Dylan Cardwell
Dylan Cardwell
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Dylan Cardwell
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Dylan Cardwell (born December 16, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Auburn Tigers.

Key Information

Early life and high school

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Cardwell attended Oak Hill Academy up to his junior season before transferring to McEachern High School for his senior year. As a junior he averaged 3.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.[1] Coming out of high school, Cardwell was rated as a three-star recruit and committed to play college basketball for the Auburn Tigers over other schools such as Georgia, Tennessee, Miami, Maryland and UConn.[2]

College career

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As a freshman in 2020–21, Cardwell appeared in 27 games where he averaged 3.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in 15.2 minutes per game.[3] On January 11, 2022, he tallied six points, six rebounds and four blocks in a win over rival Alabama.[4] During the 2021–22 season, Cardwell appeared in all 34 games and averaged three points and three rebounds.[5] In the first two games of the 2022–23 season, he put up nine points and ten blocks.[6] In the 2022–23 season, Cardwell averaged 3.7 points and 3.8 rebounds in 32 appearances.[7] In 2023–24, he averaged 5.3 points, 1.6 blocks and 1.2 assists in 14.7 minutes per game.[8] Heading into the 2024–25 season, Cardwell become a full-time starter for the first time.[9] On December 30, 2024, he posted 12 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks and a steal in a win over Monmouth.[10] On March 1, 2025, Cardwell become the all-time winningest player in Auburn men’s basketball history, with 115 wins after he helped the Tigers to a 94–78 win over Kentucky.[11]

Professional career

[edit]

On June 26, 2025 after being undrafted in the 2025 NBA draft, Cardwell signed a two-way contract with the Sacramento Kings.[12]

On February 6, 2026, the Kings signed Cardwell to a four-year, $8.3 million standard contract after trading Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis and Dario Šarić as part of a three-team deal that brought De'Andre Hunter to Sacramento. At the time of the signing, Cardwell was leading his rookie class in blocks per game,[13] and he led all rookies in rebounds per game in the same month. Cardwell recorded a career-high 15 points against the Los Angeles Clippers on April 5th, 2025, alongside four blocks.

Career statistics

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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

NBA

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2025–26 Sacramento 44 1 20.6 .587 .500 .510 7.5 1.4 .7 1.5 5.4
Career 44 1 20.6 .587 .500 .510 7.5 1.4 .7 1.5 5.4

College

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 Auburn 27 1 15.1 .705 1.000 .571 3.6 .5 .4 .6 3.8
2021–22 Auburn 34 0 11.5 .690 .000 .400 3.0 .5 .5 1.2 3.0
2022–23 Auburn 32 1 13.4 .747 .000 .318 3.8 1.1 .3 1.3 3.7
2023–24 Auburn 35 1 14.5 .709 .400 .587 3.7 1.2 .6 1.6 5.3
2024–25 Auburn 38 38 20.3 .700 .500 .324 5.1 1.6 .8 1.4 5.0
Career 166 41 15.1 .709 .400 .450 3.9 1.2 .6 1.3 4.2

References

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Dylan Cardwell

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Dylan Cardwell (born December 16, 2001) is an American professional basketball center for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA).[1][2] Born in Augusta, Georgia, he stands 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) tall, weighs 255 pounds (116 kg), and shoots right-handed.[3][2] Cardwell played five seasons of college basketball for the Auburn Tigers from 2020 to 2025, appearing in a program-record 166 games and becoming the all-time winningest player in Auburn history with 121 career victories.[2] Across his collegiate career, he averaged 4.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 70.9% from the field, ranking among Auburn's all-time leaders in several categories including career games played, field-goal percentage, dunks (second with 157), and blocks (fourth with 211).[4][2] Undrafted in the 2025 NBA draft, Cardwell signed a two-way contract with the Sacramento Kings in July 2025 and made his NBA debut on October 22, 2025.[2] In his rookie season (2025–26), through 35 games (one start), he averaged 5.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game in 20.6 minutes, shooting 57.6% from the field.[1][3] He has demonstrated strength as a rebounder and rim protector, with notable performances including games with double-digit rebounds and blocks, and contributed to the Kings' rotation amid injuries.[1][3] Cardwell later signed a four-year standard NBA contract with the team in early 2026.[5][6]

Early life and high school

Early life

Dylan Cardwell was born on December 16, 2001, in Augusta, Georgia.[2][4] He grew up in Augusta, which is listed as his hometown.[4] Cardwell has a younger brother, Drake Cardwell, who later became a teammate with him on the Auburn Tigers men's basketball team.[4] He later attended McEachern High School.[4]

High school career

Dylan Cardwell played his first two high school basketball seasons at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia before transferring to McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, for his senior year.[4] As a junior at Oak Hill Academy, he averaged 3.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game while shooting 68 percent from the field.[4] On the AAU circuit with Athletes of Tomorrow, he contributed as a rebounder and rim protector, averaging 6.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game on the Nike EYBL circuit.[4] Coming out of McEachern High School, Cardwell was rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and ESPN, while Rivals tabbed him as a four-star prospect.[4][7]

Recruitment

Dylan Cardwell was rated as a three-star recruit in the class of 2020 by most scouting services. The 247Sports Composite ranked him as the No. 150 overall prospect nationally and the 31st-best center in his class.[8] He received scholarship offers from several programs, including Georgia, Tennessee, Miami, Maryland, and UConn, among others.[8][9] Cardwell committed to Auburn University on May 7, 2020, announcing his decision via social media.[8][7] He signed his National Letter of Intent with the Tigers four days later, on May 11, 2020.[10] His decision was influenced by several factors, including family ties—his uncle, Rodney Garner, serves as Auburn's defensive line coach for football—and a prior connection with five-star recruit Sharife Cooper, his former high school and AAU teammate from McEachern High School and the Athletes of Tomorrow program. Cardwell also cited the proximity to his hometown of Augusta, Georgia, allowing family to attend games more easily; Coach Bruce Pearl's personal commitment and vision for his development; the welcoming nature of Auburn's fan base; and a sense of belonging and personal growth at the university. In a personal statement, Cardwell described Auburn as the place where he felt he could develop most as a player and as a man, calling it a "lifetime commitment" aligned with his values and faith.[9][8] His commitment strengthened Auburn's 2020 recruiting class, which rose to eighth nationally and fifth in the SEC according to 247Sports rankings.[8]

College career

Auburn Tigers (2020–2025)

Dylan Cardwell played five seasons with the Auburn Tigers from 2020–21 through 2024–25, appearing in 166 games during his tenure.[11] Initially a reserve center, he provided frontcourt depth with his size, rim protection, and rebounding, gradually earning greater responsibility before transitioning to a more prominent role in his later seasons.[4] A defining milestone came on March 1, 2025, when Cardwell participated in his 115th career victory during a 94–78 win over Kentucky at Rupp Arena, surpassing former teammate Jaylin Williams to become the all-time winningest player in Auburn men's basketball history.[12] Coach Bruce Pearl described Cardwell as the embodiment of Auburn basketball's identity, praising his passion, defensive effort, and role as the team's "glue guy."[12] Cardwell finished his college career with a program-record 121 wins.[4]

College statistics

Dylan Cardwell's college career with the Auburn Tigers spanned five seasons, during which he established himself as an efficient interior presence. He appeared in 166 games, starting 40, and averaged 15.1 minutes per contest.[11] His career per-game averages were 4.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 1.3 blocks. Cardwell was particularly notable for his high-efficiency scoring near the rim, converting at a 70.9% clip from the field across his college tenure.[11][4] Career statistics
SeasonGPGSMPGFG%RPGAPGBPGPPG
Career1664015.1.7093.91.01.34.2
These marks underscored his consistency as a rim protector and rebounder in a reserve-to-occasional-starter role.[11]

Notable achievements

Dylan Cardwell's college career at Auburn was marked by his unprecedented longevity and contribution to team success. On March 1, 2025, he became the all-time winningest player in Auburn men's basketball history, participating in his 115th career victory during a 94-78 win over Kentucky at Rupp Arena. This milestone surpassed the previous record held by Jaylin Williams, whom Cardwell had tied earlier that week in a victory over Ole Miss.[12] Coach Bruce Pearl lauded Cardwell as the embodiment of Auburn basketball, emphasizing his passion and role as the program's "glue guy" throughout his five seasons.[12] Cardwell was also featured in the 2024 Onit Athlete Auburn Tigers NIL trading cards set.[13] This inclusion highlighted his marketability and visibility as a college athlete through official NIL opportunities.

Professional career

Entry into the NBA

After completing his five-year college career at Auburn University, where he became the program's all-time leader in victories, Dylan Cardwell entered the 2025 NBA Draft but went undrafted.[1] On June 26, 2025, Cardwell agreed to a two-way contract with the Sacramento Kings, allowing him to split time between the NBA roster and the team's G League affiliate.[14][15] This deal provided him with an opportunity to develop professionally while contributing to both the Kings and their affiliate, the Stockton Kings.[16] As a two-way player, Cardwell was positioned to gain NBA experience while honing his skills in the G League environment.[14]

2025-26 rookie season

In his 2025–26 rookie season with the Sacramento Kings, Cardwell appeared in 35 games (one start) as of March 2026, averaging 5.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game in 20.6 minutes. He shot 57.6% from the field and 52.1% from the free-throw line.[3][2] Cardwell established himself as a strong rebounder and rim protector, demonstrating effectiveness on the interior with consistent double-digit rebounding performances in several games, including 13 rebounds against the Philadelphia 76ers and 11 against the Charlotte Hornets in March 2026. His shot-blocking and board work highlighted his role in the Kings' frontcourt rotation amid injuries to other players.[3][1]

Contract progression

After going undrafted in the 2025 NBA draft, Dylan Cardwell agreed to a two-way contract with the Sacramento Kings on June 26, 2025.[14][17] On February 6, 2026, the Kings announced that Cardwell had been signed to a multi-year standard NBA contract, converting him from his previous two-way deal.[5][18] The four-year contract is valued at $8,283,516, with an average annual salary of approximately $2,070,879; it includes two fully guaranteed seasons and was signed using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception.[19][17]

Playing style and attributes

Physical measurements

Dylan Cardwell is listed at 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) in height and weighs 255 pounds (116 kg).[1][2] He shoots right-handed.[2]

Rebounding and rim protection

Cardwell has established himself as a strong rebounder and rim protector, attributes that define his value as a center at both the college and professional levels. In his rookie season with the Sacramento Kings, Cardwell has ranked among the top rookies in blocks per game, currently averaging 1.4 blocks per contest and ranking second among rookies. He recorded a block in 13 consecutive games from January 18 to February 9, 2026, including nine games with multiple blocks and a season-high of four in one contest. Kings head coach Doug Christie highlighted the significance of these contributions, stating, "Rebounding really means something. Rim protection really means something. Communication really means something." [20][21] Cardwell has also been recognized as a leader among rookies in rebounds, maintaining this standing even after a brief injury absence in February 2026 and limited minutes upon return. [22] His rim-protecting ability was evident during his college career at Auburn, where he served as a key defensive presence off the bench early in seasons, recording 10 blocks in the Tigers' first two games of the 2022-23 campaign and ranking among national leaders in block percentage and blocks per 40 minutes. [23] At 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) and 255 lb (116 kg), Cardwell uses his size and physicality to contest shots effectively and secure rebounds, contributing to his reputation as a reliable interior defender. [3]
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