Former Louisville Forward Ray Spalding Traded to New G-League Team

Spalding played this previous season overseas.
Jan 16, 2018; South Bend, IN, USA; Louisville Cardinals forward Ray Spalding (13) talks to his teammates in the second overtime against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images
Jan 16, 2018; South Bend, IN, USA; Louisville Cardinals forward Ray Spalding (13) talks to his teammates in the second overtime against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images | Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Ray Spalding is officially back in the NBA G-League.

The former Louisville men's basketball forward has been acquired by the Noblesville Boom - the G-League affiliate of the Indiana Pacers - the organization announced Thursday.

Spalding's returning rights were traded to Noblesville by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers - the Houston Rockets' G-League affiliate - in exchange for their first round pick in the 2026 NBA G-League Draft. Spalding spent his 2024-25 professional season with Osos de Manati in Puerto Rico, as well as overseas with Israel's Hapoel Be'er Sheva B.C.

Since declaring for the 2018 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward has spent the bulk of his professional career bouncing around the G-League. 128 career G-League games for Rio Grande, the Greensboro Swarm (Hornets) and Texas Legends (Mavericks), Spalding has averaged 13.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

Spalding has been able to play in a handful of NBA games, making appearances for the Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets. In 16 career NBA games and three starts, he has averaged 3.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. He has not played in the Association since the 2020-21 season with Houston.

Spalding was drafted with the No. 56 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, only to be traded to the Mavericks immediately afterwards. During his junior campaign at Louisville, he averaged 12.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, and shot 54.3 percent from the field.

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(Photo of Ray Spalding: Matt Cashore - Imagn Images)

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Matthew McGavic
MATTHEW MCGAVIC

McGavic is a 2016 Sport Administration graduate of the University of Louisville, and a native of the Derby City. He has been covering the Cardinals in various capacities since 2017, with a brief stop in Atlanta, Ga. on the Georgia Tech beat. He is also a co-host of the 'From The Pink Seats' podcast on the State of Louisville network. Video gamer, bourbon drinker and dog lover. Find him on Twitter at @Matt_McGavic