Gary Trent Jr. Bio
Gary Dajaun Trent Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on January 18, 1999, in Columbus, Ohio, he stands 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 93 kilograms, playing as a guard known for his perimeter shooting and scoring ability.
He played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils before beginning his professional career in 2018 after being drafted by the Sacramento Kings. Over the years, he has established himself as a reliable scorer, contributing to multiple franchises and representing the United States in international competition.
Early Life and Background
Gary Dajaun Trent Jr. was born in Columbus, Ohio, and grew up with deep basketball roots. His mother is Roxanne Holt, and his father is Gary Trent Sr., a former NBA player who spent nine seasons in the league with the Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks, Dallas Mavericks, and Minnesota Timberwolves. His father also played basketball at Ohio University and competed professionally in Greece and Italy, giving Trent Jr. an early and constant exposure to the game.
Trent Jr. has three brothers named Garyson, Grayson, and Graydon. The family eventually settled in Minnesota, where he attended Apple Valley High School. As a sophomore, he averaged 21.5 points per game, then improved to 26.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game as a junior, earning Gatorade Minnesota Player of the Year honors and first-team recognition from MaxPreps. He also starred for the Howard Pulley Panthers on the Nike EYBL Circuit, averaging 22.2 points per game.
Before his senior year, Trent Jr. transferred to Prolific Prep Academy in Napa, California. In his final high school season, he averaged 31.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, leading his team to a 29–3 record. He was selected to both the 2017 Jordan Brand Classic and the 2017 McDonald’s All-American Boys Game.
Path to Basketball
Trent Jr. was rated as a five-star recruit in the 2017 high school class, ranked as the No. 8 overall player and the No. 1 shooting guard by major recruiting outlets. On November 10, 2016, he signed his letter of intent to attend Duke University, joining a class widely regarded as the consensus top-rated recruiting group in the country.
At Duke, Trent Jr. quickly became a contributor despite joining a freshman-heavy rotation. He tied the Duke freshman record for three-point shots made in a single game against Boston College, scored a then career-high 30 points against Miami, and was named Atlantic Coast Conference Co-Player and Rookie of the Week in January 2018. Duke advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2018 NCAA men’s basketball tournament before losing to Kansas in overtime.
Following the season, Trent Jr. declared for the 2018 NBA Draft alongside teammates Marvin Bagley III, Wendell Carter Jr., and Trevon Duval. He was selected 37th overall by the Sacramento Kings and was immediately traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, where he signed a three-year contract on July 6, 2018.
Gary Trent Jr. Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
Trent Jr. began his NBA career with the Portland Trail Blazers, appearing in 15 games during his rookie season and averaging 2.7 points per game. He spent much of his first year developing with the Texas Legends of the NBA G League, gaining valuable professional minutes.
His production increased significantly in his second and third seasons. He averaged 8.9 points in roughly 22 minutes per game during the 2019–2020 campaign, then elevated his averages to 15 points and 31 minutes per game in 2020–2021, establishing himself as a reliable rotation player for Portland.
Toronto Raptors Era (2021–2024)
On March 25, 2021, the Toronto Raptors acquired Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood in a trade that sent Norman Powell to Portland. He quickly adapted, scoring a then career-high 31 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder and recording the second-highest plus-minus in a game since the league began tracking the statistic in 1996 during a 53-point blowout of the Golden State Warriors. On April 10, 2021, he erupted for a career-high 44 points on 17-of-19 shooting in a victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, then signed a three-year, $54 million extension with Toronto on August 2, 2021.
The 2021–2022 season marked Trent Jr.’s offensive breakout. He strung together five consecutive 30-point games in late January and early February, joining DeMar DeRozan as the only Raptors players to accomplish that feat. He scored a season-high 42 points twice, first against the Houston Rockets and later against the Phoenix Suns, shooting 8-of-11 from three-point range in the latter performance. On June 20, 2023, he exercised his $18.56 million player option to remain with the Raptors for the 2023–24 season.
In his final season with Toronto, Trent Jr. recorded his first career double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds against the Charlotte Hornets. He scored a season-high 30 points against the Phoenix Suns and helped the Raptors snap a 15-game losing streak with 31 points in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks on April 5, 2024.
Milwaukee Bucks Era (2024–Present)
On July 20, 2024, Trent Jr. signed a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, joining a contending roster and embracing a new role. On February 9, 2025, he scored a then season-high 23 points in a win over the Philadelphia 76ers, then raised that mark to 29 points on April 10 against the New Orleans Pelicans.
His most memorable moment as a Buck came on April 25, 2025, in Game 3 of the first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. Trent Jr. scored 37 points and hit nine three-pointers in a 117–101 victory, tying a Bucks franchise playoff record for made threes. He added 33 points in a closeout overtime loss in Game 5, though Milwaukee was eliminated in five games. On July 8, 2025, he re-signed with the Bucks on a two-year, $7.5 million contract with a player option for the second year.
Driving Style and Strengths
Trent Jr. is widely regarded as a sharpshooting guard whose biggest strengths come from beyond the arc and in catch-and-pull-up situations. He moves well without the ball, spaces the floor effectively, and has developed a consistent mid-range pull-up. His ability to heat up quickly, demonstrated by five consecutive 30-point games with the Raptors, makes him a dangerous scorer in any lineup.
Notable Events and Milestones
Trent Jr. won the NBA Cup championship in 2024 with the Milwaukee Bucks. Earlier accolades include being named a McDonald’s All-American in 2017 and earning MVP honors at the FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship in 2015 while representing the United States.
Gary Trent Jr. Career Wins
Gary Trent Jr. has built a reputation as a high-volume scorer and reliable shooter across multiple franchises. His biggest team accomplishment to date is the 2024 NBA Cup championship with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Milwaukee Bucks Highlights
Since joining the Bucks in July 2024, Trent Jr. has provided timely scoring and deep shooting. His nine three-pointers in Game 3 against Indiana tied a Bucks playoff record, and he delivered a 33-point effort in the Game 5 elimination contest. He re-signed with the franchise in July 2025, signaling a continued role in the team’s perimeter rotation.
Other Wins & Performances
Earlier in his career, Trent Jr. earned a McDonald’s All-American selection in 2017 after a dominant senior season at Prolific Prep. In 2015, he was named MVP of the FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship while representing the United States, an early indicator of his scoring pedigree on the international stage.
Gary Trent Jr. Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Basketball runs deep in Gary Trent Jr.’s family. His father, Gary Trent Sr., played at Ohio University and spent nine seasons in the NBA with Portland, Toronto, Milwaukee, Dallas, and Minnesota, while also competing professionally in Greece and Italy. He also represented the United States at the 1993 U.S. Olympic Festival. Trent Jr.’s mother is Roxanne Holt, and he has three brothers: Garyson, Grayson, and Graydon.
Personal Life
Trent Jr. maintains a relatively private personal life. His main public interests outside basketball are not widely documented, and he is active on social media, where he shares updates about his career.
2025 Season Performance
Gary Trent Jr.’s 2025 campaign with the Milwaukee Bucks showed steady growth after his midseason addition the previous summer. He posted a then season-high 23 points against the Philadelphia 76ers in February before raising his season-best to 29 points against the New Orleans Pelicans in April. His role as a microwave scorer off the bench helped stabilize the Bucks’ perimeter offense throughout the regular season.
In the playoffs, Trent Jr. delivered one of the most memorable shooting displays in recent Bucks postseason history. His 37-point, nine-three-pointer outing in Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers tied a franchise playoff record and gave Milwaukee a brief series advantage. He followed it with 33 points in Game 5, though the Bucks ultimately fell in five games.
After the season, Trent Jr. committed to his long-term future in Milwaukee by signing a two-year, $7.5 million contract with a player option. With the core roster largely intact and Trent Jr. entering his second year with the team, the Bucks are positioned to lean on his shooting and scoring punch as they push for another deep playoff run.