Mizzou basketball standout Tamar Bates announces 2-way contract with NBA team
As KC native and Mizzou guard Tamar Bates awaited any news during the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft, he shared this sentiment at his watch party in his hometown:
“No matter if me and (teammate Caleb Grill’s) name gets called, at the end of the night we’ll both be NBA players,” Bates said via ABC17’s Nathalie Jones. “When you look at it from a bigger picture standpoint and how we know we’ll impact an NBA organization, this is a really a monumental night.”
Well, the first half of this prediction — Bates landing in the NBA — is already true.
Bates announced at his draft watch party that he signed a two-way deal with the Denver Nuggets and their G League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold, on Thursday, shortly after the conclusion of the draft.
The Athletic’s Tony Jones confirmed the signing.
A transfer from Indiana, Bates made an impact on head coach Dennis Gates’ squad, particularly in the 2024-25 campaign that saw the Tigers return to the NCAA tournament.
As a senior, he shot 50.8% from the field (39.7% from 3-point range) and led the nation by shooting 94.6% from the free throw line.
Bates will team up with former Mizzou freshman phenom Michael Porter Jr. in Denver.
