Denver Nuggets sign Tamar Bates to contract after 2025 NBA Draft

Bates played a pair of seasons apiece, making 133 appearances, for Indiana and Missouri. He would average 9.2 points (45.6% FG, 37.3% 3PT on 1.1 makes), improving his field-goal and three-point percentages in every single season, along with 2.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game for the Hoosiers and Tigers.

Bates improved year over year as an underclassman in Bloomington, posting 5.1 points (37% FG, 34.6% 3PT) and 1.4 rebounds at IU. However, after transferring to CoMo, Bates did so again in putting up 13.4 points (50.2% FG, 39.2% 3PT), 2.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.0 steals per game for Mizzou. That would end in his senior season where Bates averaged 13.3 points (50.8% FG, 39.7% 3PT on 1.5 makes), 2.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.0 assists.

A native of Kansas City, Kansas, Bates played his high school basketball at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida after starting out at Piper. He ranked as a Top-35 overall recruit and a four-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting cycle. He also rated as a top-ten shooting guard and player from the state of Florida. That’s according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

What NBA Draft experts are saying about Bates

RotoWire.com, in their draft profile on him, projects Bates to continue that efficient scoring in the association while also being able to provide on the defensive end. That could earn him a spot playing on a wing somewhere in the league – with a ceiling that, if he continues at this rate, could earn him a starting job at some point in the NBA.

“Bates is an efficient scorer, shooting 51/40/95 as a senior with similar numbers as a junior. He’s primarily a play finisher rather than a setup man. He can hit the 3, but it’s also advantageous when he draws contact near the rim since he’s an elite free-throw shooter,” they wrote. “Given his height, he’s also solid on the offensive glass. There’s defensive upside as well with a relatively high steal rate.

“Bates projects as a complementary wing player at the NBA level. Many teams are looking for a knockdown 3-point shooter who can play defense. Bates may have to begin as a bench player, but he could scale into a starter.”