Devean Jamar George (born August 29, 1977) is an American former professional basketball player who played 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), mostly as a backup small forward. He won three NBA championships during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers. Since completing his basketball career George has become a real estate developer in his home state of Minnesota.
 George with the Mavericks in February 2008 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 29, 1977 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 235 lb (107 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Benilde-St. Margaret's (St. Louis Park, Minnesota) |
| College | Augsburg (1995–1999) |
| NBA draft | 1999: 1st round, 23rd overall pick |
| Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Playing career | 1999–2010 |
| Position | Small forward |
| Number | 3, 40, 19 |
| Career history | |
| 1999–2006 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2006–2009 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2009–2010 | Golden State Warriors |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 3,536 (5.6 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,975 (3.1 rpg) |
| Assists | 543 (0.9 apg) |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Early life
editDevean Jamar George was born on August 29, 1977, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He attended high school at Benilde-St. Margaret's School in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, where he played basketball.
College career
editGeorge attended Augsburg College.[1] He was named Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player two consecutive years (1997–98 and 1998–99), and set school records as a senior by scoring 770 points and averaging 27.5 ppg in leading Augsburg to 24–4 record and the NCAA Division III tournament for the second year in a row.
George grew up in Near North, Minneapolis.[2]
Professional career
editLos Angeles Lakers (1999–2006)
editGeorge was taken by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 23rd overall pick of the 1999 NBA draft, and showed considerable promise, especially by his third season where his hustle, outside shooting, and defense made him a key substitute and he appeared in every single game. George was a contributor to the Los Angeles Lakers three straight championship seasons, playing a solid role as a reserve behind Rick Fox. The Lakers gave him a contract extension in 2002 as a result and over the years, his effort, defensive activity, three-point shooting, and willingness to do what the Lakers required of him endeared him to many Laker fans.
Dallas Mavericks (2006–2009)
editGeorge signed a two-year $4.2 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks as a free agent in August 2006[3] and as the season continued he gained coach Avery Johnson's trust and became more integral to the Mavericks' gameplan.
After the end of the 2006–07 NBA season, George became an unrestricted free agent. The Mavericks gave him and his agent a chance to opt in or opt out of a possible second season with the Mavericks at $2.16 m. On June 30, George decided to opt out of a second season with the Mavericks but eventually, with no other choices, re-signed on July 9 to a $2.5 million deal.[4]
In February 2008, George received a lot of publicity when he refused to be included as part of a larger trade which would have sent Jason Kidd to the Mavericks and George, alongside six other players, to the New Jersey Nets.[5][6] The trade was ultimately completed without George being part of it, with George being replaced by Trenton Hassell.[7]
On March 11, 2009, George injured his right knee in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers.[8] On March 27, George had arthroscopic surgery to remove loose fragments of cartilage from the injured knee.[9] George had the option to become a free agent at the end of the season,[10] but chose to exercise his player option to remain with the team.[11]
Golden State Warriors (2009–2010)
editOn July 8, 2009, George was a part of a three-team trade that sent him and Antoine Wright to the Toronto Raptors, Shawn Marion and Kris Humphries to the Mavericks and Jerry Stackhouse to the Memphis Grizzlies. George was later traded to the Golden State Warriors along with cash considerations on July 30, 2009, for Marco Belinelli.[12]
George tried out for his hometown Minnesota Timberwolves in December 2011 after the NBA lockout of that year ended.[13] He did not make their final roster.
After basketball
editIn 2012, George announced a proposal for an affordable apartment project in Minneapolis.[14] George has developed two affordable housing projects in North Minneapolis, where he grew up.[2] In 2022 he proposed a modular housing manufacturing facility in the North Loop of Minneapolis.[15]
On September 7, 2014, Devean and three former Augsburg teammates captured the Gus Macker 3-on-3 "Next Step Down" bracket, championship in St. Paul, Minnesota.
NBA career statistics
edit| 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 |
| † | Won an NBA championship |
Regular season
edit| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–00† | L.A. Lakers | 49 | 1 | 7.0 | .389 | .340 | .659 | 1.5 | .2 | .2 | .1 | 3.2 |
| 2000–01† | L.A. Lakers | 59 | 1 | 10.1 | .309 | .221 | .709 | 1.9 | .3 | .2 | .2 | 3.1 |
| 2001–02† | L.A. Lakers | 82 | 1 | 21.5 | .411 | .371 | .675 | 3.7 | 1.4 | .9 | .5 | 7.1 |
| 2002–03 | L.A. Lakers | 71 | 7 | 22.7 | .390 | .371 | .790 | 4.0 | 1.3 | .8 | .5 | 6.9 |
| 2003–04 | L.A. Lakers | 82 | 48 | 23.8 | .408 | .349 | .760 | 4.0 | 1.4 | 1.0 | .5 | 7.4 |
| 2004–05 | L.A. Lakers | 15 | 3 | 20.4 | .356 | .362 | .750 | 3.5 | .9 | .5 | .1 | 7.3 |
| 2005–06 | L.A. Lakers | 71 | 5 | 21.7 | .400 | .313 | .674 | 3.9 | 1.0 | .9 | .5 | 6.3 |
| 2006–07 | Dallas | 60 | 17 | 21.4 | .395 | .353 | .750 | 3.6 | .6 | .8 | .4 | 6.4 |
| 2007–08 | Dallas | 53 | 4 | 15.5 | .357 | .324 | .706 | 2.6 | .7 | .4 | .2 | 3.7 |
| 2008–09 | Dallas | 43 | 17 | 16.5 | .380 | .289 | .773 | 1.8 | .3 | .5 | .3 | 3.4 |
| 2009–10 | Golden State | 45 | 4 | 16.9 | .432 | .390 | .696 | 2.5 | .7 | .9 | .2 | 5.4 |
| Career | 630 | 108 | 18.5 | .392 | .343 | .721 | 3.1 | .9 | .7 | .4 | 5.6 | |
Playoffs
edit| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000† | L.A. Lakers | 9 | 0 | 5.0 | .368 | .200 | .545 | 1.1 | .2 | .1 | .0 | 2.4 |
| 2001† | L.A. Lakers | 7 | 0 | 3.9 | .500 | .500 | .500 | .7 | .1 | .0 | .0 | 2.0 |
| 2002† | L.A. Lakers | 19 | 0 | 17.2 | .365 | .229 | .733 | 3.6 | .6 | .6 | .5 | 5.0 |
| 2003 | L.A. Lakers | 11 | 7 | 28.9 | .449 | .333 | .889 | 4.5 | 2.2 | 1.0 | .4 | 8.0 |
| 2004 | L.A. Lakers | 22 | 19 | 21.4 | .430 | .373 | .650 | 2.3 | .5 | .9 | .4 | 5.5 |
| 2006 | L.A. Lakers | 7 | 0 | 17.3 | .382 | .429 | .400 | 2.3 | .6 | .6 | .1 | 5.3 |
| 2007 | Dallas | 6 | 1 | 18.2 | .200 | .250 | .800 | 3.0 | .7 | 1.0 | .3 | 3.5 |
| 2008 | Dallas | 5 | 0 | 12.4 | .393 | .333 | .600 | 3.0 | .0 | .4 | .4 | 5.8 |
| Career | 86 | 27 | 17.2 | .395 | .326 | .675 | 2.7 | .7 | .6 | .3 | 5.0 | |
References
edit- ^ "Augsburg's Devean George '99 in the NBA". Augsburg University Athletics. October 30, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ^ a b St. Anthony, Neal (November 16, 2022). "Developer Devean George plans $19M modular-home factory for North Loop". Star Tribune. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ "Mavs agree to 2-year, $4.2M deal with ex-Laker George". ESPN.com. Associated Press. August 1, 2006. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ Mavericks' George to become free agent | Sports News | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas
- ^ Crouse, Karen (February 15, 2008). "Devean George Enters Maelstrom as He Rejects Trade". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ Stein, Marc (February 14, 2008). "George blocks deal sending Kidd to Mavericks". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ Stein, Marc (February 19, 2008). "Finally, finalization! Kidd-to-Mavs trade official". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ Sefko, Eddie (March 13, 2009). "Devean George seems headed toward surgery". Sports. The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on April 16, 2009. Retrieved April 19, 2009.
- ^ "Mavericks Forward George Has Surgery On Knee". CBS TV 11. March 27, 2009. Retrieved April 19, 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Sefko, Eddie (April 5, 2009). "Devean George in the house". Sports. The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on January 24, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2009.
- ^ Devean George staying with Mavs Archived July 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Warriors Acquire Devean George From Toronto". NBA.com. July 30, 2009. Retrieved July 30, 2009.
- ^ Zgoda, Jerry (December 5, 2011). "Devean George wants to teach these young Wolves". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
- ^ Gilyard, Burl (November 27, 2012). "Ex-NBA player plans north Minneapolis rentals". Finance & Commerce. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ Halter, Nick (November 8, 2022). "Three-time NBA champ Devean George wants to build apartments inside of a Minneapolis warehouse". Axios. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
External links
edit- Career statistics from NBA.com and Basketball Reference
