{{short description|American basketball player (born 1997)}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Tyson Ward | image = Tyson Ward 3 Paris Basketball Euroleague 20250325 (1).jpg | caption = Ward with Paris Basketball in 2025 | position = Small forward / shooting guard | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 6 | weight_lb = 185 | league = GBL<br>EuroLeague | team = Olympiacos | number = 3 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1997|7|26}} | birth_place = Tampa, Florida, U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tyson Ward Résumé |url=https://www.frenchbasketballscouting.fr/decouvertes/player/imprimer/911-ward-tyson |website=French Basketball Scouting}}</ref> | high_school = Tampa Prep<br/>(Tampa, Florida) | college = North Dakota State (2016–2020) | draft_year = 2020 | career_start = 2020 | career_end = | years1 = 2020–2021 | team1 = s.Oliver Würzburg | years2 = 2021–2023 | team2 = Telekom Baskets Bonn | years3 = 2023–2025 | team3 = Paris Basketball | years4 = 2025–present | team4 = Olympiacos | highlights = * EuroLeague champion (2026) * EuroCup champion (2024) * FIBA Champions League champion (2023) * LNB Élite champion (2025) * French Cup winner (2025) * French League Cup winner (2024) * Greek Super Cup winner (2025) * First-team All-Summit League (2020) }} '''Tyson Christopher Ward''' (born July 26, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for Olympiacos of the Greek Basketball League and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for North Dakota State.
==High school career== Ward attended Tampa Prep, where he was frequently overshadowed by his teammate, Juwan Durham. As a junior, Ward scored 21 points to lead Tampa Prep to a 56–41 victory over Seffner Christian in the Class 3A, District 7 final.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sharp |first1=Darek |title=District boys basketball: Tampa Prep takes 10th straight title |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/basketball/preps/district-boys-basketball-tampa-prep-takes-10th-straight-title/2216879/ |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=February 7, 2015}}</ref> During their senior season, Durham tore his ACL, and Ward was counted on for more scoring. Ward contributed 31 points in a 73–70 loss to Windermere Prep in the Class 3A region final. He averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Putnam |first1=Bob |title=Boys basketball: Windermere Prep beats Tampa Prep in Class 3A region final |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/basketball/preps/boys-basketball-windermere-prep-beats-tampa-prep-in-class-3a-region-final/2266212/ |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=February 20, 2016}}</ref> Ward was named to the first-team All-State. He was mainly recruited by Coastal Carolina and Charleston Southern, but was impressed by North Dakota State coach David Richman during a recruiting visit in March 2016 and committed to the Bison.<ref name="kerlin">{{cite news |last1=Kerlin |first1=Joe |title=Tyson Ward Just Wants To Play His Role |url=https://www.bisonillustrated.com/tyson-ward/ |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=Bison Illustrated |date=April 7, 2017}}</ref>
==College career== Ward scored a freshman season-high 22 points in an overtime loss to IUPUI.<ref name="kerlin" /> He averaged 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game as a freshman at North Dakota State.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Putnam |first1=Bob |title=Tampa Bay hoopsters to watch in college |url=https://www.tampabay.com/blogs/hometeam/2017/11/10/tampa-bay-hoopsters-to-watch-in-college/ |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=November 10, 2017}}</ref> As a sophomore, Ward averaged 11.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game.<ref>{{cite news |title=Summit League Preseason Men's Basketball Poll |url=https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/content/sports/Summit-League-Preseason-Mens-Basketball-Poll-495236471.html |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=Dakota News Now |date=October 4, 2018}}</ref> Ward scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a 73–63 win over Omaha in the Summit League Tournament Championship and was named to the All-Tournament Team. He followed up this performance by scoring 23 points in a 2019 NCAA Tournament First Four win over North Carolina Central.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schmidt |first1=Nolan |date=April 19, 2019 |title=Tyson Ward: The Evolution |url=https://www.bisonillustrated.com/tyson-ward-evolution/ |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=Bison Illustrated}}</ref> Ward averaged 12.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game as a junior.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Couzin |first1=Nick |title=NDSU Basketball Tabbed As Preseason Summit League Favorite |url=https://www.kvrr.com/2019/10/07/ndsu-basketball-tabbed-as-preseason-summit-league-favorite/ |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=KVRR |date=October 7, 2019}}</ref> Coming into his senior season, Ward gave up using social media to focus on academics and basketball.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schmidt |first1=Nolan |title=Shift In Focus Has Paid Off For Tyson Ward |url=https://www.bisonillustrated.com/shift-in-focus-has-paid-off-for-tyson-ward/ |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=Bison Illustrated |date=March 7, 2020}}</ref> On February 29, 2019, he scored a career-high 29 points shooting 4-of-4 from three-point range in an 87–67 win over Omaha.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ward, Samuelson, Shahid spark N. Dakota St. romp, 87–67 |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401175023 |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=February 29, 2020}}</ref> As a senior, Ward averaged 16.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. He was named to the First Team All-Summit League and All-District 12 Second Team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hagedorn Among Five From Summit Named All-District |url=https://www.yankton.net/sports/article_5664839e-6e19-11ea-b1e3-671c3704643e.html |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan |date=March 24, 2020}}</ref> Ward helped North Dakota State finish 25–8 and win the Summit League regular season and tournament championship. He finished his college career as the only player in program history with more than 1,500 points, 700 rebounds and 250 assists.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Chase |title=Ward Signs in Germany to Begin Professional Basketball Career |url=https://kfgo.com/2020/07/27/ward-signs-in-germany-to-begin-professional-basketball-career/ |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=KFGO |date=July 27, 2020}}</ref>
==Professional career== On July 28, 2020, Ward signed with s.Oliver Würzburg of the Basketball Bundesliga.<ref>{{cite web |title=Würzburg signs rookie Tyson Ward, re-signs Flo Koch |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/wu%cc%88rzburg-signs-rookie-tyson-ward-re-signs-flo-koch/ |website=Sportando |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |date=July 28, 2020}}</ref>
On June 29, 2021, he signed with Telekom Baskets Bonn of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL), coached by Tuomas Iisalo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telekom-baskets-bonn.de/presse/news/artikel/athletisches-multitalent-willkommen-tyson-ward.html|title=Athletisches Multitalent: Willkommen Tyson Ward|last=|first=|date=June 29, 2021|website=telekom-baskets-bonn.de|publisher=|language=de|access-date=June 29, 2021}}</ref> In his second season with the Germans, Ward won the 2022-23 Basketball Champions League.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/en/news/bcl-22-23-news-telekom-baskets-bonn-become-first-german-club-to-win-bcl-crown-as-shorts-earns-final-four-mvp-award|title=Telekom Baskets Bonn become first German club to win BCL crown as Shorts earns Final Four MVP award|date=May 15, 2023|website=fiba.basketball|publisher=|language=en|access-date=May 28, 2025}}</ref>
On July 19, 2023, he followed coach Iisalo and signed with Paris Basketball of the LNB Élite.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://parisbasketball.paris/2023/07/tyson-ward-rejoint-le-paris-basketball/|title=Tyson Ward rejoint le Paris Basketball|last=|first=|date=July 19, 2023|website=parisbasketball.paris|publisher=|language=fr|access-date=July 29, 2023}}</ref> Ward won the 2023-24 EuroCup with the Parisians, earning the team a spot in the 2024-25 EuroLeague.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://basketnews.com/news-204599-paris-wins-eurocup-earns-promotion-to-2024-25-euroleague.html|title= Paris wins EuroCup, earns promotion to 2024-25 EuroLeague|date=April 12, 2024|website=basketnews.com|publisher=|language=en|access-date=May 28, 2025}}</ref>
On 27 June 2025, Ward signed with Greek team Olympiacos of the EuroLeague. Olympiacos paid €300,000 for contract buyout to Paris.<ref>[https://basketnews.com/news-226911-tyson-ward-olympiacos-contract.html Olympiacos complete Tyson Ward transfer after paying buyout to Paris], basketnews.com, 27 June 2025</ref> On December 10, 2025, Ward suffered a bone edema in the anterior part of the lateral tibial condyle which would cause him to miss some games. <ref>{{cite web |title=Tyson Ward to miss a month of action with an injury |url=https://basketnews.com/news-236571-tyson-ward-to-miss-a-month-of-action-with-an-injury.html |website=basketnews.com |access-date=10 December 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{Euroleague player statistics legend}}
{| class="wikitable" |- | style="background:#AFE6BA; width:3em;"|† |Denotes season in which Ward won the EuroCup |- | style="background:#F9FB8B; width:3em;"|† |Denotes season in which Ward won the Champions League |}
===EuroLeague=== {{Euroleague player statistics start}} |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2024–25 | style="text-align:left;"| Paris Basketball | 38 || 38 || 26.2 || .589 || .332 || .759 || 4.9 || 1.3 || .9 || .2 || 11.0 || 11.3 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 38 || 38 || 26.2 || .589 || .332 || .759 || 4.9 || 1.3 || .9 || .2 || 11.0 || 11.3 {{S-end}}
===EuroCup=== {{Euroleague player statistics start}} |- | style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;"| 2023–24† | style="text-align:left;"| Paris Basketball | 23 || 23 || 24.5 || .670 || .362 || .868 || 4.1 || 1.3 || 1.2 || .2 || 11.0 || 12.7 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 23 || 23 || 24.5 || .670 || .362 || .868 || 4.1 || 1.3 || 1.2 || .2 || 11.0 || 12.7 {{S-end}}
===Basketball Champions League=== {{NBA player statistics start}} |- | style="text-align:left;background:#F9FB8B" | 2022–23† | style="text-align:left;"| Baskets Bonn | 13 || 8 || 21.8 || .427 || .342 || .727 || 4.2 || 1.8 || 1.1 || .2 || 8.1 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 13 || 8 || 21.8 || .427 || .342 || .727 || 4.2 || 1.8 || 1.1 || .2 || 8.1 {{S-end}}
===Domestic leagues=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;" ! Year ! Team ! League ! {{Tooltip|GP|Games played}} ! {{Tooltip|MPG|Minutes per game}} ! {{Tooltip|FG%|Field goal percentage}} ! {{Tooltip|3P%|3-point field-goal percentage}} ! {{Tooltip|FT%|Free-throw percentage}} ! {{Tooltip|RPG|Rebounds per game}} ! {{Tooltip|APG|Assists per game}} ! {{Tooltip|SPG|Steals per game}} ! {{Tooltip|BPG|Blocks per game}} ! {{Tooltip|PPG|Points per game}} |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Germany|size=20px}} Würzburg Baskets || style="text-align:center;"|BBL || 33 || 24.1 || .470 || .317 || .653 || 4.1 || 2.6 || 1.1 || .2 || 9.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Germany|size=20px}} Baskets Bonn || style="text-align:center;"|BBL || 27 || 18.5 || .481 || .278 || .661 || 4.0 || 1.0 || .9 || .3 || 7.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Germany|size=20px}} Baskets Bonn || style="text-align:center;"|BBL || 29 || 22.2 || .475 || .360 || .716 || 4.7 || 1.6 || 1.2 || .3 || 10.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|France|size=20px}} Paris Basketball || style="text-align:center;"|LNB Élite || 32 || 24.0 || .479 || .361 || .719 || 4.3 || 1.1 || 1.2 || .3 || 10.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2024–25 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|France|size=20px}} Paris Basketball || style="text-align:center;"|LNB Élite || 41 || 23.2 || .469 || .413 || .740 || 4.5 || 1.6 || 1.1 || .3 || 12.2 {{S-end}}
===College=== {{NBA player statistics start}} |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17 | style="text-align:left;"| North Dakota State | 30 || 1 || 19.2 || .438 || .371 || .679 || 3.1 || 1.0 || .6 || .1 || 5.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18 | style="text-align:left;"| North Dakota State | 32 || 26 || 27.8 || .465 || .324 || .763 || 5.9 || 2.6 || '''.8''' || .3 || 11.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19 | style="text-align:left;"| North Dakota State | '''34''' || 28 || 27.7 || .488 || .321 || .746 || 6.2 || 2.3 || '''.8''' || .1 || 12.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20 | style="text-align:left;"| North Dakota State | 33 || '''33''' || '''31.0''' || '''.530''' || '''.410''' || '''.778''' || '''7.2''' || '''2.8''' || .7 || '''.6''' || '''16.9''' |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 129 || 88 || 26.6 || .490 || .354 || .757 || 5.7 || 2.2 || .7 || .3 || 11.9 {{S-end}}
==Personal life== Ward is the son of Chris Ward, who was the head basketball coach at Hillsborough High School.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Putnam |first1=Bob |title=Hillsborough coach Chris Ward's unusual methods yield exceptional results |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/high-schools/2018/03/08/hillsborough-coach-chris-wards-unusual-methods-yield-exceptional-results/ |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=March 8, 2018}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://gobison.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/tyson-ward/8565 North Dakota State Bison bio]
{{Olympiacos B.C. current roster}} {{navboxes|list= {{Telekom Baskets Bonn 2022–23 BCL Champions}} {{Paris Basketball 2023–24 Eurocup champions}} {{Olympiacos B.C. 2025–26 EuroLeague champions}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ward, Tyson}} Category:1997 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:American expatriate basketball people in France Category:American expatriate basketball people in Germany Category:American men's basketball players Category:Basketball players from Tampa, Florida Category:North Dakota State Bison men's basketball players Category:Paris Basketball players Category:Shooting guards Category:Small forwards Category:Telekom Baskets Bonn players Category:Würzburg Baskets players