LARAMIE – It was a banner rookie season for Hunter Maldonado.
 
The former Wyoming standout played a key role in the Oklahoma City Blue winning the NBA G League championship for the first time.
 
Maldonado, a four-time all-Mountain West selection with the Cowboys, averaged 11.9 points, 4.9 assists and 4.7 rebounds during his debut campaign.
 
The Blue defeated the Maine Celtics 117-100 on Monday to clinch the title.
 
"It was exciting, definitely special and something that doesn't happen very often," Maldonado said. "Championships are hard to come by, as everybody knows, so being able to do it in my first season and with the group guys we had it was definitely special."
 
During his final two campaigns in Laramie, Maldonado experienced the thrill of leading UW to the 2022 NCAA Tournament and the agony of a last-place finish in 2023.
 
Maldonado left the Pokes confident about realizing his professional hoop dreams.
 
"I think I'm a phenomenal player and did some really good things at the college level," Maldonado said. "I have accolades behind my name that show that. So, for me, I mean there was no question I felt like I could fit in at this level and even the NBA level.
 
"That's why I'm here chasing it."
 
The versatile 6-foot-6 guard from Colorado Springs averaged 18.5 points, 6.3 assists and 5.7 rebounds on Jeff Linder's 25-win team. Maldonado led UW in scoring (15.6 ppg) after deciding to return as a super senior.

Maldonado is the program's all-time leader in assists (630), defensive rebounds (664), games played (157), minutes played (5,169) and is third on UW's career scoring list with 2,158 points.
 
"I think it prepared me really well," Maldonado said. "Obviously, the highs and lows of college, being able to experience both ends of it, kind of gave me that calm, cool, collected (ability to) weather the storm and continuing to double down on the work and knowing that if you do that, you will put yourself in a good position."
 
Maldonado is taking a little time off to exhale before continuing his pursuit of the NBA.
 
"I'm going to take a week or two to get rested. Obviously, it was a long, long season," Maldonado said. "The I'll go back to training to get better and seeing you how the cards unfold for (NBA) Summer League and maybe next year."
 
Another former UW star, Larry Nance Jr., will try to help the New Orleans Pelicans get into the NBA postseason during a play-in game against the Sacramento Kings at 7:30 p.m. on Monday night.
 
If you are interested in learning more about NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) or would like to support our student-athletes, please visit 1wyo.org. 1WYO was created out of Wyoming's culture of neighbor helping neighbor. The mission is to promote and strengthen local charitable organizations and develop Wyoming student athletes. 
 
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