Kris Dunn’s Inspiring NBA Journey: From Connecticut Roots To Defensive Standout
Discover the full story of Kris Dunn, from his tough childhood in Connecticut to becoming a top NBA draft pick and defensive force. Learn about his high school dominance, college success at Providence, and steady rise in the NBA.
Jul 25, 202517.5K Shares344.2K Views
Kris Dunnquickly made a name for himself as a standout guard thanks to his fierce defense and smart playmaking. He rose from a very successful college career at Providence, where he won both Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year twice. In 2016, he became the fifth overall pick in the NBA Draft and started his pro career with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Since then, he has played for several teams, including the Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz, and now the Los Angeles Clippers. Known for his energy, court vision, and defensive hustle, Dunn continues to build his reputation as a reliable NBA guard.
Early Life
Kris Dunn was born on March 18, 1994, in New London, Connecticut. His early years were very hard—his mother spent time in prison, and Kris and his older brother lived mostly on their own in a two-bedroom apartment. To survive, Kris played one-on-one games in parks to earn money for food, even though he often had no money in his pocket.
When Kris was about nine, his father Seldon found him and his brother, took custody, and brought them to live in Connecticut. This change gave Kris more structure and support, helping him turn his life around.
Kris attended New London High School in his hometown and quickly stood out as one of the best point guards in high school basketball. During his junior year (2010–11), he averaged 26.5 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals per game. He led his team to a perfect 27–0 season and won the Connecticut Class L State Championship.
In his senior year (2011–12), Kris scored his 2,000th career point and helped his team reach the state semifinals. He finished the season with averages around 31.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. He received many honors, including being a McDonald’s All-American, Gatorade State Player of the Year, and a top‑ranking player nationally. By the end of high school, he was ranked #24 in the country and #1 in Connecticut for his class.
College Career
Kris Dunn began his college basketball career at Providence College in the 2012–13 season. He missed much of his first year after shoulder surgery, but still played in 25 games and averaged 5.7 points, 3.2 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game in about 27 minutes of play. The next season (2013–14), he played only four games before another shoulder injury ended his season early.
In the 2014–15 season, Dunn returned strong and became one of the best guards in the Big East. He averaged 15.6 points, 7.5 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.7 steals per game, shooting 47.4% from the field and about 35.1% from three. He led the conference in assists and steals. He earned both Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors, becoming the first guard in Big East history to win both awards in the same season.
In his junior year (2015–16), he averaged 16.4 points, 6.2 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game with shooting splits of roughly 44.8% overall and 37.2% from three. He again won both Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year and was a consensus All‑American second team pick. He also led Providence to over 1,000 points, 500 assists, 400 rebounds, and 200 steals in his college career.
Over three active seasons, Dunn played in 95 games and started 82 of them. He posted career averages of about 12.8 points, 5.8 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.2 steals in 31.6 minutes per game. He finished with a overall shooting percentage near 45% and over 35% from three-point range.
Following his junior year, Dunn earned many preseason and mid-season award nods, including watchlists for the Wooden Award and Bob Cousy Award. After graduating, he decided to enter the 2016 NBA Draft and skipped his final year of eligibility.
Professional Career
Kris Dunn was selected 5th overall in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. In his rookie season (2016–17), he appeared in 78 games (starting 7) and played about 17.1 minutes per game. He averaged 3.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.0 steals per game, with a shooting percentage of 37.7% from the field.
In 2017 he was traded to the Chicago Bulls. During the 2017–18 season, he played 52 games (43 starts), averaging 13.4 points, 6.0 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game in 29.3 minutes on 42.9% shooting. The next year (2018–19) he played 46 games (44 starts) and averaged 11.3 points, 6.0 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 30.2 minutes with 42.5% shooting.
In 2019–20, his role shifted, he played 51 games (starting 32), averaging 7.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.0 steals in 24.9 minutes per game, shooting 44.4% from the floor. Dunn signed with the Atlanta Hawks in 2020–21 but played only 4 games due to injury. He averaged 1.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 11.3 minutes before missing most of the season with knee and ankle issues.
He joined the Portland Trail Blazers late in the 2021–22 season, appearing in 14 games (3 starts) and posting 7.6 points, 5.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in 24 minutes per game.
In 2022–23 Dunn moved to the Utah Jazz, where he regained full form—playing in 22 games (3 starts) and averaging 13.2 points, 5.6 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 25.8 minutes per game, with an efficient 53.7% overall shooting and 47.2% from three-point range. In 2023–24, still with Utah, he played in 66 games (32 starts) and averaged 5.4 points, 3.8 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 18.9 minutes, shooting around 47% from the floor.
In mid-2024, Dunn was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in a sign-and-trade deal for Russell Westbrook. In the 2024–25 season with the Clippers, he appeared in 74 games (58 starts) playing 24.1 minutes per game. He averaged 6.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.7 steals, with shooting percentages of 43.9% from the field and 33.5% from three-point range.
Over his NBA career so far, Dunn has played in 407 regular season games, starting in 222 of them. He averages roughly 7.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.5 steals in about 23.3 minutes per game.
Despite early challenges under coach Tom Thibodeau in Minnesota (where he struggled for playing time), Dunn later reflected that the experience helped him grow. After several moves and ups and downs, he finds his stride with the Clippers as a starting guard known for his defense and effort.
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