Former Jahmir Young left Maryland as one of the program’s most dynamic guards in recent memory. Two years later, he’s quietly building a professional résumé that suggests his NBA breakthrough may not be far away.
After starring in College Park for two seasons and cementing himself as one of the Big Ten’s premier playmakers, Young’s pro journey has taken a winding, but increasingly promising path. Young wasted little time making his mark at the next level. In his debut season, he averaged 21.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game, earning NBA G League All-Rookie Team honors. His blend of scoring punch and pace-setting ability immediately translated to the professional game.
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That performance earned him a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls in February, and by March, he made his long-awaited NBA debut.
Though his initial NBA sample size was small – just six games – Young’s time in Chicago provided a glimpse of what could be.
Young returned to the Bulls’ Summer League squad determined to make a statement, and did exactly that.
He dominated the competition, highlighted by a 37-point explosion that set a Bulls Summer League record. Once again, he proved he could carry an offense and control tempo against high-level competition.
Still, despite his production, Chicago waived him at the end of the summer.
For many young players, that might have been a discouraging setback. For Young, it became fuel.
Shortly after, Young signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Miami Heat. Before the season began, that deal was converted into a two-way contract – another opportunity, another door cracked open. And Young has kicked it wide. This season in the G League, he’s elevated his game even further, averaging 26.2 points, 8.9 assists and 5.3 rebounds per contest. His numbers improved across the board, highlighting continued development out of Young.
His dominance hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Young was selected to the Rising Stars Game, the G League Next Up Game, and the G League Three-Point Shootout. At the end of January, Miami rewarded his play with a promotion. He appeared in three games with the Heat before the All-Star break, including logging a career-high ten minutes against his former team, the Bulls – a subtle full-circle moment in his journey.
If there’s an organization built to maximize underdog guards, it’s Miami. And Young has embraced the franchise’s developmental blueprint. According to Young, head coach Erik Spoelstra has been transparent about what it will take to carve out a lasting role.
“Just doing all the little things, you know, getting 50/50 balls and being a pest on defense. And just letting the offense come to me.”
It’s a message that aligns perfectly with Young’s evolution. At Maryland, he carried the scoring load. In the pros, he’s learning how to impact winning beyond the box score – defensively disruptive possessions, smart reads, controlled aggression.
At this point, Young has little left to prove in the G League. He’s scoring at an elite clip. He’s facilitating at a high level. He’s earning league-wide recognition. The next step feels inevitable: an extended NBA opportunity.
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