If you just glance at the back of a basketball card, the Patrick Baldwin Jr stats look like a riddle wrapped in an enigma. Honestly, his career has been a bizarre roller coaster that defies the usual "top prospect" trajectory. We're talking about a kid who was once the number one recruit in the entire country, ahead of Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero. Now, in early 2026, he’s fighting for every minute of floor time, recently landing a 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Clippers after a dominant stretch in the G League.
It’s easy to call him a bust if you only look at the 3.7 points per game career average. But that's lazy. If you actually watch the way the 7-foot forward moves—and yes, he's officially listed at 7'0" now—you see why NBA front offices just can’t quit him.
The San Diego Surge: Patrick Baldwin Jr Stats in 2025-26
Before the Clippers called him up on January 16, 2026, Baldwin was absolutely torched the G League. Playing for the San Diego Clippers, he looked like a different human being. He wasn't just a "shooter" anymore. He was a focal point.
Look at these numbers from his 17-game stretch in San Diego this season:
- Points: 21.1 PPG
- Rebounds: 6.7 RPG
- Assists: 3.1 APG
- Steals: 1.7 SPG
- Shooting Splits: .546 FG% / .321 3P% / .652 FT%
The field goal percentage is the kicker here. 54.6% for a guy who was once labeled a "finesse-only" perimeter player is massive. It shows he’s finally using that 9'2" standing reach to finish at the rim rather than just settling for contested threes. He’s becoming a "stock" machine—steals and blocks—using his length to disrupt passing lanes.
However, the three-point shooting is still the elephant in the room. Why is a "pure shooter" only hitting 32% from deep in the G League? Basically, it comes down to volume and shot quality. He’s being asked to take the "hard" shots in San Diego—late clock heaves and off-dribble looks—that he won't necessarily have to take next to stars like James Harden or Kawhi Leonard.
Why the "Shooter" Label is Complicated
We've been told since 2021 that Patrick Baldwin Jr. is a knockdown shooter. His form is picturesque. High release, no wasted motion, perfect follow-through. But the Patrick Baldwin Jr stats from his time with the Golden State Warriors and Washington Wizards tell a different story.
In his rookie year with the Warriors, he actually shot a blistering 38.1% from three. People thought, "Okay, here we go, he’s the next Klay Thompson in a 7-foot body." Then he went to Washington and the wheels kinda fell off. He dropped to 32% in his second year.
The truth? He's a "rhythm" shooter. He isn't a guy who can sit on the bench for 20 minutes and then come in and nail three straight triples. He needs the flow of the game. When he was given a bigger role in Washington's final games of 2024, his efficiency actually spiked. It's a weird paradox.
The College Context (The Milwaukee Disaster)
To understand his NBA stats, you have to remember his one year at UW-Milwaukee. He played for his dad. He was the highest-rated recruit to ever play in the Horizon League. He played 11 games, shot 34% from the field, and looked... slow.
People used those stats to tank his draft stock. But he was playing on a bum ankle with zero spacing around him. Every defense was triple-teaming him because, well, who else were they going to guard?
The Physical Evolution: 6'9" to 7'0"
One thing that doesn't show up in a standard box score is the physical growth. When PBJ was drafted 28th overall in 2022, he was a skinny 6'9". In the 2025-26 season, the Clippers have him listed at a legitimate 7 feet.
This changes his ceiling entirely. He’s no longer a "tall wing." He’s a "mobile big."
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Defensive Metrics to Watch:
- Block Percentage: He’s moved from a 1.2% block rate to nearly 3% in his recent G League stint.
- Defensive Rebound Rate: He's finally using his frame to box out, pulling down nearly 7 boards a night in San Diego.
- Lateral Quickness: This was his biggest weakness. At the combine, he had one of the slowest agility scores in history. But if you watch him now, his footwork is significantly more fluid. He isn't a lockdown defender, but he isn't a "blow-by" target anymore.
He’s still 23. That’s the crazy part. He’s younger than some rookies coming out of the 2025 draft. You've got to give a 7-footer with that kind of touch time to grow into his limbs.
What's Next for PBJ?
The 10-day contract with the Clippers is his "prove it" moment. With the Clippers hovering near the first-apron hard cap, they need cheap, high-upside talent. Baldwin fits that mold perfectly. He only carries a cap hit of about $131,970 for this stint.
If he wants to stick, he doesn't need to score 20 points. He needs to do three things:
- Hit the "open" corner three. No more 32% shooting. On a pro floor, those shots will be wide open.
- Defend the 4 and 5. He has to prove he can handle the physicality of NBA power forwards.
- Keep the ball moving. He’s actually an underrated passer. His 3.1 assists in the G League show a "feel" for the game that most 7-footers just don't have.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts:
Stop comparing him to Kevin Durant. It’s a death sentence for any young player's reputation. Instead, look at him as a potential Channing Frye or Sam Perkins type—a floor-spacing big who provides gravity and smart team defense.
Keep a close eye on his "Points Per Shot" (PPS). In his limited minutes for the Clippers last season, he had a PPS of 1.46, which is elite efficiency, albeit on a tiny sample size. If he can maintain that efficiency over 15-20 minutes a night, he isn’t just a G League star—he’s a rotation piece on a playoff team.
The window is closing, but the talent is undeniably there. If the shot starts falling consistently, the narrative around his "bust" status is going to flip real fast.