Phoenix Suns sign TyTy Washington to two-way contract

TyTy Washington will be getting another chance in the pros after inking a new deal on Friday.

Per reports earlier on today, Washington has signed a two-way deal to join the Phoenix Suns. The franchise has since announced the move for themselves.

Valley native @tytywashington3 is returning home! pic.twitter.com/sIHXI8vbvE

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) August 2, 2024

This signature is a homecoming for Washington. He is a native of Chandler, Arizona, which is just a half hour outside of Phoenix. He attended high school in the city as well as a product out of AZ Compass Prep.

Washington has been a professional for two seasons with the Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks. He has appeared in 42 games between the pair of teams, 31, including two starts, while with the Rockets and 11 last season with the Bucks, over that time. During those appearances in the NBA, Washington has averaged 3.8 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 11.6 minutes. He has shot 35.6% from the field, 24.4% from three, and 55.6% from the free-throw line in his career.

Due to trades, Washington was also been moved around to the Atlanta Hawks and to the Oklahoma City Thunder last offseason.

Washington has spent time in the G-League too with the Rio Grande Vipers and the Wisconsin Herd. In those 32 games, he has posted 24 points, eight assists, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals while shooting 43.6% overall, 34.2% from deep, and 82.4% from the line.

Washington was the No. 29 overall pick as a first-rounder in the 2022 NBA Draft. The Memphis Grizzlies selected him before they dealt his draft rights to the Minnesota Timberwolves and then to Houston.

Washington was a one-and-done after his freshman season at Kentucky. In 31 collegiate games as a Wildcat, he averaged 12.5 points, 3.9 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals while shooting 45.1% from the field, 35% from three, and 75% from the stripe in 29.2 minutes. That was good for second on a roster in points, assists, and steals and earned him All-SEC Second Team and SEC All-Freshman honors. It also helped them to a final record of 26-8.

Again, Washington was an Arizona native back in his prep career. As a recruit, he was a Five-Star+ prospect as the No. 14 overall recruit in the 2021 cycle. That’s according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He finished rated as the No. 4 PG in the class and the No. 2 player in the state by someone who reclassified and was eventually his teammate in Shaedon Sharpe (Portland Trailblazers) out of Dream City Christian in Glendale.

They came to Kentucky as part of the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation in ’21. They joined the program alongside a fellow Five-State+ recruit in Daimion Collins (LSU) and a four-star in Bryce Hopkins (Providence).

Washington is still not even 23 years old yet. That still leaves plenty of development in his game at the level which he may now be able to continue in a familiar place in Phoenix.