The Badgers have another notable face in the NBA.
The Wisconsin Badgers will have another notable face in the NBA next season, as former star Nigel Hayes-Davis is signing a one-year, fully guaranteed deal with the Phoenix Suns, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Hayes-Davis, a two-time EuroLeague first-teamer and a 2025 EuroLeague Champion and Finals MVP, had a prior stint in the NBA after going undrafted in 2017, but had been overseas for the past few seasons.
The 6-foot-8 power forward had been playing for Fenerbahce the last three years, averaging 16.7 points and 5.3 rebounds this season. His three-point shooting was a marked improvement, as Hayes-Davis shot 41 percent from beyond the arc to complement his inside game.
He had caught the eyes of several NBA coaches, with Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzula even traveling to Europe to watch him play, and now lands a second opportunity in the NBA.
He’ll join the Phoenix Suns, who have a much different outlook for the 2025-26 season after trading away star Kevin Durant. The Suns added to their frontcourt depth this week by drafting Duke center Khaman Maluach and trading for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams, but there are opportunities for a stretch-four.
Phoenix will likely make more changes to its roster ahead of the season, but Hayes-Davis will look to make his mark as a rotational piece in his long-awaited return to the NBA.