 Bates with Eastern Michigan in 2022 | |
| No. 21 – Cleveland Cavaliers | |
|---|---|
| Position | Small forward |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | January 28, 2004 Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
|
| College |
|
| NBA draft | 2023: 2nd round, 49th overall pick |
| Selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers | |
| Playing career | 2023–present |
| Career history | |
| 2023–present | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2023–present | →Cleveland Charge |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Emoni James-Wayne Bates (/iˈmɒni/ ee-MON-ee;[1] born January 28, 2004) is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers and the Eastern Michigan Eagles.
In his first two years of high school, Bates played basketball for Lincoln High School in his hometown Ypsilanti, Michigan, where he was heavily touted by the national media and rated as the top recruit in his class. He led Lincoln to a state championship as a freshman and became the first sophomore to win the Gatorade National Player of the Year boys' award. For his junior season, Bates transferred to Ypsi Prep Academy, a new school created by his father. A former Michigan State commit, he opted to graduate early from high school and start his college career at Memphis.
As a freshman at Memphis, Bates missed time with injuries and fell sharply in NBA draft projections after not meeting expectations. He transferred to his hometown team Eastern Michigan for his sophomore season. He was drafted with the 49th pick in the 2023 NBA draft by the Cavaliers.
- ^ "2023-24 start of season NBA pronunciation guide". NBA.com (Press release). October 24, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2024.