Rafer Alston: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
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{{short description|American basketball player (born 1976)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Rafer Alston
| image = Rafer Alston.jpg
| width =
| caption = Alston with the Houston Rockets in 2007
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 190
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|07|24}}▼
| team =
| birth_place = [[Queens|Queens, New York]], U.S.
| league =
| high_school = [[Benjamin N. Cardozo High School|Benjamin N. Cardozo]]<br />([[Queens]], New York)▼
▲| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|07|24}}
| college = ▼
| birth_place = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
| nationality = American
▲| high_school = [[Benjamin N. Cardozo High School|Benjamin N. Cardozo]]<br />([[Queens]], New York)
▲| college =
*[[Ventura College|Ventura CC]] (1994–1995)
*[[Fresno City College|Fresno CC]] (1996–1997)
*[[Fresno State Bulldogs men's basketball|Fresno State]] (1997–1998)
| draft_year = 1998
| draft_round = 2
| draft_pick = 39
| draft_team = [[Milwaukee Bucks]]
| career_start = 1998
| career_end = 2012
| career_position = [[Point guard]]
| career_number = 11, 24, 12, 1
| years1 = 1998–1999
| team1 = [[Idaho Stampede]]
| years2 = {{nbay|1999|start}}–{{nbay|2001|end}}
| team2 = [[Milwaukee Bucks]]
| years3 = [[2002–03 NBA Development League season|2002–2003]]
| team3 = [[Mobile Revelers]]
| years4 = {{nbay|2002|end}}
| team4 = [[Toronto Raptors]]
| years5 = {{nbay|2003|full=y}}
| team5 = [[Miami Heat]]
| years6 = {{nbay|2004|full=y}}
| team6 = Toronto Raptors
| years7 = {{nbay|2005|start}}–{{nbay|2008|end}}
| team7 = [[Houston Rockets]]
| years8 = {{nbay|2008|end}}
| team8 = [[Orlando Magic]]
| years9 = {{nbay|2009|full=y}}
| team9 = [[New Jersey Nets]]
| years10 = {{nbay|2009|end}}
| team10 = Miami Heat
| years11 = [[2010–11 CBA season|2011]]
| team11 = [[Zhejiang Lions]]
| years12 = [[2011–12 NBA Development League season|2012]]
| team12 = [[Los Angeles D-Fenders]]
| highlights =
| stats_league = NBA
| stat1label = [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
| stat1value = 6,799 (10.1 ppg)
| stat2label = [[Rebound (basketball)|Rebounds]]
| stat2value = 1,891 (2.8 rpg)
| stat3label = [[Assist (basketball)|Assists]]
| stat3value = 3,202 (4.8 apg)
| bbr = alstora01
| letter = a
}}
'''Rafer Jamel Alston''' (born July 24, 1976), also known asnicknamed "'''Skip to2 myMy Lou'''",{{efn|Also orstylised as "'''Skip 2to My Lou''',".}} is an American retired professional [[basketball]] player. Alston first gained basketball fame playing in the [[AND1#AND1 Mixtape Tour|AND1 Mixtape Tour]] in 1999 before makingjoining the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) with the [[Milwaukee Bucks]]. While in the NBA from 1999–20101999 to 2010, he played for six teams, including the [[2008–09 Orlando Magic season|2008–09 Orlando Magic]] team that made the NBA Finals.▼
▲'''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#AND1 Mixtape Tour|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.
== Streetball legend ==
Alston grew up in the [[Jamaica, Queens|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tampabay.com/sports/basketball/nba/former-streetball-star-rafer-alston-has-stabilized-the-nba-playoff-bound/992972|title=Former streetball star Rafer Alston has stabilized the NBA playoff-bound Orlando Magic|first=Dave|last=Scheiber|date=April 17, 2009|work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|access-date=December 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215142951/http://www.tampabay.com/sports/basketball/nba/former-streetball-star-rafer-alston-has-stabilized-the-nba-playoff-bound/992972|archive-date=2013-12-15|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was the inspiration in many ways for the [[AND1#AND1 Mixtape Tour|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.<ref name="streetballin.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.streetballin.net/features/and1-mixtape-tour-history/ |title=Teams, Leagues etc |website=Streetballin.net |access-date=December 13, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830004715/http://www.streetballin.net/features/and1-mixtape-tour-history/ |archive-date=August 30, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.slamonline.com/nba/introducing-slams-legends-rafer-alston/|title=Introducing The SLAM Legend of the Week: Rafer Alston|date=2018-05-27|work=SLAMonline|access-date=2018-07-27|language=en-US}}</ref> His trademark skipping dribble when bringing the ball down the court earned him the nickname, Skip to My Lou.<ref>{{Cite news|url=httphttps://articleswww.latimes.com/2009archives/la-xpm-2009-jun/-07/sports/-sp-streetballer7-story.html|title=From 'Skip' to Rafer – his ultimate crossover|last=Wharton|first=David|date=2009-06-07|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2018-07-27|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref>
He also played under well-known 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.<ref name="streetballin.net"/>
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===Milwaukee Bucks (1999–2002)===
Alston struggled early in his NBA career, but successfully transitioned from [[streetball]] to the professional game.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/11/sports/basketball/11knicks.html?ref=sports | title=Alston Is a Key to Magic's Playoff Run | first=Howard | last=Beck | date=April 11, 2009 | work=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=March 27, 2010}}</ref> He played off the bench for most of the time he was with the Bucks. On November 17, 2001, when filling in for [[MilwaukeeSam Cassell]], Alston led the Bucks to a 104–93 win over the [[Utah Jazz]] with 14 points and 10 assists.<ref>[https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2001/11/17/Milwaukee-104-Utah-93/54901006058063/ UPI: Milwaukee 104, Utah 93]</ref>
=== Toronto Raptors (2003) ===
Alston wassigned traded towith the [[TorontoGolden RaptorsState Warriors]] in 2002, but was waived in October before the season began.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/alstora01.html Rafer Alston Transactions]</ref> On January 17, 2003, he signed with the [[Toronto Raptors]].<ref>{{cite news|url=httphttps://sportswww.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?id=1835443|title=Sources: Street-ball legend agrees to 6-year deal|first=Marc|last=Stein|date=July 7, 2004|work=[[ESPN.com]]|access-date=December 13, 2013}}</ref> He played in 47 games, averaged about 21 minutes per game, and averaged 7.8 points per game.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Rafer Alston Career Stats - NBA |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/11/rafer-alston |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}}</ref>
=== Miami Heat (2003–2004) ===
Following his tenure with the [[Toronto Raptors|Raptors]], Alston 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 [[2004 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?id=240326014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403002158/http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?id=240326014|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 3, 2015|title=Alston's 3 with 0.5 left in OT wins it|date=March 26, 2004|work=[[ESPN.com]]|access-date=December 13, 2013}}</ref>
=== Return to Toronto (2004–2005) ===
Alston would sign a multi-year deal with the Toronto Raptors in the summer of 2004. For AlstonIn the 2004–2005 season, thishe wasplayed hisnearly firstall stepgames inthat theseason new(80), phaseaveraged ofabout a34 secureminutes NBAper careergame, whichand had eludedhis himbest untilpoint thatper pointgame average (14.2) in his career.<ref name=":0" />
===Houston Rockets (2005–2008)===
Alston was traded to the [[Houston Rockets]] for guard [[Mike James (basketball, born 1975)|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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/rafer_alston/bio.html |title=ArchivedNBA.com copy: Rafer Alston Bio Page |website=[[NBA.com]] |access-date=2009-12-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091223062242/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/rafer_alston/bio.html |archive-date=2009-12-23 }}</ref>
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]].<ref>[https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gQiCNnFelPNA2Xu_ztYJhpVd8t8AD94ET25O7 ]{{Deaddead link|date=FebruaryJune 20222024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} </ref>
===Orlando Magic (2009)===
Alston was traded to the [[Orlando Magic]] in a three-way deal on February 19, 2009,<ref name="Alston to Magic">{{cite web
|url = httphttps://sportswww.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3919268
|title = Magic to acquire Alston in 3-team deal
|work = [[ESPN.com]]
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|last = Stein
|date = February 20, 2009
|access-date = 2009-02-19}}</ref> 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 2009|NBA Finals]], where they lost to the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] in five games, after beingAlston was replaced byin the starting lineup by returning star Jameer Nelson,. The move was a somewhat controversial decision by Stan Van Gundy, because Alston had led the team to the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dunlap |first=Evan |date=2009-06-22 |title=Examining the Orlando Magic's Rafer Alston/Jameer Nelson Point Guard "Controversy" |url=https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2009/6/22/919377/examining-the-orlando-magics-rafer |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=Orlando Pinstriped Post |language=en}}</ref> 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.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}}
===New Jersey Nets (2009–2010)===
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===Return to Miami (2010)===
On January 7, 2010, he cleared waivers and signed with the [[Miami Heat]] for the second time.<ref>{{cite news|url=httphttps://sportswww.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4806326|title=Heat sign Alston off waivers|date=January 7, 2010|work=ESPN.com|access-date=December 13, 2013}}</ref> After starting 25 games for Heat, Miami replaced Alston with Carlos Arroyo as starting point guard. In a press release, Miami stated that Alston "made contact with the team via text message...has made himself otherwise unavailable to the team"<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com.sg/nba/news/story?id=4972973 | title=Heat suspend disgruntled G Alston indefinitely | date=7 March 2010 }}</ref> and 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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/fantasy/fantasy_playernews.jsp?date=03%2F13%2F10&type=news#rafer_alston |title=Archived copy |website=[[NBA.com]] |access-date=2019-02-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917233241/http://www.nba.com/fantasy/fantasy_playernews.jsp?date=03%2F13%2F10&type=news#rafer_alston#rafer_alston |archive-date=2010-09-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Thus, Alston's final NBA game was played on March 2nd2, 2010, in a 110 - {{endash}}106 win over the Golden State Warriors. In Alston's final game, although he was the Heat's starting point guard, he only played for 7 minutes and the only stat he recorded was 1 rebound.
===Zhejiang Lions (2011)===
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==Legal troubles==
During 1998, he was convicted of assaulting two neighbors in Fresno.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://apnews.com/article/72f55d9cebfdd563ed6998c75c9d4e33 | title=Fresno's Alston Faces Sentencing | website=[[Associated Press]] }}</ref>
On Sunday morning, August 5, 2007, Alston was arrested in downtown Houston on misdemeanor charges of assault and public intoxication.<ref>{{cite news|url=httphttps://sportswww.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2962693|title=Rockets' Alston arrested, charged with assault, public intoxication|date=August 6, 2007|work=[[ESPN.com]]|access-date=December 13, 2013}}</ref> The charges brought against Alston for the incident were dropped on February 29, 2008.[5]
He was also arrested on August 7, 2008, and charged with DWI.<ref>[http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7709003&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1 Testimony Begins in DWI Trial of Rockets Guard Alston], retrieved October 24, 2008{{dead link|date=December 2013}}</ref>
He was arrested yet again early Tuesday morning, August 28, 2007, in [[New York City|New York]] for allegedly slashing a man on the neck during a nightclub altercation.<ref>[http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/7164050?MSNHPHMA Alston accused of slashing man in club] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930035052/http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/7164050?MSNHPHMA |date=2007-09-30 }}, retrieved August 28, 2007</ref> Neither the club owner, police, nor security tapes have provided any evidence of the incident occurring.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/bridget-moynahan-tom-brady-hike-article-1.241207|title=Bridget Moynahan to Tom Brady: Take a hike|date=August 30, 2007|work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|access-date=December 13, 2013}}</ref>
==NBA career statistics==
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{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|1999|trunc=y}}
| align="left" | [[1999–2000 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| 27 || 0 || 13.4 || .284 || .214 || .750 || .9 || 2.6 || .4 || .0 || 2.23
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2000}}
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| align="left" | {{nbay|2003}}
| align="left" | [[2003–04 Miami Heat season|Miami]]
| '''82''' || 28 || 31.5 || .376 || .371 || '''.769''' || 2.8 || 4.5 || 1.4 || .2 || 10.2
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2004}}
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| align="left" | {{nbay|2006}}
| align="left" | [[2006–07 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| style="background:#CFECECcfecec;"| '''82'''* || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''82'''* || 37.1 || .375 || .363 || .734 || 3.4 || 5.4 || 1.6 || .1 || 13.3
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2007}}
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==See also==
*[[List of National Basketball Association players with 9 or more steals in a game]]
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
==References==
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070830230503/http://www.freebasketball.netfirms.com/skip00.html Streetball Player Page]
* [http://www.nba.com/playerfile/rafer_alston/index.html NBA player profile]
* [http://www.clutchfans.net/players/rafer_alston/ ClutchFans.net Rafer Alston Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080419052528/http://www.clutchfans.net/players/rafer_alston/ |date=2008-04-19 }} – Houston Rocket Fan Site
{{1998 NBA Draftdraft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alston, Rafer}}
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[[Category:American expatriate basketball people in Canada]]
[[Category:American expatriate basketball people in China]]
[[Category:BasketballAmerican playersmen's frombasketball New York Cityplayers]]
[[Category:AND1]]
[[Category:Benjamin N. Cardozo High School alumni]]▼
[[Category:Fresno City Rams men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Fresno State Bulldogs men's basketball players]]
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[[Category:New Jersey Nets players]]
[[Category:Point guards]]
[[Category:SportspeopleBasketball players from Queens, New York]]
[[Category:Street basketball players]]
[[Category:AmericanJunior college men's basketball players in the United States]]▼
[[Category:Toronto Raptors players]]
[[Category:Ventura Pirates men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Zhejiang Lions players]]
▲[[Category:American men's basketball players]]
▲[[Category:Benjamin N. Cardozo High School alumni]]