Mathias looks to log more NBA time
Jun. 3—After getting two 10-day contracts from the Memphis Grizzlies last season, Dakota Mathias is ready to make a run at a spot on an NBA roster again next season.
The 26-year-old Mathias played in six games for the Grizzlies after playing in eight games for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2020. He is Elida High School's career scoring leader and is No. 2 in career 3-point field goals at Purdue.
His second season in the NBA was just as big or bigger in his mind as his first.
"It was exciting, I would say more so because of the long wait in the offseason. I had knee surgery early in the year and didn't get cleared until late December. So having two 10-days with the Grizzlies right after that was special," Mathias said.
"Fortunately for me I was with a good organization. I knew a few of the guys on the Grizzlies already. They were all great guys, very welcoming. It's a pretty young team. There were a couple of games where I was one of the oldest guys on the roster. I think it's a very good organization from top to bottom."
After his second 10-day contract with the Grizzlies ended, Mathias played for the Texas Legends of the NBA's G League, but a meniscus problem which required surgery ended his season with that team after three games.
"That took me out for about three or four months. I'm just looking forward to being healthy again, I'm feeling good and I'm ready to play," he said.
"I got cleared a couple weeks ago. No restrictions, I'm back to full go now. It's been a long process. I had two different kinds of knee surgeries. Luckily neither one of them was major. It was a very up and down year but I was fortunate to be part of the Grizzlies organization for those two 10-day contracts and I'm excited to see what happens this summer."
Mathias plans to play in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas later this summer. Before that, he will lead his annual Dakota Mathias Basketball Camp at the Elida Fieldhouse on June 20 and 21.
The camp is for boys and girls from entering kindergarten to entering eighth grade. There will be a morning session from 9 a.m.-noon both days for kindergarten through fourth grade and an afternoon session from 1-4 p.m.
Instructors will include LCC graduate Martyce Kimbrough and Bath graduate Taren Sullivan and former Indiana/Purdue-Fort Wayne player Max Landis, who plays professionally in Portugal. Registration for the camp is available at dakotamathias.com.
Reach Jim Naveau at 567-242-0414.
