Jason Terry
Jason Eugene Terry (born September 15, 1977), known as "The Jet," is an American basketball coach and former professional player who spent 19 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a combo guard noted for his three-point shooting and quickness.[1][1] Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 185 pounds, Terry played college basketball at the University of Arizona, where he contributed to the 1997 NCAA championship team and became the only player in program history to record 1,000 points and 200 steals.[1][2] Selected 10th overall in the 1999 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks, he earned All-Rookie Second Team honors in his debut season and went on to play for nine franchises, appearing in 1,410 regular-season games—ninth-most in league history—while averaging 13.4 points per game.[1][3][1] His most notable achievements include winning the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2009 with the Dallas Mavericks and securing an NBA championship with the same team in 2011, where he averaged 18.0 points per game in the Finals series against the Miami Heat.[3][1][4] Since retiring as a player in 2018, Terry has transitioned to coaching, serving as an assistant for the Utah Jazz as of 2025.[5]Early life and education
High school career
Terry attended Franklin High School in Seattle, Washington, where he excelled as a point guard on the basketball team, known as the Quakers.[1][6] During his junior and senior years, he led the team to consecutive Washington state championships in 1994 and 1995, contributing significantly to their success in the classification AA tournament.[7][8] His quickness and agility on the court, standing at 6 feet 2 inches, earned him the nickname "The Jet" early in his playing days, reflecting his explosive playing style that became a hallmark of his career.[1] On February 2, 2007, Franklin High School retired his jersey number 31 in recognition of his contributions to the program's championship runs.[7]College career
Jason Terry joined the University of Arizona men's basketball team in 1995, playing under head coach Lute Olson from 1995 to 1999.[9] As a freshman in the 1995–96 season, he appeared in 31 games primarily off the bench, averaging 3.1 points, 1.2 assists, and 0.6 steals per game while shooting 54.2% from the field and .577 from three-point range on limited attempts (15-for-26).[2] In his sophomore year (1996–97), Terry emerged as a key reserve contributor for the Wildcats, making 18 starts across 34 games and averaging 10.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.5 steals per game.[10] He played a supporting role alongside starters like Mike Bibby and Miles Simon, helping Arizona achieve a 25–10 record and advance to the NCAA Tournament, where the team won the national championship—the program's only title—defeating Kentucky 84–79 in the final on March 31, 1997, in Indianapolis.[9] Terry's versatility as a guard, including his perimeter shooting (33.1% from three on 121 attempts) and defensive pressure, aided the team's up-tempo style and bench depth, which Olson emphasized for maintaining discipline and execution under pressure.[11] As a junior in 1997–98, Terry transitioned to a starting role, averaging 12.5 points and 4.1 assists per game while improving his three-point shooting to 34.7% (61-for-176), contributing to Arizona's 28–5 record and Final Four appearance.[12] By his senior season in 1998–99, he became the team's primary offensive engine, starting all 35 games and leading the Wildcats with 21.9 points, 5.5 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.8 steals per game—figures that made him the first player in Pac-10 history to lead the conference in scoring, assists, and steals.[13] For these performances, Terry earned Pac-10 Player of the Year honors and first-team All-Pac-10 selection, guiding Arizona to a 29–5 record, Pac-10 regular-season title, and Elite Eight finish in the NCAA Tournament.[14] Over his four-year career, Terry appeared in 129 games, averaging 11.3 points, 3.8 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game, with a career three-point shooting percentage of 37.4%.[9] His development under Olson's structured system, which prioritized fundamentals, shooting form, and competitive practices, built his shooting efficiency and decision-making, preparing him for professional demands through consistent repetition of core skills rather than relying on athleticism alone.[11]Professional playing career
Draft and early NBA years with Atlanta Hawks (1999–2004)
Jason Terry was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the tenth overall pick in the first round of the 1999 NBA draft, following a standout college career at the University of Arizona.[1] The Hawks, in a rebuilding phase after acquiring the pick via trade, viewed the 6-foot-2 combo guard as a potential backcourt spark due to his quickness and scoring ability from Arizona, where he averaged 19.8 points per game as a senior.[15] Terry signed a four-year rookie-scale contract worth approximately $6.9 million on July 11, 1999, including team options for later seasons.[16] In his rookie season (1999–2000), Terry appeared in 81 games, starting 27, and averaged 9.3 points, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 rebounds in 23.3 minutes per game, shooting 41.5% from the field and 29.3% from three-point range.[1] He earned All-Rookie Second Team honors, reflecting his immediate offensive contributions off the bench, including a season-highlight 22-point, 5-assist performance on November 16, 1999, in a 103–98 win over the Vancouver Grizzlies. However, the Hawks finished 28–54 and missed the playoffs, underscoring the team's developmental struggles amid a roster featuring veterans like Mookie Blaylock before his trade. Terry's early play revealed raw scoring talent but also inconsistencies, such as elevated turnovers (2.3 per game) and defensive limitations tied to his undersized frame against taller guards.[1] By his sophomore year (2000–01), Terry emerged as a primary scorer, boosting his averages to 19.7 points and 4.7 assists in 37.7 minutes across 82 games, while improving field-goal efficiency to 43.6%.[1] This progression highlighted his adaptation as a combo guard capable of handling point-guard duties or playing off-ball, though his three-point shooting remained modest at 32.2%. The Hawks again faltered at 25–57, continuing their playoff drought, but Terry's volume scoring—often exceeding 20 points in key outings—established him as the team's offensive engine in a low-efficiency offense.[17] Defensive critiques persisted, with opponents exploiting his size for mismatches, leading to empirical gaps in steal rates (1.0 per game) relative to his ball-handling role.[1] Over the subsequent seasons (2001–02 to 2003–04), Terry refined his game, peaking at 17.4 points per game in 2002–03 with enhanced three-point volume (5.3 attempts, 37.1% accuracy), foreshadowing his career 37.6% mark from beyond the arc.[1] He averaged around 4–5 assists annually, demonstrating growth in playmaking despite turnover rates hovering near 3.5 per game, indicative of aggressive drives and decision-making under pressure in a rebuilding context. The Hawks' persistent sub-.500 records (e.g., 35–47 in 2002–03) prevented postseason exposure, focusing Terry's development on individual efficiency amid team-wide inefficiencies. Early-career analyses noted his sixth-man versatility as a strength, allowing burst scoring without full-time defensive burdens, though his 6'2" stature consistently invited skepticism on perimeter containment.[17]Dallas Mavericks era and championship (2004–2012)
Jason Terry joined the Dallas Mavericks via trade from the Atlanta Hawks on August 4, 2004, in exchange for Antoine Walker and Tony Delk.[18][19] In Dallas, Terry transitioned to a primary bench role, providing scoring punch and perimeter spacing that complemented Dirk Nowitzki's inside-out game, averaging 13.8 points per game over his first three seasons while starting only sporadically.[1] His quick release and off-ball movement created driving lanes for Nowitzki, enhancing the Mavericks' offensive efficiency in a system reliant on pick-and-rolls and spot-up opportunities.[20] In the 2008–09 season, Terry earned NBA Sixth Man of the Year honors, appearing as the sixth man in 63 of 74 games and posting career-high averages of 19.6 points, 3.4 assists, and 1.3 steals in 33.6 minutes per game.[21] This recognition highlighted his impact as an instant-offense specialist, though he experienced shooting slumps, such as dipping below 40% from three-point range in stretches amid heavy usage off the bench.[1] During the 2006 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, Terry averaged 22.0 points per game, including 32 points in Game 1, but the Mavericks dropped the series 2–4 after leading 2–0, underscoring defensive vulnerabilities exposed by Dwyane Wade's free-throw volume despite Terry's scoring output.[22] Terry's zenith came in the 2011 playoffs, where he averaged 18.0 points per game in the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, including a 27-point outburst in Game 6 to clinch the championship.[4] As the first primary bench player since 1987 to record 20 points and 5 assists in a Finals game, his microwave scoring and psychological edge—via on-court trash-talking—bolstered Dallas's underdog upset over the star-laden Heat, with Terry shooting 44.2% from three across 21 playoff contests.[23] His role remained confined mostly to reserve minutes, starting just a handful of games, yet his true shooting percentage climbed to efficient levels in high-stakes scenarios, aiding spacing that freed Nowitzki for 26.0 points per game en route to Finals MVP.[1] This era cemented Terry's legacy as a contending contributor, balancing explosive peaks with the limitations of inconsistent starting opportunities in a veteran-led rotation.[24]Later career transitions (2012–2018)
Following his championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, Terry signed a one-year, $5.2 million contract with the Boston Celtics on July 18, 2012, aiming to pursue another title as a bench scorer.[3] In the 2012–13 season, he averaged 10.1 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game across 79 appearances, primarily off the bench, while contributing to Boston's Eastern Conference Finals appearance before a 4–3 loss to the Miami Heat.[25] His player efficiency rating (PER) fell to a career-low 12.8, reflecting diminished efficiency amid increased minutes (26.9 per game) and a suspension for a failed drug test, signaling early physical decline at age 35.[26] Terry joined the Brooklyn Nets on July 12, 2013, via a two-year, $6 million deal, transitioning to a diminished role on a contending but inconsistent squad.[27] During the 2013–14 season, his scoring dipped to 4.5 points per game in 18.2 minutes across 80 games, with the Nets exiting in the first playoff round against Toronto; he opted out of his contract's second year to seek better opportunities.[1] The move highlighted his shift toward veteran mentorship over primary production, as his three-point volume remained high (3.5 attempts per game at 36.9% accuracy) but overall impact waned due to age-related speed loss and reduced athleticism.[28] In July 2014, Terry signed a one-year, $1.8 million pact with the Houston Rockets, followed by a two-year extension worth $12 million, positioning him as a perimeter specialist on a title-aspiring team led by James Harden.[16] He averaged 5.7 points in 2014–15 (limited to 55 games by injuries) and 6.0 points in 2015–16, helping Houston to Western Conference semifinals both years, though his PER hovered below 10, underscoring reliance on spot-up shooting rather than creation amid defensive lapses from slower foot speed.[1] Critics noted his persistent high-volume, low-efficiency shots strained team flow, as evidenced by a true shooting percentage under 52% in these seasons, prioritizing personal rhythm over optimal spacing.[29] Terry returned to the Milwaukee Bucks on September 26, 2016, via a one-year deal, then re-signed for 2017–18, embracing a reserve leadership role at age 39–40. In his final NBA campaign, he managed 2.6 points in 11.9 minutes per game across 60 outings, hampered by a December 2017 calf strain that sidelined him for weeks, before the Bucks fell in the first round to Boston.[31] Expressing desire for a 20th season, Terry effectively retired from the NBA after 1,410 regular-season games (plus 166 playoff appearances, totaling 1,576 contests), his endurance notable but eclipsed by the physical toll of 19 years, culminating in sporadic contributions focused on guiding younger guards like Malcolm Brogdon.[1][32]International career
USA Basketball appearances
Jason Terry did not represent the United States in senior-level international basketball competitions under USA Basketball, including the Olympic Games or FIBA tournaments such as the Americas Championship.[33] Official rosters for USA Olympic teams from 1992 onward, maintained by Basketball-Reference, exclude Terry from all selections, confirming his absence from the 2000 Sydney Olympics roster that earned bronze despite featuring stars like Vince Carter and Kevin Garnett.[34] Similarly, no verifiable participation appears in FIBA Americas events, including the 2007 tournament won by Team USA, where primary contributors included LeBron James and Dwight Howard rather than reserves like Terry. His limited exposure to international play aligned with an era of selective NBA star involvement post-1992 Dream Team dominance, where bench players like Terry—known for domestic scoring efficiency—were rarely called upon amid FIBA's evolving rules favoring elite athleticism over perimeter shooting depth.[1] Without documented stats or roles in official exhibitions or qualifiers, Terry's USA Basketball tenure reflects the organization's prioritization of All-Star caliber talent for global stages, leaving him focused on NBA duties.Statistics and achievements
NBA regular season and playoff statistics
Jason Terry appeared in 1,410 regular season games over 19 NBA seasons from 1999–2000 to 2017–18, accumulating 18,891 total points and 2,282 three-point field goals made.[1] His career per-game averages included 13.4 points, 3.7 assists, 2.2 rebounds, 2.9 turnovers, and 29.6 minutes played, with shooting splits of 44.6% on field goals, 37.9% on three-pointers (on 5.2 attempts), and 84.6% on free throws.[1] Advanced metrics reflected consistent scoring efficiency, including a true shooting percentage of 55.7%, player efficiency rating of 15.7, and 103.8 win shares.[1]| Statistic | Per Game | Totals |
|---|---|---|
| Games Played (GP) | 1,410 | 1,410 |
| Minutes Per Game (MPG) | 29.6 | 41,738 |
| Points (PPG) | 13.4 | 18,891 |
| Assists (APG) | 3.7 | 5,211 |
| Rebounds (RPG) | 2.2 | 3,081 |
| Field Goal % (FG%) | .446 | - |
| Three-Point % (3P%) | .379 | - |
| Free Throw % (FT%) | .846 | - |
| True Shooting % (TS%) | .557 | - |
| Statistic | Per Game | Totals |
|---|---|---|
| Games Played (GP) | 125 | 125 |
| Minutes Per Game (MPG) | 32.1 | 4,007 |
| Points (PPG) | 14.1 | 1,750 |
| Assists (APG) | 3.0 | 376 |
| Rebounds (RPG) | 2.4 | 297 |
| Field Goal % (FG%) | .439 | - |
| Three-Point % (3P%) | .389 | - |
| Free Throw % (FT%) | .833 | - |
College statistics
Jason Terry compiled 1,461 points, 493 assists, 295 rebounds, and a school-record 245 steals over 129 games at the University of Arizona from 1995–96 to 1998–99, averaging 11.3 points, 3.8 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 44.3% from the field and 37.4% from three-point range.[12] His statistical progression showed steady growth in playing time and production, transitioning from a limited-role freshman averaging 3.1 points in 9.8 minutes off the bench to a senior-year leader with 21.9 points, 5.5 assists, and 2.8 steals in 38.2 minutes, peaking in efficiency with career-highs in three-point (39.8%) and free-throw (83.9%) percentages.[12] [9] During his sophomore season (1996–97), Terry contributed to Arizona's NCAA championship run, starting 18 of 34 games while averaging 10.6 points, 4.4 assists, and a career-high 2.5 steals per game, with his postseason performance integrated into those totals as the team went 33–4 overall.[12] Junior-year minutes dipped slightly amid team depth, but he maintained 10.6 points and 4.3 assists; his senior explosion in scoring and usage underscored development as a primary ball-handler and shooter, leading the Pac-10 in scoring at 21.9 points per conference game.[12]| Season | G | MP | FG% | 3P% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–96 | 31 | 9.8 | .542 | .577 | .593 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 3.1 |
| 1996–97 | 34 | 30.5 | .443 | .331 | .713 | 2.7 | 4.4 | 2.5 | 10.6 |
| 1997–98 | 35 | 22.8 | .422 | .347 | .827 | 2.4 | 4.3 | 1.7 | 10.6 |
| 1998–99 | 29 | 38.2 | .443 | .398 | .839 | 3.3 | 5.5 | 2.8 | 21.9 |
| Career | 129 | 25.1 | .443 | .374 | .784 | 2.3 | 3.8 | 1.9 | 11.3[12] |