{{Short description|American basketball player (born 1996)}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Desi Rodriguez | image = Seton Hall vs. Bradley (cropped).jpg | image_size = | caption = Rodriguez with Seton Hall in 2015 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|3|23}} | birth_place = Bronx, New York, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 6 | weight_lb = 240 | league = Israeli Basketball Premier League | team = Ironi Ness Ziona | position = Small forward | number = 23 | high_school = *Frederick Douglass<br/>(Manhattan, New York) *Abraham Lincoln<br/>(Brooklyn, New York) | college = Seton Hall (2014–2018) | draft_year = 2018 | career_start = 2018 | career_end = | years1 = 2018–2019 | team1 = Agua Caliente Clippers | years2 = 2019 | team2 = Hapoel Tel Aviv | years3 = 2019–2020 | team3 = Agua Caliente Clippers | years4 = 2020–2021 | team4 = Riesen Ludwigsburg | years5 = 2021–2022 | team5 = s.Oliver Würzburg | years6 = 2022–2023 | team6 = Limoges CSP | years7 = 2023–2025 | team7 = Nanterre 92 | years8 = 2025–present | team8 = Ironi Ness Ziona | highlights = * All-FIBA Champions League Second Team (2025) * Second-team All-Big East (2018) }}
'''Desi Rodriguez''' (born March 23, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for Ironi Ness Ziona of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. He played college basketball for Seton Hall before playing professionally in the NBA G League, Israel, and France.
==High school career== Rodriguez attended the Frederick Douglass Academy for two years. He transferred to Abraham Lincoln High School and befriended his teammate Isaiah Whitehead. He credits this transfer to changing his life as he played against higher levels of competition. Rodriguez helped the team to a PSAL city championship and earned a title-game MVP award.<ref name=Brennan>{{cite news|last1=Brennan|first1=Sean|title=Rodriguez Emerges As An 'Elite' Pirate|url=http://www.bigeast.com/news/2017/11/29/mens-basketball-rodriguez-emerges-as-an-elite-pirate.aspx|accessdate=April 16, 2018|work=Big East Conference|date=November 29, 2018}}</ref> He mainly played center in high school and rarely took jump shots.<ref name="newman">{{cite news|last1=Newman|first1=Josh|title=Without Whitehead, Seton Hall's junior class flourishing|url=https://www.app.com/story/sports/college/2017/02/22/seton-hall-seton-hall-basketball-xavier-basketball/98249898/|accessdate=April 16, 2018|work=Asbury Park Press|date=February 22, 2017}}</ref>
==College career== Rodriguez committed to Seton Hall, where he averaged 5.6 points per game in his freshman season. He recorded 12.4 points per game as a sophomore. Rodriguez increased his scoring average to 15.7 points per game as a junior.<ref name=Brennan/> He had 22 points in the February 15, 2017 win against Creighton and joined the 1,000 point club.<ref name="newman" />
Rodriguez was named Big East player of the Week on December 7, after contributing 29 points, eight rebounds and four assists against Louisville.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Carino|first1=Jerry|title=Seton Hall basketball: Desi Rodriguez is on fire, and here's why|url=https://www.app.com/story/sports/college/2017/12/07/seton-hall-basketball-desi-rodriguez-fire-and-heres-why/929347001/|accessdate=April 16, 2018|work=Asbury Park Press|date=December 7, 2017}}</ref> He scored a career-high 33 points in the Pirates' 82–77 win against DePaul on February 18, 2018.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rodriguez scores career-high 33 in Seton Hall's 82-77 win|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400988618|access-date=April 16, 2018|work=ESPN|agency=Associated Press|date=February 18, 2018}}</ref> Rodriguez injured his ankle in a game against Providence on February 21 and missed the next three games. Despite feeling like it was the end of his collegiate career, he returned in the Big East Tournament quarterfinal against Butler and scored eight points. Rodriguez averaged 17.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game as a senior, shooting 37.9 percent from 3-point territory.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Braziller|first1=Zach|title=Seton Hall senior goes from utter despair to chance at redemption|url=https://nypost.com/2018/03/12/seton-hall-senior-goes-from-utter-despair-to-chance-at-redemption/|accessdate=April 16, 2018|work=New York Post|date=March 12, 2018}}</ref> He was named to the Second Team All-Big East.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.bigeast.com/news/2018/3/4/mens-basketball-xaviers-bluiett-villanovas-brunson-butlers-martin-unanimously-named-all-big-east.aspx |title=Xavier's Bluiett, Villanova's Brunson, Butler's Martin Unanimously Named All-BIG EAST |publisher=Big East Conference |date=March 4, 2018 |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref> He participated in the 2018 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Carino|first1=Jerry|title=Seton Hall basketball: Angel Delgado wins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar award as nation's top center|url=https://www.app.com/story/sports/college/2018/04/07/seton-hall-basketball-angel-delgado-kareem-abdul-jabbar/492215002/|accessdate=April 16, 2018|work=Asbury Park Press|date=April 6, 2018}}</ref>
==Professional career==
===2018–19 season=== After going undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft, Rodriguez signed with the Los Angeles Clippers for the NBA Summer League, joining Seton Hall teammate Angel Delgado.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Newman |first1=Josh |title=NBA Draft: Seton Hall's Angel Delgado signs with Clippers, more local free-agent news |url=https://www.app.com/story/sports/nba/2018/06/22/nba-draft/720765002/ |accessdate=July 17, 2018 |work=Asbury Park Press |date=June 25, 2018}}</ref> He had 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting in an 82–69 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on July 12.<ref>{{cite news |title=Clippers' Desi Rodriguez: Leads team with 17 points Thursday |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/clippers-desi-rodriguez-leads-team-with-17-points-thursday/ |accessdate=July 17, 2018 |work=CBS Sports |date=July 13, 2018}}</ref> Rodriguez signed a training camp contract with the Clippers on September 24.<ref>{{cite web|title=Press Release: L.A. Clippers Announce Training Camp Roster|url=https://www.nba.com/clippers/press-release-la-clippers-announce-training-camp-roster|website=NBA.com|accessdate=October 2, 2018|date=September 24, 2018}}</ref> On October 9, 2018, Rodriguez was waived by the Clippers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Press Release: L.A. Clippers Waive Desi Rodriguez|url=https://www.nba.com/clippers/press-release-la-clippers-waive-desi-rodriguez|website=NBA.com|accessdate=October 10, 2018|date=October 9, 2018}}</ref> He was then added to the roster of the Clippers’ NBA G League affiliate, the Agua Caliente Clippers. In 49 G League games played for the Clippers, he averaged 10.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
===2019–20 season=== On August 1, 2019, Rodriguez signed a one-year deal with Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier League.<ref>{{cite web|title=רודריגז משלים את מצבת הזרים באדום|url=http://basket.co.il/news.asp?id=21455|website=basket.co.il|accessdate=August 1, 2019|date=August 1, 2019}}</ref> On November 8, 2019, he parted ways with Hapoel after appearing in four Israeli League games.<ref>{{cite web|title=השלישי שעוזב: דסי רודריגז שוחרר מהפועל ת"א|url=https://www.one.co.il/Article/347116.html|website=ONE.co.il|accessdate=November 8, 2019|date=November 8, 2019}}</ref> He then re-joined the Agua Caliente Clippers on November 19.<ref>{{cite news |title=Desi Rodriguez: Picked up by Agua Caliente |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/desi-rodriguez-picked-up-by-agua-caliente/|accessdate=December 5, 2019 |work=CBS Sports |date=November 19, 2019}}</ref> On January 25, 2020, Rodriguez posted 18 points, nine rebounds, two assists and one steal in a win over the Northern Arizona Suns.<ref>{{cite news |title=Desi Rodriguez: Starts and scores 18 again |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/desi-rodriguez-starts-and-scores-18-again/ |accessdate=May 25, 2020 |work=CBS Sports |date=January 26, 2020}}</ref> Rodriguez averaged 8.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.<ref>{{cite news |title=Desi Rodriguez: Puts up 12 in G League loss |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/desi-rodriguez-puts-up-12-in-g-league-loss/ |accessdate=May 25, 2020 |work=CBS Sports |date=March 2, 2020}}</ref>
===2020–21 season=== On August 2, 2020, Rodriquez signed with Riesen Ludwigsburg of the Basketball Bundesliga.<ref>{{cite news |title=MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg inks Desi Rodriguez |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/mhp-riesen-ludwigsburg-inks-desi-rodriguez/ |website=Sportando |accessdate=August 2, 2020 |date=August 2, 2020|last1=Skerletic |first1=Dario }}</ref>
=== 2021–22 season === On July 16, 2021, Rodriquez signed a one-year deal with s.Oliver Würzburg of the Basketball Bundesliga.<ref>{{cite web |title=Von Ludwigsburg nach Würzburg: Desi Rodriguez |url=https://www.soliver-wuerzburg.de/news/newsdetails/von-ludwigsburg-nach-wuerzburg-2 |website=soliver-wuerzburg.de | language=De| accessdate=July 16, 2021 |date=July 16, 2021}}</ref>
=== 2022–2023 === On June 28, 2022, Rodriguez signed with Limoges CSP of the French LNB Pro A.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Le Limoges CSP tient son futur poste 4/5: Desi Rodriguez |url=https://www.limogescsp.com/actualites-details/le-limoges-csp-tient-son-futur-poste-4-5-desi-rodriguez.html |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=www.limogescsp.com}}</ref>
=== 2023–present === On June 26, 2023, he signed with Nanterre 92 of the LNB Pro A.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nanterre92.com/welcome-desi/|title=Welcome Desi|last=|first=|date=June 26, 2023|website=nanterre92.com|publisher=|language=fr|access-date=July 24, 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://shupirates.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1253 Seton Hall Pirates bio] *[https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Desi-Rodriguez/Summary/71584 RealGM profile]
{{Nanterre 92 current roster}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodriguez, Desi}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:Agua Caliente Clippers players Category:American expatriate basketball people in Germany Category:American expatriate basketball people in Israel Category:American men's basketball players Category:Basketball players from the Bronx Category:Hapoel Tel Aviv B.C. players Category:Limoges CSP players Category:Nanterre 92 players Category:People from Morrisania, Bronx Category:Riesen Ludwigsburg players Category:Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball players Category:Small forwards Category:Würzburg Baskets players