JamesOn Curry
Encyclopedia
JamesOn Curry is an American
professional basketball
player. He played for Oklahoma State University from 2004–2007, and after forgoing his senior season, left for the NBA Draft
. He was selected in the 2nd round, and 51st overall by the Chicago Bulls
. After a stint in the NBA Development League
, he was waived by the Bulls, and never played a regular season game for them. He has also played professionally in France, Cyprus and in the NBA Development League
. In January 2010 he made his NBA debut, playing 3.9 seconds for the Los Angeles Clippers: to this day, his only NBA appearance.
, in Mebane, North Carolina
, where he set the all-time North Carolina high school scoring record with 3,307 points.
He averaged 40.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game as a senior and was a two-time Associated Press All-State first team selection.
He helped Oklahoma State to a 26–7 record, the Big 12
Tournament crown and the 2005 NCAA Sweet Sixteen as a freshman in 2004–05; he started 15 of 33 games played and averaged 9.4 ppg. and 2.8 apg. and averaged 14.3 ppg. in three 2005 NCAA games.
He finished the season ranked ninth among Big 12 leaders in conference games for 3-point field goals made (1.75 per game).
He scored a career-high 22 points on 8-for-11 shooting, in his first start versus Colorado
on January 30, 2005. He made a career-high six three-pointers out of 8 attempts, including 5-for-5 in the second half, in which he scored 17 of his 22. He matched his career-high 22 points in a 79–67 victory over Oklahoma
on February 7, 2005.
In his freshman season, Curry scored in double digits in 15 games, including twice over 20 points.
Highlights of his sophomore season include a career-high 30 points in a 97–61 victory over Mercer
on December 18, 2005, and a 22-point, nine-rebound effort in a 81–60 win over Texas
on February 19, 2006. He recorded a double-double, scoring 16 points and making a career-high 10 assists in a 90–56 win over Detroit
on November 22, 2005, and matched that assists total against Gonzaga
in a 64–62 loss on December 10, 2005.
In his junior season, on November 29, 2006, Curry scored a career-high 35 points (on 12-for-19 shooting) to go along with a season-high 9 assists with no turnovers in a 95–73 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
. On January 16, 2007, Curry scored 28 points and grabbed a season-high 9 rebounds in 52 minutes played in a 105–103 triple-overtime win over Texas. On March 3, 2007, Curry scored a new career-high 40 points, including a career-high 7 three-pointers out of ten attempts, in an 86–82 loss to Baylor.
selected Curry with the 51st overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft
. On August 2, 2007, the Bulls announced that Curry had signed a contract and will wear number 20. Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
On July 31, 2008 the Bulls waived Curry. By releasing him, the Bulls were only obligated to pay $100,000 of his partially guaranteed salary for 2008–09
.
In August 2008 he was signed by Pau-Orthez
of the French league
, but was waived in October after failing to impress coaching staff. He later joined Proteas EKA AEL
, a Cypriot team in Limassol
.
On January 22, 2010, Curry was signed by the Los Angeles Clippers
out of the Springfield Armor, for whom he had been averaging 16.1 points, 7.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds. He was released by the Clippers on January 26, when the team acquired Bobby Brown
. He only played a total of 3.9 seconds during his tenure.
affiliate Iowa Energy
on November 15, 2007, then recalled him to the NBA on December 17 but soon after re-assigned him to Iowa on January 7, 2008. He was recalled later that month. Curry played 13 games as a starter for Iowa during the 2007-08 season, averaging 20.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.08 steals per game in 39.7 minutes per game. He also shot .463 from the floor, including .377 from three-point range, and .719 from the free throw line. Curry was selected 14th overall in the 2009 NBA D-League
Draft by the expansion Springfield Armor
on November 5. It was their first-ever pick.
's Alamance County
school system. He was charged with two counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, two counts of sale and delivery of marijuana, and two counts of sale, possession, and delivery of a controlled substance
on school grounds. Curry pleaded guilty to the drug charges, and the University of North Carolina
, with whom he had signed a letter-of-intent, rescinded the scholarship to him. In the early morning of January 17, 2008, he was arrested in Boise, Idaho
and pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and urinating in public. Police took him to the Ada County
jail. He was released a few hours later after posting $600 bond. The Chicago Bulls suspended him one game after he pleaded guilty to the two misdemeanors.
farm in rural North Carolina
in Pleasant Grove. His first name is a mix of James and Leon, honoring his father and grandfather, respectively.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He played for Oklahoma State University from 2004–2007, and after forgoing his senior season, left for the NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
. He was selected in the 2nd round, and 51st overall by the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
. After a stint in the NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
, he was waived by the Bulls, and never played a regular season game for them. He has also played professionally in France, Cyprus and in the NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
. In January 2010 he made his NBA debut, playing 3.9 seconds for the Los Angeles Clippers: to this day, his only NBA appearance.
High school career
Curry attended Eastern Alamance High SchoolEastern Alamance High School
Eastern Alamance High School is a public, coeducational high school located in Mebane, North Carolina, United States. It is one of seven high schools in the Alamance-Burlington School System. The school runs on block scheduling from 8:10am to 3:10pm. They are currently running on a 4 block school...
, in Mebane, North Carolina
Mebane, North Carolina
Mebane is a city located mostly in Alamance County, North Carolina, United States, with a part of it in Orange County, North Carolina. It is part of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. The current population estimate is 10,624. According to the , the town was named for...
, where he set the all-time North Carolina high school scoring record with 3,307 points.
He averaged 40.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game as a senior and was a two-time Associated Press All-State first team selection.
College career
Curry scored an OSU freshman all-time NCAA Tournament-best 18 points in the 2005 second round game against Southern Illinois on March 20, 2005.He helped Oklahoma State to a 26–7 record, the Big 12
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
Tournament crown and the 2005 NCAA Sweet Sixteen as a freshman in 2004–05; he started 15 of 33 games played and averaged 9.4 ppg. and 2.8 apg. and averaged 14.3 ppg. in three 2005 NCAA games.
He finished the season ranked ninth among Big 12 leaders in conference games for 3-point field goals made (1.75 per game).
He scored a career-high 22 points on 8-for-11 shooting, in his first start versus Colorado
Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball
The Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team represents the University of Colorado at Boulder in the Pacific-12 Conference.The Buffaloes have competed in ten NCAA Tournaments, making it to the Final Four twice , and...
on January 30, 2005. He made a career-high six three-pointers out of 8 attempts, including 5-for-5 in the second half, in which he scored 17 of his 22. He matched his career-high 22 points in a 79–67 victory over Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball
-1908-1980:The Sooners enjoyed moderate success on the court during this era, posting only 16 losing records in their first 72 seasons. They were coached by 9 different coaches during this period, beginning with Bennie Owen , and ending with Dave Bliss in 1980...
on February 7, 2005.
In his freshman season, Curry scored in double digits in 15 games, including twice over 20 points.
Highlights of his sophomore season include a career-high 30 points in a 97–61 victory over Mercer
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
on December 18, 2005, and a 22-point, nine-rebound effort in a 81–60 win over Texas
Texas Longhorns men's basketball
The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team represents The University of Texas at Austin in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Longhorns currently compete in the Big 12 Conference....
on February 19, 2006. He recorded a double-double, scoring 16 points and making a career-high 10 assists in a 90–56 win over Detroit
Detroit Titans men's basketball
The Detroit Titans team is the basketball team that represents the University of Detroit Mercy in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The school's team currently competes in the Horizon League. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 1999...
on November 22, 2005, and matched that assists total against Gonzaga
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
in a 64–62 loss on December 10, 2005.
In his junior season, on November 29, 2006, Curry scored a career-high 35 points (on 12-for-19 shooting) to go along with a season-high 9 assists with no turnovers in a 95–73 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders men's basketball
The Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders is the basketball team that represent Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi in Corpus Christi, Texas, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Southland Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in...
. On January 16, 2007, Curry scored 28 points and grabbed a season-high 9 rebounds in 52 minutes played in a 105–103 triple-overtime win over Texas. On March 3, 2007, Curry scored a new career-high 40 points, including a career-high 7 three-pointers out of ten attempts, in an 86–82 loss to Baylor.
Professional career
The Chicago BullsChicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
selected Curry with the 51st overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft
2007 NBA Draft
The 2007 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2007 at the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. It was broadcast on television in 115 countries. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
. On August 2, 2007, the Bulls announced that Curry had signed a contract and will wear number 20. Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
On July 31, 2008 the Bulls waived Curry. By releasing him, the Bulls were only obligated to pay $100,000 of his partially guaranteed salary for 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
.
In August 2008 he was signed by Pau-Orthez
Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez
The Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez is a French professional basketball club that is based in Pau. They play their home games at the Palais des Sports de Pau.- History :...
of the French league
Ligue Nationale de Basketball
The Ligue National de Basket is the top men's French professional basketball league. There are two divisions: French Pro A League and French Pro B League .-Pro A:...
, but was waived in October after failing to impress coaching staff. He later joined Proteas EKA AEL
Proteas EKA AEL
Proteas EKA AEL , is a Cypriot professional basketball club based in Limassol, Cyprus. The club competes in the Cypriot League...
, a Cypriot team in Limassol
Limassol
Limassol is the second-largest city in Cyprus, with a population of 228,000 . It is the largest city in geographical size, and the biggest municipality on the island. The city is located on Akrotiri Bay, on the island's southern coast and it is the capital of Limassol District.Limassol is the...
.
On January 22, 2010, Curry was signed by the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
out of the Springfield Armor, for whom he had been averaging 16.1 points, 7.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds. He was released by the Clippers on January 26, when the team acquired Bobby Brown
Bobby Brown (basketball)
Robert 'Bobby' Douglas Brown is an American professional basketball player.-Amateur career:...
. He only played a total of 3.9 seconds during his tenure.
NBA D-League career
The Bulls assigned Curry to their NBA Development LeagueNBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
affiliate Iowa Energy
Iowa Energy
The Iowa Energy are a 2007-08 expansion team of the NBA Development League, of which they are the current defending champions. They play their home games at the Wells Fargo Arena at Iowa Events Center....
on November 15, 2007, then recalled him to the NBA on December 17 but soon after re-assigned him to Iowa on January 7, 2008. He was recalled later that month. Curry played 13 games as a starter for Iowa during the 2007-08 season, averaging 20.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.08 steals per game in 39.7 minutes per game. He also shot .463 from the floor, including .377 from three-point range, and .719 from the free throw line. Curry was selected 14th overall in the 2009 NBA D-League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
Draft by the expansion Springfield Armor
Springfield Armor
The Springfield Armor is a basketball team located in Springfield, Massachusetts, which plays in the NBA Development League. The Armor plays its home games at the MassMutual Center in Springfield's Metro Center neighborhood. The team is owned by HWS Basketball, LLC which is principally owned by...
on November 5. It was their first-ever pick.
Legal problems
In February 2004, Curry was among 49 students arrested in a drug raid that involved North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
's Alamance County
Alamance County, North Carolina
Alamance County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It coincides with the Burlington, North Carolina, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
school system. He was charged with two counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, two counts of sale and delivery of marijuana, and two counts of sale, possession, and delivery of a controlled substance
Controlled substance
A controlled substance is generally a drug or chemical whose manufacture, possession, or use are regulated by a government. This may include illegal drugs and prescription medications ....
on school grounds. Curry pleaded guilty to the drug charges, and the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, with whom he had signed a letter-of-intent, rescinded the scholarship to him. In the early morning of January 17, 2008, he was arrested in Boise, Idaho
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
and pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and urinating in public. Police took him to the Ada County
Ada County, Idaho
Ada County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census, the county had a population of 392,365. The county seat and largest city is Boise, which is also the state capital. Other cities in the county with over 10,000 residents include Meridian, Eagle,...
jail. He was released a few hours later after posting $600 bond. The Chicago Bulls suspended him one game after he pleaded guilty to the two misdemeanors.
Personal
JamesOn Curry was brought up on a tobaccoTobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
farm in rural North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in Pleasant Grove. His first name is a mix of James and Leon, honoring his father and grandfather, respectively.