Helena Frye
Bryce Alford is a former UCLA basketball player and current assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League. During his time at UCLA, Alford faced criticism from fans who questioned his role and performance, with some accusing him of benefiting from nepotism as the son of head coach Steve Alford. However, he also had notable achievements, setting records for three-point field goals and being named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. After going undrafted in the 2017 NBA draft, Alford pursued a professional career in the G League and played in several countries before transitioning into coaching.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Bryce Michael Alford |
| Date of Birth | January 18, 1995 |
| Alma Mater | UCLA |
| Father's Name | Steve Alford |
| Mother's Name | Tanya Alford |
| Career | Former professional basketball player, current assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League |
| UCLA Position | Shooting guard |
| UCLA Records | Most three-point field goals made in a game, season, and career |
| UCLA Achievements | Named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team, became UCLA's leading scorer in the 2017 season |
| Criticism | Nepotism due to his father being the head coach at UCLA |
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What You'll Learn
Bryce Alford's career at UCLA
Bryce Alford, born on January 18, 1995, is the son of former basketball player and coach Steve Alford. He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins, where his father was the head coach.
Alford had a successful high school career at La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As a junior, he averaged 24.6 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, 5.2 assists per game, and 2.0 steals per game. He led his team to the Class 5A state title game and set a single-game scoring record of 52 points. In his senior year, he broke a 50-year-old New Mexico high school single-season scoring record with 1,050 points and was named the state's top high school player.
Alford chose to play for UCLA, following his father who became the coach there in 2013. As a freshman at UCLA, Alford averaged eight points and 2.8 assists in 23 minutes per game. He became the first UCLA freshman since Don MacLean in 1988 to score over 30 points in a game when he scored 31 points against Oregon.
In his sophomore year, Alford became the team's starting point guard and set the Bruins' record for most three-pointers made in a season. As a senior, he moved to shooting guard and broke more records, becoming the Bruins' career leader in three-pointers made. He earned first-team all-conference honors in the Pac-12 and was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) second-team All-District 20.
Despite his success, Alford faced criticism from fans who questioned his role and accused him of nepotism due to his father's position as coach. However, he worked hard and proved himself on the court, silencing some of his detractors.
After going undrafted in the 2017 NBA draft, Alford began his professional career in the NBA G League with the Oklahoma City Blue. He also played in several countries in Europe, including Germany, Portugal, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
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Bryce Alford's UCLA records
Bryce Alford, born on January 18, 1995, is a former American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins and went on to become an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League.
Alford's basketball career began at La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In his junior year, he averaged 25.3 points and 4.6 assists and led the Bears to the Class 5A title game. As a senior, he broke a 50-year-old New Mexico high school single-season scoring record with 1,050 points. He was named New Mexico's Gatorade Player of the Year and earned first-team Parade All-American honours.
Alford then committed to playing college basketball for the University of New Mexico under his father, Steve Alford, who was the coach of the Lobos at the time. However, in March 2013, Steve Alford became the coach at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and Alford followed him. This move was not without controversy, as some questioned whether nepotism played a role in his recruitment.
Despite the scepticism, Alford excelled at UCLA. He played in 141 career games, making 105 starts across four seasons. In his first season, he was named one of the top freshmen in the Pac-12. As a sophomore in 2014–15, he became the Bruins' starting point guard and set records for the most three-pointers made in a game, season, and career. He continued to shine in his junior year, making four three-point field goals in the final four minutes of the Bruins' opener in the 2015 NCAA tournament.
In his senior year, Alford moved to shooting guard and surpassed his previous records. He earned first-team all-conference honours in the Pac-12 and was recognised as a critical player for UCLA.
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Bryce Alford's NBA career
Bryce Alford, born on January 18, 1995, is the son of former basketball player Steve Alford and Tanya Alford. He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins, where his father served as head coach during his undergraduate career.
Alford had a successful high school career, setting a New Mexico state single-season scoring record and being named the state's top high school player. He initially committed to playing for his father at the University of New Mexico but followed him to UCLA when he became the coach there in 2013.
At UCLA, Alford faced criticism and accusations of nepotism from fans who felt his role was undeserved. However, he worked hard and became a key player for the Bruins. He was a starting point guard in 2014-15 and later moved to shooting guard, breaking school records for three-point field goals. He was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team and earned first-team all-conference honors in the Pac-12 as a senior.
Despite his success at UCLA, Alford went undrafted in the 2017 NBA draft. He then played for the Oklahoma City Blue in the NBA G League for two seasons before playing in Germany, Portugal, Poland, and the Czech Republic. He currently serves as an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Blue, continuing his involvement in basketball.
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Criticisms of nepotism at UCLA
UCLA has faced criticism for nepotism in its basketball program, specifically regarding the recruitment of Bryce Alford, the son of head coach Steve Alford. Bryce joined the UCLA Bruins in 2013, the same year his father was hired as head coach.
Fans and critics questioned whether Bryce's position on the team was due to merit or nepotism. Some felt that Steve had "hijacked" the program to enhance Bryce's chances of an NBA career. There were also concerns that the prospect of competing with the coach's son might deter potential recruits from joining UCLA.
Bryce, however, defended himself, stating that he had worked for everything he achieved at UCLA and that it was common for coaches' sons to play for their fathers. He also pointed out that he had to switch positions during his time at UCLA, from point guard to shooting guard, and later to the wing.
In addition to the allegations surrounding the Alfords, UCLA has faced broader accusations of nepotism under the management of Dan Guerrero. For instance, Kory Barnett, the son of a family friend of the Alfords, was hired as the video coordinator for the basketball program. UCLA claims to be an Equal Employment Opportunity workplace with a formal policy of Affirmative Action regarding hiring practices.
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Bryce Alford's life outside basketball
Bryce Alford, born on January 18, 1995, is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins and later became an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League. Outside of basketball, Bryce comes from a family of basketball players and coaches. He is the son of former basketball player Steve Alford, who was also his head coach at UCLA. Alford was born in Manchester, Indiana, to Tanya and Steve Alford, a college basketball coach and former professional player.
Growing up around the sport, Alford would sit in on his father's locker room talks and stand beside him during news conferences as early as the age of five. He attended La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he excelled in basketball. He verbally committed to attend the University of New Mexico to play college basketball under his father, who was coaching the Lobos at the time.
Alford's life outside of basketball also includes his involvement in various charitable initiatives. He has volunteered locally for the Special Olympics and the Ronald McDonald House Charities. In addition, he has served as a youth basketball coach, passing on his knowledge and experience to the next generation of players.
Alford's life in Los Angeles as a UCLA player and resident also garnered attention. He was known for his confident stride and relaxed presence, and his lifestyle included driving a nice car, owning Jordan shoes, and enjoying kayaking trips and beach days, which he shared on social media. He also had a girlfriend who was a model.
After going undrafted in the 2017 NBA draft, Alford pursued a professional basketball career overseas, playing in Germany, Portugal, Poland, and the Czech Republic. He set several records throughout his basketball career, including for the most three-point field goals made in a game, season, and during his time at UCLA.
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Frequently asked questions
Bryce Alford is an American former professional basketball player who played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins. He is the son of former UCLA head coach Steve Alford.
After going undrafted in the 2017 NBA draft, Alford played professionally for the Oklahoma City Blue in the NBA G League for two seasons. He also played in Germany, Portugal, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
UCLA fans wanted Alford out due to the perception of nepotism, as his father was the team's head coach. Some fans felt that Steve Alford was trying to enhance his son's chances of an NBA career.
Alford set school records for the most three-point field goals made in a game, season, and career. He was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team and became the Bruins' starting point guard in 2014-15. He was also a key part of the UCLA squad that reached the NCAA tournament Sweet 16 in 2017.
