athlete with strong hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness.

Path to Basketball

During his high school career at Saint Frances Academy, Carrington established himself as one of the top prospects in the state of Maryland. He scored over 2,000 points in his high school career and maintained impressive shooting splits of .490 from the field, .380 from three-point range, and .860 from the free-throw line. After his junior year, he received his first collegiate offers and committed to playing for the University of Pittsburgh, choosing the Panthers over eight other programs that had recruited him. He was ranked by 247Sports as a four-star recruit, the 99th-best prospect nationally, and the third-best player from the state of Maryland.

Carrington also competed with Team Melo in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League travel circuit, which provided him with high-level competition against other top prospects from across the country. His performance in the EYBL earned him Breakout Player of the Session honors and a spot on the second-team All-Session team, while helping his team reach the championship game. These showcase events against elite competition helped prepare him for the physical and mental demands of playing at the highest levels of basketball.

As a senior during the 2022-23 season, Carrington led Saint Frances to a 29-11 overall record and an 11-3 mark in the Baltimore Catholic League. He was named first-team All-BCL and to the BCL All-Tournament team while averaging more than 26 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals per game. He also guided Saint Frances to the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament championship, the second such title during his tenure, and set a school record with more than 1,000 points scored in a single season. His exceptional senior campaign earned him MVP honors at the DTLR Classic, Jumpman Classic, R1A Classic, More Than Basketball Game, and the MLK Classic, where he set a tournament record with 42 points scored.

Bub Carrington Career

College Career (2023–2024)

Carrington joined the Pittsburgh Panthers for the start of the 2023-24 season and immediately earned a starting role as a true freshman. He made his collegiate debut in the exhibition opener against the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and followed that with his first regular-season start against North Carolina A&T. In that debut against North Carolina A&T, Carrington recorded an extraordinary performance, tallying 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists for the first triple-double in a debut in school history. His feat marked only the second triple-double in ACC debut history and was the first by a Pittsburgh player to accomplish this milestone since 1998.

His exceptional start to his college career earned him ACC Rookie of the Week honors, and he received the award again the following week, becoming the first Pittsburgh player to earn back-to-back ACC Rookie of the Week selections since the 2007-08 season. His consistent high-level performances throughout his freshman season solidified his reputation as one of the top incoming guards in the country. Carrington’s ability to contribute across multiple statistical categories while playing with poise and maturity beyond his years made him an attractive prospect for NBA teams.

Professional Career (2024–Present)

On June 26, 2024, Carrington was selected with the fourteenth overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. However, shortly after the selection, he was traded to the Washington Wizards along with Malcolm Brogdon in exchange for Deni Avdija. On July 7, 2024, he officially signed with the Wizards, beginning his professional career with his hometown team given his Maryland origins. The trade provided him with an immediate opportunity to compete in the NBA while joining a young Wizards roster that emphasized player development.

Washington Wizards Era (2024–Present)

Carrington wasted no time establishing himself as a durable and reliable contributor for the Wizards during his rookie season. He was one of only eleven NBA players who appeared in all 82 regular-season games during his first year, demonstrating the kind of availability and consistency that NBA teams value highly in young players. He finished his rookie campaign averaging 9.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game while continuing to develop his offensive repertoire and defensive instincts. His performance throughout the season earned recognition from the league, as he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in May 2025.

During his second season with the Wizards, Carrington continued his remarkable durability streak by appearing in all 82 games once again. This achievement made him the first player since Karl-Anthony Towns during the 2016-17 season to play every game in each of his first two professional seasons, a testament to his physical conditioning and availability. He improved his scoring average to 10.7 points per game while also contributing 3.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists per contest. The continued growth in his offensive production, combined with his steady presence in the lineup, positioned him as a building block for the Wizards’ future plans.

Playing Style and Strengths

Carrington plays the point guard and shooting guard positions, listed at 6 feet 4 inches and 190 pounds. His size at the guard position allows him to see over defenses while possessing the ball-handling skills necessary to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. His collegiate triple-double debut demonstrated his ability to impact games across multiple statistical categories rather than relying solely on scoring. His shooting splits throughout his development indicate a capable perimeter shooter with solid free-throw conversion, suggesting continued growth potential in his offensive efficiency as he gains experience.

Notable Events and Milestones

His triple-double in his college debut against North Carolina A&T remains one of the most historic freshman performances in recent college basketball memory, marking only the second such achievement in ACC history and the first at Pittsburgh since 1998. Being selected fourteenth overall in the 2024 NBA draft represented the culmination of years of development at Saint Frances Academy and Pittsburgh. The rare achievement of playing every game in each of his first two professional seasons distinguished him among his draft class peers and demonstrated the kind of professional approach and physical readiness that NBA teams covet in young players.

Bub Carrington Career Highlights

Across his collegiate and professional career, Carrington has accumulated notable achievements that highlight his impact at every level of competition. His freshman season at Pittsburgh established him as one of the ACC’s top newcomers, and his transition to the NBA was marked by immediate playing time and production. His durability combined with steady statistical improvement through two NBA seasons has positioned him among the promising young guards in the league.

College Highlights

Carrington’s most memorable collegiate achievement remains his triple-double debut, recording 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists against North Carolina A&T in his first regular-season game for Pittsburgh. This performance set the tone for his entire freshman season and announced his arrival as a future professional player. He was named ACC Rookie of the Week twice during his debut season, becoming the first Pittsburgh player to achieve back-to-back weekly honors since the 2007-08 season. His ACC All-Rookie team selection at season’s end recognized his status as one of the top first-year players in the conference.

Professional Highlights

During his rookie NBA season, Carrington appeared in all 82 games while averaging 9.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, earning NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors in 2025. He built upon this foundation during his second season by again appearing in all 82 games and improving his scoring average to 10.7 points per game along with 4.6 assists per game. The historic achievement of playing every game in each of his first two seasons placed him in rare company in NBA history.

Bub Carrington Family

Family Background and Basketball Lineage

Carrington comes from a basketball family, as his father, Carlton “Bub” Carrington, was a basketball coach who played and worked in the sport. The family nickname “Bub” originated from his father’s coaching career, with the younger Carrington initially being called “lil’ bub” before the name was shortened. His father’s influence in basketball played a significant role in Carrington’s development and love for the game from an early age. Carrington is also a second cousin of retired NBA player Rudy Gay, giving him connections to professional basketball beyond his immediate family.

Personal Life

Carrington was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and has two siblings, Kareem and Faith. His mother is Karima Carrington, and his father, Carlton “Bub” Carrington, passed away in 2025. The basketball connection runs deep in his family, with his father’s coaching background providing him with early mentorship and access to the sport. Carrington attended Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore, where he balanced basketball with participation in baseball, football, and chess club, demonstrating his diverse interests and competitive nature across multiple domains during his formative years.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025-26 NBA season marked Carrington’s second year with the Washington Wizards and represented a continued step forward in his development as a professional player. He maintained his remarkable availability by appearing in all 82 games for the second consecutive season, joining Karl-Anthony Towns as the only players since 2016-17 to accomplish this feat in each of their first two seasons. This durability signaled his commitment to professional preparation and his importance to the Wizards’ long-term plans.

Carrington’s second-season averages of 10.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game showed continued offensive growth while demonstrating the kind of all-around contributions that characterize productive NBA guards. The Wizards’ developmental approach provided him with consistent minutes and opportunities to refine his game against the league’s top competition. His progression from a rookie averaging under 10 points per game to a second-year player approaching 11 points per game reflected the typical arc of talented young players as they adjust to the professional game. With two full seasons of NBA experience and recognition including NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors, Carrington has established himself as a promising building block for the Wizards’ future as he continues to develop his skills and expand his contributions to the team.