Royce O'Neale


Royce Khalil O'Neale is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association. He played college basketball for the Denver Pioneers and the Baylor Bears.

College career

O'Neale, a small forward from Killeen, Texas, was recruited to the University of Denver out of Harker Heights High School. He played two seasons for the University of Denver Pioneers, including an all-WAC season in 2012-13, before transferring to Baylor in 2013. Because he transferred to be closer to his family and ailing grandfather, the National Collegiate Athletic Association granted him a waiver to transfer rules, making him immediately eligible to play for the Bears instead of sitting out the customary year.

Professional career

Europe

Following the close of his college career, O'Neale was not selected in the 2015 NBA draft. He played his first professional season in Germany for MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg, where he averaged 8.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. After playing for the Golden State Warriors' Summer League team in 2016, he signed with Spanish club Herbalife Gran Canaria for the 2016–17 season. On June 25, 2017, O'Neale signed with Lithuanian club Žalgiris Kaunas.

NBA

After playing for the Utah Jazz in the 2017 NBA Summer League, he was signed to the team for the 2017–18 season due to the exception left in the contract with Žalgiris Kaunas. O'Neale made his NBA debut on October 21, 2017, playing a single minute in their 96–87 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder. On February 14, 2018, he scored a career-high 19 points in a home game against the Phoenix Suns.
After the game on November 12th, 2019 against the Brooklyn Nets, O’Neale traded jerseys with former Baylor Bears teammate Taurean Prince.
On January 19, 2020, the Utah Jazz announced that they had signed O’Neale to a contract extension.

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs