LOCALS IN THE NBA
Former Utah State Star Justin Bean Signs Deal With Los Angeles Clippers
LOGAN, Utah – Former Utah State standout forward Justin Bean has signed a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers following the 2022 NBA Draft.
Justin Bean didn’t hear his name called during the NBA Draft on Thursday but was able to get a deal to play for the Clippers.
Bean announced the move on his Twitter account late Thursday night.
Excited and grateful for the opportunity! Let’s get to work 😤 https://t.co/SzcVvc2cSZ
— Justin Bean (@justinbean34) June 24, 2022
The Moore, Oklahoma native went through many obstacles to get to where he is today. When he arrived at Utah State, he was a walk-on during the 2017-18 season, using his redshirt.
As a redshirt freshman in 2018-19, Bean appeared in 29 games, averaging 4.1 points in 12.1 minutes per game. During his sophomore campaign in 2019-20, Bean was named third-team All-Mountain West and was selected to the All-Mountain West defensive team. He improved his averages to 11.9 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
Bean’s numbers went down a little bit during the 2020-21 season, posting 11.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. His final season with the Aggies was his best, bumping his scoring average to 17.4 points per game and his rebounding to 9.9.
Selected to the Mountain West All-Defensive team, Bean was also named second-team All-Mountain West. Bean is in the top five of many records in Utah State history. He holds the school record for most 10+ rebound games with 57, second in career rebounds with 1,027, second in career double-doubles with 46, fifth in career steals with 161 and tied for eighth with 126 career games played.
He is also in the record books for single-season accomplishments, including second in school history with 20 double-doubles during the 2022 season, fifth in single-season rebounds with 356 in 2021 and fifth in single-season minutes played with 1,203 in 2022.
Bean will look to crack the roster for the Clippers, a team that finished the 2021-22 season with a 42-40 record and ninth place in the Western Conference. They lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Injuries hampered the Clippers this past season as Kawhi Leonard did not play this past season while recovering from a knee injury. Paul George played in 31 games, averaging 24.3 points per game.
