J. R. Giddens
Encyclopedia
Justin Ray Giddens is an American
professional basketball
player for PAOK Thessaloniki B.C.. The shooting guard
was selected out of the University of New Mexico
by the Boston Celtics
with the 30th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft
. He initially played for the University of Kansas
, but transferred following his sophomore season, and was forced to sit out as a redshirted
junior due to NCAA
transfer rules.
. After Williams left, Giddens was persuaded to stay by Williams' replacement Bill Self
. In his first year at Kansas, Giddens earned All-Big 12 Conference
Freshman honors while averaging 11 points
per game. However, he left Kansas after the stabbing incident in May 2005 on a mutual agreement with Self, and transferred to New Mexico for a fresh start. After sitting out a year due to NCAA
regulations, he was suspended indefinitely from the team in late February for not being a good teammate. In his senior season, he was named Mountain West Conference
Co-Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-American following career highs in points (16.3 per game) and rebounds
(8.8 per game).
with the 30th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft
. He had worked out with the Celtics for three days, and received praises from head coach Doc Rivers
, who thought he could fight for minutes on the team right away. He was even mentioned as a possible replacement for restricted free agent Tony Allen
. Giddens was already familiar with Leon Powe
and Kendrick Perkins
, who were his teammates at the 2003 McDonald's All-American
Game. But on behalf of his agent Aaron Mintz, Giddens declined to work out at the Celtics' minicamp in early July, because he had not signed a contract yet.
On November 15, 2008, Giddens was assigned to the Boston Celtics' NBA Development League
affiliate team, the Utah Flash
. He had played with the Celtics in the 2008–09 pre-season but had been on the inactive list for the first 10 games of the regular season. He was recalled by the Celtics from Utah Flash development team on February 8, 2009.
Giddens started his first game for the Boston Celtics on January 2, 2010.
On February 18, 2010, Giddens, Bill Walker
and Eddie House
were traded to the New York Knicks
for Nate Robinson
and Marcus Landry
.
On October 13, 2010, Giddens's agent said that Giddens would spend the 2010-11 season with Asseco Prokom Gdynia in Poland
, but Giddens left the team in December 2010 by mutual consent.
In September 2011, Giddens signed with PAOK Thessaloniki of Greece.
, requiring 30 stitches.
| align="left" | 2008-09
| align="left" | Boston
| 6 || 0 || 1.3 || .667 || .000 || .000 || .5 || .0 || .2 || .0 || .7
|-
| align="left" | 2009-10
| align="left" | Boston
| 21 || 1 || 4.7 || .429 || .000 || .500 || 1.0 || .3 || .2 || .0 || 1.1
|-
| align="left" |
| align="left" | New York
| 11 || 0 || 12.7 || .487 || .000 || .636 || 2.8 || .6 || .5 || .1 || 4.1
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 38 || 1 || 6.5 || .476 || .000 || .565 || 1.4 || .3 || .3 || .1 || 1.9
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player for PAOK Thessaloniki B.C.. The shooting guard
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
was selected out of the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
by the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
with the 30th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft
2008 NBA Draft
The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including...
. He initially played for the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
, but transferred following his sophomore season, and was forced to sit out as a redshirted
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
junior due to NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
transfer rules.
College
Giddens accepted a scholarship offer from University of Kansas from then head coach Roy WilliamsRoy Williams (coach)
Roy Williams is head coach of the men's basketball team at the University of North Carolina. After averaging nearly an 80% win percentage in 15 seasons at the University of Kansas, he became the eighteenth head coach at North Carolina when he replaced Matt Doherty in 2003...
. After Williams left, Giddens was persuaded to stay by Williams' replacement Bill Self
Bill Self
Bill Self is an American college men's basketball coach at the University of Kansas, where he led the Jayhawks to the 2008 NCAA national championship....
. In his first year at Kansas, Giddens earned All-Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
Freshman honors while averaging 11 points
Point (basketball)
Points in basketball are used to keep track of the score in a game. Points can be accumulated by making field goals or free throws ....
per game. However, he left Kansas after the stabbing incident in May 2005 on a mutual agreement with Self, and transferred to New Mexico for a fresh start. After sitting out a year due to NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
regulations, he was suspended indefinitely from the team in late February for not being a good teammate. In his senior season, he was named Mountain West Conference
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
Co-Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-American following career highs in points (16.3 per game) and rebounds
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
(8.8 per game).
Professional career
On June 26, 2008, Giddens was selected by the Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
with the 30th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft
2008 NBA Draft
The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including...
. He had worked out with the Celtics for three days, and received praises from head coach Doc Rivers
Doc Rivers
Glenn Anton "Doc" Rivers is a former professional basketball player and the current head coach of the NBA's Boston Celtics. Rivers was known for his defense while playing in the NBA...
, who thought he could fight for minutes on the team right away. He was even mentioned as a possible replacement for restricted free agent Tony Allen
Tony Allen (basketball)
Anthony Allen is an American professional basketball player with the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA.-Early career:...
. Giddens was already familiar with Leon Powe
Leon Powe
Leon Powe, Jr. is an American professional basketball power forward who last played for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association . Drafted in 2006 by the Denver Nuggets, Powe grew up in Oakland, California and played college basketball at the University of California, Berkeley...
and Kendrick Perkins
Kendrick Perkins
Kendrick Perkins is an American professional basketball player who plays as a center for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA....
, who were his teammates at the 2003 McDonald's All-American
McDonald's All-American Team
The McDonald's All-American Game refers to each of the all-star basketball games played each year for boys' and girls' high-school basketball graduates. Consisting of the top American and Canadian players, each team plays a single exhibition game after the conclusion of the high-school basketball...
Game. But on behalf of his agent Aaron Mintz, Giddens declined to work out at the Celtics' minicamp in early July, because he had not signed a contract yet.
On November 15, 2008, Giddens was assigned to the Boston Celtics' NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
affiliate team, the Utah Flash
Utah Flash
The Utah Flash was a team of the NBA Development League that began playing in 2007 and folded in 2011. They played their home games at the UCCU Center on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah...
. He had played with the Celtics in the 2008–09 pre-season but had been on the inactive list for the first 10 games of the regular season. He was recalled by the Celtics from Utah Flash development team on February 8, 2009.
Giddens started his first game for the Boston Celtics on January 2, 2010.
On February 18, 2010, Giddens, Bill Walker
Bill Walker (basketball)
William "Bill" Henry Walker is an American professional basketball player with the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association...
and Eddie House
Eddie House
Edward L. House II , commonly referred to as Eddie House, is an American professional basketball player in the NBA for the Miami Heat.-Early life:...
were traded to the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
for Nate Robinson
Nate Robinson
Nathaniel Cornelius Robinson is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder...
and Marcus Landry
Marcus Landry
Marcus Landry is an American professional basketball player for Assignia Manresa. Landry attended Vincent High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
.
On October 13, 2010, Giddens's agent said that Giddens would spend the 2010-11 season with Asseco Prokom Gdynia in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, but Giddens left the team in December 2010 by mutual consent.
In September 2011, Giddens signed with PAOK Thessaloniki of Greece.
Stabbing incident
On May 19, 2005, Giddens was stabbed in his right calf in a bar fight in Lawrence, KansasLawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
, requiring 30 stitches.
Personal
- MajorAcademic majorIn the United States and Canada, an academic major or major concentration is the academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits....
ed in University studies. - Cleared as a high jumper in high school.
- His parents are Charles and Dianna, and he has two sisters, Breeanna and Portia.
- Lists Steve UrkelSteve UrkelSteven Quincy Urkel, generally known as Steve Urkel or simply Urkel, is a fictional character on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters, portrayed by Jaleel White...
and Mr. Rogers as his favorite television characters. - Has sixteen tattoos, including his first initial "J" on his left triceps and his last initial "G" on his right triceps, and the BibleBibleThe Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
verse Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" - on his right shoulder.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2008-09
| align="left" | Boston
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
| 6 || 0 || 1.3 || .667 || .000 || .000 || .5 || .0 || .2 || .0 || .7
|-
| align="left" | 2009-10
| align="left" | Boston
| 21 || 1 || 4.7 || .429 || .000 || .500 || 1.0 || .3 || .2 || .0 || 1.1
|-
| align="left" |
| align="left" | New York
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 11 || 0 || 12.7 || .487 || .000 || .636 || 2.8 || .6 || .5 || .1 || 4.1
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 38 || 1 || 6.5 || .476 || .000 || .565 || 1.4 || .3 || .3 || .1 || 1.9
External links
- J. R. Giddens Euroleague.net Profile
- J. R. Giddens Player Info @ DraftExpress.com
- J. R. Giddens – New Mexico Player Bio
- J. R. Giddens Draft 2008 Profile @ NBA.com
- Trying to get past his past – The Boston GlobeThe Boston GlobeThe Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...