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Jamaal Tinsley

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Jamaal Tinsley
Personal information
Born (1978-02-28) February 28, 1978 (age 46)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High schoolSamuel J. Tilden
(Brooklyn, New York)
College
NBA draft2001: 1st round, 27th overall pick
Selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies
Playing career2001–2013
PositionPoint guard
Number11, 10, 6
Career history
20012009Indiana Pacers
2009–2010Memphis Grizzlies
2011Los Angeles D-Fenders
20112013Utah Jazz
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points4,652 (8.5 ppg)
Rebounds1,605 (2.9 rpg)
Assists3,330 (6.1 apg)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Jamaal Lee Tinsley (born February 28, 1978) is an American former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Tinsley played college basketball for the Iowa State Cyclones. Following his senior year, he was drafted by the Vancouver Grizzlies with the 27th pick of the 2001 NBA draft and was immediately dealt to the Atlanta Hawks, and then to the Indiana Pacers on draft night. Tinsley played 11 seasons in the NBA, primarily with the Pacers, as well as the Grizzlies and Jazz.

Early years and college career

As a teen, Tinsley developed his game playing streetball at New York City's Rucker Park. Tinsley's streetball nickname is "Mel The Abuser". He played junior college ball at Mt. San Jacinto Community College (MSJC) before breaking onto the national scene in the Big 12 Conference at Iowa State University.[1]

In Tinsley's junior year with the Cyclones, he was named the Big 12 Player of the Year. He led Iowa State to a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The team, along with fellow star Marcus Fizer, reached the Elite Eight before losing to eventual champion Michigan State. In his senior year, Tinsley earned first-team All-American honors from the NABC.

NBA career

Indiana Pacers (2001–2009)

Tinsley wore #11 during his tenure at Iowa State and while with the Indiana Pacers.

Tinsley established himself as the starting point guard under Pacers coach Isiah Thomas. He put up statistics of 9.4 points and 8.1 assists per game in 2001–02. On November 16, 2001, he recorded the 9th five-by-five in NBA history since the 1985–86 season.[2] At 23 years and 261 days, he was the youngest to do so until Andrei Kirilenko in 2003.

Tinsley played 73 games for the Pacers in 2002–03, starting 69 of them, and his averages dipped to 7.8 points and 7.5 assists per contest.[3]

The following year, Rick Carlisle replaced Thomas as the Pacers' head coach, and promoted veteran guard Kenny Anderson to the starting point guard slot, with Anthony Johnson as his backup.

When Anderson and Johnson went down with injuries, Tinsley regained his status as a starter. As the Pacers advanced to the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals, Tinsley started all 16 playoff games.[3]

Tinsley spent the majority of the 2004–05 season on injured reserve due to a bruised left foot, but the team played its way to a 44–38 record and the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. Tinsley missed the first four games of the Pacers' first-round series against the Boston Celtics, but made a return in a Game 5 victory. In that game on May 3, 2005, Tinsley made seven assists, five steals, and six points, and the five steals tied the most among all players during the 2005 postseason and his personal best for the playoffs.[3] Tinsley's injury problems continued during the 2007–08 season; he only played in 39 games, during which he averaged a career-high 8.4 assists.

For the 2008–09 season, Tinsley was replaced in the starting lineup by point guard T. J. Ford. O'Brien and Pacers' President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird told Tinsley he would not play for the Pacers again and would be traded as soon as possible, then shipped his personal items to Tinsley's home in Atlanta. Tinsley then requested a contract buyout through his agent.[4] Because of the situation where Indiana's insistence on trading and not outright waiving Tinsley meant that no other team offered Indiana anything of value to acquire him (knowing that the Pacers would eventually have to part ways with Tinsley and then he could be picked up at no cost), the NBA Players Association filed a grievance against the Pacers on Tinsley's behalf on February 11, 2009.[5] On July 22, 2009, the Pacers waived Tinsley.[6]

Memphis Grizzlies (2009–2010)

On November 14, 2009, the Memphis Grizzlies signed Tinsley as a free agent.[7] Chris Wallace, the General Manager of the Grizzlies, stated that he "was the best available player out on the board."[8] The Grizzlies did not guarantee Tinsley a starting spot, but told him he would be allowed to compete for the point guard position.

Los Angeles D-Fenders (2011)

On November 3, 2011, Tinsley was picked 1st overall by the Los Angeles D-Fenders in the NBA Development League Draft.[9] Tinsley played eight games with the D-Fenders and averaged 9.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game.[10]

Utah Jazz (2011–2013)

On December 12, 2011, Tinsley was signed by the Utah Jazz, along with Keith McLeod, and Trey Gilder.[11]

On June 29, 2012, the Jazz exercised the team option on Tinsley's contract to keep him under contract for one more season.[12]

On October 26, 2013, he re-signed with the Jazz.[13] He would only play 8 games with the team and on November 12, 2013, he was waived by the Jazz.[14] Tinsley's final NBA game was during his 8-game span with the Utah Jazz as his final game was played on November 11, 2013 (the day before he was waived) in a 81 - 100 loss to the Denver Nuggets. In his final game, Tinsley recorded 3 assists and 1 rebound but no points.

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

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2001–02 Indiana 80 78 30.5 .380 .240 .704 3.7 8.1 1.7 .5 9.4
2002–03 Indiana 73 69 30.6 .396 .277 .714 3.6 7.5 1.7 .2 7.8
2003–04 Indiana 52 43 26.5 .414 .372 .731 2.6 5.8 1.6 .3 8.3
2004–05 Indiana 40 40 32.5 .418 .372 .744 4.0 6.4 2.0 .3 15.4
2005–06 Indiana 42 27 26.7 .409 .229 .637 3.2 5.0 1.2 .1 9.3
2006–07 Indiana 72 72 31.2 .389 .316 .720 3.3 6.9 1.6 .3 12.8
2007–08 Indiana 39 36 33.2 .380 .284 .720 3.6 8.4 1.7 .3 11.9
2009–10 Memphis 38 1 15.5 .371 .179 .815 1.7 2.8 .9 .1 3.5
2011–12 Utah 37 1 13.7 .404 .270 .765 1.2 3.3 .5 .2 3.7
2012–13 Utah 66 32 18.5 .368 .307 .692 1.7 4.4 1.0 .2 3.5
2013–14 Utah 8 5 13.8 .200 .067 .000 1.4 2.9 .3 .0 1.1
Career 547 404 26.6 .393 .299 .716 2.9 6.1 1.4 .3 8.5

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2002 Indiana 5 5 17.6 .421 .000 .667 2.0 5.0 .4 .0 3.6
2003 Indiana 6 6 30.8 .571 .615 .500 3.0 6.5 .7 .0 8.5
2004 Indiana 16 16 26.4 .398 .296 .938 2.9 5.0 1.8 .2 8.1
2005 Indiana 9 9 27.4 .360 .111 .571 3.3 5.7 1.6 .3 8.7
2006 Indiana 1 0 7.0 .333 .000 .000 .0 1.0 1.0 .0 2.0
2012 Utah 4 0 16.3 .250 .000 1.000 .5 3.0 .5 .0 3.8
Career 41 36 24.8 .398 .293 .720 2.6 5.1 1.2 .1 7.1

Others

On November 16, 2001, just in his 11th rookie game, Jamaal posted a rare 5 x 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with 12 points, 9 rebounds, 15 assists, 6 steals and 5 blocks.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ Breaking Away: The Jamaal Tinsley Story Archived October 15, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ [1] Basketball-Reference, September 12, 2014
  3. ^ a b c "Jamaal Tinsley bio". NBA. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008.
  4. ^ Jamaal Tinsley, Players Association to File Grievance ESPN.com, February 3, 2009
  5. ^ Players Association Files Grievance Over Inactivity Yahoo! Sports, February 12, 2009
  6. ^ "Pacers, Tinsley reach resolution". NBA.com. July 22, 2009. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
  7. ^ "Grizzlies sign Jamaal Tinsley". NBA.com. November 14, 2009. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
  8. ^ "Grizzlies add Tinsley to backcourt". ESPN. November 14, 2009. Retrieved November 14, 2009.
  9. ^ 2011 D-League Draft Archived December 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ "Jamaal Tinsley career stats". NBA Development League. Archived from the original on December 21, 2011. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  11. ^ "Jazz Signs Jamaal Tinsley, Keith McLeod and Trey Gilder". NBA.com. December 12, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  12. ^ "Jazz Exercises Team Option on Tinsley for 2012-13, Makes Qualifying Offer to Evans". NBA.com. June 29, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  13. ^ "Jazz Signs Guard Jamaal Tinsley". NBA.com. October 26, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  14. ^ "Jazz Waives Guard Jamaal Tinsley". NBA.com. November 12, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  15. ^ "Jamaal Tinsley 2001-02 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.