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Nick Ward is a professional basketball player who was born on September 2, 1997, in Gahanna, Ohio, USA. He played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans and began his professional career in 2019, signing with Hapoel Gilboa Galil of the Israeli Premier League. Since then, he has played for various teams in Turkey, Canada, Portugal, and the US, including the Vancouver Bandits in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Ward is a power forward known for his powerful playing style and has achieved several career highs in points, rebounds, steals, blocks, and efficiency.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nicholas Jeffrey Ward |
| Date of Birth | 2 September 1997 |
| Height | 6 ft 7 in (2m03 / 6-7) or 6 ft 9 in (205cm / 6-9) |
| Weight | 253 lbs (115 kg) |
| Position | Power Forward / Center |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| College Basketball Team | Michigan State Spartans |
| Professional Teams | Hapoel Gilboa Galil, Fethiye Belediyespor, College Park Skyhawks, Istanbul Basket, Ottawa Blackjacks, Sigal Prishtina, BC Gargždai, Sporting CP, Vancouver Bandits, Fraser Valley Bandits, Metropolitans 92 |
| Career Highlights | Set career-high points (37) in a Turkey-TBL game; Set career-high rebounds (20) in a Portugal-Liga Profissional game; Set career-high assists (5) in a Canada-CEBL game; Named All-Big Ten Third Team; Named Michigan State Spartans' MVP for the 2023 CEBL season |
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What You'll Learn
Nick Ward's early basketball career
Nick Ward is an American basketball player born on September 2, 1997, in Gahanna, Ohio. He is six foot seven (2m03 / 6-7) tall and plays as a power forward.
Ward started playing basketball at a young age, shooting with his right hand despite being naturally left-handed. He attended Lincoln High School in Gahanna, where he averaged 21.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game as a senior. He also led Gahanna Lincoln to a 25-3 record and an appearance in the regional finals. As a junior, he averaged 18 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks.
In April 2015, Ward verbally committed to Michigan State University, where he played for the Michigan State Spartans. As a freshman, he scored 18 points in the team's home opener on November 18, 2016, versus Mississippi Valley State. He also had 24 points and 10 rebounds against Oral Roberts on December 3, 2016, and a career-high 25 points against Oakland on December 21, 2016.
In his sophomore season, Ward was named to the preseason All-Big Ten team. He scored 19 points in a loss to Duke in Chicago and 22 points in a win against Stony Brook on November 19, 2017. On December 3, 2017, he scored 22 points in a win against Nebraska. Ward led the Big Ten in field goal percentage, connecting on 64.8 percent of his shots from the field. He was also named Big Ten Player of the Week on January 2, 2018.
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Nick Ward's professional career
Nick Ward, born on September 2, 1997, is an American basketball player who began his professional career in 2019. Before turning professional, he played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans. Ward verbally committed to Michigan State in April 2015 and graduated in 2019.
On September 2, 2019, Ward signed his first professional contract with Hapoel Gilboa Galil of the Israeli Premier League. However, he only appeared in one pre-season tournament game before parting ways with the team on September 25, 2019. Just three days later, on September 28, Ward signed with Fethiye Belediyespor of the Turkish Basketball First League. In four games played for Belediyespor, he averaged 22 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. During this time, on October 26, 2019, Ward set his career-high in points, scoring 37 points in Fethiye's road win against Konyaspor.
On November 15, 2019, Ward left Belediyespor and signed with the College Park Skyhawks of the NBA G League. He posted impressive numbers with the Skyhawks, averaging 13.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. On December 31, 2019, he tied his career-high in steals in a G-League game with 3 steals and 17 points against Westchester Kni. On January 15, 2020, Ward had a standout performance, posting 22 points and 18 rebounds in a loss to the Grand Rapids Drive.
On October 25, 2020, Ward returned to Turkey and signed with Istanbul Basket of the Turkish Basketball First League. He continued his journey by signing with the Ottawa Blackjacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League on March 26, 2021. Ward has since played in various countries, including Kosovo, Lithuania, and Portugal. On August 21, 2023, he signed with Sigal Prishtina of the Kosovo Basketball Superleague, followed by a stint with BC Gargždai of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL). Most recently, on September 2, 2024, Ward signed with Sporting CP of the Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol.
Throughout his professional career, Ward has showcased his versatility and impact on both ends of the court. He has been described as big and powerful with quick and graceful feet. Ward's ability to work the low block and finish efficiently around the rim has been a key strength. While his jump shot has been identified as an area for improvement, he has shown the building blocks of a consistent jumper.
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Nick Ward's career-high performances
Nick Ward, the American basketball player, has had a notable career with several impressive performances. Ward, who stands at 6'7" or 6'9" tall, played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans and later went on to play professionally in multiple countries. Here is a breakdown of some of Nick Ward's career-high performances:
Career-High Points:
On October 26, 2019, while playing in Turkey for Fethiye Belediyespor, Nick Ward scored a career-high 37 points in a road win against Konyaspor, with a final score of 88-89. He also contributed 8 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block to the victory.
Career-High Rebounds:
On April 19, 2025, while playing for Sporting CP in the Portuguese Liga Profissional, Nick Ward grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds in a close home loss against SL Benfica, with a final score of 85-87. He also managed to score 17 points and had 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks.
Career-High Assists:
On July 22, 2023, while playing in Canada for Fraser Valley Bandits, Nick Ward dished out a career-high 5 assists in a home win against the Edmonton Stingers, with a final score of 84-74. He also contributed 24 points and 12 rebounds to the winning effort.
Career-High Steals:
On December 31, 2019, while playing for College Park Skyhawks in the G-League, Nick Ward tied his career-high in steals with 3 steals in a road win against Westchester. He also scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the same game.
Career-High Blocks:
On December 18, 2016, while playing for Michigan State Spartans, Nick Ward had a standout performance with 6 blocks in a home game against Northeastern Huskies. He also contributed 15 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, despite the Spartans losing the game 73-81.
Career-High Efficiency:
On January 9, 2020, Nick Ward achieved a career-high efficiency rating of 38 in a G-League game for College Park Skyhawks. The Skyhawks won the game against Erie B. with a final score of 126-111.
Nick Ward has had a well-travelled career, showcasing his skills in various leagues and countries. His ability to consistently put up impressive numbers and impact games has made him a valuable player on both collegiate and professional levels.
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Nick Ward's international career
Nick Ward is an American basketball player who has played in multiple countries outside of the US. He was born in Gahanna, Ohio, and played basketball at Lincoln High School in his hometown. He later played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans, committing to Michigan State in April 2015.
Ward's international career began when he signed his first professional contract with Hapoel Gilboa Galil of the Israeli Premier League on September 2, 2019. However, his stint with the team was short-lived, and he parted ways with them on September 25, 2019, after appearing in just one pre-season tournament game.
Ward then signed with Fethiye Belediyespor of the Turkish Basketball First League on September 28, 2019. He had a successful run with the team, averaging 22 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. On October 26, 2019, he set a career-high in points, scoring 37 points in a road win against Konyaspor. However, his time with Fethiye Belediyespor was brief, and he parted ways with the team on November 15, 2019.
Following his departure from Fethiye Belediyespor, Ward signed with the College Park Skyhawks of the NBA G League on November 15, 2019. He continued to showcase his talent, posting impressive numbers during his time with the team. On December 31, 2019, he tied his career-high in steals with 3 steals in a game against Westchester Kni. On January 9, 2020, he tied his career-high in efficiency with a score of 38 in a game against Erie B.
On October 25, 2020, Ward returned to Turkey and signed with Istanbul Basket of the Turkish Basketball First League. He then had stints playing in Canada and Lithuania before signing with Sporting CP of the Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol on September 2, 2024. With Sporting CP, Ward set a new career-high in rebounds, grabbing 20 rebounds in a game against SL Benfica on April 19, 2025.
Throughout his international career, Ward has played in various countries, including Israel, Turkey, Canada, Lithuania, Portugal, and more. His talent and impact have been recognized across multiple leagues, contributing to his success as a professional basketball player.
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Nick Ward's Vancouver Bandits career
Nick Ward, born on September 2, 1997, is an American basketball player who signed with the Vancouver Bandits, British Columbia's professional basketball team, in 2023. The Vancouver Bandits compete in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and play their home games at the Langley Events Centre.
Ward's career with the Vancouver Bandits began with the team announcing his signing ahead of the 2023 CEBL campaign. Ward was named by coaches and media as an All-Big Ten third-team selection during his final collegiate season, averaging 13.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game on 60.5% shooting from the field goal range.
During his first season with the Vancouver Bandits in 2023, Ward was named the club's "Team MVP" and "Offensive Player of the Year." He excelled with his positive attitude, willingness to be challenged, and consistent improvement throughout the season.
Ward's performance in the 2023 season contributed to the Bandits' success in the CEBL, and he was recognised for his stellar campaign. He was an integral part of the team, with head coach and general manager Kyle Julius praising his powerful playing style and instinctual skills around the rim.
Following his first season with the Vancouver Bandits, Ward continued his journey by signing with multiple international clubs, showcasing his versatility and impact on a global scale.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Nick Ward is a professional basketball player.
Nick Ward's full name is Nicholas Jeffrey Ward.
Nick Ward was born in Gahanna, Ohio, USA.
Nick Ward is 6'7" or 6'9" tall.
Nick Ward has played for the Michigan State Spartans, Hapoel Gilboa Galil, Fethiye Belediyespor, College Park Skyhawks, Istanbul Basket, Ottawa Blackjacks, Sigal Prishtina, BC Gargždai, Sporting CP, Fraser Valley Bandits, and Vancouver Bandits.
