Tamar Bates

Tamar Marseis Bates is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association, on a two-way contract with the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers and the Missouri Tigers.

High school career

Bates attended his first three seasons at Piper High School, where he won a state championship as a sophomore, before transferring to IMG Academy for his senior year. A consensus four-star recruit, he initially committed to playing college basketball for Texas before flipping his commitment to play for Indiana.

College career

Indiana

During his freshman season in 2021–22, he played in 32 games, averaging 3.9 points and 1.3 rebounds in 14.5 minutes per game. In the 2022–23 season, Bates played in all 35 games while making two starts, averaging 6.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, while shooting 37.4% from three and 92.6% on free throws. After the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, he decided to enter his name into the NCAA transfer portal.

Missouri

Bates transferred to play for Missouri. During his first season with the Tigers in 2023–24, he averaged 13.5 points, three rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 49.5% from the field, 38.5% from the 3-point line and 92.6% from the free throw line. On December 8, 2024, Bates notched 29 points in an upset win over rival 2024–25 [Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team|Kansas]. On January 18, 2025, he notched 1,000 career points, after scoring 15 in a victory against 2024–25 [Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team|Arkansas]. On January 25, 2025, he put up 26 points in a victory over 2024–25 [Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball team|Ole Miss]. On February 19, 2025, Bates tallied 13 points and four steals in an upset win over 2024–25 [Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team|#4 Alabama]. In the second round of the 2025 SEC [men's basketball tournament], he recorded 25 points in a victory versus 2024–25 [Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball team|Mississippi State]. Bates finished the 2024–25 season, averaging 13.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals and one assist per game, as a team captain. After the conclusion of the 2024–25 season, he entered his name into the 2025 NBA draft, while also participating in the NBA scouting combine, and multiple camps. Bates also participated in the 2025 NABC DI All-Star Game, where he scored 11 points en route to a victory.

Professional career

On June 26, 2025, after going undrafted in the 2025 NBA draft, Bates signed a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets. On December 22, it was announced that Bates would miss at least 12 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a fracture in his left foot.