Belfast native CJ Fulton becomes first player developed in Ireland to sign NBA contract

BELFAST native CJ Fulton has made history by becoming the first player developed in Ireland to sign a contract with an NBA team.

The 23-year-old signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves after impressing for the team during a training camp and at the 2025 NBA 2K26 Summer League in Las Vegas.

The only previous Irish player to feature in the NBA was Pat Burke, who moved from Co. Offaly to the US as a child and played in Greece and Spain before joining Orlando Magic in 2002.

Following the announcement, Fulton was subsequently waived by the Timberwolves as per the terms of his Exhibit 10 deal with the side.

This means he will team up with their affiliate team, the Iowa Wolves, in the NBA's G-League, a professional development league.

According to Basketball Ireland, the Exhibit 10 contract can be upgraded during the season into a two-way contract, meaning Fulton could turn out for both the Iowa Wolves and the Timberwolves.

Rise
Fulton, a former Belfast Star player, won nine All-Ireland National Championships with his school, St Malachy's College, and was the Basketball Ireland U19 Male National Schools Player of the Year in 2019 and 2020.

The 6' 3" guard moved to the US in 2020, spending a year at the Winchendon School in Boston before heading to Lafayette College in 2021.

Two years later, he transferred to Charleston Cougars, grabbing six rebounds on his debut against Iona.

He appeared in 127 career collegiate games in four seasons with Lafayette and Charleston, averaging 7.3 points on 42.7 per cent shooting, including 37.1 per cent from three, 4.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.5 steals in 30.6 minutes per game.

Fulton earned 2022 Patriot League All-Rookie Team and 2023 Patriot League Third Team honours following his freshman and sophomore seasons at Lafayette, respectively.

He appeared in two games for the Timberwolves during the NBA 2K26 Summer League, totalling two points, one rebound, two assists and two steals.

Fulton made headlines last year when his friends and former St Malachy's teammates travelled from Ireland to watch him in the Cougars' 80-62 victory over Elon Phoenix.

The quartet went viral after crashing Fulton's post-game press conference, where they hailed him as the best player to come out of Ireland for 20 years.

Belfast native CJ Fulton becomes first player developed in Ireland to sign NBA contract