Naz Mitrou-Long

Nazareth Jersey Mitrou-Long (born August 3, 1993) is a Canadian-Greek-Trinidadian[1] professional basketball player for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Iowa State Cyclones. Born in Mississauga, Ontario, he played high school basketball at Father Michael Goetz in his hometown. In 2012, he started playing college basketball for Iowa State. He played in the 2017 NBA Summer League for the Sacramento Kings.

Naz Mitrou-Long
Mitrou-Long playing for Iowa State in 2016.
No. 15 – Fort Wayne Mad Ants
PositionShooting guard / Point guard
LeagueNBA G League
Personal information
Born (1993-08-03) August 3, 1993
Mississauga, Ontario
NationalityCanadian / Greek / Trinidadian
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight218 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeIowa State (2012–2017)
NBA draft2017 / Undrafted
Playing career2017–present
Career history
2017Salt Lake City Stars
2017–2019Utah Jazz
2017–2019→Salt Lake City Stars
2019–2020Indiana Pacers
2019-presentFort Wayne Mad Ants
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

High school career

One of the top prospects out of Canada, Long was ranked as the 7th-best player in Canada according to North Pole Hoops. He participated in the 2011 All-Canada Classic, a showcase of the best Canadian basketball players and played for the CIA Bounce AAU program, the top AAU summer circuit in Canada. He played with NBA players Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph, and future Cyclone teammate Melvin Ejim while competing for REDA Red in the National Prep School Athletic Association in 2011–12. Naz played for Findlay Prep in Las Vegas, Nev., during the 2010–11 season, helping the Prep Pilots to a 28–4 record and their third-straight ESPN Rise National High School Invitational appearance where he was teammates with Texas’ Myck Kabongo. He prepped at Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md) in 2009–10, teaming with Duke's Josh Hairston During his recruitment he received offers from Rice, Dayton, Creighton, and Miami, eventually committing to the Iowa State Cyclones.

College career

Freshman season

Naz saw action in 18 games as a freshman, averaging 1.4 points and 1.0 assists. He tallied seven points vs. Southern and handed out seven assists vs. Alabama A&M.

Sophomore season

Long played in all 36 games, making seven starts and establishing himself as a clutch 3-point threat. He averaged 7.1 points per game and shot 40 percent from behind the arc, finishing fourth in the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage (40.0) and seventh in 3-pointers made (1.8). His 64 3-pointers ranks as the 17th-most by a Cyclone in a single season. He made at least four 3-pointers in seven games. He hit a 30-foot three at the buzzer to send the Cyclones to overtime against Oklahoma State[2] and in ISU's game at Oklahoma State earlier in the season, Long drilled a three to send the game to triple-OT.[3] He earned Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week honors after hitting 8-of-11 3-pointers in the Cyclones' season-opening win against UNC Wilmington and finishing with a career-high 26 points in the game.[4] He went 4-of-6 from long range to score 16 points in the Cyclones' win against No. 7 Michigan. Long played a key role in ISU's Big 12 Tournament run, making 7-of-10 threes and averaging 10 points and going 4-of-6 from behind the arc in the championship game against Baylor. In the third round of the NCAA Tournament, Long hit three 3-pointers in the final 5:10, including one that tied the game at 81, as ISU rallied to defeat North Carolina.[5] He averaged 7.1 points per game and shot 40 percent from behind the arc, finishing fourth in the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage (40.0) and seventh in 3-pointers made (1.8). His 64 3-pointers ranks as the 17th-most by a Cyclone in a single season.

Junior season

Long saw action in all 34 games, making 33 starts and hit four or more threes in a game six times. He scored a team-high 20 points in Iowa State's regular season win against Kansas and connected on 5-of-9 threes to lead Iowa State with 21 points in win at Iowa.[6] He drilled 7-of-10 threes and scored a season-high 24 points against Mississippi Valley State.[7] Naz grabbed a career-high seven boards in win against Texas. He averaged 10.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. He hit a team-high 77 three-pointers, the eighth most in a single season by a Cyclone. He was second in the Big 12 averaging 2.3 three-pointers made per game and finished the season tied for fifth in the league shooting 39.1 percent behind the arc. Naz had ISU's third-longest streak of games with a three-pointer come to an end at 21 games. He shot 44.9 percent from the field despite 77.5 percent of his shots coming from three-point range and is tied for fifth all-time at Iowa State with 146 three-pointers made. Long suffered a labral tears in both of his hips during the season. In the offseason he had separate surgeries to repair each tear.[8]

Senior season
Mitrou-Long had to sit out for most of the 2015–16 season.

Naz played in the first eight games this season for the fifth-ranked Cyclones, averaging 12.0 points in 31.6 minutes. He got a rest against Arkansas–Pine Bluff, with coach Steve Prohm commenting that his situation would be re-evaluated every week.[9] On 15 December 2015, he decided to sit out the rest of the season due to persistent pain from his hip surgeries.[10] Mitrou-Long commented on his decision: "I feel the need to take time off to allow myself to rehab with our training staff to get back to where I can perform at my peak level on the basketball court".[11] Iowa State coach Prohm supported Mitrou-Long's decision to sit out to rehabilitate, while adding his belief that the team could react in a positive manner.[11] Naz was awarded a medical redshirt by the Big 12, thus becoming eligible for the 2016-2017 season.[12]

Redshirt senior season

Going into his redshirt senior season, Long was named in the preseason All-Big 12 Second-Team,[13] receiving praise from coach Prohm for his work ethic, maturity and leadership.[14] Former teammate Jameel McKay commented before the season that Mitrou-Long looked in the best shape of his life, also stating that he could end up Big 12's leading scorer for the season.[15] He started the season strong, posting his first career double-double against the Savannah State Tigers with 18 points and a career best 10 rebounds.[16] Versus Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers, Mitrou-Long played against his younger brother Elijah Long, a sophomore for the Mountaineers; Mitrou-Long said after the game: "Part of me wanted to cheer for him. Part of me was keeping it competitive. It was a little weird, but man it was a good time".[17] Against the Drake Bulldogs, Mitrou-Long set a new career-high in scoring with 37 points on 8 of 12 three-pointers.[18] At the end of his redshirted senior season, Mitrou-Long would be named for the official All-Big 12 Second Team for the work he put in that year for Iowa State.

College statistics
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2012–13 Iowa State 1806.9.348.2781.000.81.0.3.01.4
2013–14 Iowa State 36720.3.432.400.6431.61.1.2.17.1
2014–15 Iowa State 343327.5.449.391.7552.92.0.8.110.1
2015–16 Iowa State 8831.6.425.291.6002.91.9.6.312.0
2016–17 Iowa State 353533.3.473.384.7954.6 2.71.2.015.1
Career 1318324.5.451.380.7512.71.8.7.19.5

Professional career

Salt Lake City Stars (2017)

After going undrafted in the 2017 NBA draft, Mitrou-Long played for the Sacramento Kings in the 2017 NBA Summer League. He later signed with the Utah Jazz for their training camp squad. After getting cut from the team, he was assigned to the Salt Lake City Stars in the NBA G League.

Utah Jazz (2017–2019)

After showing promising results for his playing in Salt Lake City Stars, on December 22, 2017, Mitrou-Long signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz, taking the spot that was originally held by Nate Wolters.[19] This move saw him split playing time between the Jazz and the Stars for the rest of the length of his contract. Mitrou-Long made his NBA debut four days later, recording a three-pointer in a blowout 107–83 loss to the Denver Nuggets. However, on January 13, 2018, Mitrou-Long was waived from the Jazz in order to sign former college teammate Georges Niang.[20] He was re-signed by the Jazz on February 11, 2018 to a 10-day contract.[21] After his first 10-day contract expired on February 21, he signed a second 10-day contract with the Jazz three days later.[22]

Salt Lake City Stars (2018–2019)

On January 16, 2018, Mitrou-Long was reacquired by the Salt Lake City Stars.[23] He returned to Salt Lake City once again on February 21, 2018, after his 10-day contract expired. Mitrou-Long left Salt Lake City once again for his second 10-day contract with the Utah Jazz, and returned to Salt Lake City after the second 10-day contract expired. He averaged 18.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game with Salt Lake City.[24] In July 2019, Mitrou-Long joined the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2019 NBA Summer League.

Indiana Pacers (2019–2020)

On July 31, 2019, Mitrou-Long signed a two-way contract with the Indiana Pacers.[25] On November 18, 2019, Mitrou-Long scored a career-high 12 points while getting three rebounds, three assists and one steal in a 115–86 win against the Brooklyn Nets.[26] In the G League, he averaged 13.7 points, 6.1 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game. On December 19, Mitrou-Long was waived by the Pacers.[27]

NBA career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 Utah 101.01.0001.000-.0.0.0.03.0
2018–19 Utah 1406.0.3000.1820.1.41.1.1.11.1
2019–20 Indiana 509.4.3530.1670.0.41.6.2.12.8
Career 2005.7.333.2501.000.42.7.3.21.3

Personal life

Mitrou-Long was born on August 3, 1993, in Mississauga, Ontario, to Jersey Long and Georgia Mitrou.[28] His father is of Trinidadian descent while his mother is a Greek Canadian.[29] Mitrou-Long has three siblings and six half-siblings.[29] His brother, Elijah Mitrou-Long, previously played college basketball for Mount St. Mary's University before transferring to the University of Texas in his junior year.[30] After one year with the Longhorns, he transferred to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In summer 2015, Mitrou-Long decided to display his full last name on his jersey to honor his mother; up to that point his jersey had only his father's name on it.[31]

References
  1. Naz Mitrou-Long gets Greek passport.
  2. "Naz Long Hit a Deep 3-Pointer to Send Iowa State/Oklahoma State to Overtime". The Big Lead. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  3. Eisenberg, Jeff (2014-02-04). "Naz Long's game-saving three helps Iowa State end its Stillwater hex | The Dagger - Yahoo Sports". Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  4. Dauster, Rob (2013-11-10). "DeAndre Kane, Naz Long impress in Iowa State's win over UNC Wilmington – CollegeBasketballTalk". Collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  5. "> Naz Long keeps hitting big shots for Iowa State". The Gazette. 2014-04-01. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  6. Chad Leistikow (2014-12-12). "Naz Long, Iowa State dismantle Iowa in Cy-Hawk showdown". Usatoday.com. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  7. "Naz Long's strong 3-point shooting night makes life easy". Desmoinesregister.com. 2014-12-31. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  8. "Cyclone Naz Long's second hip surgery went well; rehab starts Monday". Desmoinesregister.com. 2015-05-07. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  9. Birch, Tommy (December 13, 2015). "Naz Mitrou-Long rests up against Arkansas-Pine Bluff". The Des Moines Register.
  10. Birch, Tommy (December 15, 2015). "Iowa State's Naz Mitrou-Long to miss rest of season". The Des Moines Register.
  11. Montz, Dylan (December 15, 2015). "Iowa State's Naz Mitrou-Long out for the season". The Gazette. Cedar Rapids.
  12. Peterson, Randy (April 29, 2016). "It's official: Naz Mitrou-Long is back for Iowa State". The Des Moines Register.
  13. "BIG 12 men's basketball 2016-2017 preseason all-conference teams". College Sports madness. September 24, 2016.
  14. "Healthy Naz Mitrou-Long gives ISU shot in arm". Omaha World-Herald. October 12, 2016.
  15. Peterson, Randy (June 20, 2016). "ISU's Mitrou-Long in the best shape of his life". The Des Moines Register.
  16. Hines, Travis (November 11, 2016). "Notebook: Mitrou-Long soars in re-introduction HIDE CAPTION Iowa State's Naz Mitrou-Long goes for the layup around Savannah State's Robert Kelly during the 2nd half of the Cyclones' season opener at Hilton Coliseum Friday, Nov 11, 2016, in Ames, Iowa. Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar". Ames Tribune.
  17. Young, Ryan (November 14, 2016). "Naz Mitrou-Long, Cyclones best Mount St. Mary's 73-55 in 'Long family reunion". Iowa State Daily.
  18. Meredith, Luke (December 17, 2016). "Mitrou-Long's 37 points help Iowa State beat Drake 97-80". The Daily Progress.
  19. Bolerjack, Nick (December 23, 2017). "Jazz Sign Naz Mitrou-Long to Two-way Contract | Utah Jazz". Utah Jazz. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  20. Woodyard, Eric (14 January 2018). "Utah Jazz sign Georges Niang to two-way deal after waiving college teammate". Deseret News. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  21. "Jazz Sign Naz Mitrou-Long to 10-Day Contract". Utah Jazz. 11 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  22. "Jazz Sign Naz Mitrou-Long to Second 10-Day Contract". Utah Jazz. 24 February 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  23. Rueckert, Daniel (January 16, 2018). "Stars Reacquire Naz Mitrou-Long". NBA.com. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  24. "Final 2017-18 NBA G League stats for ex-Iowa collegians". The Gazette. March 27, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  25. "Pacers Sign Justin Holiday; Sign Naz Mitrou-Long to a Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. July 31, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  26. "Mitrou-Long Ready for Opportunity, Wherever it Comes". NBA.com. November 22, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  27. OnAnidos, Roberto (April 15, 2020). "Mitrou-Long y Mantzaris, opciones para el puesto de base del Panathinaikos". Piratas del Basket (in Spanish). Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  28. "Naz Mitrou-Long". Cyclones.com.
  29. Dibie, Max (December 3, 2015). "The power of a name: Naz Mitrou-Long". Iowa State Daily.
  30. Montz, Dylan (November 13, 2016). "Iowa State set to host Mount St. Mary's and Naz Mitrou-Long's brother, Elijah". The Gazette. Cedar Rapids.
  31. Birch, Tommy (July 23, 2015). "Iowa State senior Mitrou-Long honors mom with name change". The Des Moines Register.
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