Last Updated on July 28, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Ron Baker was a high-IQ NBA guard whose hustle, perimeter defense, and unselfish ball movement earned him a valuable supporting role with the New York Knicks after a standout college career at Wichita State. A team-first combo guard, Baker contributed through floor spacing, disciplined decision-making, and relentless effort while fitting seamlessly into complementary backcourt rotations.

Here is the detailed profile of Ron Baker:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Ronald Delaine Baker
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on March 30, 1993
  • Hometown: Hays, Kansas, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 meters)
  • Weight: 220 pounds (100 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 meters)
  • Shoe Size: Size 13 (US)
  • Number: 31
  • Position: Shooting guard / Point guard
  • High School: Scott City High School (Scott City, Kansas)
  • College: Wichita State University (2012–2016)
  • NBA Draft: Undrafted in 2016
  • Teams Played For:
    • New York Knicks (2016–2019)
    • Washington Wizards (2019)
    • Also played overseas in the VTB United League for CSKA Moscow (2019–2020).
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Kids: No publicly documented children.
  • Siblings: Two siblings, Sloan and Audrey Baker.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Ron Baker’s player archetype was that of a tough, connective combo guard, a backcourt role player whose value came from secondary playmaking, competitive defense, and timely spot-up shooting rather than star-level shot creation. At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, he had strong guard size and a sturdy frame, which helped him play physically, absorb contact, and defend with more resistance than a typical reserve guard. Defensively, he fit as an on-ball worker and team defender who competed hard across guard matchups, while offensively he operated as a low-usage facilitator who could keep the ball moving, make smart reads, and punish defenses when left open from outside. His overall play style was scrappy, unselfish, and high-effort, built more on feel, toughness, and two-way reliability than on explosive athleticism or isolation scoring. (Basketball Reference)

Scouting Report

Ron Baker’s game was built on solving possessions before they became complicated. The first thing you notice isn’t his scoring, it’s how quickly he identifies where the advantage is supposed to come from and quietly keeps the offence on schedule. He was comfortable initiating pick-and-rolls without dominating the ball, patiently waiting for the low man to commit before slipping bounce passes to rolling bigs or firing skip passes to shooters without overdribbling into trouble. There wasn’t much wasted movement. Off the ball he relocated intelligently, set sturdy screens for guards despite giving up size, and consistently found angles that kept possessions flowing even when he wasn’t touching the ball again. Defensively, he competed with technique more than physical tools. He fought over screens instead of conceding switches, absorbed contact on drives without opening his stance too early and understood when to stunt from the nail before recovering back to shooters. Bigger wings could simply shoot over him, and explosive guards capable of turning the corner in one step exposed the limitations in his lateral burst, forcing help rotations earlier than ideal. That’s the trade-off. He wasn’t going to manufacture offence against a set defence or consistently create separation late in the clock, so asking him to be a primary creator missed what made him effective in the first place. To me, his best role was as a connective guard alongside higher-usage scorers, someone who could defend opposing backcourt players, keep the ball moving through DHOs and secondary pick-and-rolls, and make the extra pass that prevented possessions from stalling. His style shares plenty with Steve Blake as a steady organiser, while there are moments that resemble Kirk Hinrich in the way he embraced physical defensive assignments and prioritised structure over individual statistics.

Sources:

Basketball-Reference — Ron Baker Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
Bleacher Report — 5 Undrafted Free Agents to Watch in 2016-17 NBA Training Camp
Sports Illustrated — Shootaround: Wichita State senior stars Ron Baker, Fred VanVleet prepare for the end
ESPN — Top 10 Thursday: Important shooters
Sports Illustrated — “Finch” returns to offer brutally honest scouting reports on NBA draft prospects