Garrison Mathews Bio
Garrison Mathews, born October 24, 1996, is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Lipscomb Bisons and was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year in 2019. Standing 196 cm (6 ft 5 in) and weighing 98 kg (215 lb), Mathews is a shooting guard known for his perimeter scoring.
Early Life and Background
Garrison Mathews was born on October 24, 1996, in Franklin, Tennessee, USA. He grew up in the same Franklin community where he would later attend high school and develop his athletic foundation.
Mathews was a dual-sport athlete at Franklin High School in Franklin, Tennessee, where he played both basketball and football during his prep career. His combination of size, shooting touch, and athletic versatility caught the attention of college recruiters in the region.
Although football was part of his high school experience, Mathews ultimately chose to pursue basketball at the collegiate level. That decision set the stage for one of the most productive careers in Lipscomb’s Division I era.
Path to Basketball
After high school, Mathews enrolled at Lipscomb University, where he played for the Bisons from 2015 to 2019. At Lipscomb, Mathews dedicated himself solely to basketball for the first time and quickly emerged as one of the top players in program history. He set the school’s Division I-era records in single-game scoring, career scoring, and three-pointers made.
As a junior, Mathews led the Bisons to their first NCAA tournament appearance. As a senior in 2018–19, he was named Atlantic Sun Player of the Year and first-team All-Atlantic Sun after leading Lipscomb to a runner-up finish at the 2019 NIT. He scored 44 and 34 points in the NIT quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively, helping the Bisons reach the championship game before falling to Texas.
Mathews averaged 20.8 points per game as a senior and finished his college career with 2,478 total points. He was a three-time first-team All-Atlantic Sun selection in 2017, 2018, and 2019, and entered the 2019 NBA draft as an undrafted prospect.
Garrison Mathews Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
After going undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft, Garrison Mathews signed a two-way contract with the Washington Wizards. The deal split his time between the Wizards and their NBA G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go.
Mathews made his NBA debut on October 23, 2019, coming off the bench in a 100–108 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, recording an assist in one minute of play. On December 30, 2019, he scored a career-high 28 points with four rebounds in a 123–105 win over the Miami Heat. He spent two seasons in Washington before moving on in 2021.
Houston Rockets Breakthrough (2021–2023)
On September 28, 2021, Mathews signed with the Boston Celtics, but was waived at the end of training camp. On October 18, 2021, he was claimed off waivers by the Houston Rockets, who converted his deal into a two-way contract with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets’ G League affiliate.
On December 18, 2021, the Rockets announced that they had converted Mathews’ two-way deal to a standard contract, securing his place on the NBA roster. He spent the next two seasons with the Rockets, establishing himself as a reliable perimeter shooter and rotation piece before being traded in February 2023.
Atlanta Hawks Era (2023–2025)
On February 9, 2023, Garrison Mathews and Bruno Fernando were traded to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Justin Holiday, Frank Kaminsky, and two future second-round draft picks. He spent the next two seasons with the Hawks as a depth guard and three-point specialist.
Following the 2024–25 season, Mathews became a free agent. On September 16, 2025, he signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the New York Knicks, but was waived prior to the start of the regular season on October 18, 2025.
Indiana Pacers Era (2025–Present)
Garrison Mathews signed a 10-day contract with the Indiana Pacers on November 20, 2025, after the team was granted a hardship exception. On December 1, 2025, the Pacers re-signed Mathews to a second 10-day hardship contract, extending his stay in Indiana. On December 11, 2025, he signed a non-guaranteed standard contract with the team for the remainder of the season, securing his current NBA roster spot.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mathews is best known as a perimeter shooter with the size to play above smaller defenders. His career scoring average of more than 20 points in his final college season, combined with his record-setting three-point totals at Lipscomb, established him as a reliable catch-and-shoot threat. His 196 cm frame and 98 kg build also allow him to compete physically on the wing.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature milestones include his 28-point career high against the Miami Heat on December 30, 2019, and his 44-point and 34-point performances in the 2019 NIT quarterfinals and semifinals. Setting Lipscomb’s Division I-era career scoring record and becoming a three-time first-team All-Atlantic Sun honoree round out his headline career achievements.
Garrison Mathews Career Wins
Across his college and professional career, Garrison Mathews has built a reputation as a consistent scorer rather than a high-volume winner of championships. His headline win totals are tied to team and individual milestones rather than major titles at the NBA level.
College Highlights
Mathews finished his Lipscomb career with 2,478 points, the program’s Division I-era record. He was a three-time first-team All-Atlantic Sun selection in 2017, 2018, and 2019, and won the Atlantic Sun Player of the Year award in 2019. His first signature college win came in the form of leading the Bisons to their first NCAA tournament as a junior, followed by a runner-up finish at the 2019 NIT as a senior.
NBA and Other Performances
At the NBA level, Mathews has served as a rotation shooting guard for the Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, and Indiana Pacers, providing outside shooting and depth scoring. He has not won an NBA championship or major individual NBA award through the 2025 portion of his career, with his most notable professional performance remaining his 28-point game for Washington against the Miami Heat in December 2019.
Garrison Mathews Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Garrison Mathews’ parents and extended family is limited. He grew up in Franklin, Tennessee, and has not publicly disclosed detailed family background in verified sources.
Personal Life
Mathews has kept his personal life largely private, and verified details about a spouse or children have not been publicly confirmed. He continues to live and work in the United States as an active NBA player.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year has been eventful for Garrison Mathews at the NBA level. After splitting time with the Atlanta Hawks through the early part of the year, he signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the New York Knicks in mid-September but was waived before opening night on October 18, 2025.
He quickly landed another opportunity, joining the Indiana Pacers on a 10-day hardship contract on November 20, 2025, followed by a second 10-day deal on December 1, 2025. On December 11, 2025, the Pacers signed Mathews to a non-guaranteed standard contract for the remainder of the season, giving him a stable NBA roster spot heading into 2026.
For the Pacers, Mathews is expected to fill a depth shooting role as the team manages injuries under its hardship exception. His outside shooting and prior NBA experience make him a natural fit for short-minute spot-up duties, and his outlook for the rest of the 2025–26 season depends on continued health and team need in Indiana.