Leroy Jevon Carter Bio
Leroy Jevon Carter is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the West Virginia Mountaineers. A point guard for the Mountaineers, Carter was known as one of the top defensive players in college basketball, winning the NABC Defensive Player of the Year and the Lefty Driesell Award after both his junior and senior seasons, and winning the inaugural Naismith Defensive Player of the Year in his final season.
Carter developed his game at Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois. Born on September 14, 1995, he grew up in a community that produced a steady stream of basketball talent, and he committed early to the sport. He played mostly off the ball in high school before converting to point guard upon arriving at college, a transition that unlocked his potential as a floor general and defensive anchor. He received scholarship offers from Akron, Dartmouth, Kent State, Lehigh, Toledo, Valparaiso, UW-Green Bay, and Illinois State, but chose West Virginia after visiting Morgantown.
Early Life and Background
Leroy Jevon Carter was born on September 14, 1995, in Maywood, Illinois. He attended Proviso East High School in Maywood, where he competed on the basketball team. During his AAU career from 2011 to 2012, he played for Team NLP alongside Jalen Brunson, building relationships with other future college and professional players in the Chicago area basketball scene. He was rated a three-star recruit and ranked as the No. 299 player in the 2014 class according to 247Sports.com. Despite interest from multiple mid-major programs, he committed to West Virginia, where he would become one of the most celebrated defensive players in program history.
At West Virginia University, Carter was converted from an off-ball guard to a true point guard. He became one of the architects of Press Virginia, the aggressive defensive scheme implemented by head coach Bob Huggins that prioritized forcing turnovers and pressuring opposing ball-handlers at every opportunity. Carter became a starter as a sophomore and averaged 9.5 points and 2.3 rebounds per game, laying the foundation for a breakout junior season. Before the start of his senior year, he was unanimously named to the preseason All-Big 12 team.
Path to Basketball
Carter’s path to professional basketball was shaped by his defensive identity and academic discipline. During his junior season in 2016–17, he averaged 13.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game while emerging as one of the most formidable defenders in the nation. He earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, the Lefty Driesell Award, and the NABC Defensive Player of the Year. Following that season, he declared for the 2017 NBA draft but ultimately returned to West Virginia without hiring an agent, choosing to improve his game and strengthen his draft stock as a senior. Before the 2017–18 season began, he was unanimously named to the preseason All-Big 12 team.
During his senior season, Carter set the West Virginia all-time steals record, surpassing Greg Jones’ mark of 252 steals during a win over NJIT on November 30, 2017. On March 3, 2018, against Iowa State, he became the first major conference player in college basketball history to reach 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists, and 300 steals in a career. On March 12, 2018, he was named Academic All-American of the Year for Division I men’s basketball. He wrapped up his college career with consensus second-team All-America honors, the 2018 Senior CLASS Award, and a clean sweep of the major national defensive honors including the inaugural Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award. He was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round of the 2018 NBA draft with the 32nd overall pick and signed with the team on July 12, 2018.
Leroy Jevon Carter Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Leroy Jevon Carter made his NBA debut on December 15, 2018, coming off the bench in a 97–105 loss to the Houston Rockets. He finished with eleven points, two steals, a rebound, and a block in 23 minutes, showing the defensive activity that had defined his college career. During his rookie season, he received multiple assignments to the Memphis Hustle, the Grizzlies’ G League affiliate, as the team worked to accelerate his development. On April 10, 2019, he scored a then-career-high 32 points along with four rebounds, two assists, and a steal in a 132–117 win over the Golden State Warriors. His rookie season demonstrated a promising two-way profile and set the stage for an expanded role elsewhere.
Phoenix Suns (2019–2021)
On July 7, 2019, the Memphis Grizzlies traded Leroy Jevon Carter to the Phoenix Suns. During the 2020 NBA Bubble, he scored a season-high 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 6-of-9 from three-point range, in a 119–112 win over the Miami Heat on August 8. On November 21, 2020, as a restricted free agent, Carter signed a 3-year, $11.5 million contract to remain with the Suns. He helped the Suns reach the 2021 NBA Finals, where they were defeated in six games by the Milwaukee Bucks. His tenure in Phoenix established him as a reliable defensive guard and quality three-point shooter off the bench.
Brooklyn Nets (2021–2022)
On August 6, 2021, Leroy Jevon Carter and the draft rights to Day’Ron Sharpe were traded to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Landry Shamet. Carter’s time in Brooklyn was brief, as he was waived on February 22, 2022, when the Nets signed Goran Dragic. He appeared in limited action during his Nets tenure before the move opened the door for him to join the Milwaukee Bucks.
Milwaukee Bucks (2022–2023)
On February 24, 2022, Leroy Jevon Carter signed with the Milwaukee Bucks for the remainder of the season. In his first start for the Bucks, on April 1, 2022, he scored 18 points and recorded a season-high 8 assists. On July 6, 2022, he re-signed with the Bucks on a two-year, $4.3 million contract with a player option in the second year. On November 9, 2022, Carter set a career-high with 36 points and added 12 assists in a 136–132 double-overtime win against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Bucks finished the 2022–23 season with a 58–24 record as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, and Carter’s contributions as a spark off the bench helped Milwaukee remain one of the NBA’s most dangerous teams.
Chicago Bulls Era (2023–2026)
On July 10, 2023, Leroy Jevon Carter signed a three-year, $20 million contract with the Chicago Bulls. He made 72 appearances for the Bulls during the 2023–24 NBA season, recording averages of 5.0 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. In the 2024–25 season, he made 36 appearances, including one start, averaging 4.3 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. During the 2025–26 season, Carter played in 23 games for Chicago before being waived by the Bulls on February 1, 2026.
Orlando Magic Era (2026–Present)
On February 6, 2026, Leroy Jevon Carter signed with the Orlando Magic for the remainder of the 2025–26 NBA season after the Magic made a trade involving Tyus Jones. He played in the backcourt of an Orlando roster building around a young core, providing veteran depth and defensive experience at the point guard position.
Driving Style and Strengths
Leroy Jevon Carter plays with the tenacity and defensive intensity that defined his college career. At 6-foot-0 and 190 pounds, he uses his lateral quickness and lower-body strength to hound opposing guards on the perimeter. His ability to generate turnovers and pressure ball-handlers translated directly from the Press Virginia scheme at West Virginia to the NBA, where he carved out a role as a defensive specialist capable of guarding multiple backcourt positions. He also provides competent three-point shooting and secondary playmaking off the bench, making him a reliable rotation piece for contending teams.
Notable Events and Milestones
Leroy Jevon Carter’s most celebrated achievement came during his senior season at West Virginia when he became the first player to win the Lefty Driesell Award more than once and only the seventh player to win the NABC Defensive Player of the Year more than once, the first since Hasheem Thabeet won the honor in 2007–08 and 2008–09. He also won the inaugural Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award. In the NBA, he reached the 2021 NBA Finals with the Phoenix Suns and posted a career-high 36 points and 12 assists in a double-overtime victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on November 9, 2022, while with the Milwaukee Bucks. He signed an endorsement deal with And1 on August 3, 2018, becoming a brand ambassador for the company.
Leroy Jevon Carter Career Wins
Leroy Jevon Carter recorded wins across multiple NBA franchises and contributed to winning environments at the college and professional levels. At West Virginia, he was part of a Mountaineers program that consistently competed at the highest level of the Big 12 Conference. In the NBA, he has been a contributor on teams that reached the 2021 NBA Finals with the Phoenix Suns and posted the best record in the Eastern Conference with the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2022–23 season. His career has spanned winning organizations and he has consistently been praised for his professionalism and defensive accountability.
NBA Highlights
Leroy Jevon Carter’s NBA career includes appearances with the Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, and Orlando Magic. He reached the 2021 NBA Finals with the Phoenix Suns. During the 2022–23 season with the Milwaukee Bucks, he set a career-high with 36 points and 12 assists in a double-overtime win against the Oklahoma City Thunder on November 9, 2022. He made 72 appearances in the 2023–24 season for the Chicago Bulls and played 23 games in 2025–26 before moving to the Orlando Magic in February 2026.
Other Wins and Performances
At West Virginia University, Leroy Jevon Carter led the Mountaineers to consistent NCAA Tournament appearances and Big 12 success. He finished his college career as West Virginia’s all-time leader in steals and became the first major conference player in history to reach 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists, and 300 steals in a career. He won four consecutive Big 12 All-Defensive team selections from 2015 through 2018 and earned unanimous preseason All-Big 12 honors as a senior. He also signed an endorsement deal with And1 on August 3, 2018, becoming a brand ambassador for the company.
Leroy Jevon Carter Family
Family Background
No verified public details about Leroy Jevon Carter’s family background beyond his birthplace of Maywood, Illinois, are available from the provided sources.
Personal Life
Leroy Jevon Carter has not publicly disclosed details about marital status, spouse, or children in the available sources. He is known for his academic commitment, having earned Academic All-American of the Year honors for Division I men’s basketball in 2018. He signed an endorsement partnership with And1 in August 2018. Beyond basketball, no other verified public personal-life details are available from the provided sources.
2026 Season Performance
Leroy Jevon Carter began the 2025–26 NBA season with the Chicago Bulls under the terms of his three-year, $20 million contract signed in July 2023. He appeared in 23 games for Chicago, recording averages of 5.4 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game. On February 1, 2026, the Bulls waived Carter, ending his tenure with the organization. Four days later, on February 6, 2026, he signed with the Orlando Magic for the remainder of the season, joining a young Magic roster contending in the Eastern Conference. Carter provided veteran depth and defensive experience at the point guard position for Orlando, and the Magic are listed as his current team as of 2026.