Marcus Jerome Sasser Jr. was born on September 21, 2000, in Dallas, Texas. He is an American professional basketball player who plays as a shooting guard or point guard for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
The NBA star played college basketball at Houston, where he was a consensus first-team All-American, the AAC Player of the Year, and the winner of the Jerry West Award in 2023. He was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 25th overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft and traded to the Pistons on draft day.
Marcus Sasser’s net worth is estimated to be around $1 million. He was one of the top earners among college basketball players in terms of name, image, and likeness deals (NIL), which allowed him to monetize his personal brand while playing for Houston.
The Detroit Pistons have agreed to a four-year deal with Marcus Sasser, worth $13,464,823 in total. The contract is fully guaranteed and gives Sasser an average annual salary of $3,366,206. For the 2023-24 season, Sasser will receive a base salary of $2,624,040, which is also his cap hit and dead cap value.
The Detroit Pistons star has a new endorsement deal with Doritos, a Frito-Lay snack brand. This is the first time Doritos has partnered with a college athlete under the NIL rules, which allow them to monetize their personal brands.
As some reports, Sasser has NIL deals worth $541,000, making him a top earner among college athletes. The value of his Doritos deal is not revealed, but it contributes a lot to his income.
The star also has eight more deals with other brands, but Forbes does not mention their names. Sasser has a chance to be a top NBA draft pick in 2024 and earn more from endorsements.
Former NBA player Jeryl Sasser is his uncle, and he is the cousin of ex-NFL player Gerald Sensabaugh. His uncle Jason coached him on the basketball team at Red Oak High School in Red Oak, Texas.
As a senior, he was selected District 14-5A most valuable player and Class 5A All-State after averaging 22.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.
Despite interest from Colorado State, SMU, and UTEP, Sasser ultimately decided to play college basketball for Houston. He joined Houston’s starting lineup in the second half of his freshman season and averaged 8.1 points and shot 35.2 percent from three-point range. He was recognized as a standout freshman in the AAC and was selected to the AAC All-Freshman Team.
In his sophomore season, he improved his scoring to 13.7 points per game and helped Houston reach the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1984. He was honored with All-AAC Second Team recognition.
Sasser had a breakout junior season, leading Houston with 17.7 points per game and shooting 43.7 percent from beyond the arc before suffering a toe injury that ended his season after 12 games. He was named AAC Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American. He was also named the greatest shooting guard in the country, earning him the Jerry West Award.
In his senior season, he averaged 16.8 points, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game and led Houston to another Final Four appearance. He was again named a consensus first-team All-American and a finalist for the Naismith Trophy.
Marcus Sasser has not yet made his NBA debut. In spite of this, the Boston Celtics used the 25th choice in the first round of the 2023 NBA draft to select him.
After that, the Detroit Pistons acquired his rights from the Memphis Grizzlies. It is unclear when Sasser will make his NBA debut after signing a rookie contract with the Pistons.
Marcus Sasser got hurt in the AAC semifinal against Cincinnati on March 11, 2023. He strained his groin and could not play in the AAC final.
The star played only 14 minutes in the first round of the NCAA tournament against Northern Kentucky on March 16, 2023. He did recovery exercises like stretching and lifting weights.