VIPERS ACQUIRE ANTONIO BLAKENEY
By Rio Grande Valley Vipers Staff /October 22, 2021
EDINBURG, Texas (Friday, October 22, 2021) – The Rio Grande Valley Vipers announced today that they have acquired the returning player rights to guard Antonio Blakeney from Cleveland Charge. In return, the Vipers agree to trade the returning rights to Josh Huestis and William McDowell-White to the Charge. Trade is not subject to a physical.
Blakeney (6-4, 197 lbs.) played with the Charge in the 2020-21 season, making 15 appearances, four starts. He averaged 15.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists in 26.6 minutes of action. Prior to Cleveland, Blakeney was assigned to the Chicago Bulls NBA G League affiliate, Windy City Bulls for a short 2018-19 campaign.
During the 2018-17 season, the guard signed a two-way contract with both the Bulls and Windy City. Blakeney started in all 32 games played averaging 32.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.2 steals in 38.3 minutes per game. Concluding the campaign, Blakeney earned the Rookie of the Year award, was named to the All-NBA G League 2nd Team and All-Rookie 1st Team. In addition, he was named to the NBA G League Showcase First Team.
The Watertown, New York native earned three starts of the 57 appearances with Chicago during the 2018-19 season, averaging 7.3 points, 1.9 rebounds per 14.5 minutes played. In his rookie season in 2017-18 with Chicago, Blakeney played in 19 games while averaging 8.0 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 16.5 minutes of action.
Before declaring for the NBA, Blakeney played two seasons with LSU, totaling 54 starts of 64 games played and averaged 14.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists.