Smush Parker
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| Parker in February 2007 playing for the LA Lakers. | |
| Point guard / Shooting guard | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | June 1, 1981 |
| Place of birth | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | Newtown (New York City) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Southern Idaho (1999–2000) Fordham (2000–2002) |
| NBA Draft | 2002 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 2002–present |
| Career history | |
| 2002–2003 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2003–2004 | Aris B.C. (Greece) |
| 2004–2005 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2005 | Phoenix Suns |
| 2005–2007 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2007–2008 | Miami Heat |
| 2008 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2008 | Rio Grande Valley Vipers (D-League) |
| 2009–2010 | Guangdong Southern Tigers (China) |
| 2010-2011 | Spartak Saint Petersburg (Russia) |
| 2011 | Iraklis Thessaloniki B.C. (Greece) |
| 2012 | Petrochimi Bandar Imam (Iranian Basketball Super League) |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
William Henry "Smush" Parker (born June 1, 1981) is an American professional basketball player. Parker played shooting guard in college but moved to point guard in the NBA
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[edit] Early years
Parker was born in Brooklyn and attended Newtown High School in Elmhurst, Queens, where he was a star guard on their varsity basketball team. He then enrolled in at the College of Southern Idaho as a freshman in the 1999-2000 season and transferred to play college basketball at Fordham University.[1] Following his sophomore season at Fordham University, he entered the NBA in 2002 but went undrafted.[2] During his sophomore season, he was Second Team All A-10 and Second Team NABC All-Region.[3]
[edit] Professional career
While he was not drafted out of college, the Cleveland Cavaliers signed him for the 2002-03 season.[4] Parker has played for a myriad of NBA teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, and the Phoenix Suns. He also played for Aris Thessaloniki of the Greek A1 League (FIBA Europe) helping them win the 2004 Greek Basketball Cup in the final against Olympiacos BC. He then signed a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers during the summer of 2005.
Little known entering the 2005 season, Parker gained recognition as the starting point guard for the Lakers under coach Phil Jackson. While many experts thought that either newly-signed veteran Aaron McKie or Sasha Vujačić would start at point guard, Parker became the surprise starter in the Lakers' season opener against the Denver Nuggets[5] and went on to score at least 20 points in four of his first five Laker games,.[6][7] This impressed Jackson, and Parker found himself in the starting line-up for the Lakers. From 2005 until 2007, Parker started 162 straight games averaging 11.5 points. During the last two games of the regular season and the playoffs (2006–2007), Parker lost his starting spot to rookie Jordan Farmar.[8]
On July 26, 2007, Parker signed with the Miami Heat.[9] For the Heat, Parker wore jersey number 21.[10] His production dropped off dramatically while with the Heat, with averages of 4.8 points, 1.7 assists and 2.1 rebounds, compared to his 11.1 in 164 games with the Los Angeles Lakers.[2]
Due to a physical altercation that Parker had with a parking attendant in November 2007, the Miami Heat put him on paid leave to investigate the matter. On March 10, 2008, the Miami Heat officially waived Parker.[8] The Los Angeles Clippers then signed him for the rest of the season on March 12, 2008.[2]
On July 10, 2008, the Los Angeles Clippers officially renounced their rights to Parker as a free agent.
In the 2008 off season Parker was signed by the Denver Nuggets but was released on October 23, 2008, as the Nuggets trimmed their roster to the league-allowed 15. He then played with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League.
On January 9, 2009, Parker officially signed with Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association, making him one of the better known foreign players employed in the CBA, which was due mainly to his exposure gained in the country playing alongside Kobe Bryant.
In September 2010 he signed a one-year contract with the Russian club Spartak Saint Petersburg.[11]
In January 2011 he returned to Greece and signed a contract with Iraklis Thessaloniki B.C..[12]
In January 2012, Parker signed with Petrochimi Bandar Imam of the Iranian Basketball Super League. [13]
[edit] Legal issues
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Parts of this article (those related to section) are outdated. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. Please see the talk page for more information. (August 2008) |
Parker is currently the subject of a complaint lodged against him by a valet parker who accused Parker of striking her after a dispute over a $12 parking fee.[dated info] The female valet parking attendant Yomara McKenzie alleged that Parker injured her left arm at a condo building on Biscayne Boulevard. The valet could not find Parker's ticket even though Parker alleged that he had paid the $12 parking fee. A police report was generated and the matter was investigated by the Miami Police Department.[dated info] The valet attendant alleged the altercation left severe scratches and possible nerve damage. McKenzie's personal injury attorney planned to file civil suit for assault and battery. The Miami Heat moved Parker to their inactive list and put him on paid leave while they investigated the allegations.[14] On March 10, 2008, the Miami Heat waived Parker and he became a free agent.
[edit] NBA career statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
[edit] Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–03 | Cleveland | 66 | 18 | 16.7 | .402 | .322 | .831 | 1.8 | 2.5 | .7 | .2 | 6.2 |
| 2004–05 | Detroit | 11 | 1 | 10.0 | .393 | .222 | .692 | .8 | 1.0 | .3 | .0 | 3.0 |
| 2004–05 | Phoenix | 5 | 0 | 6.8 | .467 | .250 | .000 | .6 | .8 | .4 | .0 | 3.0 |
| 2005–06 | L.A. Lakers | 82 | 82 | 33.8 | .447 | .366 | .694 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 1.7 | .2 | 11.5 |
| 2006–07 | L.A. Lakers | 82 | 80 | 30.0 | .436 | .365 | .646 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 1.5 | .1 | 11.1 |
| 2007–08 | Miami | 9 | 0 | 20.3 | .315 | .250 | .750 | 2.1 | 1.7 | .6 | .3 | 4.8 |
| 2007–08 | L.A. Clippers | 19 | 2 | 21.5 | .362 | .222 | .667 | 1.7 | 3.6 | 1.0 | .2 | 6.4 |
| Career | 274 | 183 | 25.8 | .426 | .345 | .708 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 1.2 | .1 | 9.0 |
[edit] Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | L.A. Lakers | 7 | 7 | 36.9 | .333 | .154 | 1.000 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 2.1 | .1 | 8.9 |
| 2006–07 | L.A. Lakers | 5 | 0 | 11.8 | .154 | .167 | 1.000 | 1.4 | .6 | .6 | .2 | 1.8 |
| Career | 12 | 7 | 26.4 | .306 | .156 | 1.000 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 1.5 | .2 | 5.9 |
[edit] References
- ^ "Smush Parker bio". NBA. Archived from the original on March 8, 2009. http://web.archive.org/web/20090308060739/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/smush_parker/bio.html.
- ^ a b c Days after being cut by Heat, Parker signs with Clippers
- ^ "Flores Named To NABC District 2 Second Team". GoJaspers.com. February 11, 2002. http://www.gojaspers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12500&ATCLID=685289. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
- ^ "Cavaliers Sign Matt Barnes and Smush Parker to Contracts". NBA.com. September 25, 2002. pp. D1. http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/CAVALIERS_SIGN_MATT_BARNES_AND-53835-44.html.
- ^ "Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets Box Score November 2, 2005". Basketball-Reference.com. http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200511020DEN.html. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
- ^ "Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, November 3, 2005". Basketball-Reference.com. http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200511030LAL.html. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
- ^ "Atlanta Hawks at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, November 8, 2005". Basketball-Reference.com. http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200511080ATL.html. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
- ^ a b Clippers fall, sign Parker
- ^ Jackson, Barry (July 27, 2008). "Heat agrees to terms with guard Parker". Miami Herald. pp. D1. http://www.miamiherald.com/416/story/184682.html.
- ^ of the Miami Heat at Miamihoopsgear.com
- ^ Spartak pegs Parker at point guard
- ^ Iraklis lands Smush Parker
- ^ [1]
- ^ Cunningham, Michael (November 30, 2007). "Parker inactive as team investigates tussle with valet". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basketball/heat/sfl-flspheatnote30sbnov30,0,5664150.story.
[edit] External links
- 1981 births
- Living people
- African American basketball players
- American expatriate basketball people in China
- American expatriate basketball people in Greece
- American expatriate basketball people in Russia
- Junior college men's basketball players in the United States
- Fordham Rams men's basketball players
- Cleveland Cavaliers players
- Aris B.C. players
- Detroit Pistons players
- Los Angeles Clippers players
- Los Angeles Lakers players
- Miami Heat players
- Phoenix Suns players
- Point guards
- Shooting guards
- Undrafted National Basketball Association players
- Basketball players from New York
- Rio Grande Valley Vipers players
- Florida Flame players
- BC Spartak Saint Petersburg players
- Guangdong Southern Tigers players
- Sportspeople from Brooklyn
- Sportspeople from Queens
- Chinese Basketball Association players
