Raja Bell is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 12 seasons. He was born on September 19, 1976, in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Bell played college basketball at Florida International University before going undrafted in the 1999 NBA draft.
Bell began his professional career in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) with the Yakima Sun Kings in 1999. He then played in the International Basketball League (IBL) with the Idaho Stampede before signing with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2000. Bell played sparingly for the 76ers before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2001.
Bell's breakout season came in 2003-04 when he played for the Utah Jazz. He started all 82 games and averaged 12.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. Bell's strong play earned him a six-year, $24 million contract with the Phoenix Suns in 2005.
Bell played four seasons with the Suns and was a key contributor to their high-octane offense. He was known for his three-point shooting and his tough defense. Bell made the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2006 and 2007. He also helped lead the Suns to the Western Conference Finals in 2006 and 2010.
In 2008, Bell was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats. He played two seasons with the Bobcats before being traded back to the Utah Jazz in 2010. Bell played one season with the Jazz before being traded to the Golden State Warriors in 2011.
Bell's final season in the NBA was with the Utah Jazz in 2012. He played in only six games before being waived by the team. Bell retired from professional basketball in 2013.
Throughout his career, Bell was known for his toughness and his ability to defend some of the best players in the NBA. He was also a reliable three-point shooter and a solid all-around player. Bell finished his NBA career with averages of 9.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.
🏀