Every NBA season brings new faces to teams hoping to add depth and energy. For the New York Knicks, one of those faces in 2025 is Garrison Mathews. Known for his three-point shooting and gritty defense, Mathews has bounced around the league, carving out a role as a hard-nosed role player. His journey hasn’t been the smoothest, but it’s filled with resilience and sharp determination. Fans may wonder: Who exactly is Mathews, and how did he find his way into the Knicks’ mix this season?

Garrison Mathews’ Early Life and Background

Not every athlete from a small town finds a path to the NBA, but Franklin, Tennessee, produced one. In that community, sports were stitched into daily routines, and competition was encouraged from an early age. Garrison Mathews grew up in such an environment, where teamwork and discipline became second nature long before the professional dream began.

At Franklin High School, the story expanded beyond a single sport. Basketball filled the winter nights, but football also demanded attention. Balancing both was no small feat, yet recognition came in each arena. Coaches and classmates saw a player who refused to coast on talent alone, choosing instead to match ability with effort.

The crossroads arrived on the hardwood. Basketball offered him a unique rush: the sound of the crowd, the rhythm of scoring, the weight of leadership. It became more than a pastime; it became the pursuit. Hours of practice soon replaced the split focus, and the decision to leave football behind cleared the path toward something bigger.

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That path led to Lipscomb University, where the work truly showed. Game by game, it was finally his turn to showcase all the hours he had spent on the court honing his skills. Franklin may have been the starting point, but the foundation built there continues to echo through every step of his professional journey.

Garrison Mathews joins New York Knicks training camp

Training camp often decides which players earn a spot and which fade into the background. For Garrison Mathews, it was another test of persistence. Arriving in New York, he carried the reputation of being a sharpshooter who played with grit. Coaches noticed his ability to stretch the floor during scrimmages, and they know that this kind of skill keeps defenses honest. So their next move, albeit a bit surprising to some, wasn’t out of nowhere.

His shooting easily makes him a valuable asset. Interestingly, across his career, he has connected on nearly 38.2 percent of his threes. Moreover, whether it is his spacing, perimeter scoring, it makes him stand out among the rest. Add in his relentless hustle on defense, and he fits the profile of a gritty role player every coach wants!

Many players fade after bouncing from roster to roster. Mathews, however, leaned into the uncertainty. He entered the league undrafted, battled for every minute. And as a result of that, he managed to carve out a reputation as a fearless competitor. Training camp is just the latest step in a journey that keeps testing his determination. The question now is: can he turn this chance into a long-term role?

Garrison Mathews: Age, Height, and Weight

Every roster has players who bring toughness and reliability, and Garrison Mathews fits that mold. At 28 years old, with a birthdate of October 24, 1996, he stands in the heart of his prime. A frame of 6 feet 5 inches and 215 pounds gives him the build of a modern NBA wing. He is lean enough to move with guards and strong enough to battle forwards!

That size plays into his defensive versatility. Coaches trust him to chase shooters off the line or switch onto bigger bodies when needed. Offensively, it allows him to absorb contact on drives while still getting shots off cleanly. His build also supports his aggressive style, whether it’s chasing shooters or taking contact on drives. For a role player, blending age, size, and energy makes him an adaptable fit. It’s part of why teams continue to give him opportunities.

Garrison Mathews: Salary and Career Earnings

Numbers on a paycheck can sometimes tell as much of a story as numbers on a stat sheet. Entering the league undrafted, Mathews faced long odds, yet his financial progression mirrors the climb of a player who refused to fade out. For the 2024–25 season, his salary is estimated between $1.5 and $2 million, which is a respectable figure for a player still fighting to solidify a role.

Career earnings now sit at roughly $10.89 million. Each contract signed along the way stands as proof of persistence. Every contract has been proof of his ability to stick around in a competitive league. Nothing in his path arrived easily, but every dollar collected speaks to a journey built on grit and survival in the most competitive basketball environment.

Garrison Mathews’ Career Statistics

Numbers tend to reveal the truest picture of a role player’s impact, and Garrison Mathews’ career averages tell exactly that kind of story. In 314 games, the guard has produced 6.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per outing. Shooting percentages show steady reliability as well, with 40.5 percent from the field and a sharp 38.2 percent from deep.

These aren’t the marks of a star meant to carry an offense, but they are the type of numbers that coaches value from a specialist. Every roster needs a player who knows the assignment and sticks to it. The contrast is clear when remembering how Jonathan Kuminga’s situation with Golden State grew complicated because of mismatched expectations. Mathews, by comparison, fits his mold perfectly. His job is to space the floor, punish defenders who sag off, and provide trustworthy minutes when called upon.

Garrison Mathews’ Net Worth

The financial side of Mathews’ journey reflects the rewards of his persistence. Entering the 2024–25 season, his net worth is estimated at $8.2 million. Most of it has come through NBA contracts, a result of carving out a lane as a dependable shooter. Each season spent in the league adds not just salary but also credibility. It’s basically turning consistency into currency.

For an undrafted player, this stability carries extra weight. Many who enter the league without draft-day recognition struggle to secure long-term value. Mathews’ financial growth highlights how discipline and resilience can transform modest beginnings into meaningful success.

Garrison Mathews’ Achievements and Awards

Back at Lipscomb, Mathews turned into the kind of player who could change a game on his own. By his senior year in 2019, the Atlantic Sun Player of the Year trophy landed in his hands. That season wasn’t a one-time spark either. For three straight years, from 2017 through 2019, his name stayed locked into the First-Team All-Atlantic Sun list.

Fans at Lipscomb still talk about how steady he was. Over 2,000 points poured in during his college run, and every basket pushed him closer to program legend status. The real breakthrough came in 2018, when the Bisons finally cracked into the NCAA Tournament. For a mid-major school, that trip felt like winning a championship in itself. And right in the middle of it all was Mathews, knocking down shots and carrying the team on his back.

Those years built the foundation that carried into the NBA. The awards, the milestones, even the packed gyms on big nights, all of it painted the picture of a player who worked for every bit of success. Nothing came easy, but every moment showed the same theme: when the spotlight got brighter, Mathews always found a way to rise with it.