Richard Jefferson is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 17 seasons. He was born on June 21, 1980, in Los Angeles, California, and attended the University of Arizona, where he played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats.
Jefferson was selected by the Houston Rockets with the 13th overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft but was immediately traded to the New Jersey Nets. He spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Nets, where he established himself as a versatile small forward with excellent athleticism and scoring ability. He was a key member of the Nets team that reached the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003, alongside Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin.
In 2008, Jefferson was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, where he played for one season before being traded again to the San Antonio Spurs. He spent two seasons with the Spurs, where he played a key role in the team's run to the Western Conference Finals in 2012. He then played for the Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Denver Nuggets over the next several seasons.
Throughout his career, Jefferson was known for his athleticism, scoring ability, and versatility on both ends of the court. He was a solid defender and a capable rebounder, and he could play multiple positions on offense. He was also a reliable three-point shooter, finishing his career with a 37.5% three-point shooting percentage.
Jefferson retired from the NBA in 2018, finishing his career with averages of 13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. He played in 1,181 regular-season games and 146 playoff games, and he was a member of the USA men's basketball team that won the bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.
Off the court, Jefferson has been involved in various business ventures, including a real estate development company and a sports media company. He has also worked as a television analyst for ESPN and the YES Network.
Overall, Richard Jefferson had a successful and productive career in the NBA, playing for several teams and establishing himself as a versatile and reliable player. He was a key member of several playoff teams and won a bronze medal with the USA men's basketball team.
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