Cory Joseph

1.1. Early life and family

Joseph was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and is the youngest of four children. His parents, Connie and David Joseph, were both student-athletes who met while playing for their respective men's and women's basketball teams at Mount Royal College. His father, David, was born in Trinidad and Tobago, won a CCAA national championship playing for the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, and later coached at various levels, including high school, college, and professionally. His mother coached and refereed basketball at different levels.

Joseph grew up in nearby Pickering in a basketball-centric household. He has two older sisters, Chantal and Danielle, and an older brother, Devoe Joseph, who also played college basketball for Minnesota and Oregon before pursuing a professional career in Europe. The family's basketball ties extend to two of Joseph's second cousins: Kris Joseph, who played for Syracuse and was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the 2012 NBA draft, and Maurice Joseph, who played for Michigan State and Vermont, and later coached at George Washington University. Another cousin, Ashton Khan, is also a professional basketball player in the British Basketball League.

In his youth, Joseph played for the Scarborough Blues club team alongside future NBA player Kelly Olynyk. This team was highly successful in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with one of their rare defeats coming against a rival Toronto team led by Stephen Curry.

1.2. High school career

Joseph attended Pickering High School in Ajax, Ontario. Alongside his brother Devoe, he led the school's AAAA basketball team to consecutive Ontario provincial championships in 2007 and 2008, defeating Eastern Commerce Collegiate Institute in both championship games. Their father served as the team's assistant coach during this successful period. In 2008, both Cory and Devoe were selected to participate in the annual All-Canada Classic, a showcase event for Canada's top high school basketball players.

Later that year, at the age of 16, Joseph transferred to Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada, moving with his close friend and AAU teammate, Tristan Thompson. His reputation as a top prospect grew significantly as he led Findlay Prep to the ESPN RISE National High School Invitational championship game in 2009. Alongside Thompson and Avery Bradley, Joseph helped #2 ranked Findlay Prep defeat #1 ranked Oak Hill Academy with a score of 74-66. He was subsequently named to the ESPN RISE All-Tournament Team for his performance. In August 2009, Joseph was chosen to play in the fourth annual Boost Mobile Elite 24 basketball game, an event held at Rucker Park in Harlem, New York City, that features the top 24 high school basketball players in the United States.

In his senior year, Joseph and Thompson once again led #2 ranked Findlay Prep to a second consecutive ESPN RISE National High School Invitational championship in 2010, securing a 59-46 victory over #1 ranked Montverde Academy. Joseph earned a spot on the ESPN RISE All-Tournament Team for the second consecutive year and was also named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Following this impressive season, he was ranked as the #7 prospect nationally by Rivals.com and #11 in the ESPNU 100. During his senior year, he averaged 18.8 points, 4.9 assists, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game. Joseph also participated in the 2010 McDonald's All-American Boys Game and won the McDonald's Three Point Competition. He was also named a Jordan Brand Classic All-American. On April 11, 2010, he played for the World Select Team against the United States Junior Select Team at the Nike Hoop Summit in the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon, a game which the World Select Team lost 101-97. Twelve days later, on April 23, 2010, Joseph committed to the University of Texas, joining Thompson there.

1.3. College career

Cory Joseph made an immediate impact in his freshman season at the University of Texas, starting all 36 games. He demonstrated his versatile skills by leading the team in scoring on four occasions and in rebounding twice. A notable performance came on December 18, 2010, when he recorded a season-high 21 points and hit a game-winning jumper against North Carolina.

Texas entered the 2011 NCAA March Madness as the fourth seed in the West Regional Division. However, their tournament run ended in the third round with a close loss to fifth-seeded Arizona, a game decided by a standout performance and game-winning shot from Derrick Williams. Following the conclusion of the season, Joseph declared for the NBA draft and was recognized for his strong collegiate debut by being named to the Big 12 All-Freshman team.

2.1. San Antonio Spurs (2011-2015)

On June 23, 2011, Cory Joseph was selected 29th overall in the 2011 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs. This draft was notable for Canadian basketball, as his fellow Canadian and Longhorn teammate, Tristan Thompson, was drafted fourth overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers, making him the highest Canadian-born draftee in NBA history at that point. The 2011 draft also marked only the second time in NBA history that two Canadians were selected in the first round of the same draft, the first instance being in 1983 with Leo Rautins and Stewart Granger. Additionally, it was the first time that three Texas Longhorn basketball players were selected in the first round, as Joseph's former collegiate teammate Jordan Hamilton was picked 26th overall by the Dallas Mavericks.

During his initial seasons with the Spurs, Joseph spent time developing his skills in the NBA D-League. He was assigned to the Austin Toros three times during the 2011-12 season and again during the 2012-13 season. In March 2012, during his third assignment to the Toros, Joseph displayed significant improvement, averaging 19.3 points, 9.3 assists, and 9 rebounds per game with a 57% field goal percentage, earning him the D-League Performer of the Week award. In February 2013, he was named to the Prospects All-Star roster for the 2013 NBA D-League All-Star Game, though he was unable to play due to injury.

In late February 2013, Joseph stepped into a more prominent role as the Spurs' starting point guard when Tony Parker sustained an injury. In his first five starts, Joseph averaged 8.8 points and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 58.6% from the field. He contributed to the Spurs' run to the 2013 NBA Finals, where they ultimately lost to the Miami Heat in seven games. This playoff experience proved invaluable, as Joseph participated in 20 playoff games during the 2013 postseason.

For the 2013-14 season, Joseph remained on the active roster for the entire season for the first time in his career, appearing in 68 games. He started in 19 games, particularly when Parker was rested, showcasing his reliability. On June 15, 2014, Joseph achieved a significant milestone by winning his first NBA championship as the Spurs defeated the Miami Heat 4 games to 1 in the 2014 NBA Finals.

In the 2014-15 season, Joseph's playing time increased by approximately 5 minutes per game, taking on a more substantial role as a backup to Tony Parker, especially due to Patty Mills' absence at the start of the season following shoulder surgery. On June 30, 2015, the Spurs extended a qualifying offer to Joseph, making him a restricted free agent, but they subsequently withdrew the offer on July 5, allowing him to sign with another team.

2.2. Toronto Raptors (2015-2017)

On July 9, 2015, Joseph signed a four-year, 30.00 M USD contract with the Toronto Raptors, marking a significant return to his hometown team. He made his debut for the Raptors in their season opener on October 28, 2015, contributing 3 points and 2 rebounds per game in a 106-99 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Joseph quickly flourished in his role as a backup point guard, averaging a career-high 23 minutes per game over his first few games with the team. On November 6, 2015, he scored a season-high 19 points against the Orlando Magic, just one point shy of his career high. A notable moment occurred on November 28, 2015, when he scored 12 points, including a crucial buzzer-beating three-pointer after a well-executed inbounds play, securing an 84-82 win for the Raptors over the Washington Wizards. The Raptors concluded the regular season with a strong 56-26 record, finishing as the second seed in the Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, Joseph scored a playoff career-high 18 points in a Game 1 loss to the seventh-seeded Indiana Pacers in the first round.

On January 17, 2017, Joseph achieved a career-high 33 points in a 119-109 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. He recorded his first career double-double on March 27, 2017, with 15 points and a career-high 13 assists in a 131-112 win against the Orlando Magic. In Game 4 of the Raptors' second-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 7, 2017, Joseph started in place of the injured Kyle Lowry and delivered a strong performance with 20 points and 12 assists, though the Raptors ultimately lost 109-102, being swept 4-0 by the Cavaliers.

2.3. Indiana Pacers (2017-2019)

On July 14, 2017, Joseph was traded to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for the draft rights to Emir Preldžić. This move was part of a broader sign-and-trade deal that sent C. J. Miles to the Toronto Raptors. In his debut for the Pacers in their season opener on October 18, 2017, Joseph scored 11 points in a 140-131 win over the Brooklyn Nets. On February 9, 2019, he had a near triple-double performance, recording 10 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds in a 105-90 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

2.4. Sacramento Kings (2019-2021)

On July 6, 2019, Joseph signed with the Sacramento Kings. During his tenure with the team, he continued to provide a veteran presence and solid playmaking. On January 30, 2020, Joseph scored a season-high 16 points, alongside two rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and one block, contributing to a 124-103 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers.

2.5. Detroit Pistons (2021-2023)

On March 26, 2021, Joseph was traded to the Detroit Pistons, along with two future second-round draft picks, in exchange for Delon Wright. Although he was waived by the Pistons on July 31, 2021, he was re-signed by the team just eleven days later, on August 11, 2021. He continued to play for the Pistons through the 2022-23 NBA season.

2.6. Golden State Warriors (2023-2024)

On July 6, 2023, Joseph signed with the Golden State Warriors. His time with the Warriors was brief, as he was traded back to the Indiana Pacers on February 8, 2024, and was subsequently waived by the Pacers on the same day.

2.7. Orlando Magic (2024-present)

On July 19, 2024, Joseph signed with the Orlando Magic, marking his most recent team affiliation in the NBA.

5.1. NBA

5.2. College