Jerry Stackhouse

Jerry Stackhouse - Quick Facts

Profile Overview of Jerry Stackhouse

Jerry Darnell Stackhouse (born November 5, 1974) is an American basketball coach and former player. Stackhouse played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels and played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and was a two-time NBA All-Star. He was the head coach of Raptors 905 and Vanderbilt as well as an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies, and Golden State Warriors. Also, he has worked as an NBA TV analyst.

This profile of Jerry Stackhouse covers Early Career and Breakthrough, NBA draft, Philadelphia 76ers (1995–1997), Detroit Pistons (1997–2002) and Washington Wizards (2002–2004).

Early Career and Breakthrough of Jerry Stackhouse

Stackhouse was a premier player from the time he was a sophomore in high school. He was the state player of the year for North Carolina in 1991–92, leading Kinston High School to the state finals loss. His senior year, he played for Oak Hill Academy with future college teammates Rasheed Wallace & Jeff McInnis, where he helped them to an undefeated season. He was a two-time first team Parade All-America selection, and was Co–MVP of the McDonald's All-American Game. At the 1992 Nike Camp, he and Rasheed Wallace were considered to be the top players at the camp. There were some who considered Stackhouse the top prep player to come out of North Carolina since Michael Jordan.

Stackhouse attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a teammate of future NBA players Wallace, McInnis and Shammond Williams. In his sophomore season at UNC, Stackhouse led the team in scoring with 19.2 points per game and averaged 8.2 rebounds per contest. He led UNC to a Final Four appearance and was named as the National Player of the Year by Sports Illustrated and earned first-team All-America and All-ACC honors. While playing for the Tar Heels, he was coached by Dean Smith. Following the season, Stackhouse declared his eligibility for the 1995 NBA draft.

Although he left UNC after two years, he continued working on his degree and received his bachelor's degree in African American Studies in 1999.

NBA draft of Jerry Stackhouse

Stackhouse was selected in the first round of the 1995 NBA draft with the third pick by the Philadelphia 76ers. At one time he was hyped as the "Next Jordan" since both players played at North Carolina, went #3 in the draft, were listed at 6'6", looked similar physically, and had similarly acrobatic games. Coincidentally, both had a taller power forward from UNC drafted immediately after them in the #4 spot, Sam Perkins in 1984, and Rasheed Wallace in 1995.

Philadelphia 76ers (1995–1997)

In his first season with the 76ers, Stackhouse led his team with a 19.2 points per game (PPG) average, and was named to the NBA's All-Rookie team. In the 1996–97 season, the 76ers also drafted Allen Iverson. Combined, the two posted 44.2 points per game for the Sixers. Stackhouse represented the 76ers in the 1996 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Detroit Pistons (1997–2002)

Midway through the 1997–98 season, Stackhouse was dealt to the Detroit Pistons with Eric Montross for Theo Ratliff, Aaron McKie and future considerations. By the 1999–2000 season, his second full season with the Pistons, Stackhouse was averaging 23.6 points per game. A year later, he had a career-high average of 29.8 points per game. In a late season victory over the Chicago Bulls, he set the Pistons' franchise record and the league's season high for points in a game with 57. In 2001 he led the NBA in total points scored, finishing 2nd in the PPG scoring title to his former 76er teammate, Allen Iverson. Stackhouse saw his final action as a Piston with Detroit's elimination in the second round of the 2001–02 NBA playoffs to the Boston Celtics.

Washington Wizards (2002–2004)

During the 2002 offseason, Stackhouse was traded to the Washington Wizards in a six-player deal, also involving Richard Hamilton.

In his first season with Washington (2002–03), Stackhouse led the Wizards in points and assists per game with 21.5 and 4.5 respectively. Stackhouse became the only teammate to average more points per game than Michael Jordan for an entire season (Jordan averaged 20.0 points per game in 2002-03 which was his last season in the NBA). Stackhouse missed most of the 2003–04 season while recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, playing in only 26 games.

In 2020 Stackhouse stated that he regretted playing with Jordan, feeling that plays being designed primarily for an NBA legend past his prime was stalling Stackhouse's All-Star momentum.

Dallas Mavericks (2004–2009)

In the 2004 offseason, Stackhouse—along with Christian Laettner and the Wizards' first-round draft pick (Devin Harris)—was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for former Tar Heel and NBA All-Star Antawn Jamison. He did not play for 41 games during his first two seasons with Dallas due to groin and continued knee problems, and played mostly the role of sixth man. During the 2004–05 playoffs, Stackhouse began wearing pressure stockings during games to keep his legs warm, to aid his groin injury, and hold his thigh sleeves in place; the stockings also allowed for better blood flow to the legs. The practice quickly became a trend among NBA players, with Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and others adopting pressure stockings the following season.

Stackhouse was still coming off the bench as the 6th man for the Dallas Mavericks during the 2005–06 NBA season. He was a significant factor in the NBA Finals series against the Miami Heat. The Mavericks suffered when Stackhouse was suspended for Game 5 for a flagrant foul on Shaquille O'Neal, and the Heat eventually won the series 4–2. Stackhouse was the third player from the Mavericks suspended during the 2006 playoffs.

Milwaukee Bucks (2010)

Stackhouse was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies on July 8, 2009, in a four-way trade. On the day after the trade, Stackhouse was waived by the Grizzlies. On January 17, 2010, the Milwaukee Bucks signed Stackhouse for the remainder of the 2009–10 season.

Miami Heat (2010)

On October 23, 2010, Stackhouse and the Miami Heat agreed to a contract.

On November 23, 2010, the Heat waived Stackhouse to make room for Erick Dampier who was signed to replace injured forward Udonis Haslem.

Atlanta Hawks (2011–2012)

On December 9, 2011, Stackhouse joined the Atlanta Hawks. Stackhouse was chosen to replace injured teammate Joe Johnson as Atlanta's representative in the Haier Shooting Stars Competition during NBA All-Star weekend.

Brooklyn Nets (2012–2013)

On July 11, 2012, Stackhouse made a verbal agreement to sign a one-year, $1.3 million deal with the Nets. Stackhouse has worn the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson, his favorite athlete, and became the first professional athlete to wear the number 42 in Brooklyn since Robinson. On November 26, 2012, the Nets played the New York Knicks for the first time since the Nets had moved to Brooklyn. Stackhouse played 22 minutes and scored 14 points, including a tiebreaking 3-pointer in overtime, and the Nets went on to win. On March 18, 2013, he scored 10 points against the Detroit Pistons, one of his former teams.

Source: adapted from Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Stackhouse), text available under CC BY-SA 4.0.