Travis Trice
Travis Trice II (born January 22, 1993) is an American professional basketball player positioned as a point guard, known for his standout college career at Michigan State University and subsequent play across multiple international leagues.[1][2] Trice was born in Springfield, Ohio, and raised in Huber Heights, where he attended Wayne High School, earning recognition as a top recruit and McDonald's All-American nominee during his senior year in 2011.[1] At Michigan State from 2011 to 2015, he evolved into a key contributor, appearing in 134 games and averaging 8.0 points and 2.9 assists per game overall, with his senior season in 2014–15 marking a breakout year where he led the Spartans in scoring (15.3 points per game) and assists (5.1 per game), ranking fourth in the Big Ten Conference in total points (598) and second in assists, with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.9.[2] His college tenure included participation in three NCAA Tournaments, helping the team reach the Final Four in 2015.[2] Undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft, Trice signed briefly with the New York Knicks but was waived before the season; he later joined the Milwaukee Bucks in 2018 on a similar short-term deal, also ending in release.[1] His professional journey has primarily unfolded overseas and in the NBA G League, including stints with the Austin Spurs (2018–19 and 2024–25, averaging 16.3 points and 6.1 assists per game in the latter), Germani Basket Brescia in Italy (2019–20), SIG Strasbourg in France (2019–20), Illawarra Hawks in Australia's NBL (2021–22), Xinjiang Flying Tigers and Beijing Royal Fighters in China's CBA, and Criollos de Caguas in Puerto Rico's BSN (2025, where he averaged 20.0 points per game over 18 contests and helped win the league championship).[3][4][5][6] As of November 2025, Trice plays for the Beijing Royal Fighters, leveraging his quickness, three-point shooting (career 39.4% in college), and playmaking abilities in high-level international competition.[2]Early years
Early life
Travis Trice was born on January 22, 1993, in Springfield, Ohio, to parents Travis Trice Sr. and Julie Trice.[7] His birth was marked by significant complications; during the 41st week of Julie Trice's pregnancy, the infant's heartbeat flatlined, necessitating an immediate emergency C-section. The umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby's ankles, but he kicked free, leading to initial health concerns for the newborn, though he recovered fully in the weeks that followed.[8] The Trice family relocated to Huber Heights, Ohio, a suburb near Dayton, where Travis grew up immersed in an athletic environment shaped by his parents. Early exposure to sports came through family involvement, as his father, a former college basketball player at Purdue and Butler who later became a high school coach, emphasized physical activity and competition from a young age. The family basketball legacy, rooted in Travis Sr.'s playing and coaching career, provided Trice with foundational influences in the sport alongside initial interests in baseball and football.[9][10]High school career
Travis Trice attended Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio, playing varsity basketball for the Wayne Warriors during his junior and senior years from 2009 to 2011. As the team's primary point guard, he developed into a dynamic scorer and playmaker, contributing significantly to the program's success in the Greater Western Ohio Conference. In his senior season of 2010–11, Trice averaged 23.5 points, 6.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.3 steals per game, showcasing his quickness, shooting accuracy, and defensive prowess. He concluded his high school career as Wayne's all-time leading scorer with 1,555 points, a mark that highlighted his consistency and impact over three varsity seasons. Under his leadership, the Warriors compiled a 22–2 regular-season record, captured the Greater Western Ohio Conference Central Division championship, and advanced to the regional semifinals in the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division I tournament.[11][4][12][13] Trice's outstanding performance earned him prestigious statewide recognition, including the 2011 Gatorade Ohio Boys Basketball Player of the Year award, which honored his athletic excellence, academic achievement, and community involvement. He was also named the Ohio Mr. Basketball by the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association, selected to the Associated Press All-Ohio first team as one of the top players in Division I, and a nominee for the 2011 McDonald's All-American Game.[14][15][16][17] As a three-star recruit ranked among the top prospects in Ohio, Trice drew interest from multiple NCAA Division I programs, including offers from Butler and others, before committing to Michigan State University on November 10, 2010. His recruitment was bolstered by his AAU performances, where he caught the attention of Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo.[18][19]College career
2011–13 seasons
As a freshman during the 2011–12 season, Travis Trice appeared in all 32 games for the Michigan State Spartans, coming off the bench to average 4.5 points and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 40.5% from three-point range.[2][11] His contributions helped the Spartans secure a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing to Louisville.[20] In his sophomore campaign of 2012–13, Trice's role remained as a reserve amid backcourt depth, playing in 27 games and averaging 4.8 points and 1.9 assists per game, though his season was limited by a concussion suffered in the opener against UConn.[2][4] The Spartans again earned a No. 9 seed and reached the Sweet 16, falling to Duke in a matchup where Trice provided efficient scoring off the bench.[21] Trice's transition to the college level was marked by adjusted expectations from his high school dominance, where he averaged 23.5 points per game as a senior, as he navigated limited minutes behind established point guards like Keith Appling and Gary Harris.[11] He emphasized development in defensive responsibilities and perimeter shooting efficiency, ranking among the team's top three-point shooters early in his career despite the rotational constraints.[2] Among notable performances, Trice scored 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting in 26 minutes during a January 16, 2013, Big Ten victory over Penn State.[22] In the Spartans' 71–61 Sweet 16 loss to Duke on March 29, 2013, he tallied 8 points on perfect 3-of-3 field goal shooting, including a three-pointer, in 16 minutes of action.[23]2013–15 seasons
As a junior in the 2013–14 season, Trice transitioned into a more prominent role for the Michigan State Spartans, starting 8 of the team's 36 games while averaging 7.3 points and 2.3 assists per game.[2] He shot an efficient 43.4% from three-point range, ranking third in the Big Ten in that category.[2] Trice proved crucial during the Spartans' Big Ten Tournament championship run, including a key jumper in the title game victory over Michigan (69–55), helping secure the conference crown and an NCAA Tournament berth.[24][25] In his senior year of 2014–15, Trice emerged as the team's unquestioned leader, starting 33 of 39 games and leading the Spartans in scoring with 15.3 points per game alongside 5.1 assists per game.[2] He earned Third Team All-Big Ten honors from both coaches and media panels, recognizing his all-around impact. He was also named to the All-Big Ten Tournament Team.[26] In the NCAA Tournament, Trice averaged 19.8 points and 4.0 assists across four games, earning East Region Most Outstanding Player honors as Michigan State advanced to the Final Four before falling to Duke.[2][4] That season, Trice scored a team-high 598 points—more than his combined total from his first three college seasons (537 points)—while shooting 36.9% from beyond the arc.[2] Following the Final Four appearance, Trice declared for the 2015 NBA draft, going undrafted.Professional career
NBA G League career (2015–2019)
After going undrafted in the 2015 NBA draft, Trice signed a one-year partially guaranteed contract with the New York Knicks on September 22, 2015. He appeared in two preseason games before being waived by the Knicks on October 23, 2015. Trice then joined the Knicks' NBA G League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks, for the 2015–16 season, where he quickly established himself as a key contributor.[27][3][4] In 49 regular-season games with Westchester during the 2015–16 campaign, all but one as a starter, Trice averaged 15.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game while playing 34.1 minutes on average. His scoring and playmaking helped the expansion Westchester Knicks finish the regular season with a 28–22 record, securing the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. The team advanced to the playoffs but was swept 2–0 by the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the conference semifinals.[28][29][30] Trice returned to the Westchester Knicks for the 2016–17 season, appearing in nine games and delivering strong performances with averages of 21.1 points and 6.4 assists per game. His limited appearances that year reflected a transitional period, building on the leadership skills honed during his senior year at Michigan State to adapt to professional demands. The Knicks struggled overall, finishing 17th in the league with a 14–36 record.[28] Following two seasons in Australia's National Basketball League (detailed below), Trice signed a training camp contract with the Milwaukee Bucks on July 31, 2018, providing NBA exposure before being waived on September 17, 2018. His G League returning player rights were acquired by the Bucks' affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, in a three-team trade on August 23, 2018. With the Herd in the 2018–19 season, Trice played 19 games, averaging 15.4 points and 5.5 assists per game. On January 18, 2019, he was traded to the Austin Spurs, the San Antonio Spurs' affiliate, where he appeared in 17 games, boosting his output to 18.6 points and a league-leading 9.0 assists per game for the Spurs. A glute injury sidelined him briefly in March 2019, but he returned for the end of the season.[31][32][4] Over his NBA G League tenure from 2015 to 2019, spanning 94 games across three teams, Trice compiled career averages of 16.5 points and 6.3 assists per game.[33]International career (2019–2023)
Trice began his international career abroad following his early G League years, starting with Australia's NBL. In the 2016–17 season with the Cairns Taipans, he averaged 14.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game over 26 contests, earning team MVP honors and helping secure a playoff berth. The following 2017–18 season, he joined the Brisbane Bullets, appearing in 27 games and averaging 15.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.[34] In the 2019–20 season, Trice signed with Germani Basket Brescia of Italy's Lega Basket Serie A, where he appeared in 10 games and averaged 10.2 points per game. Later that season, he joined SIG Strasbourg in France's LNB Pro A, contributing 12.1 points per game across 17 appearances. These early European stints marked his adaptation to professional play abroad, following his development in the NBA G League as a stepping stone to overseas opportunities. During the 2020–21 season, Trice played for Galatasaray in Turkey's Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL), averaging 12.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game in 7 appearances. For the 2021–22 season, he initially signed with the Illawarra Hawks of Australia's NBL on July 21, 2021, but was released on September 21 without playing due to refusing COVID-19 vaccination. He then joined Śląsk Wrocław in Poland's PLK on October 22, 2021, where he played a pivotal role in winning the league championship, earning regular season MVP, finals MVP, and All-PLK Team honors while averaging 18.5 points and 6.2 assists per game over the season.[35][36] Trice's 2022–23 campaign began with UCAM Murcia in Spain's Liga ACB, where he averaged 9.8 points in 28 games. He concluded the season with a brief stint at Grises de Humacao in Puerto Rico's BSN. Throughout this period, Trice navigated frequent team changes driven by contract opportunities and visa requirements, amassing over 150 international games as a consistent starter across diverse leagues.Recent international stints (2023–2025)
In the 2023–24 season, Trice joined the Xinjiang Flying Tigers of China's CBA in October 2023, where he appeared in 38 games, averaging 11.5 points, 5.0 assists, and 2.2 rebounds in 17.0 minutes per game while shooting 40.7% from three-point range. Later that season, on March 11, 2024, he signed with the Criollos de Caguas of Puerto Rico's Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN), contributing significantly to their campaign. During the regular season, Trice averaged 20.7 points and 7.2 assists per game across 34 appearances, earning BSN MVP honors for his efficient scoring and playmaking. In the playoffs, he helped lead the Criollos to the BSN championship, defeating the Osos de Manatí 4–3 in the finals series, and was named Finals MVP after averaging 20.9 points and 6.1 assists per game in the title round.[37][6][38][39][40] After the BSN title in August 2024, Trice signed with the Beijing Royal Fighters for the 2024–25 CBA season in August 2024, playing in 36 games and averaging 15.8 points, 6.3 assists, and 2.8 rebounds in 26.0 minutes per game, with a 38.7% three-point shooting clip. His stint was cut short after the regular season, as he departed in May 2025 to rejoin the Criollos de Caguas for the 2025 BSN campaign.[35][41] As of November 2025, Trice had completed the 2025 BSN season with the Criollos, averaging 20.0 points, 5.6 assists, and 3.1 rebounds across 18 games while shooting 42.1% from beyond the arc. He notched a career-high 43 points in a May 24, 2025, road victory over the Atleticos de San Germán. The Criollos finished third overall in the league standings. At age 32, Trice re-signed with the team for the 2025–26 season, continuing to excel with enhanced perimeter efficiency built on prior international experience.[42][34][43][6]Career statistics and accomplishments
College statistics
Travis Trice's college basketball statistics at Michigan State University reflect his evolution from a reserve guard to a key starter and leader, with notable improvements in scoring, assisting, and overall efficiency as his playing time expanded. Over four seasons from 2011–12 to 2014–15, he appeared in 134 games, accumulating 1,135 points, 387 assists, and 280 rebounds while shooting 38.9% from three-point range on 512 attempts.[2] The table below details his per-game averages across those seasons, highlighting key metrics such as minutes played, points, assists, field goal percentage, and three-point percentage.| Season | G | MP | PTS | AST | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | 32 | 17.2 | 4.5 | 1.8 | .381 | .405 |
| 2012–13 | 27 | 18.6 | 4.8 | 1.9 | .320 | .403 |
| 2013–14 | 36 | 22.3 | 7.3 | 2.3 | .420 | .434 |
| 2014–15 | 39 | 33.6 | 15.3 | 5.1 | .397 | .369 |
| Career | 134 | 23.6 | 8.5 | 2.9 | .385 | .389 |
Professional statistics
Travis Trice's professional career in the NBA G League spanned four seasons from 2015 to 2019, during which he appeared in 94 games, averaging 16.5 points, 6.1 assists, and shooting 37.5% from three-point range.[44][45] These figures reflect his role as a scoring guard off the bench and starter, contributing to teams like the Westchester Knicks, Austin Spurs, and Wisconsin Herd, where he demonstrated consistent playmaking and perimeter shooting in a competitive developmental league.[46] In his international career from 2019 to 2025, Trice has played 194 games across multiple leagues, posting career averages of 13.2 points and 4.4 assists per game.[35] His scoring and facilitation have elevated in overseas competitions, with notable peaks including 18.5 points per game during the 2021–22 season in Poland's PLK with Śląsk Wrocław, where he led the league in assists at 7.4 per game.[34] Similarly, in Puerto Rico's BSN with Criollos de Caguas, he averaged 20.7 points per game in the 2023–24 season, helping secure a championship.[47] From 2023 to 2025, Trice maintained strong production, particularly in the BSN, where through November 2025 he averaged 20.0 points, 7.0 assists, and 42.1% from three in 18 games.[42] This period highlights his adaptation to high-scoring roles in shorter-season leagues, building on his college baseline of 8.5 points and 2.9 assists per game at Michigan State.| League | Games | PPG | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBL (Australia) | 53 | 14.0 | Career average across 2016–18 stints with Cairns Taipans and Brisbane Bullets.[35] |
| PLK (Poland) | 40 | 18.5 | Peak scoring in 2021–22; led league in assists.[34] |
| BSN (Puerto Rico) | 72 | 21.0 | Career average; includes 2023–25 championships.[42] |