Ashton Hagans signs two-way deal with Portland Trail Blazers

Talk about a great first impression. Ashton Hagans was signed to a 10-day contract with the Portland Trail Blazers back on February 8. Exactly two weeks later, the former Kentucky standout has earned another real shot in the NBA, this time in the form of a two-way contract with the Blazers.

Hagans is coming off a four-game stint in Portland where he averaged 2.8 points, 1.8 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 15.0 minutes per contest ahead of the NBA All-Star break where he was a G League All-Star for the Rip City Remix. He teamed up with Oscar Tshiebwe on Team EYL (Earn Your Leisure) to win the G League Up Next title.

All of it came after Hagans averaged 15.3 points, 9.6 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 31.4 minutes per game this season with the Blazers’ G League affiliate. Now, he’ll be splitting his time in the NBA and G League the rest of the way — with a nice little pay bump, as well.

The Portland Trail Blazers are signing G Ashton Hagans on a two-way contract, sources tell ESPN. Hagans — undrafted out of Kentucky — was a G League All-Star for the Rip City Remix.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 22, 2024

The former Cat is clearly excited about the news.

Let’s Gooo! ❤️ https://t.co/pOEENF3ADz

— ashton hagans (@H23Ash) February 22, 2024

Prior to this season, Hagans had suited up in just two NBA games in his career, both with the Minnesota Timberwolves back in the 2020-21. He played four total minutes and didn’t accumulate any stats.

It’s been tough sledding for the guard out of Cartersville, GA, bouncing around the G-League since leaving Kentucky after two years at the conclusion of the 2019-20 season — his career ending on a sour note with a mysterious absence due to personal reasons in the finale at Florida before the world shut down in March. Among a long list of what-ifs with that team, Hagans was undoubtedly one of the bigger ones.

He’ll admit all of that hurt him to the core.

“Not being able to play that last game, Tournament canceled, it was a hurtful feeling,” Hagans told KSR. “Just not being able to be out there one more time, thinking you were going to be out there one more time with your brothers and go far in the tournaments, SEC Tournament and March Madness. … Not being able to play, it hurt. We were ready.”

Hagans left and became just another fringe NBA guy begging for a shot — a “different grind,” he called it.

“You’ve got to be really locked in on it, you’ve got to really want that to be your lifestyle. It’s a business at this level and you (become) a grown man. You see things different. … Being at Kentucky, that’s a one-time thing you get in life. When you go on to that next step in life, being a professional, it’s a business.”

Four years later, Hagans’ hard work is finally paying off. It wasn’t easy, but he found his light at the end of the tunnel.