Former Wisconsin Badger forward Nigel Hayes has signed a one-year contract with the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
After leading the Badgers to Sweet Sixteen appearances in 2016 and 2017, Hayes had a brief stint in the NBA’s G League before heading to Europe, where he has been a star for Turkish League champion Fenerbahce. He was named 2025 Euroleague Finals MVP and been named to the all-Euroleague first team twice.
Fenerbahce’s Nigel Hayes-Davis – the 2025 Euroleague champion and finals MVP as well as Turkish Cup champion and MVP – has agreed to a fully guaranteed one-year contract with the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN. The two-time Euroleague first-teamer returns to the States and NBA. pic.twitter.com/4f75izENgM
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025
Since 2018 Hayes has played for Galatasaray, Žalgiris Kaunas, FC Barcelona and Fenerbahçe. He won the Lithuanian Cup in 2020 and 2021 with Žalgiris and the 2022 Spanish Cup with Barcelona. Since joining Fenerbahçe in 2023, he’s made the All-Turkish League Second Team in 2023, won the Turkish Cup twice in 2024 and 2025), was named the Turkish Cup Final MVP in 2025, made the All-EuroLeague First Team in 2024 and 2025, and won the EuroLeague and was named Final Four MVP for 2025.
In the 2024-25 season, he averaged 13.7 points and four rebounds per game.
