Lindy Waters III Bio
Lindy Waters III (born July 28, 1997) is a Kiowa and Cherokee-American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A versatile guard standing 196 cm (6 ft 5 in) and weighing around 95 kg (209 lb), he is known for perimeter shooting and dependable defense. He played college basketball for the Oklahoma State Cowboys before turning pro in 2021.
Waters built his reputation through the Oklahoma City Thunder and its G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, winning an NBA G League championship in 2024. He was named a finalist for the NBA 2023–24 Social Justice Champion Award for the work his foundation does to support Native American youth through sports, health, and wellness.
Early Life and Background
Lindy Waters III was born on July 28, 1997, in Boulder, Colorado, to Lindy Waters Jr. and Lisa Waters. He grew up in Norman, Oklahoma, where he attended Norman North High School. During his senior year he posed for a picture with an airsoft gun after losing a bet with friends, an incident that led to his expulsion and a brief transfer to Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas.
After several months away, Waters was allowed to return to Norman North and rejoined the basketball team, helping the Timberwolves reach the state title game. In November 2015, while still in high school, he committed to playing college basketball for Oklahoma State.
Path to Basketball
Waters signed with Oklahoma State in his senior year of high school and arrived in Stillwater as part of a competitive recruiting class. His early college years were interrupted by a concussion and a fractured foot, yet he returned to contribute as a freshman on a team that reached the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 5.7 points per game during that debut season.
As a sophomore he averaged 8.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, and in August 2018 he was named Indian of the Year by an Intertribal Council, an early sign of his off-court leadership. He raised his production again as a junior, averaging 12.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, before closing his senior year with averages of 10.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game.
Lindy Waters III Career
Early Career (2021)
After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft, Waters signed with the Enid Outlaws of The Basketball League on March 31, 2021. In 17 games he averaged 12.6 points, 4.9 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game, drawing attention with his all-around play. On July 6, 2021, he signed with Palmer Alma Mediterránea of Spain’s LEB Oro, but the contract was voided on August 14 due to bureaucratic problems, leaving him to seek another path to the NBA.
Oklahoma City Thunder / Blue Era (2021–2024)
In October 2021, Waters joined the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League after a successful tryout. He averaged 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game in his first season, earning a two-way contract from his hometown Oklahoma City Thunder on February 10, 2022. On February 27, 2023, the Thunder converted that deal into a multi-year standard contract, and he was assigned to the Blue again on March 2, 2023.
After the Thunder declined his team option, Waters re-signed with Oklahoma City on a two-way deal on August 18, 2023, before signing a multi-year contract on February 9, 2024. With the Blue he helped capture the 2024 NBA G League championship, the first title of his professional career. His steady shooting and willingness to take on defensive matchups made him a valued rotation piece in Oklahoma City.
Golden State Warriors Era (2024–2025)
On June 27, 2024, the Golden State Warriors traded their 52nd draft pick for Waters III, then re-acquired the pick later the same day in exchange for cash compensation, completing the deal for the guard. He made an instant impression in the preseason, hitting a game-winning buzzer beater against the Los Angeles Clippers on October 5, 2024, his first career buzzer-beating game winner.
Waters later set a season high of 21 points along with eight rebounds in a blowout victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on October 29, 2024. His shooting touch and team-first approach helped stabilize a deep Golden State rotation.
Detroit Pistons (2025)
On February 6, 2025, Waters was traded to the Detroit Pistons in a five-team deal that also sent Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors. His time in Detroit was brief, but it gave him a fresh start and another chance to show his perimeter skills.
San Antonio Spurs Era (2025–Present)
On July 24, 2025, the San Antonio Spurs announced they had signed Waters, adding a veteran shooter to a young roster. He joined a Spurs organization in the middle of a rebuild, where his experience and floor spacing were expected to support emerging players.
Driving Style and Strengths
Waters is regarded as a reliable three-point shooter who spaces the floor and moves well off the ball. He combines that perimeter stroke with disciplined defense and the toughness to guard multiple positions. Coaches have praised his professionalism and readiness to accept any role a team asks of him.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of his career, his first career buzzer-beating game winner came against the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2024 preseason. He later scored a season-high 21 points against the New Orleans Pelicans in October 2024 and won an NBA G League title with the Oklahoma City Blue in 2024. He was also a finalist for the 2023–24 NBA Social Justice Champion Award.
Lindy Waters III Career Wins
Lindy Waters III has built his resume around consistent shooting and team success rather than a long list of individual trophies. His most prominent title came in 2024 when he helped the Oklahoma City Blue win the NBA G League championship. Earlier, his senior year at Norman North ended in a state title game appearance, and he was recognized as Indian of the Year by an Intertribal Council in 2018.
NBA G League Highlights
Waters played multiple seasons for the Oklahoma City Blue, growing into a dependable leader in the G League. In 2024 he was part of the Blue squad that won the NBA G League title, cementing his reputation as a winning player. His earlier stint with the Enid Outlaws in The Basketball League in 2021 showed the same scoring ability he would later refine in Oklahoma City’s system.
Other Wins and Performances
At the high school level, Waters helped Norman North reach the state title game after returning from his brief transfer. In college, he was a steady contributor on Oklahoma State teams that made the NCAA Tournament during his freshman year. He has continued to add new chapters with each NBA team that has welcomed him.
Lindy Waters III Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Waters comes from a close family headed by his father, Lindy Waters Jr., and his mother, Lisa Waters. His upbringing in Norman, Oklahoma, kept him connected to his community, and his parents supported his basketball journey from high school through the NBA.
Personal Life
Waters is an enrolled citizen of the Kiowa tribe and is also of Cherokee Nation descent, a heritage that shapes his identity and his foundation work. Through his foundation he focuses on supporting Native American youth through sports, health, and wellness, the same work that earned him a finalist spot for the 2023–24 NBA Social Justice Champion Award.
2025 Season Performance
Waters began 2025 with the Golden State Warriors before being traded to the Detroit Pistons on February 6, 2025, in the multi-team deal that sent Jimmy Butler to Golden State. He continued to serve as a perimeter shooter and defensive wing for Detroit, providing veteran poise off the bench. On July 24, 2025, he joined the San Antonio Spurs, where he was expected to play a supporting role on a young, developing roster.
Across his stops in 2025, Waters remained a steady floor spacer and a reliable locker-room presence. His willingness to accept limited minutes while staying ready for bigger moments has made him a trusted role player in every locker room he has joined.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2025, Waters will look to carve out a consistent rotation spot with the Spurs and to keep building on the momentum of his 2024 G League title and his standout preseason showing in Golden State.