T. J. Ford

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T. J. Ford
Houston, Texas, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight165 lb (75 kg)
Career information
High schoolWillowridge (Houston, Texas)
CollegeTexas (2001–2003)
NBA draft2003: 1st round, 8th overall pick
Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks
Playing career2003–2012
PositionPoint guard
Number11, 5
Career history
2003–2006Milwaukee Bucks
2006–2008Toronto Raptors
2008–2011Indiana Pacers
2011Zagreb
2011–2012San Antonio Spurs
Career highlights and awards
Career statistics
Points
4,797 (11.2 ppg)
Rebounds1,331 (3.1 rpg)
Assists2,495 (5.8 apg)
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Terrance Jerod Ford Sr. (born March 24, 1983) is an American former professional

2007 NBA Playoffs. Following an injury sustained in the 2007–08 NBA season, however, Ford had difficulties reclaiming the starting spot and was traded to the Indiana Pacers. He signed with KK Zagreb of Croatia during the 2011 NBA lockout where he appeared in three games. On December 9, 2011, Ford signed a contract with the San Antonio Spurs
.

Off the court, Ford set up the T. J. Ford

Foundation
in 2004 to help participants achieve their academic, personal and civil goals.

Early life

I have vivid childhood memories of playing basketball in my backyard. My father would work with me on the fundamentals and my brother and I would go at it playing one on one.

Ford[1]

Born in Houston, Texas to Leo and Mary Ford, Terrance Jerod Ford was nicknamed "T. J." at birth by his mother.[2] From a young age, Ford dreamed of being a basketball player, having also witnessed his home team Houston Rockets win back-to-back championships in the 1990s.[1] Ford first played competitive basketball at Willowridge High School, and helped Willowridge to a 75–1 win–loss record (including a 62-game winning streak) in his final two seasons, earning a pair of Texas Class 5A state titles in the process.[3][4] Subsequently, Ford was diagnosed with spinal stenosis,[5] but he went on to play basketball for the Texas Longhorns for the 2001–02 and 2002–03 seasons.

In his first season at Texas, Ford not only led the team in

Final Four since 1947.[3] At the end of the season, the consensus First Team All-America selection won the prestigious Naismith College Player of the Year and John Wooden awards, and was named Player of the Year by Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, ESPN.com and CBS SportsLine.[3][6] To honor Ford, his #11 jersey was retired by his university, making him the fourth University of Texas athlete in any sport (and the first basketball player) to have such an honor, joining Earl Campbell, Ricky Williams, and Roger Clemens.[7] In 2017, he finally graduated from the University of Texas, earning a bachelor's degree from Texas in youth and community studies, with a minor in educational psychology.[8]

NBA career

Rookie season

Having felt he had nothing more to prove at college level,

contusion of the spinal cord, a career-threatening injury.[5]

Injury woes

Ford sat out the entire

triple double (with 16 points, 14 assists and 9 rebounds in 34 minutes of play) in a 117–108 Milwaukee road win over the Philadelphia 76ers.[12] As the season progressed Ford showed almost no effects from his injury, playing with the same intensity and hustle as he did in his rookie season. He ended the regular season with 12.2 ppg and 6.6 apg,[9] but found that the Bucks had abandoned a fast-paced style of offense. New coach Terry Stotts was beginning to rely more on the jump shooting of Michael Redd, the post play of Andrew Bogut and Jamaal Magloire, and the playmaking of developing point guard Mo Williams, so that Ford became a less important component of the team.[4]

Fresh start with the Raptors

In a way, all my lifelong battles with my spinal problems were a blessing in disguise. It made me appreciate the game more, that I'm still given a chance to play it at the highest level. And in every game, that always makes me want to give it everything I've got.

Ford speaking to the Singapore press in September 2007[13]

Following the

New Jersey Nets in the first round.[23]

Prior to the

2008 NBA Playoffs, Toronto was pitted against the Orlando Magic in the first round and the perception was that Toronto's depth at the point guard position could prove to be key. While Ford played poorly in the first two games which the Raptors lost, he was pivotal in the third, bringing the series score to 2–1.[27] The Raptors, however, were eliminated in five games, and the coaches' decision not to deploy Ford to close out games during the playoffs—coupled with Ford's subsequent alleged refusal to play backup on the team—led to further speculation about his future.[28][29]

Moving to Indiana

Ford with the Pacers

On the eve of the

playoffs qualification by Detroit. The bright spot in Ford's first campaign with the Pacers was his recording of a career-best in points per game.[9]

San Antonio Spurs

On December 9, 2011, Ford signed a contract with the San Antonio Spurs. His final NBA game was played on March 7, 2012, in a 118–105 win over the New York Knicks, where he played for 5 and half minutes and recorded a single assist. During the game, in the second quarter, Ford suffered a stinger after being elbowed in his back by Baron Davis: "If it's anybody else, it's just a regular play. But because of me and my condition a simple elbow in the back has a different outcome than hitting someone else in the back."[32]

On March 12, 2012, after playing 14 games, he announced on Twitter that he would retire.[33][34] On March 15, 2012, the Spurs traded Ford, Richard Jefferson and a 2012 first-round pick to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Stephen Jackson.[35] Ford was then waived by the Warriors.[36]

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

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2003–04 Milwaukee 55 55 26.8 .384 .238 .816 3.2 6.5 1.1 .1 7.1
2005–06 Milwaukee 72 70 35.5 .416 .337 .754 4.3 6.6 1.4 .1 12.2
2006–07 Toronto 75 71 29.9 .436 .304 .819 3.1 7.9 1.3 .1 12.0
2007–08 Toronto 51 26 23.5 .469 .294 .880 2.0 6.1 1.1 .0 12.1
2008–09 Indiana 74 49 30.5 .452 .337 .872 3.5 5.3 1.2 .2 14.9
2009–10 Indiana 47 32 25.3 .445 .160 .770 3.2 3.8 .9 .2 10.3
2010–11 Indiana 41 3 18.9 .386 .188 .729 2.0 3.4 .9 .2 5.9
2011–12 San Antonio 14 0 13.6 .442 .250 .786 1.3 3.2 .6 .1 3.6
Career 429 306 27.7 .433 .289 .815 3.1 5.8 1.2 .1 11.2

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2006
 Milwaukee 5 5 32.4 .490 .400 .917 4.0 6.4 .6 .0 12.6
2007
 Toronto 6 5 22.7 .487 .500 .810 1.7 4.0 1.2 .3 16.0
2008
 Toronto 5 5 24.8 .362 .125 .938 4.4 6.6 1.0 .0 11.6
2011
 Indiana 2 0 7.0 1.000 1.000 .000 .5 1.0 .0 .0 3.5
Career 18 15 24.2 .457 .375 .878 2.9 5.1 .8 .1 12.4

Croatia

During the

Adriatic League game, against Radnički in Jezero Hall, Kragujevac.[39]

Off the court

Ford started the T. J. Ford

Foundation in September 2004, an organization that seeks to enhance individuals through programs designed to develop their educational, recreational, physical and social well-being in collaboration with family and community.[3] The Foundation has a presence in Texas and Wisconsin.[40]

References

  1. ^ a b c BIO Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine, tjfordlive.com, accessed September 8, 2007.
  2. ^ texassports.com biography Archived June 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, texassports.com, accessed February 23, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d e T. J. Ford Info Page - Bio Archived April 2, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, nba.com, accessed April 29, 2007.
  4. ^ a b c d Jay, Paul, "Ford the new engine for high-octane Raptors", cbc.ca, October 31, 2006, accessed September 4, 2007.
  5. ^ a b c d e Brady, Erik, "Ford motors toward NBA return", usatoday.com, October 30, 2005, accessed April 29, 2007.
  6. ^ a b c d e Prospect Profile: T. J. Ford, nba.com/draft2003, accessed September 1, 2007.
  7. ^ Melanie Boehm, "Ford gets No. 11 jersey retired one season after Final Four berth" Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, dailytexanonline.com, February 9, 2004, accessed April 29, 2007.
  8. ^ "T.J. Ford graduates from Texas, shares touching moment with ex-coach Rick Barnes".
  9. ^ a b c d e T. J. Ford Info Page - Career Stats and Totals Archived March 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, nba.com, accessed September 8, 2007.
  10. ^ a b TJ Ford, hoopshype.com, b accessed September 3, 2007.
  11. ^ "Ford Cleared For Full-Contact Basketball", nba.com/bucks, June 27, 2005, accessed April 29, 2007.
  12. ^ Bucks 117 76ers 108, nba.com, November 1, 2005, accessed September 4, 2007.
  13. ^ Luis, Ernest, "NBA Madness... Up Close & Personal", The New Paper, 2 September 2007.
  14. ^ "Raptors Acquire T. J. Ford and Cash from Milwaukee in Exchange for Villanueva", nba.com/raptors, June 30, 2006, accessed May 5, 2007.
  15. ^ Smalls, Anthony, "The Rebirth of the Raptors", nba.com, April 12, 2007, accessed September 8, 2007.
  16. ^ Raptors Post Up, nba.com/raptors, March 21, 2007, accessed September 8, 2007.
  17. ^ SI Players Poll, sportsillustrated.cnn.com, February 20, 2007, accessed April 29, 2007.
  18. ^ Raptors 98 Clippers 96, nba.com, December 20, 2006, accessed September 4, 2007.
  19. ^ Raptors 101 Trailblazers 100, nba.com, December 22, 2006, accessed September 4, 2007.
  20. ^ Sonics 119 Raptors 120, nba.com, March 11, 2007, accessed September 4, 2007.
  21. ^ Raptors Post Up, nba.com/raptors, March 14, 2007, accessed April 29, 2007.
  22. ^ Smith, Doug, "Ford has rough ride to playoffs", thestar.com, April 20, 2007, accessed April 29, 2007.
  23. ^ Jefferson, Nets Eliminate Raptors, nba.com/playoffs2007, May 5, 2007, accessed September 4, 2007.
  24. ^ Smith, Doug, "Being a better leader Ford's focus", thestar.com, October 19, 2007, accessed October 21, 2007.
  25. ^ Odum, Charles, "Ford Seriously Injured as Raptors Finish Off Hawks", nba.com, December 11, 2007, accessed December 12, 2007.
  26. ^ Millson, Larry, "Raptors romp in Ford's return", globesports.com, February 5, 2008, accessed February 5, 2008.
  27. ^ Raptors Cut Magic's Lead to 2-1, nba.com, April 25, 2008, accessed May 1, 2008.
  28. ^ Smith, Doug, "Colangelo: Sam's safe 'for now'", thestar.com, April 30, 2008, accessed May 1, 2008.
  29. ^ Perkins, Dave, "Point guard protocol top Raps issue next season", thestar.com, April 30, 2008, accessed May 1, 2008.
  30. ^ Sources: Pacers agree to O'Neal-for-Ford swap with Raptors, sports.espn.go.com, June 25, 2008, accessed June 26, 2008.
  31. ^ Wells, Mike, "Healthier Ford going to basket more", indystar.com, February 1, 2009, accessed February 5, 2009.
  32. ^ "NBA's T.J. Ford retires as medical precaution". USA Today. March 12, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  33. ^ "T.J. Ford Announces Retirement On Twitter". Sports Illustrated. March 12, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  34. ^ "Injured again, T.J. Ford will retire". ESPN. March 12, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  35. ^ "Warriors Acquire Richard Jefferson, T.J. Ford And 2012 First Round Pick From San Antonio". NBA.com. March 15, 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
  36. ^ Warriors waive retiring guard T.J. Ford
  37. ^ T.J. Ford to play for KK Zagreb
  38. ^ FORD, TJ EuroLeague 2011-12 STATISTICS
  39. ^ Radnicki Kragujevac Vs Zagreb CO
  40. ^ TJ's Causes, tjfordfoundation.org, accessed September 8, 2007.

External links

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