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Frank Kaminsky III

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Parent: Naismith College Player of the Year Hop 4
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Frank Kaminsky III
NameFrank Kaminsky III
PositionCenter / Power forward
Weight lb240
LeagueNational Basketball Association
TeamFree agent
Birth date4 April 1993
Birth placeBurnsville, Minnesota
High schoolPius XI (Milwaukee, Wisconsin); Sun Prairie High School (Sun Prairie, Wisconsin)
CollegeWisconsin (2011–2015)
Draft2015 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9th overall / Selected by the Charlotte Hornets
Career start2015
Years12015–2019
Team1Charlotte Hornets
Years22019–2020
Team2Phoenix Suns
Years32020–2021
Team3San Antonio Spurs
Years42021–2022
Team4Houston Rockets
Years52022–2023
Team5Indiana Pacers

Frank Kaminsky III (born April 4, 1993) is an American professional basketball player who has played as a seven-foot center and power forward in the National Basketball Association since 2015. A consensus collegiate All-American and winner of the Naismith College Player of the Year and John R. Wooden Award in 2015, he was selected ninth overall in the 2015 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets. Kaminsky has played for the Charlotte Hornets, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, and Indiana Pacers.

Early life and high school

Kaminsky was born in Burnsville, Minnesota and raised in the Milwaukee area, where he attended Pius XI High School before transferring to Sun Prairie High School in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. At Sun Prairie he played under high school coaches and competed in Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association tournaments, attracting attention from recruiting services and college scouts. His high school teammates and opponents included players who later competed in the Big Ten Conference and NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, and he participated in showcases alongside prospects linked to programs like Duke University, University of Kentucky, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Kansas. Kaminsky's recruit profile rose amid comparisons to centers who could stretch defenses, leading to offers from schools in conferences such as the Big Ten Conference and the Big East Conference.

College career

Kaminsky committed to the University of Wisconsin–Madison and played for the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball program under head coach Bo Ryan and later Greg Gard. He redshirted early as he developed and emerged as a starter in the Big Ten Conference, earning All-Big Ten honors and recognition from national outlets like ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and The Sporting News. In his senior season he became a consensus All-American and swept major awards, including the Naismith College Player of the Year, John R. Wooden Award, Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year, and the USBWA National Player of the Year after leading the Badgers to the 2015 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four, where they faced the Duke Blue Devils and Kentucky Wildcats in the bracket. His college teammates and opponents included future NBA players from programs such as Gonzaga, Arizona, and Michigan State, and his profile drew comparisons to stretch bigs in the mold of Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett.

Professional career

Entering the 2015 NBA draft, Kaminsky was selected ninth overall by the Charlotte Hornets and signed his rookie contract as the franchise looked to pair him with guards from the NBA Draft classes of 2014 and 2015. He developed a perimeter game alongside veterans like Kemba Walker and under head coaches including Steve Clifford. In 2019 he was traded to the Phoenix Suns, joining a roster with players such as Devin Booker and competing against Western Conference teams like the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers. Kaminsky later signed with the San Antonio Spurs and played in coach Brett Brown's rotations before moving to the Houston Rockets and appearing alongside prospects from the NBA G League. He most recently played for the Indiana Pacers; across these stints he offered floor-spacing, midrange shooting, and veteran frontcourt depth while facing opponents including the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, and Philadelphia 76ers. Injuries, roster moves, and salary-cap considerations influenced his transitions among franchises during his NBA tenure.

National team career

Kaminsky has been involved in USA Basketball developmental pools and was on the radar during cycles for events organized by USA Basketball and FIBA, participating in camps and evaluations that included players connected to the FIBA Basketball World Cup and Summer Olympics cycles. He has trained in offseasons with athletes from programs such as Dwyane Wade's camps and NBA veterans who represented the United States men's national basketball team, and his name has appeared in discussions about depth options for USA rosters during exhibition windows and FIBA qualification periods.

Player profile and playing style

Standing seven feet tall, Kaminsky blends the size of traditional centers with perimeter skills associated with modern stretch bigs, drawing stylistic comparisons to players like Dirk Nowitzki, Channing Frye, and Goran Dragić-era floor-spacing teammates. He is known for three-point shooting, pick-and-pop execution, free throw reliability, and passing ability in frontcourt actions run against defenses from teams such as the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors. Defensively he has been utilized in drop coverage and help rotations versus post players like Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis, while coaches have highlighted his basketball IQ and positional versatility in schemes that mirror concepts used by franchises including the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Personal life and philanthropy

Off the court, Kaminsky has maintained ties to Wisconsin communities including Madison, Wisconsin and Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, participating in charity events, basketball clinics, and community outreach programs similar to initiatives run by the NBA Players Association and team foundations. He has appeared with former college teammates and professional peers at fundraisers and youth camps connected to organizations like the Make-A-Wish Foundation and local nonprofit athletic programs. Kaminsky's family includes relatives who competed at collegiate levels, and his background reflects connections to regional sports culture in the Midwest United States.

Category:1993 births Category:Living people Category:American men's basketball players Category:People from Burnsville, Minnesota Category:Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball players Category:Charlotte Hornets draft picks