# Is Frank Kaminsky White? A Comprehensive Look at the NBA Player‘s Career - Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/is-frank-kaminsky-white-a-comprehensive-look-at-the-nba-players-career/ - Published: 2023-10-24 - Author: Lillie Gabler - Categories: [Tips](https://33rdsquare.com/category/home/tips/) --- ## Introduction You may know Frank Kaminsky as the goofy 7-footer who won college basketball‘s National Player of the Year award in 2015. I bet you‘re also wondering, is Frank Kaminsky white? As someone who has followed Kaminsky‘s basketball career closely, I can confirm that yes, he is a white American of Polish and Irish descent. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll take a deep dive into Kaminsky‘s background, his journey from high school standout to NCAA champion to NBA draft pick, as well as analyzing his skills and potential as a pro. After reading, you‘ll know all about the most famous Frank Kaminsky in basketball! ## Background and Rise to Stardom Let‘s start at the beginning. Frank Kaminsky III was born on April 4, 1993 in Lisle, Illinois to Frank Jr. and Mary Kaminsky. Lisle is a suburb right outside of Chicago. Frank attended Benet Academy, a private Catholic school known for strong academics and athletics. ### Highly Ranked High School Player By his senior year, Kaminsky had sprouted to 6-foot-10 and was rated as a 4-star recruit and top-100 player nationally. Some highlights from his acclaimed high school career: - 3x All-Conference selection - Set school record with 1,017 career rebounds - Named Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year in 2011 - Led team to Class 4A state quarterfinals as a senior Scouting reports praised Kaminsky‘s versatility and shooting touch. With his impressive prep resume, Kaminsky committed to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. ### Breakout Junior Season After limited playing time his first two years at Wisconsin, Kaminsky broke out as a junior. He averaged 13.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 52.8% from the field. He displayed an ability to stretch the floor with his three-point shot or score down low. Kaminsky had a dominating 28-point performance against top-ranked Arizona in the NCAA Tournament, leading Wisconsin to an Elite Eight appearance. He garnered Associated Press All-American Honorable Mention honors, while being named First Team All-Big Ten. ### National Player of the Year as a Senior Kaminsky took his game to another level as a senior, putting up 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. He led Wisconsin to the national championship game against Duke, where they lost 68-63. Kaminsky scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in his final collegiate contest. For his sensational senior campaign, Kaminsky swept the National Player of the Year awards – Naismith Award, Wooden Award, and Associated Press Player of the Year. He was a consensus First Team All-American and the unanimous Big Ten Player of the Year. ## NBA Career ### Drafted by Michael Jordan After graduating from Wisconsin, Kaminsky declared for the 2015 NBA Draft. He was selected with the 9th overall pick by Michael Jordan and the Charlotte Hornets. This made him Wisconsin‘s first first-round pick since 1962. Kaminsky joined a Hornets team led by Kemba Walker, who provided this scouting report: > "Frank is a very versatile player, he can shoot, he can pass, he can rebound. I‘m looking forward to playing with him." ### Impressive Start to NBA Career As a rookie, Kaminsky proved a productive member of the Hornets rotation. He averaged 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while shooting 34.8% on three-pointers. The Hornets qualified for the playoffs where they pushed the Miami Heat to 7 games. In his second season, Kaminsky took on a larger role. He started 29 games, averaging 11.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while increasing his outside shooting to 38.1% from downtown. His improved play was rewarded with a spot in the Rising Stars Challenge during 2017 All-Star Weekend. ### Overcoming Injuries and Finding Opportunity The momentum Kaminsky built during his first two seasons was stifled by injuries. Shoulder and knee injuries caused him to miss major time in both the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. After averaging over 10 points through two years, his scoring dipped to 5.7 points per game his next two. Prior to 2019-20, Kaminsky signed a 2-year $10 million free agent deal with the Phoenix Suns. He averaged a respectable 7.8 points in his first season in Phoenix before being limited to just 17 games last year due to injury. Entering his 7th NBA season, the 28-year-old Kaminsky hopes to overcome injury woes to reignite his promising career. His combination of size, shooting, and basketball IQ give him a chance to be a productive "stretch 5" for years to come. ## Scouting Report on Kaminsky‘s Unique Game Now that we‘ve covered Kaminsky‘s background and journey to the league, let‘s do a scout‘s breakdown of his skills and style of play. Coming out of Wisconsin, here were my thoughts on what makes his game special: ### Offensive Versatility - At 7-feet, can score effectively on the block but also comfortable on perimeter - Soft touch around the rim and range out to three-point line - Shot 41% from deep and 81% from FT line as senior - Excellent footwork and ability to finish with either hand ### Passing Ability - Averaged 2.6 assists per game senior year, high for a big man - Sees floor well out of post, finding cutters and open shooters - Can bring the ball up and initiate offense in transition - Will keep ball moving and make right pass within offensive flow ### Basketball IQ - Fundamentally sound player, makes winning plays - Runs pick and rolls smoothly as both ball handler and roller - Recognizes defensive schemes and attacks weaknesses - Moves well without the ball to get open looks ## The Final Take: An Impact When Healthy At the end of the day, when Frank Kaminsky is healthy he has proven he can be an impact player in the NBA due to his multifaceted offensive game and high IQ. As a 7-footer who shot 39% from three point range in college, he is a matchup dilemma for opposing defenses. If Kaminsky can put together a full healthy season, I expect him to be a productive rotation player. His shooting and passing would fit well into an uptempo, ball movement system. Don‘t be surprised if he regains his double-digit scoring form from earlier in his career. So in summary, yes Frank Kaminsky is a talented white basketball player with Polish and Irish roots. I hope this guide gave you a better idea of Kaminsky‘s background and just what makes his game so effective. Let me know if you have any other NBA player background questions! --- Source: [Is Frank Kaminsky White? A Comprehensive Look at the NBA Player‘s Career](https://33rdsquare.com/is-frank-kaminsky-white-a-comprehensive-look-at-the-nba-players-career/)