Rod Strickland
Rodney "Rod" Strickland (born July 11, 1966) is an American basketball coach and former professional player, renowned for his 17-season career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a skilled point guard.[1] Born in the Bronx, New York, Strickland attended DePaul University from 1985 to 1988, where he earned First Team All-American honors in both 1987 and 1988 after averaging 20.0 points and 7.8 assists per game as a junior, leading the Blue Demons to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.[2][3] Selected 19th overall in the first round of the 1988 NBA draft by the New York Knicks, he earned All-Rookie Second Team honors in his debut season of 1988–89, showcasing his playmaking ability with 3.9 assists per game.[1][4] Over his NBA tenure from 1988 to 2005, Strickland played for nine teams, including the Knicks (1988–1990), San Antonio Spurs (1989–1992), Portland Trail Blazers (1992–1996, 2000–2001), Washington Wizards (1996–2001), Miami Heat (2001–2002), Minnesota Timberwolves (2002–2003), Orlando Magic (2003–2004), Toronto Raptors (2003–2004), and Houston Rockets (2004–2005), appearing in 1,094 regular-season games.[4] He recorded career totals of 14,463 points, 7,987 assists, and 4,084 rebounds, translating to averages of 13.2 points, 7.3 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 45.4% from the field.[5] His standout 1997–98 season with the Wizards saw him lead the league with 10.5 assists per game and earn All-NBA Second Team selection, capping a career defined by elite passing and floor leadership.[6] Transitioning to coaching after retirement, Strickland has served as an NBA assistant with teams like the Wizards and Indiana Pacers before becoming head coach of the Long Island University men's basketball team in 2022, where he has led the program to steady improvement, including 17 wins in a recent season, drawing on his extensive playing experience to mentor emerging talent.[2][7][8]Early career
High school career
Rod Strickland was born on July 11, 1966, in the Bronx, New York.[4] He began his high school basketball career at Harry S. Truman High School in the Bronx, where he played as a standout point guard.[4] As a junior, he led Truman to the New York state championship, showcasing his playmaking abilities and court vision.[9] Prior to his senior year, Strickland transferred to Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, for the 1984–85 season.[10] The move was motivated by academic challenges at Truman, where he needed to improve his grades to meet NCAA eligibility requirements, as well as a desire to escape urban distractions and compete against stronger competition.[10] Oak Hill's structured environment and national schedule provided greater visibility to college recruiters.[11] During his time there, Strickland was named the team's most valuable player.[11] Strickland's senior season performance earned him national recognition, including selection as a McDonald's All-American and a Parade All-American in 1985.[11][12] These honors highlighted his elite skills as a point guard and paved the way for his recruitment. The exposure from Oak Hill influenced his decision to attend DePaul University.[13]College career
Rod Strickland enrolled at DePaul University in 1985 and played for the Blue Demons men's basketball team under head coach Joey Meyer through the 1987–88 season.[3] As a highly touted point guard from his New York City high school roots, he quickly adapted to college competition in the independent conference, showcasing his playmaking and scoring abilities while helping elevate DePaul's program during a period of consistent NCAA Tournament appearances.[14] In his freshman year (1985–86), Strickland averaged 14.1 points and 5.1 assists per game across 31 appearances, leading the independent conference in assists while contributing to a team record of 18–13 and an NCAA Tournament run to the second round (Sweet Sixteen).[3][15] His sophomore season (1986–87) saw further growth, with averages of 16.3 points and 6.5 assists in 30 games, again topping the conference in assists en route to DePaul's 28–3 record—the program's best in years—and another NCAA second-round appearance.[3][16] These performances earned him his first All-American recognition.[14] Strickland's junior campaign (1987–88) marked his emergence as one of the nation's elite point guards, as he posted career highs of 20.0 points and 7.8 assists per game in 26 outings, securing a third consecutive conference assists lead and a second All-American honor.[3][14] Under his leadership, DePaul finished 22–8 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament's second round once more.[17] Over his three collegiate seasons, he accumulated 1,448 points and 557 assists in 87 games, rankings that still place him among DePaul's all-time leaders in assists (third) and steals (second).[3][14] His standout college production culminated in being selected 19th overall by the New York Knicks in the first round of the 1988 NBA Draft.[3]NBA playing career
New York Knicks (1988–1990)
Rod Strickland was selected by the New York Knicks with the 19th overall pick in the first round of the 1988 NBA Draft out of DePaul University.[4] As a native New Yorker from the Bronx, he signed a three-year rookie contract worth approximately $900,000 shortly after the draft, positioning him as a promising addition to the Knicks' backcourt.[18] Strickland entered the league as a backup point guard behind established starters Mark Jackson and Rory Sparrow, tasked with learning the professional game while contributing off the bench during his debut season.[13] In the 1988–89 season, Strickland appeared in 81 games for the Knicks, starting 10, and averaged 8.9 points, 3.9 assists, and 2.0 rebounds per game while playing 16.8 minutes on average.[4] His role remained primarily as a reserve, providing energy and playmaking in limited minutes amid a Knicks team that finished 52–30 and made the playoffs, sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers 3–0 in the first round before losing 4–1 to the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference semifinals; Strickland appeared in 9 playoff games. Despite the challenges of adapting to NBA physicality and competition as a rookie, Strickland showed flashes of his college prowess, earning a spot on the All-Rookie Second Team for his contributions.[6] Strickland's development continued into the 1989–90 season, where he played in 51 games for the Knicks before being traded, averaging 8.4 points and 4.3 assists per game in 20.0 minutes off the bench with no starts.[4] Injuries to other guards provided opportunities for increased responsibility, allowing him to refine his ball-handling and decision-making skills within New York's gritty, defensive-oriented system under coach John MacLeod. However, seeking a larger role, Strickland's frustrations led to his trade to the San Antonio Spurs on February 22, 1990, in exchange for veteran point guard Maurice Cheeks.[19] This move marked the end of his brief Knicks tenure, during which he averaged 8.7 points and 4.1 assists across 132 total games, highlighting his early growth as a professional point guard.[6]San Antonio Spurs (1990–1992)
Rod Strickland was acquired by the San Antonio Spurs from the New York Knicks on February 22, 1990, in exchange for veteran point guard Maurice Cheeks.[19] Upon joining the team, the 23-year-old guard immediately assumed a starting role at point guard, forming a dynamic backcourt partnership with rookie center David Robinson, the eventual NBA Rookie of the Year.[4] This move addressed the Spurs' need for a reliable floor general to complement Robinson's interior dominance, allowing Strickland to facilitate plays and push the pace in transition. In the remainder of the 1989–90 season, Strickland appeared in 31 games (24 starts) for San Antonio, averaging 14.2 points and 8.0 assists per game.[4] His quick adaptation helped stabilize the Spurs' offense during the stretch run, though the team finished with a 26–56 record and missed the playoffs. The following season, 1990–91, Strickland solidified his status as a key contributor, playing 58 games and posting averages of 13.8 points and 8.0 assists per game, both career highs at the time.[4] His playmaking prowess was evident in his ability to set up Robinson for lobs and open shots, contributing to a Spurs squad that improved to 28–54 but still fell short of postseason contention. The 1991–92 campaign marked Strickland's most productive year with San Antonio, though it began with an 80-day contract holdout that caused him to miss the first 25 games of the season.[20] He signed a one-year, $1.3 million deal on December 23, 1991, and returned to start 54 of 57 appearances, averaging 13.8 points and 8.6 assists per game.[4] Despite the delayed start, Strickland's vision and speed helped elevate the team's performance; the Spurs achieved a 47–35 record, securing the fifth seed in the Western Conference.[21] In the playoffs, however, they were swept 3–0 by the Phoenix Suns in the first round, with Strickland averaging 12.3 points and 11.2 assists across the series.[22] Following the season, Strickland became an unrestricted free agent after the Spurs opted not to extend a qualifying offer.[23] He signed a multi-year contract with the Portland Trail Blazers on July 3, 1992, departing San Antonio after three seasons in which he averaged 13.6 points and 8.1 assists per game overall.[4]Portland Trail Blazers (1992–1996)
Rod Strickland signed with the Portland Trail Blazers as an unrestricted free agent on July 3, 1992, following his departure from the San Antonio Spurs, and quickly established himself as the team's primary point guard alongside star forward Clyde Drexler.[4][24] In his debut season of 1992–93, Strickland averaged 13.7 points and 7.2 assists per game over 78 appearances, contributing to a 51–31 regular-season record that secured the fourth seed in the Western Conference.[4] However, the Blazers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the fifth-seeded Spurs in four games (1–3 series).[25] During the 1993–94 season, Strickland elevated his performance, averaging 17.2 points and a team-high 9.0 assists per game while ranking fifth in the NBA in assists, helping orchestrate Portland's high-scoring offense that finished the regular season at 47–35 for the seventh Western Conference seed.[4][26] In the playoffs, he posted 23.5 points and 9.8 assists per game, but the Blazers again fell in the first round to the Houston Rockets in four games (1–3 series).[27] Strickland's production peaked in the 1994–95 campaign, where he averaged 18.9 points and 8.8 assists per game across 64 outings, supporting a balanced attack led by Drexler despite the team's 44–38 record and seventh-seed status.[4] The Blazers were swept in the first round by the Phoenix Suns (0–3 series), with Strickland contributing 23.3 points and 12.3 assists per game in the brief postseason.[28] In his final season with Portland during 1995–96, Strickland maintained his consistency with averages of 18.7 points and 9.6 assists per game—once again ranking fifth league-wide in assists—while the Blazers improved to 49–33 and earned the sixth seed in the West.[4][26] They pushed the series to five games in the first round before losing to the Utah Jazz (2–3), as Strickland averaged 20.6 points and 8.4 assists.[29] Known for his quickness and playmaking, Strickland provided steady leadership in Portland's fast-paced system, often setting up Drexler for efficient scoring opportunities throughout his tenure.[26] On July 15, 1996 (during the offseason following the 1995–96 season), the Blazers traded Strickland along with forward Harvey Grant to the Washington Bullets in exchange for forward Rasheed Wallace and guard Mitchell Butler, marking the end of his four-year stint in Portland.[4][30]Washington Bullets/Wizards (1996–2001)
On July 15, 1996, the Washington Bullets acquired point guard Rod Strickland from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for forward Harvey Grant, center Rasheed Wallace, and guard Mitchell Butler, a trade that provided the Bullets with a seasoned floor general to lead their young core.[30] In his debut season of 1996–97, Strickland started 81 of 82 games, averaging 17.2 points and 8.9 assists per game while contributing to the team's surprising 44–38 record and an eighth-seed playoff berth in the Eastern Conference, their first postseason appearance since 1988; they were swept 3–0 by the Chicago Bulls in the first round.[4][31] His playmaking elevated teammates like Chris Webber and Juwan Howard, establishing Strickland as a key leader during a period of franchise transition. The following year, ahead of the 1997–98 season, the franchise underwent a significant rebranding, officially changing its name to the Washington Wizards on May 15, 1997, to distance itself from the "Bullets" moniker amid concerns over gun violence in the nation's capital.[32] Strickland delivered his career-best performance, leading the NBA with 10.5 assists per game alongside 17.8 points over 76 starts, earning Second-Team All-NBA honors and helping the Wizards to a 43–39 record and another playoff appearance, where they fell 3–2 to the Miami Heat in the first round.[4][33] His elite passing and scoring efficiency formed the backbone of the team's offense, though off-court issues began to surface. The 1998–99 season, shortened to 50 games by an NBA lockout, saw Strickland maintain strong production with 15.7 points and 9.9 assists per game in 44 appearances, but the Wizards struggled to a 18–32 record, missing the playoffs amid defensive lapses and inconsistent team chemistry.[4] In 1999–2000, injuries limited his impact; he averaged 12.6 points and 7.5 assists in 69 games but missed time due to a knee issue in March, contributing to the Wizards' 29–53 finish and further organizational turmoil.[4][34] Strickland's tenure ended acrimoniously in 2000–01, as injuries including a shoulder strain and hamstring soreness limited him; he played 33 games (28 starts) for the Wizards, averaging 12.2 points and 7.0 assists, before the Wizards waived him on March 1, 2001, following a contract buyout amid reports of disciplinary concerns and a diminished role on a 19–63 team.[4][35] Despite the later struggles, his arrival had revitalized the backcourt and provided mentorship to emerging talent during the franchise's shift from perennial lottery dwellers to brief contenders.[36]Later teams and retirement (2001–2005)
After being released by the Washington Wizards in February 2001, Strickland signed with the Portland Trail Blazers on March 5, 2001, for the remainder of the 2000–01 season, returning to the team where he had previously starred from 1992 to 1996.[37] In 21 regular-season games with Portland, he averaged 4.6 points and 3.4 assists per game off the bench, contributing to a playoff appearance where he played limited minutes in two games during the first round against the [Los Angeles Lakers](/page/Los Angeles_Lakers).[38] Strickland joined the Miami Heat as a free agent on October 22, 2001, providing veteran leadership at point guard during the 2001–02 season.[4] He appeared in 76 games, starting 64, and averaged 10.5 points and 6.1 assists per game, helping the Heat improve to 36 wins but missing the playoffs.[39] In the 2002–03 season, Strickland signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 26, 2002, transitioning to a reserve role behind starter Chauncey Billups.[40] He played in 47 games, averaging 6.9 points and 4.7 assists per game, as the Timberwolves reached the Western Conference Finals.[41] Strickland's role continued to diminish in 2003–04, beginning with a free-agent signing to the Orlando Magic on November 25, 2003, where he played 46 games off the bench, averaging 6.5 points and 4.2 assists per game before being waived on March 2, 2004.[40] He then signed with the Toronto Raptors on March 5, 2004, for the season's remainder, appearing in 15 games with averages of 5.3 points and 4.5 assists per game.[42] Strickland's final NBA stint came with the Houston Rockets, whom he joined as a free agent on January 19, 2005, playing 16 games and averaging 1.8 points and 2.4 assists per game in limited minutes before being waived on February 24, 2005.[40] His last NBA game was on February 23, 2005, against the San Antonio Spurs.[43] Strickland retired from professional basketball in 2005 at age 38, concluding a 17-year NBA career in which he played 1,094 games and averaged 13.2 points and 7.3 assists per game.[44][45]NBA career statistics and achievements
Regular season statistics
Rod Strickland played in 1,094 regular season games across 17 NBA seasons from 1988–89 to 2004–05, totaling 14,463 points while averaging 13.2 points, 7.3 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game.[4] His career field goal percentage was 45.5%, with 27.8% shooting from three-point range on 1,298 attempts and 71.9% from the free-throw line on 4,660 attempts.[4] The table below summarizes his regular season per-game statistics by season:| Season | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988-89 | NYK | 81 | 10 | 16.8 | .467 | .322 | .745 | 2.0 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 8.9 |
| 1989-90 | 2TM | 82 | 24 | 26.1 | .454 | .267 | .626 | 3.2 | 5.7 | 1.5 | 10.6 |
| 1990-91 | SAS | 58 | 56 | 35.8 | .482 | .333 | .763 | 3.8 | 8.0 | 2.0 | 13.8 |
| 1991-92 | SAS | 57 | 54 | 36.0 | .455 | .333 | .687 | 4.6 | 8.6 | 2.1 | 13.8 |
| 1992-93 | POR | 78 | 35 | 31.7 | .485 | .133 | .717 | 4.3 | 7.2 | 1.7 | 13.7 |
| 1993-94 | POR | 82 | 58 | 35.2 | .483 | .200 | .749 | 4.5 | 9.0 | 1.8 | 17.2 |
| 1994-95 | POR | 64 | 61 | 35.4 | .466 | .374 | .745 | 5.0 | 8.8 | 1.9 | 18.9 |
| 1995-96 | POR | 67 | 63 | 37.7 | .460 | .342 | .652 | 4.4 | 9.6 | 1.4 | 18.7 |
| 1996-97 | WSB | 82 | 81 | 36.5 | .466 | .169 | .738 | 4.1 | 8.9 | 1.7 | 17.2 |
| 1997-98 | WAS | 76 | 76 | 39.7 | .434 | .250 | .726 | 5.3 | 10.5 | 1.7 | 17.8 |
| 1998-99 | WAS | 44 | 43 | 37.1 | .416 | .286 | .746 | 4.8 | 9.9 | 1.7 | 15.7 |
| 1999-00 | WAS | 69 | 67 | 31.7 | .429 | .048 | .702 | 3.8 | 7.5 | 1.4 | 12.6 |
| 2000-01 | 2TM | 54 | 28 | 25.4 | .424 | .235 | .751 | 2.6 | 5.6 | 1.0 | 9.2 |
| 2001-02 | MIA | 76 | 64 | 30.2 | .443 | .308 | .766 | 3.1 | 6.1 | 1.1 | 10.4 |
| 2002-03 | MIN | 47 | 8 | 20.3 | .432 | .091 | .738 | 2.0 | 4.6 | 1.0 | 6.8 |
| 2003-04 | 2TM | 61 | 10 | 19.6 | .425 | .278 | .735 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 0.6 | 6.3 |
| 2004-05 | HOU | 16 | 2 | 12.3 | .209 | .500 | .900 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 1.8 |
| Career | 1094 | 760 | 31.0 | .455 | .278 | .719 | 3.9 | 7.3 | 1.5 | 13.2 |
Playoff statistics
Rod Strickland participated in 11 NBA playoff appearances across his 17-season career, totaling 52 games from 1989 to 2003. In these postseason contests, he averaged 13.3 points, 7.4 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game while playing 29.7 minutes.[4] His playoff shooting efficiency stood at 44.4% from the field, 33.3% from three-point range, and 69.2% from the free-throw line, reflecting a balanced but volume-dependent scoring approach as a point guard.[4] Advanced metrics highlight his playmaking impact, with a career playoff player efficiency rating (PER) of 17.2, though this figure was influenced by bench roles in later appearances that limited his usage to 23.1%.[4] The following table summarizes Strickland's career playoff per-game statistics:| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Games Played (GP) | 52 |
| Minutes Per Game (MPG) | 29.7 |
| Points Per Game (PPG) | 13.3 |
| Rebounds Per Game (RPG) | 4.1 |
| Assists Per Game (APG) | 7.4 |
| Steals Per Game (SPG) | 1.2 |
| Blocks Per Game (BPG) | 0.2 |
| Field Goal % (FG%) | .444 |
| Three-Point % (3P%) | .333 |
| Free Throw % (FT%) | .692 |