Paul Reed

Reed is an American forward who has built an NBA career as an energetic big man with shot-blocking instincts, rebounding, and finishing ability around the rim. Drafted in the second round in 2020, he has played for the Philadelphia 76ers and Detroit Pistons while also earning G League MVP and Rookie of the Year honors.

Born Paul Reed on June 14, 1999, in Orlando, Florida, he attended Wekiva High School. He grew from 6 feet 2 inches as a freshman to 6 feet 8 inches by his senior year. As a senior, he averaged 18.2 points and 11.4 rebounds and was named the Central Florida Player of the Year. He was rated a three-star recruit and committed to DePaul over Clemson, Kansas State, Rutgers, and Murray State.

At DePaul, Reed averaged 3.6 points and 3.1 rebounds as a freshman. As a sophomore, he averaged 12.3 points and 8.5 rebounds and was named the Big East Most Improved Player. As a junior, he averaged 15.1 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and 1.9 steals and was named Second Team All-Big East. He had 18 double-doubles for the season and declared for the 2020 NBA draft.

The Philadelphia 76ers selected Reed with the 58th overall pick in 2020. He signed a two-way contract and split time with the Delaware Blue Coats. In 2021, he won the G League MVP and Rookie of the Year awards. On March 26, 2021, the 76ers converted him to a standard NBA contract. On January 27, 2024, he posted a career-high 30 points with 13 rebounds against the Denver Nuggets. On July 9, 2024, he signed with the Detroit Pistons.

Reed is an energetic big man with shot-blocking timing, rebounding instincts, and finishing ability around the rim. He scores on putbacks, lobs, and short rolls. His defensive activity and hustle make him a valuable bench piece, though his offensive game remains limited to the paint. His development focus centers on expanding his offensive skill set and improving his free-throw shooting.