Who is Jordan Loyd? Fact facts on the Raptors latest Two-Way signing

Author Photo
jordan-loyd-082018-ftr-getty.jpg

Earlier in the month, the Raptors announced the signing of 6-foot-4 combo guard Jordan Loyd to an NBA Two-Way contract.

Per the terms of a Two-Way deal, Loyd will spend the majority of the 2018-19 season with Raptors 905 and can spend a maximum of 45 days with the Toronto Raptors. Last season, the Raptors' Two-Way contract recipients were Lorenzo Brown and Malcolm Miller, who spent 14 and 15 games with Toronto, respectively.

After Brown signed a guaranteed NBA deal with the Raptors and the team elected not to re-sign Miller, Loyd is the first player to fill the two slots for players that will split time between the NBA and G League Raptors this upcoming year. 

Here's more on Loyd and his path to the NBA…

The beginning

Loyd was born on July 27, 1993 in Atlanta Ga. 

He attended Milton HS in nearby Alpharetta, Ga. with Shannon Scott, who recorded the first-ever triple-double in Raptors 905 history.

College years

Loyd played his freshman season at Furman University and sat out his sophomore season before transferring to Division II University of Indianapolis midway through his junior year.

In 75 career games at Indianapolis, Loyd averaged 16.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. As a senior, he averaged 20.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, earning All-Great Lakes Valley Conference First Team and Defensive Team honours.

Pro Career

After going undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft, Loyd was selected 48th overall in the NBA D-League Draft by the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. In his first pro season, he averaged 15.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists over 49 games. His performance earned him a shot with the Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors Summer League teams in 2017.

Loyd opted to go overseas in 2017-18, spending the past year with Hapoel Eliat of Israel. In 38 games, he averaged 17.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists, earning All-Israeli League Second Team honours.

The 25-year-old earned another Summer League opportunity with the Raptors in 2018, averaging 8.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in four games. Through his play, Loyd was offered a Two-Way contract, becoming the first-ever player from the University of Indianapolis to sign with an NBA organization.

The Raptors organization has had already good fortune with a guard on a Two-Way contract. Last year, Lorenzo Brown averaged 18.8 points, 8.9 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 32 G League games, earning league MVP honours.

Loyd looks to pick up where Brown left off in the upcoming season to become the next guard to continue to move up the pipeline.

Author(s)
Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News.