Jordan McLaughlin

McLaughlin is an American guard who has built an NBA career as a backup playmaker and defensive specialist since going undrafted in 2018. He has played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, and San Antonio Spurs, earning a reputation as a steady ball-handler and pesky on-ball defender.

Born on April 9, 1996, in Rancho Cucamonga, California, McLaughlin attended Etiwanda High School and committed to USC over Kansas and UCLA. USC coach Andy Enfield made him a recruiting priority after seeing him at an AAU game. McLaughlin had previously crossed USC off his list after seeing a former coach berate an injured player.

At USC, McLaughlin averaged 12.1 points and 4.5 assists as a freshman but missed the end of the season with a shoulder injury. He led the Trojans to the NCAA Tournament in 2016 and 2017, averaging 13.4 points as a junior and 12.8 points, 7.8 assists, and 2.0 steals as a senior. He was a First Team All-Pac-12 selection and became the third Pac-12 player ever to record more than 600 assists and 1,600 points in a career.

After going undrafted in 2018, McLaughlin signed with the Brooklyn Nets for Summer League and training camp but was waived. He joined the Long Island Nets of the G League and later signed a two-way contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves in July 2019. On February 8, 2020, he recorded a career-high 24 points and 11 assists against the Clippers. He signed a standard contract with Minnesota in September 2021. On July 10, 2024, he signed with the Sacramento Kings. On February 3, 2025, he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in a three-team deal. He re-signed with San Antonio on July 12, 2025.

McLaughlin is a steady point guard with excellent court vision, a reliable three-point stroke, and defensive tenacity. He thrives in pick-and-roll actions, finds open teammates in transition, and uses his quick hands to generate steals. His size limits him against bigger guards, but his basketball IQ and playmaking ability make him a valuable backup.

McLaughlin enters each season as a veteran guard with a unique college pedigree and multiple years of NBA experience. His trajectory from an undrafted free agent to a rotation player and a multi-franchise contributor reflects persistence, defensive hustle, and a commitment to improving his game at every level.