Baron Davis

Davis speaking at the VentureBeat Digital Media Party.
No. 85 – New York Knicks
Point guard
Personal information
Born	(1979-04-13) April 13, 1979 (age 33) Los Angeles, California
Nationality	American
High school	Crossroads School
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	212 lb (96 kg)
Career information
College	UCLA (1997–1999)
NBA Draft	1999 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall
Selected by the Charlotte Hornets
Pro career	1999–present
Career history
1999–2005	Charlotte / New Orleans Hornets
2005–2008	Golden State Warriors
2008–2011	Los Angeles Clippers
2011	Cleveland Cavaliers
2011–present	New York Knicks
Career highlights and awards
2× NBA All-Star (2002, 2004) 2× NBA steals leader (2004, 2008) All-NBA Third Team (2004) NBA Skills Challenge Champion (2004)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals Men’s basketball Competitor for USA Goodwill Games Gold 2001 Brisbane National team

Baron Walter Louis Davis (born April 13, 1979) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A two-time NBA All-Star, he was drafted as the third pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. He went on to play for the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers before signing with New York as a free agent in 2011. Davis played college basketball at the UCLA, where he was an All-America honoree before turning professional after his sophomore year. He was a star high school player while at Crossroads School.

Early life[link]

Davis was born in Los Angeles. His grandmother and guardian, Lela Nicholson, was instrumental in pushing him to play basketball. With her encouragement, he eventually enrolled at Crossroads School, a prestigious private school in Santa Monica, California.

As a senior at Crossroads, Davis led his team to the Championship of The Beach Ball Classic tournament in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina over perennial prep powerhouse Christ The King Regional High School (Queens, New York), while earning MVP honors and a spot on the All-Tournament team along with future St. John's standout Erick Barkley at that prestigious event. That year, Davis was also named Gatorade National Player of the Year and a Parade All-American. He was also selected to play in the prestigious McDonald's All-American High School Basketball Game in Colorado Springs in 1997, playing with future NBA players Elton Brand, Shane Battier, Larry Hughes and Ron Artest, and winning the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest despite being the smallest man in the competition at 6'2."^[1]

College career[link]

After a highly contested recruiting battle that saw Kansas, Georgia Tech, Duke, and UCLA in hot pursuit for his services, Davis selected UCLA as his school of choice, so that he could play in front of his family and friends. During this time, Davis was involved in a minor scandal pertaining to his driving a 1991 Chevy Blazer that was a gift from his sister, then a UCLA employee. The car was sold to her by a member of Jim Harrick's family. At the time, Harrick was the UCLA men's basketball coach, presenting both a conflict of interest and a potential recruiting violation, since rumor had it that the car was purchased below market value. The incident was cleared up when it was discovered that Davis' sister had, in fact, bought the car at the listed blue-book price. Davis then enrolled at UCLA in 1997 without problem. In 1998, Davis was named the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and made the Third Team All-America his sophomore year in 1999.^[2]

In Davis's two years at UCLA, he averaged 13.6 points and 5.1 assists for the Bruins. While coming down from a dunk during an NCAA Tournament game his freshman year, he injured his knee and tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Surprisingly, though, he made a full recovery the next season and seemed to have regained nearly all of the speed, quickness, and explosiveness he had before the injury while doing enough on the basketball court to warrant his declaring for the 1999 NBA Draft after his sophomore campaign.^[3]

NBA career[link]

Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets[link]

Davis was the third pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. In his NBA debut, a 100–86 win over the Orlando Magic, Davis scored nine points, and added five rebounds, two assists and two steals. In Davis' first year, he backed up Eddie Jones and David Wesley, as the Hornets lost in the first round of the playoffs to the 76ers in four games.

Davis saw better success the following year, as his averages in points, assists, steals and minutes per game all increased and he started all 82 games for the Hornets. Davis lead the Hornets back into the playoffs, and swept the Miami Heat before being defeated by the Milwaukee Bucks in seven games in the second round.

The next season, Davis again started all 82 games while averaging 18 points and 8.5 assists per game. He was also selected as an injury replacement for Vince Carter in the 2002 NBA All-Star Game. The Hornets made the playoffs with Davis for the third time in as many years, but after defeating the Orlando Magic in the opening round, they were eliminated in the second round by the New Jersey Nets. In the summer of 2002, the Hornets relocated from Charlotte, North Carolina, to New Orleans, Louisiana.

In the Hornets' inaugural season in New Orleans, Davis suffered multiple injuries that limited him to just 50 games. He was still able to lead the Hornets back to the playoffs, but they would fall to the Allen Iverson-led Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. The following season saw a similar result, injuries limited Davis to 67 games and the Hornets were ousted in the first round of the playoffs.

The Hornets made the playoffs in each of Davis' five years with the team, and only advanced past the second round in the two years he started every game. After Davis was traded to Golden State, New Orleans failed to make the playoffs for three straight years.

Davis during his tenure with the Warriors

He played for the US national team in the 2002 FIBA World Championship.^[4]

Golden State Warriors[link]

On February 24, 2005, Davis was traded from the Hornets to the Golden State Warriors for guard Speedy Claxton and veteran forward Dale Davis after tension with the Hornets coaching staff and several nagging injuries.^[5] The move created one of the more potent backcourts in the NBA with Davis and star guard Jason Richardson. It also saw Davis' return to California, to which he had craved to return to since his college days in UCLA.

After two seasons in which the Warriors underachieved under coach Mike Montgomery, the Warriors hired former coach Don Nelson for the 2006–2007 season. His high scoring offensive system was designed to fit Davis's uptempo style. Although Davis suffered through knee soreness and underwent surgery during the season, he still led the Warriors to their first playoffs since 1994. The Warriors swept the regular season series against the Mavericks 3–0 giving them an advantage and won the series against the top seeded Dallas Mavericks 4–2, making them the 1st No. 8 seed to beat a No.1 seed since the NBA changed the 1st round from a 5-game series to a 7-game series. It was numerically the largest upset in the history of the NBA playoffs, with the 67–15 Mavericks having a record of 25 games better than the 42–40 Warriors. Davis averaged 25 points per game in the series.

Steve Kerr, then television analyst, called Davis' performance in the 2007 NBA Playoffs "outrageous...stunningly athletic and creative and explosive."^[6] Davis' playoff highlights included numerous acrobatic layups, a half-court three-pointer at the buzzer, and a memorable dunk over Andrei Kirilenko. The Jazz eliminated the undersized Warriors 4 games to 1.^[7] Davis averaged 25.3 points, 6.5 assists, 2.9 steals, and 4.5 rebounds per game in the 2007 Playoffs.^[8]

Davis defending Kobe Bryant

In 2008 during a playoff elimination game against the Phoenix Suns, Coach Nelson benched Davis at halftime due to Davis' poor play (shooting 2–13 in 17 minutes). Down fourteen at the half, the Warriors lost by six. Some sportswriters criticized Coach Don Nelson's decision to bench his team's star with an entire half left to play; other writers speculated about possible friction between Davis and Nelson, which Nelson denied.^[9][10][11] After the 2007–08 season, in which the Warriors were narrowly edged out of playoff contention despite a record of 48–34 (led by Davis – who remained injury-free throughout the season – with averages of 21.6 PPG, 8 assists, 4.6 RPG), Davis's agent Todd Ramasar stated that Davis might opt out of his contract with the Warriors, which would have paid him $17.8 million, to pursue other options.^[12] On June 30, 2008, Davis opted out of his contract with the Golden State Warriors.^[13]

Los Angeles Clippers[link]

On July 1, 2008 Davis verbally agreed to a 5-year, $65 million dollar deal to play for his hometown-team, the Los Angeles Clippers,^[14] and officially signed with the Clippers on July 10, 2008.^[15] Davis initially decided to join the Clippers with the intent of playing with Elton Brand, but Brand shockingly opted out of his contract to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. After officially signing with the Clippers, Davis said that Brand's departure had no impact on his decision to come to Los Angeles.^[16][17]

Davis with the Clippers.

Prior to Davis' arrival, the Clippers had never even won their division or conference, and had only advanced past the first round of the playoffs twice since entering the league in 1970. Davis promised to change that, and despite Brand's departure, Clippers fans remained excited to have a star who could compete with crosstown rival Kobe Bryant's popularity.^[18]

Davis' first year with the Clippers was marked with a series of injuries and disappointments, as the Clippers struggled to a 19–63 record in which Davis was only able to play 65 games, and saw his points per game average and field goal percentage take a steep decline.^[19] Despite this, Davis did produce a few bright spots on the year. On November 22, he scored 30 points and handed out 10 assists in a game against the New Jersey Nets.^[20] He also had a pair of 20-assist games on the year.

On November 20, 2009 at a home game vs the Denver Nuggets, Baron reached and surpassed the 5,000 assist mark.^[21] In his third year with the Clippers, a rejuvenated and healthy Davis saw some success playing alongside youngsters Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan and Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin. While Davis was finally showing the ability that prompted Clippers management to sign him, run-ins with the coaching staff and Clippers' owner Donald Sterling as well as the team's decision to get younger and rebuild, made the Clippers decide to move in a new direction.^[22]

Cleveland Cavaliers[link]

On February 24, 2011, Davis was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers along with a first round pick (which turned out to be the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft) in exchange for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon.^[23] This trade to Cleveland marked a reunion between Davis and former coach Byron Scott, to which Davis was quoted as saying "I know we're together for a reason. There's some things my game can benefit from just playing in his system". Davis chose to wear no. 85 to honor his grandparents who raised him in Los Angeles and whose house was on 85th Street. In his debut with the Cavs, Baron scored 18 points, grabbed 4 rebounds got 5 assists, and made four three-point shots, in a win over the New York Knicks.^[24]

Despite joining a Cavaliers team who at the time of the trade had the worst record in the NBA (which included a record-setting 23 game losing streak), Davis helped the Cavaliers close the season with several victories,^[25] including a 102–90 win over LeBron James and the Miami Heat,^[26] to ensure that Cleveland did not have the worst record at the season's end.

On December 14, 2011, the Cavaliers waived Davis via the amnesty clause.^[27] He will still make the $30 million over the two years left on his contract, but it will not count against Cleveland's salary cap.^[28] The Cavaliers had drafted Kyrie Irving with their first overall pick, and wanted to give him the starting point guard spot, and opted to allow Davis to seek a starting job on a contending team. The Knicks and Lakers were both in the market for a point guard at the time.^[29]

New York Knicks[link]

On December 19, 2011, Davis signed a one-year contract with the New York Knicks, choosing New York over the Lakers and Heat who also expressed interest in signing Davis.^[30] At the time of the signing, Davis had a herniated disk in his back.^[28] He did not make his debut for the Knicks until February 20, 2012, coming off the bench to score a three-pointer along with an assist.^[31]

On May 6, 2012 during Game 4 of the first round of the playoffs against the Miami Heat, Davis injured his right knee while dribbling down the court. He was carted off the court on a stretcher.^[32] An MRI later revealed that Davis completely tore the ACL and MCL and partially tore the patellar tendon in his right knee. Davis will undergo surgery. The recovery time for such an injury is expected to be approximately 12 months.^[33]

NBA career statistics[link]

Regular season[link]

Playoffs[link]

Television and film[link]

In addition to his NBA career, Baron Davis has had an increasing role in the film industry, with the intention of making it a full-time career when his playing days are over.^[34] He is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, having earned membership by appearing in movies such as The Cookout and guest-starring on the ABC Family show Lincoln Heights and ABC's The Forgotten.^[35] In the past decade Davis has made appearances both as himself and fictional characters in movies and on television; he has also been involved in producing a number of films, ranging from The Pool Boys to Crips and Bloods: Made in America.^[34] Davis and high school friend Cash Warren formed a production company called Verso Entertainment in 2005.^[36]

Davis appeared on the DVD commentary tack of the 2008 film Step Brothers alongside Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly.^[37]

He also appears as himself during season three of Hot In Cleveland.^[38]

Records[link]

• Davis is credited with scoring the longest shot ever recorded in an NBA game, an 89-foot shot (27 m) against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 17, 2001.^[39]

See also[link]

• List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders
• List of National Basketball Association players with most assists in a game

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Baron Davis

• Official website
• Baron Davis at NBA.com
• Baron Davis player profile at ESPN.com
• UCLA Bruins profile
• Baron Davis at the Internet Movie Database
• Baron Davis' Future in Film

Stephen Jackson

Jackson with the Warriors in 2008
No. 3 – San Antonio Spurs
Shooting guard / Small forward
Personal information
Born	(1978-04-05) April 5, 1978 (age 34) Houston, Texas
Nationality	American
High school	Abraham Lincoln (Port Arthur, Texas) Oak Hill Academy
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
College	Butler CC (1996–1997)
NBA Draft	1997 / Round: 2 / Pick: 43rd overall
Selected by the Phoenix Suns
Pro career	1997–present
Career history
1997, 1998	La Crosse Bobcats (CBA)
1998	Sydney Kings (Australia)
1999, 2000	Marinos de Oriente (Venezuela)
1999, 2000	San Carlos (Dominican Republic)
1999	Fort Wayne Fury (CBA)
2000	Pueblo Nuevo (Dominican Republic)
2000–2001	New Jersey Nets
2001–2003	San Antonio Spurs
2003–2004	Atlanta Hawks
2004–2007	Indiana Pacers
2007–2009	Golden State Warriors
2009–2011	Charlotte Bobcats
2011–2012	Milwaukee Bucks
2012–present	San Antonio Spurs
Career highlights and awards
NBA Champion (2003)
Stats at NBA.com

Stephen Jesse Jackson (born April 5, 1978) is an American professional basketball player who plays for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Jackson is a 6'8" guard-forward.

Early life[link]

Jackson was born in Houston and grew up in Port Arthur, Texas.^[1] When growing up, Jackson worked in his grandfather's soul food restaurant in Port Arthur, Texas where he used to wash dishes and bus tables.^[2] At the age of 14, Jackson saw his half-brother Donald die, at age 25. Following the violent tragedy, Jackson said that he wished he could have been there to assist and protect a member of his family. "You can't tell me seeing his brother die that way hasn't had an effect," recalls Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh. "To me, it's why he is always coming to the help of his teammates."

He prepped at Lincoln High School in Port Arthur before transferring to Oak Hill Academy (Virginia) where he earned All-America honors in 1996. He was the leading scorer in the 1996 McDonald's All-American game, on a team that included Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O'Neal and Tim Thomas.^[3] Following a commitment to join the University of Arizona, Jackson was ruled academically ineligible.^[4][5] He attended Butler Community College.^[6]

Professional career[link]

CBA and foreign leagues[link]

Jackson was selected 43rd overall in the 1997 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, yet did not receive an opportunity to perform, as he was waived by the team on October 30. Following this development, Jackson then saw action in six games with the La Crosse Bobcats over two on-and-off seasons in the CBA, in which he averaged 2.7 points in 12.7 minutes per game. Additionally, Jackson played four games in 1998 with the Sydney Kings in Australia's National Basketball League.^[7] Continuing his basketball journey, Jackson played professionally in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.^[8] Throughout the spring and summer of 2000, Jackson played in those Latin American countries, with the Dominican Republic teams San Carlos and Pueblo Nuevo and Venezuelan Marinos.^[9]

Jackson established the Jack 1 Foundation and the Stephen Jackson Academy in his hometown of Port Arthur. [1]

New Jersey Nets[link]

Jackson did not play an NBA game until the 2000–01 season with the New Jersey Nets, officially deemed his rookie season. He appeared in 77 games (including 40 starts), in which he averaged 8.2 points per game, and established a close friendship with star point guard Stephon Marbury. Jackson was selected to play in the Schick Rookie Game at the 2001 All-Star Weekend, in which he tallied 8 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals in the contest.

San Antonio Spurs[link]

Before the 2001–2002 NBA season, he was signed by the San Antonio Spurs. Following a somewhat successful rookie campaign, Jackson was hampered by injuries and team expectations in 2001, missing a total of 45 games. Former assistant coach Mike Brown stated: "The first year we had him in San Antonio, he was on the (injured reserve) most of the year. At first, he didn't understand why because he probably was the most talented player we had on that team, but he needed to mature a little bit so we stuck him there to see how he would respond. He was the best teammate on our team that first year. He was the first guy off the bench high-fiving his teammates during timeouts. He was in every single huddle. He was juiced at practice ready to play and compete and make the starters better, and it carried over into his second year when he got his opportunity to get out onto the floor and prove he could be a vital part of the organization."^[10] His season averages were 3.9 points and 1.1 rebounds, logging approximately 9.9 minutes per game.

During the 2002–2003 NBA season, Jackson became a key member of the Spurs. Appearing in 80 games (58 starts), his season averages were 11.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 28.2 minutes per game. In the course of their postseason run in the 2003 NBA Playoffs, Jackson proved to be a vital asset and helped the Spurs win their second NBA Championship, averaging 12.8 points per game during the playoffs – the team's 3rd leading scorer.

Atlanta Hawks[link]

In 2003, Jackson became a free agent during the offseason. He expected to be resigned by the Spurs to a big contract but that never occurred. He had to settle for a contract with less money on being signed by the Atlanta Hawks. Registering his best professional season so far, Jackson established season averages of 18.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, in 80 total games (78 starts). On March 12, vs. the Washington Wizards, Jackson scored 42 points, his career high at the time. In the 29 games following the All-Star Break, Jackson averaged 24.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. During this stretch, he was the NBA's 6th leading scorer.^[11]

Following the 2003–04 NBA season, he was traded to the Indiana Pacers for small forward Al Harrington (who finished 2nd place in Sixth Man of the Year voting), after signing a 6 year, $38.3 million contract.

Indiana Pacers[link]

During his first season as a member of the Indiana Pacers in the 2004–05 NBA season, Jackson tallied averages of 18.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. He received a 30-game suspension from the league after going into the stands and brawling with Detroit Pistons fans during the infamous Pacers–Pistons brawl at The Palace of Auburn Hills, on November 19, 2004. During this time, accompanied by 3 of his teammates, Jackson visited the Indiana Developmental Training Center. He donated a big screen television as well as other items.

Following his return from this lengthy suspension, he averaged 21.7 points per game in a span of 22 games, starting on March 3 (due to an injury to Pacers power forward Jermaine O'Neal).

Indiana's once promising post-season possibilities were marred by the suspension of small forward Ron Artest. Jackson averaged 18.9 points per game during the first round of the 2005 NBA Playoffs, versus the Boston Celtics. A series loss in the next round at the hands of the Detroit Pistons would end the campaign, with Jackson leading the team in scoring during the playoffs with an average of 16.1 points per game.^[12]

In the 2005–06 NBA season, Jackson appeared in 81 games for the Pacers, averaging 16.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. A particularly impressive exhibition performed by Jackson came in a midseason victory over the Sacramento Kings, in which he made four consecutive 3-pointers on four straight possessions. As the playoff push ensued, he tallied an average of 20.2 points per game in the month of April.

On October 6, 2006, there were police reports that Jackson and three other Pacers players were involved in an argument with several patrons at Club Rio, a strip club in Indianapolis. Jackson was punched by one of the patrons and was hit by a car, rolling onto the hood. His injuries were considered minor. Jackson says he fired several gunshots from a 9-mm pistol as an act of self-defense. However, prosecutors later said he fired first.^[13] Jackson was charged October 11, 2006 with a felony count of criminal recklessness. He served a seven game suspension at the beginning of the 2007–08 NBA season as a Warrior for his legal problems.^[14]

Golden State Warriors[link]

Jackson takes a jump shot.

On January 17, 2007, the Pacers dealt Jackson to the Golden State Warriors in a blockbuster eight player trade.^[15] Along with Al Harrington, Šarūnas Jasikevičius, and Josh Powell, Jackson was swapped for Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy, Ike Diogu, and Keith McLeod of the Warriors.^[16]

Jackson registered 29 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals in his Warriors debut, January 20, 2007 versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. Yet another significant, meaningful performance came on February 5, when Golden State traveled to Conseco Fieldhouse to compete against Jackson's former team. He tallied 36 points, leading the Warriors to a 113–98 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Rejuvenated by the change of scenery, Jackson averaged 19.6 points and 4.6 assists per game in February – taking the reins of principal playmaker while star point guard Baron Davis was injured. Jackson led the team in scoring 3 times during the last 5 games in the regular season, including the season-ending victory over the Portland Trail Blazers that clinched the Warriors' first playoff berth in 12 seasons.

In the Warriors 4–2 series victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2007 NBA Playoffs, Jackson garnered both positive and negative publicity. In what some consider the biggest upset in NBA history,^[17] Jackson was ejected from Games 2 and 5. The latter decision, in Game 5, was heavily criticized as Jackson appeared to be merely applauding at the end of the game to lift the spirits of his teammates, and not sarcastically at a referee. But Jackson redeemed himself by playing well the entire series, especially in the series-clinching Game 6, where Jackson tallied 33 points on a franchise playoff-record 7 three-pointers. Also, he continued to play aggressive defense against eventual MVP recipient Dirk Nowitzki, who was held to 8 points.

Baron Davis, who suffered a slight hamstring injury in the 1st quarter of Game 6, shares his thoughts regarding Jackson: "I told him (Stephen Jackson) I'll give it all I got and I didn't want to be the hardest worker out there. He had to carry me. He is the leader of this team and if you ask anyone on this team, he is the heart and soul of this team. He is a big-game performer and he knew just how important this game was. He is the only one on our team to have won a championship, so we had to feed off of him."^[18]

Jackson finished the series with per-game averages of 22.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.0 steals.

Prior to the 2007–08 NBA season, Jackson (along with guard Baron Davis and forward Matt Barnes) was named a team captain of the Warriors.^[19] Jackson was the recipient of the NBA's Western Conference Player of the Week (November 26 – December 2), averaging 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.8 steals.^[20]

During the 2008–09 NBA season, Jackson registered three games of at least 30 points and 10 assists in a five-game span – the first NBA player to do so since LeBron James in 2007, and the first member of the Warriors since Tim Hardaway in 1992.^[21] He also tallied his first career triple double (30 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) against the Phoenix Suns in the midst of this stretch, on February 4.^[22]

On November 17, 2008, Jackson signed a three-year contract extension with the Warriors.^[23] Jackson's 2008–2009 campaign effectively ended when he decided to officially determine the root cause of turf toe on his left foot, which had been ailing him for over 2 years.^[24] He underwent surgery on March 31, 2009 to remove multiple bone spurs above the nerve tissue under his big toe.^[25]

His per-game season averages were 20.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.5 assists (2nd only to LeBron James for forwards), 1.5 steals, and 39.6 minutes (2nd in the league, trailing only Joe Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks).

Charlotte Bobcats[link]

On November 16, 2009, Jackson was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats along with Acie Law in exchange for Raja Bell and Vladimir Radmanović.^[26] Jackson set a Bobcats franchise record with 43 points scored versus the Houston Rockets, on January 12, 2010. The NBA recognized Jackson as the Eastern Conference's Player of the Week on January 17, after he averaged 29.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 3.3 steals.^[27] Jackson, in tandem with forward Gerald Wallace, led the Bobcats to the franchise's first playoff appearance (culminating in a 4-0 series loss at the hands of the Orlando Magic).^[28]

In the 2010-11 NBA season, Jackson recorded the first triple double (24 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists) in Bobcats team history, versus the Phoenix Suns on November 20, 2010. However, Jackson failed to lead the Bobcats to the playoffs in 2011.^[29]

Milwaukee Bucks[link]

On June 23, 2011, after only two seasons with the Charlotte Bobcats, Jackson was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a three-way deal among the Sacramento Kings and Charlotte Bobcats. As part of the deal, the Milwaukee Bucks received Jackson, Shaun Livingston, and the rights to the 19th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Tobias Harris from Charlotte, and Beno Udrih from Sacramento. Charlotte received Corey Maggette from Milwaukee and the rights to the 7th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Bismack Biyombo from Sacramento. Also part of the deal, Sacramento received John Salmons from Milwaukee and the rights to Jimmer Fredette, who was the 10th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. .^[30]

On March 13, 2012, Jackson was traded back to the Golden State Warriors along with Andrew Bogut, in exchange for Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh, and Kwame Brown.^[31]

Return to the San Antonio Spurs[link]

Without playing a game for the Warriors, Jackson was traded to the Spurs for Richard Jefferson on March 15, 2012.^[32] and a conditional first round pick.^[33]

Career transactions[link]

• June 25, 1997: Drafted 43rd overall by Phoenix Suns in 1997 NBA Draft.
• October 30, 1997: Waived by Phoenix.
• October 2, 2000: Signed as a free agent by New Jersey Nets.
• August 2, 2001: Signed as a free agent by San Antonio Spurs.
• October 3, 2003: Signed as a free agent by Atlanta Hawks.^[34]
• July 15, 2004: Signed and traded by Atlanta to the Indiana Pacers for Al Harrington.^[35]
• January 17, 2007: Traded by Indiana along with Al Harrington, Šarūnas Jasikevičius and Josh Powell to the Golden State Warriors for Mike Dunleavy, Jr., Troy Murphy, Ike Diogu and Keith McLeod.^[36]
• November 16, 2009: Traded by Golden State along with Acie Law to the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for Raja Bell and Vladimir Radmanovic.
• June 23, 2011: Traded to Milwaukee Bucks in three-team trade with Charlotte Bobcats and Sacramento Kings.^[37]
• March 13, 2012: Traded by the Milwaukee Bucks along with Andrew Bogut back to the Golden State Warriors in exchange Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh, and Kwame Brown.
• March 15, 2012: Traded by the Golden State Warriors to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Richard Jefferson and a conditional 1st-round pick.

NBA career statistics[link]

Regular season[link]

Playoffs[link]

Career highs[link]

• Points: 43 vs. Houston 01/12/10
• Rebounds: 12 @ Memphis 12/17/07
• Assists: 15 vs. Minnesota 11/09/09
• Steals: 6 vs. Philadelphia 04/06/04
• Blocks: 4 @ Washington 11/25/08

Player profile[link]

Generally, a modern-day NBA swingman provides a multitude of skills. Jackson is certainly no exception, as evidenced by his overall ability. Although he is known to be a somewhat streaky outside shooter, Jackson's range extends from the basket to the 3-point line. Additionally, against smaller players, he is often utilized in the post (where he is either double-teamed and creates an open shot for a teammate, or is able to manufacture a mid-range jumper). Despite spurts of inefficient, turnover-prone play, Jackson has proved a reputable playmaking option, with above-average passing abilities and court vision. Defensively, Jackson is certainly amongst the better perimeter defenders in the league, due to his long wingspan, quickness, and awareness.

Larry Brown, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and former head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats, readily acknowledges Jackson's ability: "You ask anyone in the league - Stephen is an elite player. He's as bright as anyone I've coached."^[38] Former Golden State Warriors head coach Don Nelson, the winningest coach in NBA history, articulates this brief summation of Jackson's game: "I don't think that people realize how good a player Jackson is, he guards every night, he makes plays, he can shoot, and the only thing that he doesn't do is rebound. He makes everyone around him better."^[39] Jackson's coach during his Indiana days, Rick Carlisle, describes Jackson as a "terrific all-around player... He's an experienced guy, strong and quick. He has a good understanding of the game on the defensive side of the ball."^[40] NBA legend and current Pacers general manager Larry Bird calls Jackson the toughest player in the league, regarding injuries and subsequently playing through the pain. Bird also praised Jackson's ability to "do every aspect of the game at a high level."^[41] Theo Ratliff, 15-year NBA veteran and former Bobcats teammate, asserted that "if he is not an All-Star in this league, I don't know who is. It is time people recognize what he does on the floor."^[42]

Personal life and reputation[link]

Jackson has been charged with felony criminal recklessness and a number of misdemeanors, including assault, disorderly conduct, and two counts of battery.^[43]

Current teammate Tim Duncan once labeled Jackson as the "ultimate teammate" during Jackson's first stint in San Antonio. ESPN analyst and sportswriter Michael Smith finds Jackson to be "articulate, charming, and thoughtful."^[44] Lang Whitaker, executive editor of Slam Magazine, states Jackson is "one of my favorite players, after all."^[45]

Marcus Thompson of the Contra Costa Times conveys his opinion as such: "He takes the younger players under his wing, taking them shopping, dispensing advice, lending an ear. What's more, he does the little things that are unbecoming of a millionaire thug. He looks people in the eye when they talk to him, as if he cares about what they're saying. He frequently doles out handshakes, half-hugs and, to women, pecks on the cheek. He returns phone calls. He mends fences, lifts spirits, makes others feel special."^[46] Gwen Knapp, of the San Francisco Chronicle states "He couldn't have been more charming or more engaged, the perfect face of the franchise."^[47]

Former coaches Rick Carlisle and Don Nelson have constantly referred to Jackson's high character. On the Jim Rome show, Nelson stated Jackson is not simply a good person in the limited world of the NBA, but one of the finest people he has ever known.^[48] Former Pacers executive Donnie Walsh, who was principally responsible for the Golden State trade, stated "I love Jack to death. He's emotional and he's going to get technicals. But that's just part of the package. He's a great team guy."^[49]

During his 7-game suspension to begin the 2007–08 NBA season, Jackson decided to donate a significant portion of his time towards community service in the Oakland area, in order to make a positive impact while giving the public a chance to meet him. He organized several events, geared mainly towards children.^[50] Additionally, during a game against the Toronto Raptors, Jackson paid tribute to forward Matt Barnes and his ailing mother whom he had left to support in her battle against cancer, by wearing the number 22 on his headband. Jackson also offered to miss his return from suspension if Barnes needed the support at home.^[51] Jackson is also known to attend Bible study with other Warriors such as Kelenna Azubuike, former Warrior Al Harrington, and Brandan Wright.^[52] Pairing up with Southwest Airlines, Jackson and the Warriors organization arranged an essay contest for elementary school students from his hometown of Port Arthur, which gave 10 third-graders the opportunity to meet Jackson and receive tickets to the following night's game.^[53]

The NBA recognized Jackson for his ongoing charitable causes and presented him with the league's Community Assist Award for March 2008. During the month of March alone, he participated in a Silence the Violence rally, teamed up with Grammy Award-winner John Legend to raise funds for the Show Me Campaign, participated in a groundbreaking for a basketball court, and launched his own foundation.^[54]

In conjunction with the Good Tidings Foundation, Jackson unveiled the Stephen Jackson Basketball Court at Omega Boys Club in San Francisco on April 11, 2008. Additionally, in honor of Jackson's continued commitment to the Bay Area community, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom proclaimed Saturday, April 12, 2008 – the day after the unveiling – as Stephen Jackson Day in San Francisco.^[55]

Imani Showalter, who was Jackson's ex-fiancee and is the mother of his three children, is a cast member of VH1's reality TV show Basketball Wives: LA.

In December 2011 Jackson released a mixtape titled "What's A Lockout?"; a 19 track record featuring various guest rappers and produced by DJ Scream. As seen on the cover of the mixtape, Jackson also goes by the rap alias of Stak5.^[56]

See also[link]

• List of National Basketball Association career 3-point scoring leaders

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Stephen Jackson

• NBA.com Profile – Stephen Jackson
• Basketball-Reference.com Statistics
• Stephen Jackson official site

Steve Nash

Nash with the Suns
No. 13 – Phoenix Suns
Point guard
Personal information
Born	(1974-02-07) 7 February 1974 (age 38) Johannesburg, South Africa
Nationality	Canadian, British[1]
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	178 lb (81 kg)
Career information
College	Santa Clara
NBA Draft	1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 15th overall
Selected by the Phoenix Suns
Pro career	1996–present
Career history
1996–1998	Phoenix Suns
1998–2004	Dallas Mavericks
2004–present	Phoenix Suns
Career highlights and awards
2× NBA Most Valuable Player (2005, 2006) 8× NBA All-Star (2002–2003, 2005–2008, 2010, 2012) 3× All-NBA First Team (2005–2007) 2× All-NBA Second Team (2008, 2010) 2× All-NBA Third Team (2002–2003) 2× Skills Challenge Champion (2005, 2010) J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (2007) Lou Marsh Trophy (2004) 3× Lionel Conacher Award (2002, 2005–2006)

Stephen John "Steve" Nash, OC, OBC (born 7 February 1974) is a South African-born Canadian professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nash enjoyed a successful high-school basketball career, and he was eventually given a scholarship by Santa Clara University. In his four seasons with the Broncos, the team made three NCAA Tournament appearances, and Nash was twice named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year.

After graduating from Santa Clara as the team's all-time leader in assists, Nash entered the 1996 NBA Draft and was selected as the 15th pick by the Phoenix Suns. He made a minimal impact, and was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 1998. By his third season with the Mavericks, he was voted into his first NBA All-Star Game and had earned his first All-NBA selection. Together with Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley, Nash led the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals the following season. However, he became a free agent after the 2003–04 season and returned to the Phoenix Suns.

In the 2004–05 season, Nash led the Suns to the Western Conference Finals, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP). He was named MVP again in the 2005–06 season, and missed out on a third consecutive MVP title to Nowitzki the next season. Named by ESPN in 2006 as the ninth greatest point guard of all time, Nash has led the league in assists and free-throw percentage at various points in his career. He is also ranked as one of the top players in NBA league history for three-point shooting, free-throw shooting, total assists and assists per game.

Nash has been honoured for his contributions to various philanthropic causes. In 2006, he was named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He also received the Order of Canada in 2007, and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Victoria in 2008.

Early life[link]

Nash was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to a Welsh mother and an English father on 7 February 1974.^[3][4][5] His family moved to Regina, Saskatchewan, when he was 18 months old, then to Vancouver, before finally settling in Victoria, British Columbia.^[6] Although Nash played soccer and ice hockey, often with his younger brother, Martin, he did not start playing basketball until he was 12 or 13.^[2] In eighth grade, however, he told his mother that one day he would play in the NBA and would become a star.^[6]

High school[link]

Nash originally attended Mount Douglas Secondary School, but after his grades began to drop, his parents decided to enroll him at St. Michaels University School, a private boarding school.^[7] At St. Michaels, he starred in basketball, soccer, and rugby union. While playing basketball during his senior season, Nash averaged 21.3 points, 11.2 assists, and 9.1 rebounds per game.^[8] In the 1991–92 season, he led his team in his final year to the British Columbia AAA provincial championship title, and was named the province's Player of the Year.^[9]

College career[link]

Although Nash's high school coach, Ian Hyde-Lay, sent letters of inquiry and highlight reels on Nash's behalf to over 30 American universities, Nash was not recruited by any university,^[6] until Santa Clara coach Dick Davey requested video footage of the young guard. After watching Nash in person, Davey said he "was nervous as hell just hoping that no one else would see him. It didn't take a Nobel Prize winner to figure out this guy's pretty good. It was just a case of hoping that none of the big names came around."^[7] However, Davey also told Nash that he was "the worst defensive player" he had ever seen.^[7]

Nash was awarded a scholarship by Santa Clara for the 1992–93 season. At that time, it had been five years since the Broncos appeared in the NCAA tournament. That changed when Nash led the Broncos to a West Coast Conference (WCC) Tournament title and an upset win over the No. 2 seeded Arizona in the first round of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.^[6] In that game, Nash scored six straight free throws in the last 30 seconds of the contest.^[7] Although Santa Clara was defeated by Temple in the next round, the 1992–93 campaign was considered a successful one. However, the Broncos failed to sustain the momentum the following season, and only managed a 5–7 record in the conference.^[6] The team rebounded in the 1994–95 season, with Nash being named Conference Player of the Year and the Broncos topping the WCC.^[6] Featuring the league leader for scoring and assists in Nash, the Broncos returned to the NCAA tournament, but they were defeated by Mississippi State.^[6] After the season, Nash contemplated turning professional, and decided against it when he learned that he would probably not be considered as a first-round pick in the 1995 NBA Draft.^[6]

In the 1995–96 season, Nash began attracting the attention of the national media and professional scouts. He had spent the summer before that honing his skills, playing with the Canadian national team and working out with the likes of established NBA players Jason Kidd and Gary Payton.^[6] Santa Clara again captured the WCC title, and for the second consecutive year, Nash was named Conference Player of the Year, the first Bronco to do so since Kurt Rambis.^[8] He scored 28 points in leading the #10 seed Broncos to a first round upset win over #7 seed Maryland, but then the Broncos were eliminated by Kansas. Nash's performances ensured that he was named Honorable Mention All-America as a senior by The Associated Press and the USBWA. He also finished his career as Santa Clara's all-time leader in career assists (510), free-throw percentage (.862), and made and attempted three-pointers (263–656).^[8] He remains third on the school's all-time scoring list (1,689), and holds Santa Clara's single-season free-throw percentage record (.894).^[8] In September 2006, Nash had his jersey (#11) retired, becoming the first Santa Clara student-athlete to receive that honour.^[10]

NCAA career statistics[link]

NBA career[link]

Phoenix Suns (1996–98)[link]

After graduating with a degree in sociology,^[7] Nash was selected 15th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 1996 NBA Draft. Upon hearing the draft announcement, Suns fans booed in disapproval of the relatively unknown player.^[7] This was because despite his impressive college accomplishments, Nash had not played in one of the major college conferences. During his first two seasons in the NBA, Nash played a supporting role behind NBA star point guards Kevin Johnson, Sam Cassell, and later, Jason Kidd.^[6] Both Johnson and Cassell had NBA Finals experience, while Kidd was the second overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft and already an All-Star when he arrived at Phoenix.

In his rookie season, Nash only managed 10.5 minutes a game,^[12] but in his second season, his playing time increased significantly and he was even ranked 13th in the league for three-point field-goal percentage.^[6] Nevertheless, the Canadian's tenure with the Suns did not last. While at Santa Clara, Nash had met and befriended Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Donnie Nelson, who worked for the Golden State Warriors at that time. After moving to Dallas, Nelson was able to convince his father, Don Nelson—then the Mavericks coach and general manager—to acquire the under-utilised Nash.^[6] Following the 1998 NBA Draft, Nash was traded from the Suns to the Mavericks in exchange for Martin Müürsepp, Bubba Wells, the draft rights to Pat Garrity and a first-round draft pick (who later turned out to be future Phoenix team-mate Shawn Marion).^[6]

Dallas Mavericks (1998–2004)[link]

It was in Dallas that Nash established himself as a formidable point guard, beginning a decade as one of the game's top players. During his first year as a Maverick (the lockout-shortened 1998–99 season) he started in all 40 games he played in, and averaged 7.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.^[12] The 19–31 Mavericks failed to make the playoffs but in the 1999–2000 season, the team's prospects improved considerably. Nash missed 25 mid-season games due to an ankle injury, but came back to record six double-doubles in the last month of play.^[8] He finished the season with averages of 8.6 points and 4.9 assists per game.^[12] More importantly for the team, second-year teammate and friend Dirk Nowitzki was blossoming quickly into a top player, veteran Michael Finley was having an All-Star-calibre year, and the team's new owner, billionaire Mark Cuban, was bringing new energy and excitement to the franchise. Nash now had a supportive environment in which he could thrive.

In the 2000–01 season, Nash averaged 15.6 points and 7.3 assists per game in a breakout season.^[12] With Nash directing the team's offense, Nowitzki and Finley playing at their best, and the acquisition of All-Star Juwan Howard complementing the high-scoring trio, the Mavericks earned a playoff berth for the first time in more than a decade. Dallas lost in the Western Conference Semifinals four games to one to the San Antonio Spurs, but it marked the beginning of a memorable run for Nash and the Mavericks.^[13] In the 2001–02 season, Nash posted career-highs of 17.9 points and 7.7 assists per game^[12] and earned a spot in the NBA All-Star Game and on the All-NBA Third Team.^[14][15] He was now an All-Star, increasingly appearing in television commercials and, with Finley and Nowitzki, a part of the Dallas Mavericks "Big Three."^[16] Dallas earned another trip to the playoffs but lost again in the Semifinals to the Sacramento Kings four games to one.^[17]

Nash closely replicated his previous season's performance in the 2002–03 season, averaging 17.7 points and 7.3 assists per game,^[12] again earning All-Star and All-NBA Third Team honours.^[14][18] Nowitzki and Nash led the Mavericks from a 14-game winning streak to open the season all the way to the Western Conference Finals, where they lost to the eventual NBA champions, the San Antonio Spurs four games to two.^[19] It was only the second Conference Finals appearance in the franchise's history. The 2003–04 season saw an offensively boosted Mavericks roster (with the acquisitions of Antoine Walker and Antawn Jamison) but a dip in Nash's scoring contributions. As a result he was not selected for the All-Star and All-NBA team rosters even though he achieved new career highs in assists per game (8.8) and free-throw accuracy (91.6%).^[12] In the playoffs, the fifth-seeded Dallas failed to make progress yet again as the Sacramento Kings saw them off four games to one.^[20]

After the 2003–04 season, Nash became a free agent. He attempted to negotiate a long-term contract with Cuban, who was paying Walker, Finley, Nowitzki and Jamison nearly $50 million in combined salaries that season. Cuban wanted to build his franchise around the younger Nowitzki and did not want to risk signing the 30-year-old Nash to a long-term deal, and offered Nash a four-year deal worth about $9 million annually, with a fifth year partially guaranteed. The Phoenix Suns on the other hand offered the point guard a six-year, $63 million contract. Nash was reluctant to leave Dallas and returned to Cuban to see if he would match the deal; Cuban did not, and Nash signed for the Suns for the 2004–05 season. The Canadian would go on to win two League MVP awards with Phoenix, and on a 14 June 2006 appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, Cuban wondered out loud, "... you know Steve's a great guy and I love him to death, but why couldn't he play like an MVP for us?"^[21]

Return to Phoenix Suns (2004–present)[link]

Nash joined a Suns team which had emerging young players in Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson and Amar'e Stoudemire. In the season before Nash arrived, the Suns had recorded a 29–53 win–loss record,^[6] and they were projected to have another poor season. Head coach Mike D'Antoni favoured an up-tempo style of basketball; this required smaller and more athletic players with the capability to outrun and outshoot their opponents. Nash's familiarity with this style combined with the athleticism of his teammates produced an NBA-best 62–20 record and a points-per-game average of 110.4, the highest in a decade.^[22] The catalyst of this turnaround, Nash averaged 11.5 assists per game while making 50.2% of his field goals and 43.1% of his three-pointers in the regular season.^[12][23] He edged Shaquille O'Neal to win the 2004–05 NBA MVP award,^[24] becoming the first Canadian to earn the honour, as well as the third point guard ever to be named MVP, along with Magic Johnson and Bob Cousy.^[8] In the playoffs, Phoenix swept the Memphis Grizzlies in four games before meeting the Dallas Mavericks in the second round.^[25] Nash led the Suns to a 4–2 series win,^[25] and the Suns reached the Western Conference finals for the first time since 1993, but lost to the eventual NBA Champions and arch-rival, the San Antonio Spurs, in five games.^[25]