Lester Quiñones Bio
Lester Quiñones is a Dominican-American professional basketball player born on November 16, 2000, in Brentwood, New York. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing around 208 pounds, he plays the shooting guard position and is currently a member of the Osceola Magic of the NBA G League. He also represents the Dominican Republic in international competition, having joined the senior national team program after earlier stints with the country’s youth squads.
Quiñones first gained national attention as a high school and postgraduate standout before spending three seasons with the Memphis Tigers of the American Athletic Conference. Since going undrafted in 2022, he has built his professional résumé across the Golden State Warriors, Santa Cruz Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Delaware Blue Coats, New Orleans Pelicans, and Birmingham Squadron organizations. His rise from undrafted free agent to NBA two-way contract recipient has established him as a notable developmental story within the G League ranks.
Early Life and Background
Quiñones grew up in Brentwood, New York, and first picked up basketball in the sixth grade. Born in the United States, he is of Salvadoran, Dominican, and Puerto Rican descent, and he later chose to represent the Dominican Republic at the international level. His early years in Brentwood introduced him to a competitive local basketball culture that helped shape his perimeter-oriented skill set.
During his first two years of high school, he attended Brentwood High School before transferring to Upper Room Christian School in Dix Hills, New York, for his junior season. He averaged 19.3 points per game at Upper Room and was named to the 2017 Long Island Basketball honor roll, signaling his emergence as a regional prospect. Those performances laid the foundation for moves to two of the most prestigious prep basketball programs in the country.
Path to Professional Basketball
For his senior year, Quiñones transferred to St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey, where he joined a nationally ranked roster that included five-star recruit Precious Achiuwa. He scored a game-high 23 points in a January 7, 2018, win over Hudson Catholic Regional High School, then ranked number one in the NJ.com Top 20 poll, and helped St. Benedict’s post a 28–2 record with a top-10 national ranking from MaxPreps. He followed that with a postgraduate year at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where he averaged 24 points, nine rebounds, and six assists per game while shooting 38 percent from three-point range.
Quiñones finished his high school and postgraduate career as a consensus four-star recruit. On May 10, 2019, he committed to play college basketball for the Memphis Tigers under head coach Penny Hardaway, having also strongly considered Indiana. His IMG Academy tape and St. Benedict’s pedigree made him one of the more sought-after scorers in the 2019 class.
Lester Quiñones Career
Early Career at Memphis (2019–2022)
Quiñones arrived at Memphis in 2019 and made an immediate impact. With James Wiseman sidelined by eligibility issues, he recorded his first double-double on November 16, 2019, finishing with 21 points and 10 rebounds in a 102–56 win over Alcorn State. He was named American Athletic Conference freshman of the week on November 18, 2019, before breaking his right hand in a November 23 game against Ole Miss and missing three weeks.
At the end of his freshman season, Quiñones was named to the AAC All-Freshman Team after averaging 10.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. Across three seasons with the Tigers, he developed into a reliable scoring guard and helped Memphis capture the 2021 NIT championship. After his junior year, he announced his intention to leave Memphis and enter the 2022 NBA draft.
Golden State / Santa Cruz Warriors Era (2022–2024)
After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Quiñones signed a two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors on July 5, 2022. He debuted for Golden State’s summer league team at the California Classic, recording seven points, five rebounds, and two steals in a loss to the Sacramento Kings, before being waived on October 13. Two days later, he signed with the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA G League and quickly found his scoring touch, erupting for 42 points and eight rebounds in a 112–119 loss to the Salt Lake City Stars on February 25, 2023.
On March 2, 2023, he signed a 10-day contract with Golden State but did not appear in a game before returning to Santa Cruz. He signed a two-way deal with the Warriors on March 17, 2023, and made his NBA debut on March 31 against the San Antonio Spurs, playing one minute and securing his first rebound. On April 4, 2023, he was named the NBA G League Most Improved Player, and he was also selected to the NBA G League All-Rookie Team that same season.
Quiñones signed another two-way contract with Golden State on July 24, 2023, and converted to a standard NBA contract on February 22, 2024. He later led the Warriors in points and minutes in a blowout loss to the Boston Celtics on March 3, 2024, capping a developmental arc that turned him into a rotation option at the NBA level.
Philadelphia 76ers / Delaware Blue Coats (2024)
On September 26, 2024, Quiñones signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. His time in Philadelphia was brief, as he was waived on December 3, 2024. He was then acquired by the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League, continuing his path as an ascending two-way prospect.
Birmingham Squadron / New Orleans Pelicans (2024–2025)
On December 6, 2024, Quiñones was acquired by the Birmingham Squadron, and his strong G League play culminated in a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans on March 3, 2025. He debuted for the Pelicans on March 24, helping New Orleans to a 112–99 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, and averaged 8.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in nine NBA appearances.
Osceola Magic (2025–Present)
On August 18, 2025, Quiñones signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Orlando Magic, was waived on October 18, 2025, and joined the Osceola Magic, the Magic’s NBA G League affiliate. He continues to compete in the G League as a shooting guard, working to position himself for another opportunity at the NBA level.
Driving Style and Strengths
Quiñones is best known as a scoring shooting guard with reliable three-point range and the ability to create his own shot off the dribble. He excels in transition and as a secondary playmaker, with averages of more than two assists per game during his time at Memphis. His combination of size, footwork, and perimeter shooting has made him a versatile offensive option for both G League and NBA coaching staffs.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights of Quiñones’ résumé include his 42-point outburst for Santa Cruz on February 25, 2023, his first NBA rebound on March 31, 2023, against the San Antonio Spurs, and his 2023 NBA G League Most Improved Player award. He also helped Memphis win the 2021 NIT championship and represented the Dominican Republic at the 2018 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship, where he averaged 17.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists across six games.
Lester Quiñones Career Wins
Quiñones’ most prominent team accomplishment is the 2021 NIT championship with the Memphis Tigers, a postseason title that marked his first major team trophy. At the professional level, his individual recognition through the 2023 NBA G League Most Improved Player award stands as his signature career milestone to date.
NBA G League Highlights
Quiñones earned NBA G League Most Improved Player honors in 2023 after a breakthrough campaign that included a 42-point performance for the Santa Cruz Warriors. He was also named to the 2023 NBA G League All-Rookie Team, cementing his status as one of the league’s top first-year professionals.
Other Wins and Performances
In addition to his NIT title with Memphis, Quiñones contributed to a strong 28–2 record at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in 2017–18 and a postgraduate campaign at IMG Academy in 2018–19 that reinforced his four-star recruit status.
Lester Quiñones Family
Family Background and Heritage
Quiñones was born in the United States to a family of Salvadoran, Dominican, and Puerto Rican descent, and he grew up in Brentwood, New York, alongside his parents and siblings. His multicultural background shaped his decision to represent the Dominican Republic in international basketball, beginning with the 2018 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship.
Personal Life
Quiñones has kept much of his personal life private, focusing public attention on his basketball career. He is not publicly known to be married and has not publicly announced any children.
2025 Season Performance
Quiñones’ 2025 campaign began with the Birmingham Squadron before his mid-season promotion to the New Orleans Pelicans on a two-way contract. In nine NBA appearances with New Orleans, he averaged 8.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, providing a scoring punch off the bench and helping the Pelicans to a 112–99 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in his debut on March 24.
Following the NBA portion of his season, Quiñones signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Orlando Magic on August 18, 2025, and was waived on October 18, 2025, before joining the Osceola Magic. He now enters the 2025–26 NBA G League season aiming to earn another NBA opportunity while continuing to develop his perimeter scoring and playmaking skills.