Anthony Lamb
October 29, 2024
Zylan Cheatham
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 17/11/95
- Place of Birth: Phoenix, Arizona (USA)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 196
- Weight (KG): 99
- Junior Assoc:
- College:
- NBL DEBUT: 30/09/23
- AGE AT DEBUT: 27
- LAST NBL GAME: 4/03/24
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 28
- NBL History: New Zealand 2024
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Zylan Cheatham was born in Phoenix, Arizona (USA) where he attended South Mountain High School.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Zylan Cheatham made his NBL debut with the New Zealand Breakers at 27 years of age. He scored 11 points in his first game.
The primary focus of the Breakers’ off-season was re-signing promising guard William McDowell-White on a two-year deal. McDowell-White, who had a stellar NBL23 and was highly sought after in free agency, viewed staying with the Breakers under coach Mody Maor as the best opportunity to elevate his game. Finn Delany, who had spent the previous season playing in Germany, also returned to the club. From there, the Breakers were able to retain the majority of their core group, with Cameron Gliddon, Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’Afa, and captain Thomas Abercrombie returning. They added complementary pieces Mangok Mathiang (via Illawarra), Dane Pineau (via South East Melbourne), and Lithuanian prospect Mantas Rubstavicius under the NBL Next Star Program. Coach Maor then finalized the roster by replacing outgoing imports Barry Brown Jr. (to China), Jarrell Brantley (to France), and Dererk Pardon (to Italy) with Parker Jackson-Cartwright (via Turkey), Zylan Cheatham (via Germany), and Justinian Jessup, who returned to the NBL after a year in the G-League.
New Zealand started their season with a win against Cairns (98–87) and a narrow loss to Brisbane (84–89) before heading to the USA to play against the Phoenix Suns in the NBLxNBA exhibition game. With a number of player injuries, former NBA forward Anthony Lamb was also added to the squad. Despite being heavy underdogs, New Zealand pushed the Suns to the limit, making a late surge to cut the lead to four in the final minute before falling just short in a 91–86 loss. Corey Webster (27 points and 7 assists) and Tai Wesley (15 points and 7 rebounds) led the Breakers offensively. Phoenix, who were without star Devin Booker, relied on Deandre Ayton (21 points and 15 rebounds) and Trevor Ariza (16 points and 6 assists).
New Zealand returned from the USA and, due to injuries, roster changes, and inconsistent play, extended their losing streak to five games before a win over Cairns (91–81). Delany (11 games), Cheatham (11 games), McDowell-White (6 games), and Rubstavicius (5 games) all missed a considerable amount of games during the season, with Jessup being released after being unable to overcome his pelvis injury. In January, New Zealand (8–12) fell to the bottom of the ladder following three consecutive losses before turning things around, winning five of their last seven games to finish with a 13–15 record, equal with Sydney and Brisbane. Due to points percentage, Sydney (fifth) and New Zealand (sixth) advanced to the play-in tournament, while Brisbane (seventh) was eliminated.
Zylan Cheatham (15.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists) delivered a strong season for the Breakers. His standout performances included a 30-point, 2-rebound, and 4-assist game in a win against Melbourne (22 October 2023), a 25-point, 5-rebound, and 1-assist effort against Perth (7 January 2024), and a 24-point, 8-rebound, and 2-assist game against Perth (4 February 2024), where he also recorded 1 steal and shot 75% from the field (7 of 12). In late December, Cheatham made a significant return from a fractured leg, which had sidelined him since late October. Upon his return, he helped the Breakers secure consecutive victories, including an 81-71 win over the Brisbane Bullets, where he scored 11 points. This match highlighted his resilience and importance to the team as they worked to improve their standing in the league.
Alongside Cheatham, the Breakers were led offensively by Parker Jackson-Cartwright (20.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists), and saw strong contributions from Anthony Lamb (19.5 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists), Mantas Rubstavicius (9.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists), and William McDowell-White (9.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists). Lamb (19 points), Mauriohooho-Le’Afa (14 points and 4 assists), McDowell-White (14 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals), Jackson-Cartwright (13 points and 7 assists), and Rubstavicius (11 points) all scored in double figures.
In the play-in tournament, New Zealand faced Sydney and secured a hard-fought win (83–76) led by Parker Jackson-Cartwright (34 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds) and Mangok Mathiang (10 points and 9 rebounds). Once into the second play-in game against Illawarra, Jackson-Cartwright (19 points and 9 assists) and Cheatham (12 points and 9 rebounds) produced solid efforts, but the inconsistency that highlighted the Breakers’ season all year returned, and they would lose by three points (85–88) and miss out on an NBL semi-final berth.
Zylan Cheatham played one season in the NBL. He averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 19 NBL games.
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 28 | New Zealand | 13-15 (6) | 19 | 544.0 | 290 | 129 | 22 | 31 | 98 | 17 | 3 | 36 | 47 | 98 | 187 | 52% | 16 | 40 | 40% | 78 | 102 | 76% | 62% | 57% | 30 | Totals | 19 | 544 | 290 | 129 | 22 | 31 | 98 | 17 | 3 | 36 | 47 | 98 | 187 | 52.4% | 16 | 40 | 40.0% | 78 | 102 | 76.5% | 63% | 57% | 30 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 28 | New Zealand | 13-15 (6) | 19 | 28.6 | 15.3 | 6.8 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 5.2 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 5.2 | 9.8 | 52% | 0.8 | 2.1 | 40% | 4.1 | 5.4 | 76% | 62% | 57% | 30 | Total | 19 | 28.6 | 15.3 | 6.8 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 5.2 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 5.2 | 9.8 | 52.4% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 40.0% | 0.8 | 2.1 | 76.5% | 63% | 57% | 30 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 30 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
Over the 2022-23 season with the Birmingham Squadron -- the Pelicans G-League affiliate -- Cheatham averaged 13.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game, while shooting 56.5% from the field and 31.1% from downtown.
Cheatham played 4 games in the NBA. He averaged 3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game over his NBA career.
NBA TRANSACTIONS:
- July 24, 2019: Signed a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.
- November 23, 2020: Signed a multi-year contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.
- November 23, 2020: As part of a 4-team trade, traded by the New Orleans Pelicans with Joshia Gray, Darius Miller, Kenrich Williams, a 2023 2nd round draft pick (Hunter Tyson was later selected) and a 2024 2nd round draft pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder; the Denver Nuggets traded a 2023 1st round draft pick (Nick Smith Jr. was later selected) to the Oklahoma City Thunder; the Milwaukee Bucks traded R.J. Hampton to the Denver Nuggets; the Milwaukee Bucks traded Eric Bledsoe, a 2024 1st round draft pick, a 2025 1st round draft pick, a 2026 1st round draft pick and a 2027 1st round draft pick to the New Orleans Pelicans; the Milwaukee Bucks traded George Hill to the Oklahoma City Thunder; the New Orleans Pelicans traded Jrue Holiday and Sam Merrill to the Milwaukee Bucks; and the Oklahoma City Thunder traded Steven Adams to the New Orleans Pelicans. New Orleans acquires right to swap 2024 1st-rd pick with Milwaukee 2025 1st-rd pick is MIL own New Orleans acquires right to swap 2026 1st-rd pick with Milwaukee 2027 1st-rd pick is MIL own 2023 top-14 protected 1st-rd pick was DEN own 2023 2nd-rd pick was own 2024 2nd-rd pick is CHO own.
- December 2, 2020: Waived by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
- December 22, 2021: Signed a 10-day contract with the Miami Heat.
- January 12, 2022: Signed a 10-day contract with the Utah Jazz.
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 83% | 62% | 78% | 58% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 30 | 4 | 3 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 98 | 187 | 52.4% | 16 | 40 | 40.0% |
NBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 24 | New Orleans | PF | 4 | 0 | 51 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 67% | 67% | |||
| 2019-20 | 24 | New Orleans | PF | 4 | 0 | 51 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 67% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 67% | 67% |
| 2019-20 | 24 | New Orleans | PF | 4 | 0 | 51 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 67% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 67% | 67% | Total | 4 | 0 | 51 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 67% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 |
NBA PER GAME STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 24 | New Orleans | PF | 4 | 0 | 12.8 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 67% | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 67% | 67% | Total | 4 | 0 | 12.8 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 67% | 0.3 | 0% |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Germany - Bayern Munich (2022-2023)
After a spending the 2022-23 season in the G-League, Cheatham joined Bayern Munich to help bolster the German teams EuroLeague campaign for the remainder of 203. This included a 20-point, 8-rebound performance against Real Madrid in April.
Related
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