Blake Wesley

Wesley is an American guard whose early NBA career has been marked by significant injuries and roster movement. Drafted 25th overall by San Antonio in 2022, he suffered a left MCL tear in his second career game, recovered in under seven weeks, spent time in the G League, and was later traded to Washington, waived, and signed with Portland before suffering a fifth metatarsal fracture. His Notre Dame freshman season had positioned him as a first-round prospect, but professional durability has become his primary challenge.

Born on March 16, 2003, Wesley attended James Whitcomb Riley High School in South Bend, Indiana. As a junior, he averaged 26.0 points and 6.3 rebounds. As a senior, he averaged 27.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.5 steals, led Riley to the Class 4A sectional title, and was named to the Indiana All-Star team. He was a consensus four-star recruit and committed to Notre Dame on November 20, 2020, choosing the Fighting Irish over Creighton, Kansas State, Louisville, Maryland, Purdue, and Xavier.

Wesley made an immediate impact at Notre Dame. In his debut on November 13, 2021, he scored 21 points in a win over Cal State Northridge. On November 29, he scored a career-high 24 points against Illinois. As a freshman, he averaged 14.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, was named to the Second Team All-ACC and the ACC All-Rookie Team, and declared for the 2022 NBA draft on March 30.

The San Antonio Spurs selected Wesley 25th overall in the 2022 NBA draft. He scored 20 points and had five assists in his Summer League debut against Cleveland. He signed a rookie-scale contract on July 5 and made his NBA debut on October 28, scoring 10 points and adding four assists in a win over Chicago. Two days later, in his second career game, he tore his left MCL in a collision with Jaden McDaniels. He was assigned to the Austin Spurs on December 16 and returned to action less than seven weeks after the injury, scoring 12 points against the Mexico City Capitanes.

On July 9, 2025, Wesley was traded with Malaki Branham to the Washington Wizards for Kelly Olynyk. On July 19, he was waived by Washington after agreeing to a buyout. On July 22, he signed with the Portland Trail Blazers. On November 3, 2025, he suffered a fracture to the fifth metatarsal of his right foot against the Denver Nuggets, underwent surgery, and was ruled out for eight to twelve weeks.

Wesley is a scoring guard with a quick first step, pull-up shooting, and the ability to get downhill in transition. At Notre Dame, he demonstrated shot-making from all three levels and a willingness to defend bigger guards. His NBA sample size remains limited due to injuries, but his Summer League debut and early regular-season minutes suggested offensive confidence and defensive activity. His recovery timelines have been aggressive, reflecting a player eager to return to the court.

Wesley enters the 2025–26 season recovering from right foot surgery with the Portland Trail Blazers. His résumé includes Indiana All-Star honors, a Notre Dame freshman season with All-ACC recognition, a 2022 first-round selection, a rapid MCL recovery, a trade to Washington, a buyout waiver, a Portland signing, and a metatarsal fracture. His path from South Bend through San Antonio and into Portland has been defined by flashes of scoring potential interrupted by significant injuries.