Rafer Alston

Rafer Jamel Alston (born July 24, 1976), also known as Skip to my Lou or Skip 2 My Lou, is an American retired professional basketball player. Alston first gained basketball fame playing in the AND1 Mixtape Tour in 1999 before making the National Basketball Association (NBA). While in the NBA from 1999-2010, he played for six teams including the 2008-09 Orlando Magic team that made the NBA Finals.

Rafer Alston
Alston with the Houston Rockets
Personal information
Born (1976-07-24) July 24, 1976
New York City, New York
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High schoolBenjamin N. Cardozo
(Queens, New York)
College
NBA draft1998 / Round: 2 / Pick: 39th overall
Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks
Playing career1998–2012
PositionPoint guard
Number11, 24, 12, 1
Career history
1998–1999Idaho Stampede
1999–2002Milwaukee Bucks
2002–2003Mobile Revelers
2003Toronto Raptors
2003–2004Miami Heat
2004–2005Toronto Raptors
2005–2009Houston Rockets
2009Orlando Magic
2009–2010New Jersey Nets
2010Miami Heat
2011Zhejiang Lions
2012Los Angeles D-Fenders
Career NBA statistics
Points6,799 (10.1 ppg)
Rebounds1,891 (2.8 rpg)
Assists3,202 (4.8 apg)
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Streetball legend

Alston grew up in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, New York City, and was a standout streetball basketball player, known for his untraditional ballhandling moves that made him adept at outmaneuvering defenders.[1] He was the inspiration in many ways for the AND1 Mixtape Tour—a low-quality, jerky 1999 videotape of Alston's extreme playground moves, featuring helter-skelter crossover and other fast dribble moves faking out defenders, attracted a great deal of attention among players and basketball fans.[2][3] His trademark skipping dribble when bringing the ball down the court earned him the nickname, Skip to My Lou.[4]

He also played under famous high school coach Ron Naclerio at Benjamin Cardozo High School in Queens, New York. Naclerio is credited with circulating the Alston tape and getting it in the hands of AND1 staff.[2]

College career

Alston played college basketball for three seasons: one each at Ventura College (1994–95), Fresno City College (1996–97), and Fresno State (1997–98). Alston was red-shirted at Fresno City College for the 1995–96 season.

NBA career

Early NBA career (1999–2005)

Alston struggled early in his NBA career, but successfully transitioned from streetball to the professional game.[5] After playing off the bench for most of the time he was with the Milwaukee Bucks, he was traded to the Toronto Raptors.[6] Following his tenure with the Raptors, he emerged as a starter for the Miami Heat in 2004. He did not disappoint, averaging 12 points and 4 assists on a young Miami team, led by rookie guard Dwyane Wade, that made it to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals of the NBA Playoffs. During that season, in a March 26 game against the Dallas Mavericks, he hit a game-winning shot in overtime with 0.5 seconds left over the outstretched arms of Shawn Bradley to catapult Miami to a 119–118 victory.[7] Alston would sign a multi-year deal with the Toronto Raptors in the summer of 2004. For Alston, this was his first step in the new phase of a secure NBA career which had eluded him until that point.

Houston Rockets (2005–2008)

Alston was traded to the Houston Rockets for guard Mike James on October 4, 2005. Although Alston frequently was criticized for his attitude while in Toronto, it is believed that Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy conferred with his brother, Miami Heat coach Stan Van Gundy, who coached Alston during the 2003–04 NBA season, about Alston's work ethic and attitude. Jeff Van Gundy's reputation for toughness and his ability to get the most out of players previously considered "trouble-makers" or "temperamental" (e.g., Latrell Sprewell) led to optimism on the part of the Rockets' staff. In the 2006–07 season, as the Rockets starting point guard, Alston averaged 13.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He finished the season ninth in steals among all NBA players, fourth in three-pointers made, and 23rd in assists.[8] On November 12, 2008, Alston was suspended for two games without pay for his role in a fight after a non-call foul with Matt Barnes and Steve Nash.[9]

Orlando Magic (2009)

Alston was traded to the Orlando Magic in a three-way deal on February 19, 2009,[10] and replaced the injured Jameer Nelson in the team's starting lineup. On April 30, 2009, Alston helped the Orlando Magic defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 4–2 in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Orlando then defeated the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers to advance to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games after replaced by the returning Jameer Nelson, a controversy decision by Stan Van Gundy. Alston averaged 10.6 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.2 rebounds in the Finals. In the 2009 playoffs, Alston started every game he played in.

New Jersey Nets (2009–2010)
Alston with the New Jersey Nets in 2009

On June 25, 2009, he was traded to the New Jersey Nets along with Tony Battie and Courtney Lee in exchange for Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson.[11] He had his first triple-double as a member of the New Jersey Nets in 2009–2010. On January 5, 2010, he was released by the Nets in hopes of letting him play for a contender.

Miami Heat (2010)

On January 7, 2010, he cleared waivers and signed with the Miami Heat for the second time.[12] After starting 25 games for Heat, he was immediately suspended on March 6, 2010, for missing practice and a game. On March 13, 2010, Miami upgraded his suspension for the remainder of the season.[13]

CBA career

Zhejiang Guangsha (2011)

On January 26, 2011, Alston signed with the Zhejiang Guangsha in the CBA for the remainder of the season.[14][15] In late February, it was reported that he had left the team to attend a friend's funeral, and the team, believing he was unlikely to return because he had been injured and refused to see a doctor, told him to not return.[16] Alston played 8 games for Guangsha and averaged 19.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists.

NBA D-League

In 2012, Alston signed with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA D-League.[17] This would be his last run as a professional basketball player.

On Sunday morning, August 5, 2007, Alston was arrested in downtown Houston on misdemeanor charges of assault and public intoxication.[18] He was arrested again early Tuesday morning, August 28 in New York for allegedly slashing a man on the neck during a nightclub altercation.[19] Neither the club owner, police, nor security tapes have provided any evidence of the incident occurring.[20] The charges brought against Alston for the incident that took place on August 5, 2007, were dropped on February 29, 2008.[21] He was arrested again on August 7, 2008, and charged with DWI.[22]

NBA career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
Led the league

Regular season
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1999–00 Milwaukee 27013.4.284.214.750.92.6.4.02.2
2000–01 Milwaukee 3727.8.357.267.692.81.8.4.02.1
2001–02 Milwaukee 50712.0.346.380.6211.42.9.6.03.5
2002–03 Toronto 47420.9.415.392.6852.34.1.8.37.8
2003–04 Miami 822831.5.376.371.7692.84.51.4.210.2
2004–05 Toronto 807834.0.414.357.7403.56.41.5.114.2
2005–06 Houston 636338.6.379.327.6924.06.71.6.212.1
2006–07 Houston 828237.1.375.363.7343.45.41.6.113.3
2007–08 Houston 747434.1.394.351.7153.55.31.3.213.1
2008–09 Houston 484833.1.370.348.7893.05.41.2.111.5
2008–09 Orlando 282829.5.413.317.7072.95.11.8.112.0
2009–10 New Jersey 271328.4.343.322.8152.83.91.0.29.7
2009–10 Miami 252526.2.355.370.5562.22.9.9.26.6
Career 67145228.9.383.354.7292.84.81.2.210.1

Playoffs
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2000 Milwaukee 404.0.000.000.000.0.3.0.0.0
2001 Milwaukee 501.6.000.000.000.0.2.0.0.0
2004 Miami 13022.7.319.231.8402.21.7.4.17.0
2007 Houston 7744.1.338.320.7696.95.01.9.410.9
2008 Houston 4431.5.438.440.8001.54.51.0.014.3
2009 Orlando 232332.2.380.319.7502.44.11.4.212.2
Career 563426.7.365.311.7642.53.11.0.19.0

See also
  • List of National Basketball Association players with 9 or more steals in a game

References
  1. Scheiber, Dave (April 17, 2009). "Former streetball star Rafer Alston has stabilized the NBA playoff-bound Orlando Magic". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on 2013-12-15. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  2. "Teams, Leagues etc". Streetballin.net. Archived from the original on August 30, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  3. "Introducing The SLAM Legend of the Week: Rafer Alston". SLAMonline. 2018-05-27. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
  4. Wharton, David (2009-06-07). "From 'Skip' to Rafer -- his ultimate crossover". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
  5. Beck, Howard (April 11, 2009). "Alston Is a Key to Magic's Playoff Run". The New York Times. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
  6. Stein, Marc (July 7, 2004). "Sources: Street-ball legend agrees to 6-year deal". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  7. "Alston's 3 with 0.5 left in OT wins it". ESPN.com. March 26, 2004. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-12-23. Retrieved 2009-12-25.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gQiCNnFelPNA2Xu_ztYJhpVd8t8AD94ET25O7
  10. Stein, Marc (February 20, 2009). "Magic to acquire Alston in 3-team deal". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
  11. "Nets Acquire Rafer Alston, Tony Battie and Courtney Lee from Orlando". NBA.com. 2009-06-25. Retrieved 2009-06-27.
  12. "Heat sign Alston off waivers". ESPN.com. January 7, 2010. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-09-17. Retrieved 2019-02-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. CBA: Alston signs with Zhejiang Guangsha(Mandarin) Archived January 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  15. "CBA Recap: Guangsha Signs Rafer Alston, Stephon Marbury Returns to Shanxi". City Weekend. January 26, 2011. Archived from the original on 2013-11-14. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  16. Shoals, Bethlehem (March 1, 2011). "Did Rafer Alston Fake An Injury To Get Out Of Playing In China?". Business Insider. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  17. "D-FENDERS ACQUIRE RAFER ALSTON". NBA.com. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  18. "Rockets' Alston arrested, charged with assault, public intoxication". ESPN.com. August 6, 2007. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  19. Alston accused of slashing man in club Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved August 28, 2007
  20. "Bridget Moynahan to Tom Brady: Take a hike". Daily News. August 30, 2007. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  21. Feigen, Jonathan (March 1, 2008). "Alston vindicated in New York assault case". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  22. Testimony Begins in DWI Trial of Rockets Guard Alston, retrieved October 24, 2008
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.