Nassir Little set to continue his professional basketball career overseas

Nassir Little's next stop in his professional basketball career is taking him overseas.

For the first time, Little will play internationally, as he's signed a deal with the Chiba Jets of Japan's B.League.

The former UNC basketball standout was the 25th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, but struggled to find a consistent role during his time in the league. He began his NBA career with the Portland Trail Blazers, serving as a key contributor in a reserve role, but was dealt to the Phoenix Suns as part of a three-team trade. He spent one season in Phoenix before being waived, as injuries derailed his short stint with the franchise. After being waived, Little found a home with the Miami Heat's G League affiliate for the 2024-2025 season.

In 237 career NBA regular-season games, Little has averaged 5.5 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per contest. He has produced a shooting line of .452/.330/.735.

The now 25-year-old has plenty left in the tank, as he hopes that a stop in Japan will get him back on track toward landing a spot on an NBA roster. If it doesn't pan out that way, Little should still have plenty of opportunities to play, especially overseas.

In an official press release from the organization, Little expressed his excitement for this new opportunity:

“I’m excited about the opportunity to help the Chiba Jets win a championship!”Little said in a statement relayed by the club.“I know some of the players on the team and I’ve been to Japan for vacation so I really look forward to this experience. I’ve heard Chiba is a great club with a great new arena and great fans. I look forward to meeting everyone and I’m excited to have a great season!”

Hopefully, it won't be long before Nassir Little is back in the states playing basketball. For now, Tar Heel fans will have to keep track of him as he takes on the world of international basketball for the first time in his professional career.