Rafer Alston
Alston with the Houston Rockets
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born |
July 24, 1976 New York City, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
Benjamin N. Cardozo (Queens, New York) |
| College |
|
| NBA draft | 1998 / Round: 2 / Pick: 39th overall |
| Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks | |
| Playing career | 1998–2012 |
| Position | Point guard |
| Number | 11, 24, 12, 1 |
| Career history | |
| 1998–1999 | Idaho Stampede |
| 1999–2002 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2002–2003 | Mobile Revelers |
| 2003 | Toronto Raptors |
| 2003–2004 | Miami Heat |
| 2004–2005 | Toronto Raptors |
| 2005–2009 | Houston Rockets |
| 2009 | Orlando Magic |
| 2009–2010 | New Jersey Nets |
| 2010 | Miami Heat |
| 2011 | Zhejiang Lions |
| 2012 | Los Angeles D-Fenders |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 6,799 (10.1 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,891 (2.8 rpg) |
| Assists | 3,202 (4.8 apg) |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Rafer Jamel Alston (born July 24, 1976) is an American retired professional basketball player. He played for six NBA teams throughout his career.
Alston grew up in Jamaica, Queens, New York and was a standout streetball basketball player, known for his nontraditional moves which made him particularly adept at getting past defenders while dribbling the ball. He was the inspiration in many ways for the AND1 Mixtape Tour—a low-quality, jerky 1999 videotape of Alston's extreme playground moves, featuring helter-skelter crossover and other fast dribble moves faking out defenders, attracted a great deal of attention among players and basketball fans. These unique moves became Alston's signature, and in fact, his nickname "Skip 2 My Lou" comes from one of the moves. As the video began to circulate (some can be seen on AND1 Mixtape Volume 1), other non-NBA players began to contribute their own moves and highlights, and eventually the AND1 Live Tour (originally the AND1 Mixtape Tour) developed from that beginning.
Alston played basketball under coach Gregory Adams at St. Jerome School in Bronx, New York. He also played under famous high school coach Ron Naclerio at Benjamin Cardozo High School in Queens, New York. Naclerio is credited with circulating the Alston tape and getting it in the hands of AND1 staff.
Alston played college basketball for three seasons: one each at Ventura College (1994–95), Fresno City College (1996–97), and Fresno State (1997–98). Alston was red-shirted at Fresno City College for the 1995-96 season.
Alston struggled early in his NBA career, but successfully transitioned from streetball to the professional game. After playing off the bench for most of the time he was with the Milwaukee Bucks, he was traded to the Toronto Raptors. Following his tenure with the Raptors, he emerged as a starter for the Miami Heat in 2004. He did not disappoint, averaging 12 points and 4 assists on a young Miami team, led by rookie guard Dwyane Wade, that made it to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals of the NBA Playoffs. During that season, in a March 26 game against the Dallas Mavericks, he hit a game-winning shot in overtime with 0.5 seconds left over the outstretched arms of Shawn Bradley to catapult Miami to a 119-118 victory. Alston would sign a multi-year deal with the Toronto Raptors in the summer of 2004. For Alston this was his first step in the new phase of a secure NBA career which had eluded him until that point.
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