Garrett Temple Bio
Garrett Bartholomew Temple is an American professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall, he has carved out a reputation as a steady, defensive-minded wing who has spent more than a decade moving between teams. After going undrafted in 2009, Temple pieced together his NBA career through the D-League, short-term contracts, and stints in Europe, eventually becoming a respected veteran and locker-room presence.
Beyond his on-court role, Temple is widely recognized for his leadership in player advocacy and community work, including his involvement with the Players Coalition and the Starting Five charity initiative. He is also a family man, married to former Miss USA Kára McCullough, and the son of a pioneering LSU basketball figure.
Early Life and Background
Garrett Bartholomew Temple was born on May 8, 1986, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He grew up in a deeply rooted basketball family in the same city that would later host his collegiate career. His father, Collis Temple, made history as the first African American to play basketball at Louisiana State University, competing for the LSU Tigers from 1971 to 1974. His mother, Soundra Johnson Temple, supported the close-knit family, which also included two older brothers, Collis III and Elliott, and a younger sister, Colleen Noelle. Collis III followed his father’s path and played at LSU from 1999 to 2003, reinforcing the family’s deep ties to the program.
Temple attended LSU Laboratory School, also known as University High, in Baton Rouge. As a senior, he averaged 13.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists, leading his team to the 2004 Class 2A state championship. He also competed in track and field at University High, specializing in the long jump and triple jump, an experience that helped sharpen his athleticism and explosiveness for basketball.
Path to Basketball
Temple’s path to the professional ranks began in earnest at Louisiana State University, where he redshirted the 2004–05 season to refine his game. As a freshman in 2005–06, he started 35 of 36 games and quickly earned a reputation as a defensive stopper, averaging 5.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.1 steals in 33.3 minutes per game. His ability to guard multiple positions became a defining trait that coaches at every level would later rely upon.
Across his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, Temple continued to develop as a playmaker and defender. He posted a 1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio as a sophomore, participated in the 2007 Reach USA Tour of China, and ultimately became LSU’s all-time leader in minutes played with 4,432, breaking a record that had stood since Howard Carter set it in 1983. As a senior, he earned All-SEC Defensive Team honors and a spot on the coaches’ All-SEC second team, capping his college career as one of the most durable and impactful players in program history.
Garrett Temple Career
Early Career (2009–2011)
After going undrafted in the 2009 NBA draft, Temple joined the Houston Rockets for Summer League and signed with the team in September 2009, only to be waived before the regular season. He was acquired by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League as an affiliate player, beginning a long journey through minor-league and short-contract work. In February 2010, he signed a 10-day contract with the Rockets, followed by additional 10-day deals with the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs later that spring.
Temple spent the 2010–11 season shuttling between the Vipers, the Erie BayHawks, and the NBA, where he signed 10-day contracts with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Charlotte Bobcats before being signed for the remainder of the 2010–11 season by the Bobcats. His perseverance paid off when he was named an NBA D-League All-Star in 2011, validating years of grinding through the developmental ranks.
European and Breakthrough Years (2011–2012)
Following the 2010–11 NBA season, Temple signed a one-year deal with Novipiù Casale Monferrato of the Italian league. In 28 games, he averaged 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, providing steady two-way play even as Casale finished last on the Italian ladder with an 8–24 record. The European experience broadened his game and gave him the confidence to attack his next NBA opportunity.
Washington Wizards Era (2012–2016)
On Christmas Day 2012, Temple signed with the Washington Wizards, launching the longest and most productive stretch of his career to date. He re-signed with the team in 2013 and again in 2014 on a two-year, $2 million deal, gradually earning a role as a rotation wing known for defense and timely shooting. On November 1, 2014, he scored a then-career-high 18 points in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks, signaling his offensive growth.
Temple’s best stretch came during the 2015–16 season. On November 14, 2015, he matched his career high with 18 points against the Orlando Magic. He then erupted for 21 points against the Charlotte Hornets on December 19, followed by 23 points against the Sacramento Kings two days later. In a win over the Memphis Grizzlies on December 23, he scored at least 20 points for the third straight game, becoming the first NBA player to reach that mark in three consecutive contests after failing to do so in his first 250 career games, a remarkable late-career breakthrough.
Sacramento Kings Stints (2016–2018)
On July 9, 2016, Temple signed with the Sacramento Kings for a second stint, debuting with 12 points off the bench in a season-opening win over the Phoenix Suns. He tied a career high with five three-pointers in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on November 5, 2016, and continued to play through a partial tear of his left biceps femoris muscle in February 2017. In January 2018, he delivered his signature Kings moment, scoring 19 of his career-high 34 points in the final quarter to lift Sacramento to a 105–99 win over the Orlando Magic.
Memphis, Clippers, and Brooklyn (2018–2020)
On July 17, 2018, Temple was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, where he posted a game-high 30 points in a 131–117 win over the Atlanta Hawks on October 19, 2018. In February 2019, he was dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers in a trade that sent Avery Bradley to Memphis, and that summer he signed a two-year contract with the Brooklyn Nets. Across these stops, he remained a reliable veteran presence.
Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans (2020–2023)
On November 27, 2020, Temple signed with the Chicago Bulls, bringing leadership to a young roster. On August 8, 2021, he was traded to his hometown New Orleans Pelicans, completing a full-circle return to Louisiana. He played two seasons in New Orleans before being waived on July 5, 2023.
Toronto Raptors Era (2023–Present)
On August 1, 2023, Temple signed with the Toronto Raptors. He appeared in 27 games with two starts during the 2023–24 season, averaging 3.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assist. He re-signed with the Raptors on July 6, 2024, and played 28 games during the 2024–25 season, averaging 1.9 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. On July 2, 2025, Temple re-signed with the Raptors for another season, extending his career into a 17th professional year.
Driving Style and Strengths
Temple has long been valued for his defensive versatility, communication, and ability to guard multiple positions. His basketball IQ, three-point shooting growth later in his career, and steady ball-handling have allowed him to fill a variety of roles, from defensive stopper to veteran mentor. Teammates and coaches consistently praise his professionalism and his willingness to do the unglamorous work that helps winning teams function.
Notable Events and Milestones
Temple’s career features several signature milestones, including becoming LSU’s all-time minutes leader, his historic three-game 20-point streak with the Wizards in 2015, his 34-point fourth-quarter explosion against the Magic in 2018, and his 30-point performance for the Grizzlies in 2018. Off the court, he helped fund the construction of ten wells in Tanzania and Kenya through the Hoops2O charity by 2020, bringing water to more than 52,000 citizens.
Garrett Temple Career Wins
Garrett Temple’s professional journey is less defined by championship trophies than by longevity, perseverance, and a series of personal milestones earned across multiple teams and leagues. Over more than 15 years, he has collected D-League All-Star honors, All-SEC Defensive recognition, and a reputation as one of the league’s most respected veteran wings.
NBA D-League and College Highlights
Temple was named an NBA D-League All-Star in 2011 after a season split between the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and the Erie BayHawks. At LSU, he earned Second-team All-SEC honors and a spot on the SEC All-Defensive Team in 2009, while also setting the school’s career minutes record. His professional résumé includes stops in Italy, the D-League, and more than a dozen NBA contracts, a testament to his staying power.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the NBA, Temple helped lead Novipiù Casale Monferrato through a competitive Italian league season in 2011–12, and he contributed to community wins off the court, including the Starting Five’s fundraising efforts alongside Malcolm Brogdon, Joe Harris, Justin Anderson, and Anthony Tolliver. His advocacy work has earned him a respected voice among his peers.
Garrett Temple Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Temple comes from one of the most influential basketball families in Louisiana history. His father, Collis Temple, was the first African American to play basketball at LSU, breaking a significant racial barrier in the early 1970s. His older brother, Collis Temple III, also played for the LSU Tigers from 1999 to 2003, and his brother Elliott and sister Colleen Noelle round out the close-knit family rooted in Baton Rouge.
Personal Life
Temple is a Christian who wears a wristband that reads “In Jesus Name I Play,” a daily reminder of his faith. In 2020, he married Kára McCullough, who was crowned Miss USA in 2017. The couple has three children, and the family has remained grounded in Baton Rouge even as Temple’s career has taken him across North America and Europe.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year marks a continuation of Temple’s veteran role with the Toronto Raptors. Following the 2024–25 season in which he appeared in 28 games and averaged 1.9 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists, Temple re-signed with Toronto on July 2, 2025, ensuring he would return for another campaign. His value to the Raptors lies less in raw box-score numbers and more in defensive communication, locker-room leadership, and the steady mentorship he provides to younger teammates.
Heading into the 2025–26 NBA season, Temple is expected to reprise his role as a depth wing and a trusted voice on the bench. While playoff positioning will depend on the broader development of Toronto’s young core, Temple’s presence gives the team a reliable option in situational lineups. His career-long pattern of late-career reinvention suggests he remains ready to step into larger minutes if the Raptors need him.
Beyond the standings, the 2025 season also reinforces Temple’s growing legacy as a long-tenured professional whose career arc, from undrafted free agent to multi-team veteran and community advocate, has become a model of perseverance in the modern NBA.