The New Orleans Pelicans are adding guard Bryce McGowens to their roster on a new two-way contract, according to his agents Kyle McAlarney and Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, who relayed the news to Shams Charania of ESPN.
McGowens, who played his college ball at Nebraska, had previously split his time in the NBA between the Charlotte Hornets and the Portland Trail Blazers over the past three seasons.
He first entered the league with the Hornets in 2022, signing a two-way deal as a rookie. During his early stint with Charlotte, he frequently moved between the NBA squad and their G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm.
His performance earned him a promotion midway through that inaugural campaign, converting his two-way deal into a standard multi-year NBA contract.
Over two seasons with the Hornets, McGowens saw a more prominent role, appearing in 105 total regular-season games and posting averages of 5.2 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game.
His shooting percentages stood at 41.9% from the field, 33.0% from beyond the arc, and 76.4% from the free throw line.
In the summer of 2024, Charlotte waived McGowens, after which he signed another two-way contract – this time with Portland.
While with the Trail Blazers, McGowens had limited opportunities at the NBA level, appearing in just 13 games and averaging2.5 minutes per contest.
However, he showed considerable promise in the G League during the 2024–25 season. Playing for the Trail Blazers’ affiliate, McGowens delivered standout performances across 16 regular-season games, averaging 29.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game.
His shooting splits were strong: 48.7% from the field, 33.0% from deep, and 80.6% from the free-throw line. Unfortunately, his season was cut short due to a right rib fracture.
Now 22 years old, McGowens is set to continue his development with the Pelicans, joining fellow two-way contract players Trey Alexander and Hunter Dickinson in New Orleans’ two-way player group.
