Jason Terry

Jason Terry
Name	Jason Terry
Position	Shooting guard / Point guard
Weight lb	185
Birth date	15 November 1977
Birth place	Seattle, Washington
High school	Franklin High School
College	Arizona State University
Draft year	1999
Draft pick	10
Draft team	Atlanta Hawks
Career start	1999
Career end	2018
Coaching start	2020
Highlights	* NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2009) * NBA champion (2011)

Jason Terry (born November 15, 1977) is an American former professional basketball player and coach, known for his scoring, three-point shooting, and clutch play. Over a 19-season National Basketball Association career he played for the Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Houston Rockets, and Milwaukee Bucks, and later joined the coaching staff of the Utah Jazz and Grand Rapids Gold. Terry earned the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award and an NBA championship ring, and represented the United States in international competition.

Early life and high school

Terry was born in Seattle, Washington, and grew up in the Rainier Beach and South Seattle neighborhoods, where he played youth basketball in local amateur athletics circuits and for travel teams alongside future professionals. He attended Franklin High School and later Garfield High School before transferring to Lincoln High School; during his high school career he gained attention from scouts at events hosted by Nike, Reebok, and regional AAU tournaments that also showcased prospects from California and Oregon. Recruiters from Pac-10 Conference programs, including Arizona State University and University of Washington, pursued him for his perimeter shooting and ballhandling.

College career

Terry attended Arizona State University, where he played for the Sun Devils under head coach Milton Barnes and later Brian Blizzard—coaching staffs that connected him to the Pac-10 Conference competitive slate. At Arizona State he led the team in scoring and assists, setting school records for three-point field goals and earning All-Conference recognition alongside opponents from UCLA, University of Arizona, and Stanford University. His collegiate performance drew comparisons to contemporaries such as Kobe Bryant and Ray Allen for perimeter scoring. After three seasons he declared for the 1999 NBA draft, joining a class that included Elton Brand, Steve Francis, and Baron Davis.

Professional career

Terry was selected 10th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1999 NBA draft. He spent four seasons with Atlanta, developing as a combo guard in rotation lineups facing teams like the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks. In 2004 he was traded to the Phoenix Suns, where he became a key cog in coach Mike D'Antoni's high-octane offense alongside stars Steve Nash, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Shawn Marion; his role included spacing the floor against defenses from San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers while competing in the Western Conference playoffs. In 2005 he moved to the Dallas Mavericks, where under owner Mark Cuban and coach Rick Carlisle he achieved career highs, won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2009, and played a pivotal role in the Mavericks' 2011 playoff run against teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder and the eventual Finals opponent Miami Heat. Terry hit crucial shots in the 2011 NBA Finals and earned an NBA championship ring when the Mavericks defeated the Heat, whose roster featured LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.

After Dallas he had shorter stints with the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Houston Rockets, and Milwaukee Bucks, providing veteran leadership and perimeter shooting while competing against Eastern Conference teams like the Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers. Over his NBA career he accumulated over 18,000 points and made more than 2,000 three-pointers, matching scoring outputs of peers such as Manu Ginóbili and Ray Allen in longevity and role.

National team and international play

Terry represented the United States with the national program during exhibition windows and training camps affiliated with USA Basketball and participated in events that intersected with FIBA preparations, joining camps alongside players from NBA All-Star rosters and competing in workouts against opponents from Spain national basketball team and Lithuania national basketball team. While he did not headline major FIBA tournaments, he contributed to developmental and exhibition contests that involved coaches and staff from USA Basketball and USA Basketball Men's National Team programs.

Player profile and legacy

Terry was primarily a combo guard known for quick release three-point shooting, late-clock creation, and free-throw accuracy, traits comparable to contemporaries Jamal Crawford, Jason Kidd, and Vince Carter. He excelled as a sixth man and floor spacer, thriving in pick-and-roll actions with playmakers like Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, and his clutch shooting—most famously a series of late-game baskets—became part of playoff lore alongside performances by Reggie Miller and Kobe Bryant. Post-retirement analysts and statisticians from outlets such as ESPN, The Athletic, and Basketball-Reference have cited his career three-point totals and playoff efficiency as markers of sustained specialist value in the modern three-point era. Terry's influence persists among guards in developmental programs in Seattle and Phoenix who emulate his shot mechanics and competitive disposition.

Coaching and post-playing career

After retiring as a player, Terry transitioned into coaching and player development roles, joining organizations including the Utah Jazz and later the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League as an assistant coach and mentor, working with guards and integrating shooting curricula used by franchises such as the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns. He has appeared at community basketball clinics in Texas and Arizona, collaborated with training academies affiliated with Nike Basketball, and participated in alumni events for the Dallas Mavericks and Arizona State Sun Devils. His post-playing career blends on-court coaching with youth development and media appearances related to NBA analysis.

Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:American basketball players