8-Year NBA Veteran Signs With G League Team After 3 Years Out Of NBA

He last played in the NBA in 2019, but now at the age of 33, former Denver Nuggets' first-round pick Kenneth Faried still has designs of an NBA return and has signed on with the Austin Spurs of the G League. 

The Austin Spurs have officially signed 8-year NBA veteran Kenneth Faried. He will be available tonight for our game in Lakeland! pic.twitter.com/FgBM3rXZx3

— Austin Spurs (@austin_spurs) November 12, 2022

"The Manimal" has been plying his trade in various locales around the world over the past couple of years, including a quick signing in Mexico earlier this fall. In 2020 in China, Faried averaged 17.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per contest. Last season, he played a handful of games in Russia. 

"Being able to play ball is the most exciting thing for me," said Faried. "I've given my all to this game."

In his 8 years in the NBA, Faried had career averages of 11.4 points and 8.1 rebounds. The Nuggets selected him with the 22nd pick of the first round in 2011, and his career started quite well, and peaked in 2014 when he averaged 13.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per contest in 80 regular season games. 

He tried his hand with Denver's affiliate in the G League last year, averaging 10.8 points and 7.3 points in five games with the Grand Rapids Gold. But no NBA call was in the offing. 

He'll hope once again from the G League this year that he can entice some team to give him another shot.

Photo: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports