Branden Lee Dawson (born February 1, 1993) is an American professional basketball player. Standing at 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) and weighing 225 pounds (102 kg), he primarily plays as a small forward or power forward. Dawson played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans.
Early Life and High School Career
Born in Gary, Indiana, Dawson attended Lew Wallace High School, where he excelled in basketball. As a highly-touted recruit, he was considered one of the top players in his class. During his senior year, he averaged 24.5 points, 12.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 3.0 blocks, and 2.5 steals per game. He was a McDonald's All-American selection in 2011 and participated in the Jordan Brand Classic.College Career
Dawson committed to Michigan State University and played under coach Tom Izzo from 2011 to 2015. He was a significant contributor throughout his four years, known for his athleticism, rebounding prowess, and defensive versatility.- Freshman Season (2011–12): Dawson immediately made an impact, starting 25 of 37 games. He averaged 8.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game before suffering an ACL injury in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
- Sophomore Season (2012–13): He recovered from his injury to play in 31 games, averaging 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds.
- Junior Season (2013–14): Dawson started all 38 games, averaging 11.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game, earning Second-Team All-Big Ten honors.
- Senior Season (2014–15): In his final year, Dawson averaged 11.9 points and a career-high 9.1 rebounds per game, helping lead the Spartans to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. He was named to the NCAA Tournament East Regional All-Tournament Team and was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection. He finished his Michigan State career as the program's all-time leader in games played (141).
Professional Career
NBA Draft and G-League
Dawson was selected with the 56th overall pick in the second round of the 2015 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons. His draft rights were subsequently traded to the New Orleans Pelicans. He later signed with the Los Angeles Clippers for training camp, but was waived before the start of the regular season.He then spent time in the NBA G League (formerly the NBA D-League), playing for several teams:
- Grand Rapids Drive (2015–16): As an affiliate player of the Pistons, he played 27 games, averaging 11.6 points and 6.6 rebounds.
- Erie BayHawks (2016–17): Traded to the BayHawks, he played 11 games.
- Salt Lake City Stars (2017–18): Played 43 games, averaging 9.6 points and 6.9 rebounds.
- Maine Red Claws (2018–19): After a stint abroad, he returned to the G League for the Red Claws.
International Career
Dawson has also played professionally in various international leagues:- France (2016): Played briefly for BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque.
- Israel (2017): Signed with Hapoel Holon.
- Japan (2018–2020): Played for the Fukushima Firebonds and later the Shimane Susanoo Magic in the B.League.
Legal Issues
Dawson's professional career was impacted by legal troubles. In 2016, he was arrested on charges of domestic violence, which led to his release from the Los Angeles Clippers. These incidents affected his ability to secure consistent NBA opportunities.References
- [Michigan State Athletics Profile]
- [NBA G League Player Profile]
- [RealGM Player Profile]