Bryce Alford
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Bryce Michael Alford[1] (born January 18, 1995) is an American former professional basketball player who is an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins. He set school records for the most three-point field goals made in a game, season, and career. He earned first-team all-conference honors in the Pac-12 as a senior in 2016–17.
Key Information
As a senior in high school in New Mexico, Alford set a state single-season scoring record, and was named the state's top high school player. He was named one of the top freshmen in the Pac-12 in his first season with UCLA. As a sophomore in 2014–15, he became the team's starting point guard and set the Bruins' record for most three-pointers made in a season. Alford moved to shooting guard as a senior, when he surpassed his own single-season record and became the Bruins' career leader in three-pointers made. After going undrafted in the 2017 NBA draft, he began his pro career playing two seasons for the Oklahoma City Blue in the NBA G League. He also played in Germany, Portugal, Poland, and the Czech Republic. He is the son of former basketball player Steve Alford, who was also his head coach at UCLA.
Early life
[edit]Alford was born in Manchester, Indiana,[2] to Tanya and Steve Alford, a college basketball coach and former professional player.[3][4] His father was coaching at Manchester College at the time.[5] By the time Alford was five, he would sit in on his father's locker room talks, and stood beside him during news conferences.[6]
Alford attended La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[7][8] He averaged 25.3 points and 4.6 assists in his junior year, when he also led the Bears to the Class 5A title game. In March 2012, he verbally committed to attend the University of New Mexico, where he would play college basketball under his father, who was coaching the Lobos.[9] He signed a National Letter of Intent to accept New Mexico's athletic scholarship offer in December.[6][7]
As a senior, Alford broke a 50-year-old New Mexico high school single-season scoring record with 1,050 points.[3][10][11] He averaged 37.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 2.6 steals while leading his team to a 22–6 record and the Class 5A quarterfinals.[11] For the season, he was named New Mexico's Gatorade Player of the Year.[11] While he earned first-team Parade All-American honors,[12] recruiting services did not rank him among the top 100 overall players nationally.[13][14] He was ranked No. 44 at shooting guard, but he considered himself a point guard.[13] Steve believed his son's commitment to play for him negatively impacted his ranking.[15] Alford participated in USA Basketball's training camp for the 2013 FIBA Under-19 World Championship,[10][16] where he was eager to gain national attention.[13]
College career
[edit]In March 2013, Steve became the coach at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and Alford followed him.[17][18] The Bruins rarely sought players who were not four- or five-star recruits.[6] With Alford rated a consensus three-star prospect,[13] skeptics were wary of nepotism.[6][19] In Alford's first season in 2013–14, his father groomed him over fellow freshman Zach LaVine to be the team's backup point guard behind starter Kyle Anderson.[20] However, Alford started the season slowly, averaging only five points on 37.9 percent shooting through the first six games. Fans began questioning Alford's role compared to the crowd-favorite LaVine's, and he felt pressure to justify his scholarship.[21][22][23] Alford cited two games that helped boost his confidence: an 18-point game early in the season in the Las Vegas Invitational, and a 20-point performance in the Pac-12 season opener against USC that followed his scoreless game against Alabama.[24][21] On February 27, 2014, with stars Anderson and Jordan Adams suspended, Alford scored 31 points in an 87–83 double-overtime loss at home to Oregon.[25] He became the first UCLA freshman since Don MacLean in 1988 to exceed 30 points in a game.[20] For the season, Alford averaged eight points and 2.8 assists in 23 minutes per game, and was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.[6] He and LaVine were named the Bruins' top freshmen.[26]
After Anderson and LaVine left UCLA for the National Basketball Association (NBA), Alford became the Bruins' starting point guard in 2014–15.[27][28] Although he was considered more of a shooter than a true point guard,[29][30][31] Alford was the team's only legitimate option for the position.[32] Twice in the first three games he reached double figures in both points and assists to record the first double-doubles of his career. On November 20, 2014, he scored 28 points along with a career-high 13 assists in a 107–74 win over Nicholls State.[33][34] During a five-game losing streak later in the season, Alford had a streak of 19 consecutive missed shots, part of stretch in which he made just 5 of 39 attempts.[35] Criticism for him being the coach's son was at its peak, but the team looked to him and senior Norman Powell for leadership.[22] At season's end, Alford received honorable mention for the All-Pac-12 team.[36] Proving most major projections wrong, UCLA received an invite to the 2015 NCAA tournament, earning a No. 11 seed.[37][38] In the Bruins' opener, Alford made four three-point field goals in the final four minutes and was credited with the game-winning three-pointer after a goaltending call with 13 seconds remaining in a 60–59 win over sixth-seeded SMU.[39] He finished with a game-high 27 points and connected on 9 of 11 three-point attempts,[40] the most ever made by a UCLA player in the NCAA Tournament and tying the school record held by Jason Kapono for the most in any game.[a] Alford also broke the Bruins' single-season record for made three-pointers, held for eight years by Arron Afflalo.[b]
As a junior in 2015–16, Alford began the season sharing point guard duties with freshman starter Aaron Holiday.[42][43] In the conference opener against Washington, Alford was shooting just 1 of 13 in the game when he made two three-pointers with 23 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, and forced a second overtime with another tying three-pointer. UCLA lost the game and began the season 0–2 in the Pac-12, while Alford shot just 7 for 31.[44][45] The Bruins ended their losing streak the following game when Alford scored 25 points and made the game-winning three-pointer with 1.8 seconds left in an 87–84 win over No. 7 Arizona.[46][47] In the subsequent game against Arizona State, he made a three-pointer with 24 seconds remaining in the game to secure an 81–74 win.[48] He was named Pac-12 Player of the Week after averaging 21.5 points in the two games on 55 percent shooting.[49] Alford was often clutch during the season, but he made just 38.5% of his shots despite leading the team in attempts.[50] He finished the season ranked seventh in the Pac-12 in scoring with 16.1 points per game, second in assists with 5.2 per game, and second in assist-turnover ratio (2.7). The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) named him second-team All-District 20, and he again received honorable mention for the All-Pac-12 team.[3]
Alford moved to shooting guard in 2016–17 after highly touted freshman point guard Lonzo Ball arrived at UCLA.[51] During the season, Alford established career highs shooting 48 percent from the field and 43 percent on three-pointers,[52][53] and was named first-team All-Pac-12 along with teammates Ball and T. J. Leaf.[54] He also became the first player in UCLA history to reach career totals of both 1,700 points and 500 assists.[55] On January 12, 2017, Alford scored a career-high 37 points in a 104–89 win at Colorado. He also tied his career high with nine three-pointers, helping UCLA set a school record with 19 three-pointers made.[56] On February 25, he scored a team-high 15 points to lead the No. 5 Bruins to a 77–72 win over No. 4 Arizona, which also snapped their conference rivals' 21-game home winning streak.[57] He also made 3-of-7 three-pointers to surpass his own single-season school record for three-point field goals made (93).[58] In the regular season finale against Washington State, Alford made two three-pointers in a 77–68 win to tie Kapono's school record for career three-pointers made (317).[59][60] In UCLA's opener in the Pac-12 tournament, Alford made two three-pointers to become the Bruins' career leader in a 74–69 win over USC.[61] He finished his UCLA career as the fifth-leading scorer in school history,[62] and graduated with a degree in political science.[63]
Professional career
[edit]Oklahoma City Blue (2017–2019)
[edit]After going undrafted in the 2017 NBA draft, Alford signed with the Golden State Warriors to play on their summer league team.[52][64] He later signed a training camp contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder.[65] Alford was waived by the Thunder on October 11, 2017, about a week before the start of the regular season; he had not played in their four preseason games.[66][67] He joined the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder's NBA G League team, as an affiliate player.[68] In 2017–18, he started 27 of 50 games and averaged 15.5 points while made a league-leading 186 three-pointers at a 40.4 percent clip.[63][69][70] After the season, Alford participated in the G League Elite Mini Camp, where he was the third-leading scorer (13.5 points per game) among the group of 51 players.[63] He joined the Indiana Pacers summer league squad, where he was reunited with former UCLA teammates Holiday, Leaf, and Ike Anigbogu.[71]
Alford was signed to the Thunder's 2018–19 training camp roster on an Exhibit 10 contract,[72][73] but was waived after playing sparingly in three preseason games.[74] He was added to the Oklahoma City Blue training camp roster on October 23, 2018.[75]
Europe (2019–2021)
[edit]On June 28, 2019, Medi Bayreuth of the Basketball Bundesliga announced that they had signed Alford.[76]
On January 1, 2021, Alford joined S.L. Benfica of the LPB in Portugal.[77]
Windy City Bulls (2021–2022)
[edit]On October 14, 2021, Alford signed with the Chicago Bulls, but was waived the same day.[78] He joined the Windy City Bulls as an affiliate player.[79]
Return to Europe (2022–2024)
[edit]Alford joined Zastal Zielona Góra of the Polish Basketball League for the 2022–23 season.[80] He began 2023–24 with BK Pardubice of the Czech National Basketball League. He played in two EuroCup games, but he exercised an out in his contract when they did not qualify for further international competition.[81] On November 19, 2023, he signed with Arka Gdynia of the Polish Basketball League (PLK).[82]
Coaching career
[edit]Alford joined the Oklahoma City Blue staff as an assistant coach in 2024–25.[83]
National team career
[edit]Alford was selected to play for the United States national team in their second round of qualifiers for the 2019 World Cup.[84] He helped the US go 2–0 in their September 2018 games to extend their record to 7–1 with two remaining windows to play.[85]
Career statistics
[edit]| 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 |
NBA G League
[edit]Regular season
[edit]| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Oklahoma City | 50 | 27 | 30.9 | .411 | .407 | .793 | 2.9 | 2.0 | .9 | .1 | 15.5 |
| Career | 50 | 27 | 30.9 | .411 | .407 | .793 | 2.9 | 2.0 | .9 | .1 | 15.5 | |
Playoffs
[edit]| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Oklahoma City | 1 | 1 | 37.0 | .600 | .500 | 1.000 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 19.0 |
| Career | 1 | 1 | 37.0 | .600 | .500 | 1.000 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 19.0 | |
College
[edit]| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | UCLA | 37 | 1 | 23.1 | .384 | .385 | .804 | 1.8 | 2.8 | .8 | .1 | 8.0 |
| 2014–15 | UCLA | 36 | 36 | 36.3 | .396 | .391 | .838 | 3.2 | 4.9 | .9 | .0 | 15.4 |
| 2015–16 | UCLA | 32 | 32 | 36.2 | .385 | .367 | .831 | 3.8 | 5.2 | .7 | .0 | 16.1 |
| 2016–17 | UCLA | 36 | 36 | 33.0 | .447 | .430 | .821 | 2.5 | 2.6 | .5 | .1 | 15.5 |
| Career | 141 | 105 | 32.0 | .405 | .397 | .825 | 2.8 | 3.8 | .8 | .1 | 13.6 | |
Coaching career
[edit]In November 2024, Alford was hired as an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Blue.[86]
Personal life
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "FIBA.basketball".
- ^ "Bryce Alford Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Bryce Alford Bio". UCLA Bruins. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014.
- ^ Auerbach, Nicole. "UCLA's Bryce Alford plays the toughest position — coach's son". USA TODAY. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
- ^ "News Conference Quotes (NCAA Tournament)". UCLA Athletics. March 20, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Helfand, Zach (November 13, 2014). "UCLA's Bryce Alford shapes his own identity as starter". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
- ^ a b Denison, Matt (February 3, 2013). "Q&A: Steve Alford's son, Bryce, putting up big numbers in New Mexico". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Journal, David Driver / for the (December 24, 2023). "Catching up with former La Cueva star Bryce Alford in Poland". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
- ^ Dyer, Jessica (March 27, 2012). "Bryce Alford Commits to Lobos". Albuquerque Journal. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016.
- ^ a b Wang, Jack (May 22, 2013). "Bryce Alford invited to USA U19 training camp". Inside UCLA. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014.
- ^ a b c "New Mexico Boys Basketball POY: Bryce Alford". USA Today. March 21, 2013. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014.
- ^ McLaughlin, Brian (May 18, 2013). "Meet PARADE's 2013 All-America Basketball Teams". Parade. Archived from the original on October 21, 2014.
- ^ a b c d Lee, Emanuel (June 11, 2013). "Bryce Alford ready to prove doubters wrong". MaxPreps.com. Archived from the original on November 14, 2013.
- ^ Vecenie, Sam (December 17, 2015). "After stumbling out to a 3-3 start, UCLA has turned its season around". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016.
- ^ Dauster, Rob. "All For One". NBC Sportsworld. Archived from the original on February 17, 2016.
- ^ Holt, John (June 14, 2013). "Men's U19 Training Camp Begins, Players Feeling Eager". USA Basketball. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
- ^ Foster, Chris (March 30, 2013). "UCLA hires Steve Alford as basketball coach; he has big job ahead". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 13, 2015.
- ^ Writer, Geoff Grammer / Journal Staff (July 13, 2023). "Bryce Alford to feel right at home again in visit to Albuquerque". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
- ^ Warsinskey, Tim (March 20, 2015). "Bryce Alford's goaltending 3-pointer doesn't count in Steve Alford's book". Cleveland Plain-Dealer. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015.
- ^ a b Wang, Jack (March 28, 2014). "UCLA freshman Zach LaVine to declare for NBA draft". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on September 16, 2014.
- ^ a b Bowman, Kevin (November 14, 2014). "Guard Bryce Alford ready to face pressures of 2014 basketball season". The Daily Bruin. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014.
- ^ a b Plaschke, Bill (March 19, 2015). "For UCLA coach's kid Bryce Alford, his shot finally falls into place". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 21, 2015.
- ^ Macur, Juliet (March 21, 2015). "As Three Alfords Lead U.C.L.A., a Fourth Anchors the Family". The New York Times.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Gold, Jon (June 9, 2014). "UCLA's other Alford providing early season spark". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
- ^ DeCourcy, Mike (February 28, 2014). "UCLA coach Alford suspends stars Anderson, Adams for Oregon game". Sporting News. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014.
- ^ Wang, Jack (May 5, 2014). "Kyle Anderson named UCLA's most valuable player at team banquet". Inside UCLA. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014.
- ^ Foster, Chris (April 17, 2014). "UCLA's Bryce Alford, Isaac Hamilton likely to share point guard job". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
- ^ Hefland, Zach (November 13, 2014). "UCLA guard Isaac Hamilton continues to shake off the rust". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
- ^ Gottlieb, Doug (January 7, 2015). "Unimpressive UCLA has plenty of problems". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on January 8, 2015.
- ^ Eisenberg, Jeff (January 4, 2015). "Diagnosing what's wrong with UCLA as its losing skid hits five". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on January 10, 2015.
- ^ Brennan, Eamonn (January 5, 2015). "Do UCLA's problems have solutions?". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 8, 2015.
- ^ Wang, Jack (January 9, 2015). "What's wrong with UCLA men's basketball?". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on January 11, 2015.
- ^ Wang, Jack (November 21, 2014). "Bryce Alford notches second double-double in three games". Inside UCLA. Archived from the original on December 17, 2014.
- ^ "Bryce Alford Scores 28 As UCLA Routs Nicholls State, 107-74 - CBS Los Angeles". www.cbsnews.com. November 20, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
- ^ Kartje, Ryan (January 6, 2015). "Alford searching for right buttons to turn around Bruins". Orange Country Register. Archived from the original on January 10, 2015.
- ^ "2014-15 Pac-12 Conference Men's Basketball Honors" (Press release). Pac-12. March 9, 2015. Archived from the original on March 12, 2015.
- ^ Helfand, Zach (March 15, 2015). "UCLA earns a surprise selection into the NCAA tournament". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 19, 2015.
- ^ Wang, Jack (March 15, 2015). "UCLA gets No. 11 seed in NCAA Tournament, will play SMU". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on March 18, 2015.
- ^ "Guard Bryce Alford plays pivotal role in 60-59 win against SMU". Daily Bruin. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
- ^ a b Wang, Jack (March 19, 2015). "NCAA Tournament: Bryce Alford gets hot and fortunate as UCLA stuns SMU". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on March 22, 2015.
- ^ "No. 14-seed UAB (20-15) vs. No. 11-seed UCLA (21-13)" (PDF). UCLA Sports Information. March 21, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 22, 2015.
- ^ Helfand, Zach (November 29, 2015). "UCLA finds outlet for better point-guard play in 77-45 win over Cal State Northridge". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015.
- ^ Helfand, Zach (November 13, 2015). "Freshman Aaron Holiday brings energy and swarming defense to UCLA". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015.
- ^ Helfand, Zach (January 2, 2016). "Bryce Alford will take the last shot for Bruins". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016.
- ^ Kaufman, Joey (January 6, 2016). "UCLA's Bryce Alford once again searching for his shooting touch early in Pac-12 play". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on January 9, 2016.
- ^ Helfand, Zach (January 7, 2016). "Bryce Alford again pops the clutch to lift UCLA past No. 7 Arizona". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016.
- ^ "UCLA stuns No. 7 Arizona on Bryce Alford's 3-pointer". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
- ^ "Holiday's 3-pointer sends UCLA past Arizona State, 81-74". AP. January 9, 2016. Archived from the original on January 11, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
- ^ Kaufman, Joey (January 11, 2016). "Bryce Alford takes Pac-12 player of the week honors". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016.
- ^ Helfand, Zach (March 13, 2016). "How UCLA basketball roster shapes up for 2016-17". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 8, 2016.
- ^ O'Neil, Dana (January 5, 2017). "Bryce Alford known simply for playing well ... and that's a good thing". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017.
- ^ a b Slater, Anthony (June 23, 2017). "UCLA's Bryce Alford to play for Warriors' summer league team". The Mercury News. Archived from the original on June 25, 2017.
- ^ Fowler, Clay (April 4, 2017). "UCLA basketball 2017 report card: Bryce Alford". Inside UCLA. Archived from the original on April 7, 2017.
- ^ Bolch, Ben (March 6, 2017). "UCLA's Lonzo Ball is Pac-12 freshman of the year and one of three Bruins on first team". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 8, 2017.
- ^ Fowler, Clay (February 21, 2017). "Bryce Alford destined for top 5 on UCLA career scoring list". Inside UCLA. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
- ^ Bolch, Ben (January 12, 2017). "Bryce Alford is a shooting star in UCLA's victory over Colorado". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017.
- ^ Baum, Bob (February 25, 2017). "Thomas Welsh lifts No. 5 UCLA to victory over No. 4 Arizona in Tucson". The Orange Country Register. The Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 5, 2017.
- ^ "No. 5 UCLA Upends No. 4 Arizona, 77-72". UCLABruins.com. February 25, 2017. Archived from the original on February 27, 2017.
- ^ Bolch, Ben (March 4, 2017). "Bryce Alford gets emotional in sendoff before UCLA's win over Washington State, 77-68". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 5, 2017.
- ^ "Bryce Alford gets tearful sendoff in No. 3 UCLA's Senior Night win". NBC Sports. March 5, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
- ^ Bolch, Ben (March 9, 2017). "It's UCLA by a nose over USC in Pac-12 quarterfinals". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 11, 2017.
- ^ Fowler, Clay (March 25, 2017). "Thrilling ride made UCLA basketball's season-ending loss sting". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on March 27, 2017.
- ^ a b c Davis, Tom (May 17, 2018). "Life in the G League: Former UCLA guard Bryce Alford following in father's footsteps now and in future". News-Sentinel. Archived from the original on May 18, 2018.
- ^ "Bryce Alford looks to seize opportunity with Warriors".
- ^ "Thunder Adds Alford, Brown, Canaan and Thomas to Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. September 24, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
- ^ "Thunder Waives Three". nba.com. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
- ^ Dawson, Brett (October 11, 2017). "Thunder cuts Alford, Brown, Thomas". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on October 12, 2017.
- ^ "Oklahoma City Blue Announces Training Camp Roster" (Press release). Oklahoma City Blue. October 23, 2017. Archived from the original on October 24, 2017.
- ^ Weir, Josh (March 26, 2018). "Charge notes: Scoochie impresses during short time in Canton". The Repository. Archived from the original on April 10, 2018.
- ^ "Bryce Alford G-League Stats". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
- ^ Guskey, Jordan (July 2, 2018). "UCLA pipeline to Indiana Pacers evident in Pacers' summer league roster". The Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021.
- ^ Marks, Bobby (October 9, 2018). "Training camp questions, full roster breakdowns for every NBA team". ESPN. Retrieved October 16, 2018 – via ABC News.
- ^ "Thunder Adds Alford, Gaddy, McDaniels and Solomon to Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. September 23, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
- ^ "Thunder Waives Three". NBA.com. October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ "Oklahoma City Blue Announces Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. October 23, 2018. Archived from the original on July 5, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
- ^ "Mit Bryce Alford komplettieren die HEROES OF TOMORROW ihren Backcourt". medi-bayreuth.de (in German). June 28, 2019. Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ "Bryce Alford: "Estou pronto para ajudar o máximo possível"". SLBenfica.pt (in Portuguese). January 1, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
- ^ Adams, Luke (October 14, 2021). "Bulls Sign, Waive Bryce Alford". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- ^ Brown, Kyle (October 25, 2021). "Windy City Bulls Announce Opening Night Roster". NBA.com. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
- ^ Sadłowski, Tomasz (October 13, 2022). "Bryce Alford nowym zawodnikiem w Enea Zastal BC Zielona Góra" (in Polish). Enea Zastal BC Zielona Góra. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ Driver, David (November 22, 2024). "Catching up with former La Cueva star Bryce Alford in Poland". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ Wk (November 19, 2023). "Alford wraca do OBL. Zagra w Gdyni". plk.pl (in Polish). Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ "Coaches – Oklahoma City Blue". Oklahoma City Blue. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ Horne, Erik (September 10, 2018). "OKC Blue's Bryce Alford selected to World Cup Qualifying roster". The Oklahoman.
- ^ Winderman, Jake (September 20, 2018). "USA Basketball Starts 2-0 In Second Round Of FIBA World Cup Qualifiers". Gleague.NBA.com. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "OKLAHOMA CITY BLUE ANNOUNCES 2024-25 ROSTER". NBA.com. November 9, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
- ^ Grammer, Geoff (May 28, 2019). "Still at home in Albuquerque, Bryce Alford ponders next step". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
- ^ a b Kruse, Ethan (November 17, 2020). "Bryce Alford - Keeping Centered". His Huddle. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
External links
[edit]
- Career statistics from NBA.com · Basketball Reference
- UCLA Bruins bio
Bryce Alford
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Family background
Bryce Alford was born on January 18, 1995, in Manchester, Indiana.[1] He is the middle child of Steve Alford, a former NBA player who enjoyed a nine-year professional career after starring at Indiana University, and Tanya Alford, with whom Steve has been married since 1987.[3][8][9] Alford's older brother, Kory, is a former college basketball player who competed at New Mexico and UCLA, while his younger sister, Kayla, pursued interests outside of organized sports.[10][9] The family's deep ties to basketball stemmed primarily from Steve's prominent role in the sport, which shaped their household dynamics and frequent relocations tied to his coaching positions. In 2007, when Bryce was 12 years old, the Alford family moved from Iowa—where Steve had been head coach at Iowa for five seasons—to Albuquerque, New Mexico, following Steve's appointment as head coach of the University of New Mexico Lobos. This relocation marked a significant chapter in Bryce's upbringing, immersing him further in a basketball-centric environment as the family settled in the Southwest.[11] From a young age, Bryce gained substantial exposure to competitive basketball through his father's career, regularly attending practices and games where he observed high-level play and coaching techniques firsthand.[12] This proximity allowed him to develop an early familiarity with the demands of the sport, distinguishing between his father's professional "coach mode" and personal "dad mode" as the family navigated the challenges of life in the spotlight of college athletics.[12][13] Steve's influence extended beyond observation, instilling fundamentals like shooting mechanics and mental resilience during informal family sessions, fostering Bryce's passion for the game without formal pressure in his pre-teen years.[14]High school career
Bryce Alford attended La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from 2009 to 2013, where he played basketball as a four-year varsity letterwinner under head coach Frank Castillo.[2] As the son of coach Steve Alford, who had recently moved the family to New Mexico, Bryce quickly established himself as a standout guard known for his scoring prowess and playmaking ability.[12] In his senior year during the 2012–13 season, Alford delivered an exceptional performance, averaging 37.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game while shooting efficiently from beyond the arc.[15] He shattered a 50-year-old New Mexico high school single-season scoring record by amassing 1,050 points over 28 games, surpassing the previous mark set in 1963.[2] This achievement highlighted his development into one of the top high school scorers in the nation, ranking second nationally in points per game that season.[16] Alford's dominance earned him prestigious accolades, including the 2013 Gatorade New Mexico Boys Basketball Player of the Year award, recognizing his athletic excellence, academic achievement, and character.[17] He also secured first-team All-State honors, Albuquerque Metro Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, and first-team Parade All-American status.[2][3] Under Alford's leadership, La Cueva reached the Class 5A state tournament as the No. 3 seed, advancing to the quarterfinals before falling 64–58 to No. 6 Las Cruces High School.[18][19] Highly recruited with offers from programs including New Mexico and Oklahoma, Alford initially committed to play for his father at New Mexico in November 2012. However, following Steve Alford's hiring as UCLA's head coach in March 2013, Bryce decommitted and independently chose to join the Bruins, prioritizing the opportunity to play in a premier program.[20][12]College career
2013–15 seasons
In his freshman season with UCLA during 2013–14, Bryce Alford appeared in all 37 games off the bench, making one start against Oregon, while averaging 8.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 23.1 minutes per game. He shot 38.5 percent from three-point range, earning recognition as a member of the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team for his contributions as a backup point guard behind Kyle Anderson. Alford had a strong regular-season debut against Drexel on November 8, 2013, scoring 14 points on 3-of-5 three-point shooting in UCLA's 72–67 victory. Under his father Steve Alford's coaching, the Bruins compiled a 28–9 record, finishing second in the Pac-12, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 as a No. 4 seed in the South Region, defeating No. 13 Tulsa 76–59 in the second round and No. 12 Stephen F. Austin 77–60 in the third round before a 61–60 loss to Florida in the regional semifinal.[21][22][23][24] As a sophomore in 2014–15, Alford transitioned to the starting point guard role, starting all 36 games and increasing his scoring to 15.4 points per game alongside 3.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 36.3 minutes. His three-point shooting was 39.1 percent on a team-high 93 makes, helping him establish himself as a key perimeter threat amid UCLA's up-and-down campaign, and earning honorable mention All-Pac-12 recognition. One highlight came in the NCAA Tournament first round against SMU on March 19, 2015, where Alford erupted for 27 points on 9-of-11 three-point shooting, including four in the final 3:40, to lead the No. 11-seeded Bruins to a 60–59 upset win on a controversial goaltending call. The team finished 22–14 overall and 11–7 in Pac-12 play but fell to No. 3 seed Oklahoma 83–68 in the Sweet 16. Alford maintained his academic eligibility throughout, balancing the rigors of Pac-12 competition with his expanded on-court responsibilities.[22][25][26][27]2015–17 seasons
As a junior in the 2015–16 season, Alford transitioned into a full-time starting role, appearing in all 32 games for the Bruins while averaging 16.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game.[28] He shot 36.7 percent from three-point range, connecting on 73 triples, and earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 recognition. UCLA finished 15–17 overall and did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament.[29][5] In his senior year of 2016–17, Alford started all 36 games, averaging 15.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, while ranking second in the Pac-12 in three-point percentage at 43.0 percent on a school-record 116 makes.[30][31] He led the conference in three-pointers made per game (3.2) and notched a career-high 37 points against Colorado on January 12, tying the UCLA single-game record with nine three-pointers in a 104–89 victory that set a school record for team threes made (19).[32] UCLA again reached the Sweet Sixteen, falling to Kentucky, and Alford's leadership contributed to a 31–4 overall record. For his performance, he was named to the All-Pac-12 first team and Pac-12 Player of the Week on January 16 after averaging 26.0 points in road wins over Washington and Colorado.[33][34] Alford concluded his UCLA career by setting multiple school records, including most three-pointers in a season (116 in 2016–17), most in a career (329), and tying the single-game mark with nine against Colorado.[31][3] He graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science in 2017.Professional career
G League stints (2017–2022)
After going undrafted in the 2017 NBA draft, Alford signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder and was assigned to their NBA G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, for the 2017–18 season.[35][3] In his rookie G League campaign, he appeared in 50 games, averaging 15.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting 40.9% from three-point range, contributing to the Blue's Midwest Division championship.[3][36] Alford returned to the Blue for the 2018–19 season on another Exhibit 10 deal with the Thunder, playing in 50 games and helping the team secure another Midwest Division title with a 33–17 record.[37] Over his two seasons with Oklahoma City, he appeared in more than 100 games, averaging 14.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, establishing himself as a consistent perimeter shooter.[38][39] During the 2017 NBA Summer League, Alford played for the Golden State Warriors, appearing in six games and averaging 9.3 points per game.[3] In the 2018 NBA Summer League, Alford briefly joined the Indiana Pacers' roster, reuniting with former UCLA teammates and averaging modest minutes across five games.[40] He was released by the Thunder organization following the 2018–19 G League season. After a stint overseas, Alford signed a training camp contract with the Chicago Bulls in October 2021 but was waived shortly after and allocated to their G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls, as an affiliate player.[41][42] In 28 games with Windy City during the 2021–22 season, he averaged 8.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, shooting 37.1% from beyond the arc.[36][39] Alford missed time in March 2022 due to an ankle injury.[43] Throughout his G League tenure, Alford's reliable shooting and playmaking bolstered team efforts, particularly in securing back-to-back division titles with the Blue, though he never earned an NBA call-up.[36]European leagues (2019–2024)
Alford's European professional career began in 2019 with Medi Bayreuth of the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL). In the 2019–20 season, which was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he appeared in 21 regular-season games, averaging 12.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 41.3% from three-point range on 6.6 attempts.[44] His perimeter shooting provided a consistent scoring threat for the team, though the season concluded without playoffs being contested. In the 2020–21 season, Alford moved to S.L. Benfica in Portugal's Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol (LPB). Over 23 games, he averaged 11.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, connecting on 42.0% of his three-point attempts (58 made on 138 tries).[44] Benfica reached the semifinals but lost to Sporting CP. After a return to the NBA G League, Alford rejoined European basketball in 2022 with Zastal Zielona Góra of Poland's Polska Liga Koszykówki (PLK). During the 2022–23 season, he played 26 games, posting averages of 13.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, with a 36.0% three-point success rate on high volume (7.4 attempts per game).[44] The team participated in the EuroCup, where Alford featured in two games before departing following their elimination.[7] Alford's next stint was a brief one in 2023 with BK Pardubice of the Czech National Basketball League (NBL). In 13 games, he averaged 14.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, shooting 24.1% from beyond the arc on 8.3 attempts.[44] Pardubice competed in the FIBA Europe Cup, with Alford contributing in qualifiers and early rounds before he left the team in November.[45] Alford concluded his playing career in the 2023–24 season with Arka Gdynia, also in the PLK. Appearing in 22 games, he averaged 14.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game, including 32.1% from three-point range (63 makes on 196 attempts).[44] His scoring and playmaking helped Arka secure a playoff spot, finishing seventh in the regular season before a quarterfinal exit to Anwil Włocławek. This marked his final professional playing season, as he transitioned to coaching afterward.[36] Throughout his European tenure, Alford demonstrated adaptability across four countries and multiple leagues, leveraging his college-honed perimeter shooting to average double figures in scoring each season. He earned no major individual awards but contributed reliably as a guard with strong three-point volume.[44]National team appearances
Bryce Alford was selected as one of 12 players for the USA Basketball Men's World Cup Qualifying Team on September 10, 2018, representing his first and only call-up to a senior national team roster shortly after completing his college career at UCLA.[46] As a reserve guard, Alford provided shooting depth for the squad, which was composed primarily of NBA G League and overseas professionals preparing for the second-round FIBA Americas qualifiers ahead of the 2019 FIBA World Cup.[47] Alford appeared in both qualifying games during the September window, held at UNLV's Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas. On September 14, the USA defeated Uruguay 114-57, with Alford contributing from the bench in a dominant performance that showcased the team's superior depth.[48] Three days later, on September 17, the USA secured a 113-84 victory over Puerto Rico, clinching a 2-0 record for the window and improving the overall qualifying mark to 7-1. In these contests, Alford averaged 10.5 minutes, 3.0 points, and 1.0 assist per game while shooting 2-for-4 from three-point range, fulfilling his role as a perimeter shooter in limited action.[3] Although the USA advanced through qualifying to secure a berth in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, Alford was not named to the final tournament roster, which featured prominent NBA stars. He received no additional national team invitations following the 2018 window, marking the extent of his international representation for the senior squad.[3]Coaching career
Transition to coaching
After concluding his professional playing career with Arka Gdynia in Poland's PLK during the 2023–24 season, where he averaged 14.5 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game over 22 games, Bryce Alford retired from basketball at the age of 29 in the summer of 2024.[49] He had also participated in The Basketball Tournament in July 2024 with The Enchantment team, marking his final competitive appearances as a player.[50] Alford's decision to retire was described by him as "incredibly hard," driven by a deep love for the game but a desire to remain involved in basketball in a new capacity. Influenced by his father Steve Alford's long coaching career at the college level, including stints at New Mexico and UCLA where Bryce played, he sought to leverage his extensive on-court experience from over seven professional seasons across the G League and European leagues.[51] This family legacy, combined with informal mentoring roles he took during his playing days—such as advising younger teammates in the G League and abroad—prepared him for the shift. Additionally, Alford participated in NBA coaching development programs to build his knowledge base.[6] In preparation for coaching, Alford attended various basketball clinics and utilized networking opportunities stemming from his father's extensive connections in the sport. He publicly committed to pursuing a coaching path in a June 2024 social media reflection, though he initially kept the retirement private. This culminated in his hiring as an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Blue in November 2024, allowing him to return to the organization where he began his pro career in 2017.[51][6]Oklahoma City Blue (2024–present)
Bryce Alford joined the Oklahoma City Blue as an assistant coach ahead of the 2024–25 NBA G League season, marking his entry into full-time coaching and a return to the organization where he had previously appeared as a player during the 2017–18 campaign. The Blue serve as the G League affiliate of the Oklahoma City Thunder and had captured the league's championship earlier in 2024 by defeating the Maine Celtics 117–100 in Game 3 of the finals.[52] Under head coach Kameron Woods, Alford supported the staff in various capacities, including player preparation and team strategy, leveraging his background as a prolific college shooter at UCLA where he set the program's all-time records for three-pointers made and three-point shooting percentage. During the 2024–25 season, the Blue finished with an 18–16 record, placing 7th in the Western Conference.[53] Alford's role emphasized guiding younger players, particularly in skill refinement, as the team navigated a challenging schedule that built on their title-winning momentum from the prior year.[54] Entering the 2025–26 season, Alford remains on the coaching staff under new head coach Daniel Dixon, who assumed the position in August 2025 following Woods' promotion to the Thunder's bench. The Blue opened the campaign with a victory over the Texas Legends on November 8, 2025. As of November 17, 2025, the team holds a 1–3 record, and Alford continues to contribute to scouting and development efforts within the high-performing affiliate system.[6][55]Career statistics
College
Alford played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins from 2013 to 2017, appearing in 141 games with 105 starts over his career. He averaged 13.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, while making a UCLA-record 329 three-pointers.[22][3]| Season | Team | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | 3PM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | UCLA | 37 | 1 | 23.1 | 8.0 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.1 | .384 | .385 | .804 | 47 |
| 2014–15 | UCLA | 36 | 36 | 36.3 | 15.4 | 3.2 | 4.9 | 0.9 | 0.0 | .396 | .391 | .838 | 93 |
| 2015–16 | UCLA | 32 | 32 | 36.2 | 16.1 | 3.8 | 5.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | .385 | .367 | .831 | 73 |
| 2016–17 | UCLA | 36 | 36 | 33.0 | 15.5 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 0.1 | .447 | .430 | .821 | 116 |
| Career | 141 | 105 | 32.0 | 13.6 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 0.1 | .405 | .397 | .825 | 329 |
NBA G League regular season
Alford began his professional career in the NBA G League with the Oklahoma City Blue during the 2017–18 season, where he established himself as a prolific three-point shooter. Over the next few years, interspersed with international play, he continued in the league with the Blue and later the Windy City Bulls, contributing as a scoring guard off the bench or as a starter. His regular season performances highlighted his shooting efficiency, particularly from beyond the arc, though his role varied by team and season.[39]| Season | Team | G | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Oklahoma City Blue | 50 | 30.9 | 15.5 | 2.9 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 0.1 | .411 | .407 | .793 |
| 2018–19 | Oklahoma City Blue | 50 | 30.1 | 14.1 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 0.9 | 0.1 | .399 | .349 | .833 |
| 2021–22 | Windy City Bulls | 28 | 22.6 | 8.3 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 0.1 | .361 | .371 | .742 |
NBA G League playoffs
Alford made limited appearances in the NBA G League playoffs, totaling 12 games across three seasons with an average of 9.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.[39] His postseason contributions included participation in the Oklahoma City Blue's runs to the Western Conference semifinals in both the 2018 and 2019 playoffs.[56]| Season | Team | GP | GS | MP | FG% | 3P% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | OKL | 1 | 1 | 37.0 | .600 | .500 | 1.000 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 19.0 |
| 2018-19 | OKL | 2 | 0 | 28.5 | .391 | .389 | 1.000 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 13.5 |
| 2021-22 | WCB | 9 | 0 | 24.7 | .333 | .267 | 1.000 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 7.1 |
| Career | 12 | 1 | 28.5 | .370 | .310 | 1.000 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 9.2 |
Alford demonstrated efficient shooting in key elimination games, including a 60.0% field goal percentage and 50.0% from three-point range in the 2018 Western Conference semifinal against the Memphis Hustle, where he scored 19 points.[39] In the 2019 Western Conference semifinal loss to the Memphis Hustle, he averaged 13.5 points while making 3.5 three-pointers per game.[39]