Jason Terry
From Hoopedia
Jason Eugene Terry (born September 15, 1977 in Seattle, Washington) is an American professional basketball player currently playing with the Dallas Mavericks. He plays point guard, although he also can play shooting guard. His nickname, "The JET", derives from his initials.
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Early Life
Terry was born in Seattle, one of ten children raised by a single mother. One of his brothers, [[CCurtis, currently plays college basketball for UNLV. He has a tattoo of the number 206 on his chest, recognizing the area code of his former neighborhood. He developed into an exceptional basketball player in high school; on February 2, 2007 Terry's number (31) was retired at Franklin High School.
NBA
Terry was drafted out of the University of Arizona by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1999 NBA Draft as the 10th overall selection. After spending his first five seasons with the Hawks, Terry was traded to the Mavericks just prior to the start of the 2004-05 season. He had a mediocre first few months with the Mavericks, the reason for which he cites to be he was trying to play the game of Steve Nash, whom he'd replaced, and not his own. He eventually came into his own, putting up solid numbers and by the end of the season earning his spot as the Mavs' number one guard.
In the 2004-05 NBA Playoffs, Terry averaged 17.5 points on 51% shooting while hitting 49% from three point range in his first playoff run. Yet his team failed to advance to the conference finals, losing its 2nd round series 4-2 to Nash's Phoenix Suns. In Game 6 of that series Terry got in a confrontation with teammate Dirk Nowitzki, who was frustrated by his own erratic play during the playoffs, for committing the crucial error of backing off of Steve Nash in the final seconds of regulation with his team up by 3, who subsequently hit the 3 point shot to send the game into overtime resulting eventually in the second round ouster of the Mavericks.
In the final seconds of Game 5, of the 2005-06 NBA Western Conference playoff semi-finals against the San Antonio Spurs, Terry in closeups was shown punching opposing guard and former teammate Michael Finley in the groin. On May 18, 2006, Jason Terry was suspended without pay from Game 6. Despite losing that game, the Mavericks were able to close out the series in Game 7 to advance to the Western Conference Finals. In Game 6 of the 2006 NBA Finals, Terry shot 7-25 from the field and 2-11 from three point territory as the cold shooting Mavericks were eliminated in 6 games by the champion Heat.
On July 1, 2006, after spending only 12 hours on the free-agent market, Jason Terry agreed to a 6-year contract with the Dallas Mavericks. He has participated in both the 2006 and 2007 3 point shootout, but has never made it to the final round.
Player Profile
Once criticized for his shot selection as a Hawk, Terry transformed himself into a better player. Other than his shooting, Terry is also a quick penetrator who can drive toward the basket for layups or use his favorite teardrop shot. Analysts point out that that Terry's assist numbers are low for a point guard and that he is actually a tweener, or a shooting guard trapped in a point guard's body. Since the insertion of Devin Harris at point guard in the 2006-2007 season, Terry has been starting at shooting guard for the Mavericks.
Triva
- His favorite pre-game meal is chicken fingers.
- Jason was the first Hawk since Stacey Augmon to make the NBA’s All-Rookie team.
- In 2004-05, Jason Terry and Steve Nash were the only players to shoot 80% from the line, 50% from the field and 40% from three-point range.
- Jason and his wife, Johnyika, have three daughters. Johnyika gave birth to a fourth baby girl on June 20, 2007. His little sister, Lyric, lives with them in Dallas.
- Jason has the number 206 tattooed on his chest. It is his hometown area code. He also has a tattoo of Underdog.
- His nickname is “JT” and he wears size 12½ basketball shoes.
- Jason loves watching ESPN’s SportsCenter.
- In college, Jason always slept in his uniform the night before a game.
- While Martin Lawrence and Halle Berry are his favorite actors, Richard Pryor’s “Harlem Nights” is his favorite all-time movie.
- Terry majored in general studies at Arizona.
International Career
Terry was also a member of the United States squad for the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia.
