Keion Brooks is heading to the NBA, signs two-way deal with New Orleans Pelicans

Former Kentucky players are swarming the Big Easy like it is the 2012 Final Four. The New Orleans Pelicans have signed Keion Brooks Jr. to a two-way contract, a callup from the G-League where he has played all year. Brooks will join forces with fellow Wildcats Antonio Reeves and Brandon Boston Jr. on the big stage.

Brooks has played 20 games this season for the Birmingham Squadron, the G-League affiliate for the New Orleans, averaging 18 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 37.5 minutes per game.

Keion Brooks Jr. is headed to the NBA! 👏

Congrats to the @GleagueSquadron star on earning a Two-Way deal with the @pelicansnba. He’s our 24th #NBACallUp of the season. pic.twitter.com/YB581PrxX9

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) January 10, 2025

Brooks played five years of college basketball, three at Kentucky and his final two at Washington. During his time as a Wildcat, he averaged 8.3 points per game but really took his game to the next level as a Husky and finished his super senior year averaging 21.1 points per game.

In a world where the NBA values athletic 18-year-olds who can jump high, it is refreshing to see a guy like Keion Brooks, who is 24 years old, earn an NBA contract the old-fashioned way through non-stop grinding.

As a two-way player, he will split time between the G League and the primary roster with a limit of 50 games with the NBA team.

The Pelicans are pretty terrible this season, ranking dead last in the Western Conference standings with a record of 7-31, so this could very well mean Brooks might see some action this year as the organization prioritizes developing talent rather than competing for the playoffs.

Even though Brooks transferred out, once a Wildcat always a Wildcat. Best of luck to him in the League.