Lester Quiñones has emerged as an intriguing NBA talent, working his way from undrafted prospect to earning valuable minutes with the New Orleans Pelicans. The Dominican-American guard’s journey through the G-League and multiple NBA teams shows his determination and growth as a professional basketball player.
At 24 years old, Quiñones has steadily improved his game and market value through consistent development and performance. His shooting ability, combined with good size for a guard, makes him an increasingly valuable rotation player in today’s NBA.
Lester Quinones’ Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Lester Quiñones |
| Date of Birth | November 16, 2000 |
| Age | 24 years |
| Education | University of Memphis (graduated 2022) |
| Nationality | Dominican-American (USA/Dominican Republic) |
| Height | 6’5″ (195 cm) |
| Weight | 206 lbs (94 kg) |
| Turned Pro | 2022 |
| Net Worth | $1 million to $1.3 million |
| Salary | $424,409 (combined) |
| Career Earnings | $607,308 |
| Instagram Profile | @effort_les |
| Twitter Profile | N/A |
Early Career
Lester Quiñones was born on November 16, 2000, in Brentwood, New York, to a family of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent. His basketball journey began in his hometown before taking a somewhat unusual path through multiple high schools as he sought to develop his skills and increase his visibility to college recruiters. This journey reflected his determination to maximize his basketball opportunities from an early age.
Quiñones attended three different high schools before eventually landing at the prestigious IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida for his senior year. At IMG, he elevated his game and reputation, establishing himself as a four-star prospect who attracted attention from major college programs across the country.
During his time at IMG Academy, he had the opportunity to play alongside future NBA talent, including Precious Achiuwa, who would later become his teammate at Memphis.
Quiñones committed to the University of Memphis, where he played under former NBA star Penny Hardaway. During his three seasons with the Memphis Tigers from 2019 to 2022, he developed into a reliable contributor known for his shooting touch and versatility.
Throughout his collegiate career, Quiñones averaged 10.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game while shooting an impressive 36.9% from three-point range. He appeared in 87 games for the Tigers, starting 81 of them, demonstrating his durability and importance to the team.
Professional Career
Lester Quiñones went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft. However, his basketball journey was just beginning, as the Golden State Warriors signed him to a two-way contract on July 5, 2022. Quiñones spent most of his rookie season with Golden State’s G-League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors, where he flourished in his first taste of professional basketball.
Playing in 31 regular-season G-League games (all starts), he averaged 21.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 32.0 minutes per game, showcasing an all-around game that exceeded expectations for an undrafted player.
His impressive G-League performance earned him the 2022-23 NBA G League Most Improved Player award and a spot on the NBA G League All-Rookie Team. Quiñones made his NBA debut on March 31, 2023, against the San Antonio Spurs. While he didn’t score in his debut, it marked the beginning of his NBA career.
In the 2023-24 season, he saw more action with the Warriors, appearing in 37 games and averaging 4.4 points per game. His development continued when the Warriors converted his two-way contract to a standard NBA contract in February 2024, showing their belief in his potential.
His journey continued when he signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers in September 2024. After a brief stint with the 76ers and their G-League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, Quiñones found a new opportunity with the New Orleans Pelicans, signing a two-way contract in March 2025. With the Pelicans, Quiñones has shown flashes of his potential, averaging 8.6 points in 18.4 minutes per game across his first 9 appearances with the team.
Lester Quinones’ Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Lester Quiñones’s net worth is estimated to be $1 million to $1.3 million.
Contract
Lester Quiñones is playing under a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans. He signed this two-year deal on March 2, 2025, after briefly playing with the Philadelphia 76ers earlier in the 2024-25 season. The structure of two-way contracts in the NBA is designed to give teams flexibility with developing players, allowing them to split time between the NBA team and the organization’s G-League affiliate.
In Quiñones’s case, his contract enables him to spend time with both the Pelicans and their G-League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron. His current contract runs through the 2025-26 season, after which he will become a restricted free agent (RFA) at age 25.
This restricted status gives the Pelicans the right of first refusal, meaning they can match any contract offer Quiñones receives from another team.
Salary
Quiñones’s salary situation was complicated by his moves between teams. He reportedly earned approximately $289,289 with the Philadelphia 76ers and $135,120 with the New Orleans Pelicans for a combined salary of around $424,409 for the season.
His two-way contract with the Pelicans for the 2025-26 season is projected to be worth approximately $636,434. While these figures represent a modest NBA salary (the 549th highest paid NBA player in 2024-25), they reflect his status as a developing player on a two-way contract rather than a standard NBA deal.
For context, the NBA minimum salary for a player with two years of experience in the 2024-25 season is significantly higher than what two-way players earn, highlighting the financial incentive for Quiñones to continue developing his game and secure a standard NBA contract in the future.
Career Earnings
| Season | Team(s) | Salary | Adjusted for Inflation* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | Golden State Warriors | $129,405 | $137,206 |
| 2023-24 | Golden State Warriors | $1,108,597 | $1,141,537 |
| 2024-25 | Philadelphia 76ers / New Orleans Pelicans | $424,409 | $424,409 |
| Career Total | $1,662,411 | $1,703,152 |
NBA Career Stats
| Season | Team | GP | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | Golden State | 4 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 40.0 | 50.0 | 66.7 |
| 2023-24 | Golden State | 37 | 10.7 | 4.4 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 39.7 | 36.4 | 69.0 |
| 2024-25 | Philadelphia | 4 | 4.3 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| 2024-25 | New Orleans | 9 | 18.4 | 8.6 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 38.6 | 31.7 | 83.3 |
| Career | 54 | 11.0 | 4.8 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 39.7 | 34.6 | 72.9 |
FAQs
1. What is Lester Quinones’ nationality and background?
Lester Quinones is a Dominican-American basketball player born on November 16, 2000, in Brentwood, New York. He is of Dominican, Salvadorian, and Puerto Rican descent. Though born and raised in the United States, he represents the Dominican Republic in international basketball competitions.
2. What has been Quinones’ professional basketball journey?
Quinones signed a two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors. He played for their G-League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors, where he was named the G-League’s Most Improved Player. He later played for the Philadelphia 76ers briefly before joining the New Orleans Pelicans on a two-way contract.
3. Where did Lester Quinones play college basketball?
Lester Quinones played college basketball at the University of Memphis from 2019 to 2022 under head coach Penny Hardaway. During his time with the Tigers, he earned recognition by being named to the American Athletic Conference All-Freshman Team and the 2021 NIT All-Tournament Team.
4. What are Quinones’ current statistics with the Birmingham Squadron?
The Birmingham Squadron (G-League), Quinones is averaging 21.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists while playing 36.2 minutes per game. He’s shooting 43.4% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range across 31 games.
5. What #high schools did Lester Quinones attend?
Lester Quinones attended multiple high schools during his basketball development. He started at Brentwood High School for his first two years, transferred to Upper Room Christian School as a junior, then moved to St. Benedict’s Preparatory School for his senior year, and finished with a postgraduate year at IMG Academy.
RELATED ARTICLES
