Cory Ephram Joseph Bio
Cory Ephram Joseph is a Canadian professional basketball player who plays point guard for Olympiacos of the Greek Basketball League and the EuroLeague. Born on August 20, 1991, in Toronto, Ontario, Joseph established himself as one of Canada most respected basketball exports through nearly a decade and a half in the NBA. He won an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014 and has been the captain of the Canadian men national basketball team.
Joseph career has spanned nine professional organizations across the NBA, the NBA G League, and international club competition. His steady hand at point guard, defensive instincts, and basketball IQ have made him a valued rotation player and mentor to younger teammates throughout his career.
Early Life and Background
Cory Ephram Joseph was born in Toronto, Ontario, the youngest of four children of Connie and David Joseph, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago. He grew up in nearby Pickering in a basketball family, with both parents having played at Mount Royal College where they met as student athletes on the men and women basketball teams respectively. His father won a CCAA national championship playing for the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and later coached at the high school, college, and professional levels. His mother coached and refereed at various levels of the game.
Joseph has two older sisters named Chantal and Danielle and an older brother named Devoe, who played college basketball for Minnesota and Oregon and currently plays professionally in Europe. Two of Joseph second cousins also played college basketball: Kris Jackson was selected in the second round of the 2012 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics, while Maurice Hargrow played for Michigan State and Vermont and formerly served as head coach of George Washington University. Another cousin named Ashton Khan plays professionally in the British Basketball League.
As a youth, Joseph and fellow future NBA player Kelly Olynyk were both on a Scarborough Blues club team that rarely lost in the late 1990s and early 2000s. One defeat came against rival Toronto 5–0, a team led by Stephen Curry. This early exposure to elite competition in the Toronto area helped shape Joseph development as a basketball player before he reached the American high school and college ranks.
Path to Professional Basketball
Joseph attended Pickering High School in Ajax, Ontario, where he and his brother Devoe led the school AAAA basketball team to back-to-back Ontario provincial championships in 2007 and 2008, defeating Eastern Commerce Collegiate Institute both years in the championship game. Their father served as the team assistant coach during that period. In 2008, both brothers were selected to play in the annual All-Canada Classic, which showcases the top high school players in Canada.
Later that year, at age 16, Joseph transferred to Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada, alongside Tristan Thompson, his close friend and AAU teammate. He increased his recruiting profile by leading Findlay Prep to the ESPN RISE National High School Invitational championship game in 2009, alongside Thompson and Avery Bradley, in which Findlay defeated Oak Hill Academy 74–66. Joseph was named to the ESPN RISE All-Tournament Team. In August 2009, he was selected to play in the fourth annual Boost Mobile Elite 24 basketball game at Rucker Park in Harlem, New York City.
In his senior year, Joseph and Thompson led Findlay Prep to a second consecutive ESPN RISE National High School Invitational championship in 2010 when they defeated Montverde Academy 59–46. He was named to the ESPN RISE All-Tournament Team for the second consecutive year and was also named tournament MVP. Joseph was ranked as the number 7 prospect nationally by Rivals.com and number 11 in the ESPNU 100 following the season, in which he averaged 18.8 points, 4.9 assists, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game. He played in the 2010 McDonald All-American Game, won the McDonald Three Point Competition, and was named a Jordan Brand Classic All-American. On April 11, 2010, he played for the World Select Team at the Nike Hoop Summit against the United States Junior Select Team at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. Twelve days later, Joseph committed to the University of Texas, joining Thompson.
Cory Ephram Joseph Career
San Antonio Spurs (2011–2015)
On June 23, 2011, Joseph was drafted 29th overall in the 2011 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs. Fellow Canadian Tristan Thompson was drafted fourth overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the same draft, and Joseph college teammate Jordan Hamilton went 26th overall to the Dallas Mavericks, marking the first time three Texas Longhorn basketball players were selected in the first round of the same NBA draft. During the 2011–12 and 2012–13 seasons, the Spurs assigned Joseph to their G League affiliate, the Austin Toros, three times each season to gain playing experience.
In late February 2013, Tony Parker sustained an injury, and Joseph became the Spurs starting point guard. In his first five starts, Joseph averaged 8.8 points and 2.6 assists while shooting 58.6 percent from the field. Joseph helped the Spurs reach the 2013 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, though San Antonio lost the series in seven games. On June 15, 2014, Joseph won his first NBA championship after the Spurs defeated the Miami Heat four games to one in the 2014 NBA Finals. During the 2014–15 season, he started 27 games and averaged career highs of 8.5 points and 3.9 assists per game.
On June 30, 2015, the Spurs extended a qualifying offer to Joseph in order to make him a restricted free agent but on July 5 the team withdrew the qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent. Joseph earned All-NBA D-League Second Team and All-NBA D-League Defensive Second Team honors in 2013 during his assignments with Austin.
Toronto Raptors (2015–2017)
On July 9, 2015, Joseph signed a four-year, $30 million contract with the Toronto Raptors, his hometown NBA team. He made his debut for the Raptors in their season opener on October 28, 2015, recording three points and two rebounds in a 106–99 win over the Indiana Pacers. Over his first few games with the Raptors, Joseph began to flourish in his role as backup point guard, averaging a career-high 23 minutes per game. On November 6, 2015, he scored a season-high 19 points against the Orlando Magic, one off his then-career high of 20.
On November 28, 2015, Joseph scored 12 points and made a three-pointer at the buzzer following a well-worked inbounds play, lifting the Raptors to an 84–82 win over the Washington Wizards. The Raptors finished the regular season as the second seed in the Eastern Conference with a 56–26 record. On April 16, 2016, Joseph scored a playoff career-high 18 points in a Game 1 first-round loss to the Indiana Pacers. On January 17, 2017, he scored a career-high 33 points in a 119–109 win over the Brooklyn Nets.
On March 27, 2017, Joseph recorded his first career double-double with 15 points and a career-high 13 assists in a 131–112 win over the Orlando Magic. On May 7, 2017, in Game 4 of the Raptors second-round playoff series with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Joseph started in place of the injured Kyle Lowry and posted 20 points and 12 assists, though the Raptors were defeated 109–102 and swept out of the playoffs in four games by the Cavaliers.
Indiana Pacers (2017–2019)
On July 14, 2017, Joseph was traded to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for the draft rights of Emir Preldžić. In his debut for the Pacers in their season opener on October 18, 2017, Joseph scored 11 points in a 140–131 win over the Brooklyn Nets. On February 9, 2019, he had 10 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds in a 105–90 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, coming one rebound short of a triple-double.
Sacramento Kings (2019–2021)
On July 6, 2019, Joseph signed with the Sacramento Kings. On January 30, 2020, he scored a season-high 16 points while also recording two rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and one block in a 124–103 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers. He appeared in 115 games across two seasons with the Kings, averaging 7.4 points and 3.5 assists per game.
Detroit Pistons (2021–2023)
On March 26, 2021, Joseph was traded to the Detroit Pistons along with two future second-round draft picks in exchange for Delon Wright. After being waived by the Pistons on July 31, 2021, Joseph was re-signed by the team on August 11, 2021. He played 128 games over two seasons with Detroit, averaging 8.6 points and 3.7 assists per game.
Golden State Warriors (2023–2024)
On July 6, 2023, Joseph signed with the Golden State Warriors. He appeared in 40 games, averaging 4.4 points and 2.7 assists per game, providing veteran depth on a roster featuring Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. On February 8, 2024, Joseph was traded to the Indiana Pacers and subsequently waived by the Pacers.
Orlando Magic (2024–2025)
On July 19, 2024, Joseph signed with the Orlando Magic. He made 50 appearances, starting 16 games, during the 2024–25 NBA season, averaging 3.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. On June 16, 2025, it was reported that the Magic had declined a team option on his contract, rendering him a free agent.
Olympiacos (2026–Present)
On January 23, 2026, Joseph signed with Olympiacos of the Greek Basketball League and the EuroLeague. In his first season with Olympiacos, Joseph helped the team win both the Greek League championship and the EuroLeague championship, securing a rare double at the highest level of European club basketball.
Driving Style and Strengths
Joseph game is built around steady ballhandling, intelligent decision making, and tenacious perimeter defense. His ability to run an offense without disrupting team flow makes him an ideal backup and occasional starter at the point guard position. Joseph has also demonstrated an improved outside shot and finishing ability around the rim throughout his NBA career, complementing his primary strength as a floor general and defensive asset.
Notable Events and Milestones
Joseph most iconic NBA moment came on November 28, 2015, when he hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer following a well-worked inbounds play to lift the Toronto Raptors to an 84–82 win over the Washington Wizards. His role in the 2013 NBA Finals as the Spurs starting point guard during Tony Parker injury absence was another career-defining moment, and winning the 2014 NBA championship as a reserve remains the pinnacle of his NBA career.
Cory Ephram Joseph Career Wins
Cory Ephram Joseph has accumulated wins at every level of his basketball career, from high school national championships through the NBA and into international club competition. His championship resume includes one NBA title with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014, a Greek League title with Olympiacos in 2026, and a EuroLeague championship with Olympiacos in 2026.
National Basketball Association Highlights
Joseph won the 2014 NBA championship as a reserve point guard with the San Antonio Spurs, who defeated the Miami Heat in five games in the 2014 NBA Finals. He played in 19 playoff games across three playoff appearances with the Spurs and Raptors. Across his NBA career, Joseph has appeared in over 600 regular season games with averages of 6.9 points, 2.7 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.8 steals per game. His career-high 33-point game came on January 17, 2017, against the Brooklyn Nets while playing for the Toronto Raptors.
Other Wins and Performances
Before turning professional, Joseph led Findlay Prep to consecutive ESPN RISE National High School Invitational championships in 2009 and 2010. In the G League, Joseph earned All-NBA G League Second Team and All-NBA G League Defensive Second Team honors in 2013. On the international stage, he captained the Canadian national team to a bronze medal at the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship, hitting the game-winning buzzer-beating shot against Mexico, and led the 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila in both points and assists.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBA | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Cory Ephram Joseph Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Cory Ephram Joseph was born to David and Connie Joseph in Toronto, Ontario, as the youngest of four children. His father, David Joseph, was born in Trinidad and Tobago and won a CCAA national championship while playing for the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology before coaching at the high school, college, and professional levels. His mother, Connie Joseph, coached and refereed at various levels of basketball. Joseph older brother Devoe played college basketball for Minnesota and Oregon and currently plays professionally in Europe.
Personal Life
Joseph personal life remains private, with no publicly confirmed spouse or children. He has spoken publicly about representing Canada on the international stage and the importance of his family support throughout his basketball career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 NBA season marked Cory Ephram Joseph final campaign with the Orlando Magic, during which he made 50 appearances and started 16 games, averaging 3.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. As a veteran presence on a young Magic roster, Joseph provided steady backup point guard production and helped mentor younger teammates throughout the season. The Magic declined a team option on Joseph contract on June 16, 2025, rendering him a free agent heading into the 2025 offseason.
Joseph remained unsigned for the first half of the 2025–26 season, marking the first time in his professional career that he had gone without a team at the start of a basketball season. On January 23, 2026, Joseph signed with Olympiacos of the Greek Basketball League and the EuroLeague, where he quickly contributed to a team that went on to win both the Greek League and EuroLeague championships. His transition to European basketball proved successful as he adapted to a new style of play and helped Olympiacos capture two major titles in his first season with the club.