Stevie Graham
Encyclopedia
Stephen Graham is an American professional basketball
player who plays for the New Jersey Nets
of the NBA. After playing through his senior year with the Oklahoma State Cowboys
, Graham declared for the NBA Draft in 2005
. However, he was not selected. He played for the Phoenix Suns
in the Las Vegas Summer League, and then for the San Antonio Spurs
during the 2005 preseason, but was not offered a longer contract by either team. He then joined the CBA
, a minor league, signing with the Sioux Falls Skyforce
; he appeared in the 2006 CBA All-Star game. Graham's twin brother, Joey
, was his college teammate and also plays in the NBA.
's Brandon High School, and was team captain his senior year in which he averaged 16 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists per game; in that year, he and his brother Joey led Brandon to the state finals. Graham was named to Hillsborough County's All-Conference team his junior year and to the All-State team his senior season. He played in the AAU
's Junior Olympics National Game and was named an All-American. He was a member of both Tampa
's championship AAU Sunshine State Games' team, and Nike's traveling Florida team. He was recruited by South Florida, Richmond, Florida State and Florida.
Graham spent his freshman and sophomore college basketball
seasons (2000–01; 2001–02) with the University of Central Florida
Knights
, then transferred to Oklahoma State University for his junior year (2002–03) in which he redshirted. In his first season with the Cowboys in 2003–04, he only twice scored 12 points, his season-high. He averaged a mere 2.8 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game overall, but he was named first-team Academic All-Big 12
for his academic achievements. A highlight in his senior season in 2004–05 was leading the Cowboys with 22 points in a 78-75 home loss to Gonzaga
on December 28, 2004. For his second and final season for Oklahoma State, he averaged 6.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.
on December 10, 2005, but was cut on December 29 after playing in six games.
After returning to the Sky Force in the interim, he signed a 10-day contract with the Chicago Bulls
on January 17, 2006. He played his first game in a Bulls uniform three days later against the Rockets. However, Graham saw limited playing time with the Bulls and his contract was not extended when it expired.
On February 6, Graham was signed to a 10-day contract by the Cleveland Cavaliers
. On February 20, he was signed to a second 10-day contract, then for the rest of the season.
He spent the first two months of the 2006–07 NBA season with the Portland Trail Blazers
, but was waived on January 2, 2007, playing with an old acquaintance, the Skyforce in South Dakota
, who were now a part of the D-League
.
In July 2007, he signed with the Indiana Pacers
of the NBA.
He signed with the Charlotte Bobcats
in September 2009.
On 15 September 2010, Graham signed with the New Jersey Nets
.
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Houston
| 6 || 0 || 6.3 || .375 || .200 || 1.000 || 1.2 || .5 || .3 || .0 || 2.8
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Chicago
| 3 || 0 || 6.7 || .200 || .250 || 1.000 || 1.0 || .3 || .0 || .0 || 1.7
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Cleveland
| 13 || 0 || 9.0 || .424 || .000 || .889 || 1.3 || .2 || .2 || .2 || 2.8
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Portland
| 14 || 1 || 11.8 || .425 || .273 || .889 || 1.5 || .4 || .3 || .1 || 3.2
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Indiana
| 22 || 0 || 5.8 || .586 || .500 || .750 || 1.0 || .4 || .2 || .1 || 4.0
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Indiana
| 52 || 6 || 13.2 || .414 || .303 || .806 || 1.8 || .6 || .2 || .1 || 5.4
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 70 || 8 || 11.5 || .496 || .320 || .646 || 1.9 || .3 || .3 || .1 || 4.2
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | Nets
| 59 || 28 || 16.3 || .405 || .238 || .816 || 2.1 || .7 || .2 || .0 || 3.4
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 239 || 43 || 12.2 || .446 || .308 || .766 || 1.8 || .5 || .2 || .1 || 4.0
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 2 || 0 || 2.5 || .000 || .000 || .000 || .0 || .5 || .5 || .0 || .0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 2 || 0 || 2.5 || .000 || .000 || .000 || .0 || .5 || .5 || .0 || .0
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 who plays for the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
of the NBA. After playing through his senior year with the Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oklahoma State Cowboys men's basketball
The Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball team represents Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Cowboys currently compete in the Big 12 Conference.Since 1938, the team has played its home games in Gallagher-Iba Arena...
, Graham declared for the NBA Draft in 2005
2005 NBA Draft
The 2005 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 2005 in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In this draft, NBA teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and non-North American leagues...
. However, he was not selected. He played for the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
in the Las Vegas Summer League, and then for the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
during the 2005 preseason, but was not offered a longer contract by either team. He then joined the CBA
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
, a minor league, signing with the Sioux Falls Skyforce
Sioux Falls Skyforce
The Sioux Falls Skyforce is a professional basketball team that plays in the NBA Development League. They are based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. The team plays at the Sioux Falls Arena. The Skyforce began in the CBA in 1989...
; he appeared in the 2006 CBA All-Star game. Graham's twin brother, Joey
Joey Graham
Joseph "Joey" Graham is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers.-College career:Graham played at Central Florida from 2000 to 2002, and at Oklahoma State from 2003 to 2005...
, was his college teammate and also plays in the NBA.
High school and college career
Graham played competitively at FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
's Brandon High School, and was team captain his senior year in which he averaged 16 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists per game; in that year, he and his brother Joey led Brandon to the state finals. Graham was named to Hillsborough County's All-Conference team his junior year and to the All-State team his senior season. He played in the AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
's Junior Olympics National Game and was named an All-American. He was a member of both Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
's championship AAU Sunshine State Games' team, and Nike's traveling Florida team. He was recruited by South Florida, Richmond, Florida State and Florida.
Graham spent his freshman and sophomore college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
seasons (2000–01; 2001–02) with the University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
Knights
UCF Knights men's basketball
The UCF Knights men's basketball team represents the University of Central Florida located in Orlando, Florida. The Knights compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Eastern Division of Conference USA . They play their home games in the UCF Arena located on the...
, then transferred to Oklahoma State University for his junior year (2002–03) in which he redshirted. In his first season with the Cowboys in 2003–04, he only twice scored 12 points, his season-high. He averaged a mere 2.8 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game overall, but he was named first-team Academic All-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...
for his academic achievements. A highlight in his senior season in 2004–05 was leading the Cowboys with 22 points in a 78-75 home loss to Gonzaga
Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball
The Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing Gonzaga University. The school competes in the West Coast Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
on December 28, 2004. For his second and final season for Oklahoma State, he averaged 6.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.
Professional career
Graham was signed by the NBA's Houston RocketsHouston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
on December 10, 2005, but was cut on December 29 after playing in six games.
After returning to the Sky Force in the interim, he signed a 10-day contract with 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...
on January 17, 2006. He played his first game in a Bulls uniform three days later against the Rockets. However, Graham saw limited playing time with the Bulls and his contract was not extended when it expired.
On February 6, Graham was signed to a 10-day contract by the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
. On February 20, he was signed to a second 10-day contract, then for the rest of the season.
He spent the first two months of the 2006–07 NBA season with the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
, but was waived on January 2, 2007, playing with an old acquaintance, the Skyforce in South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, who were now a part of the 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...
.
In July 2007, he signed with the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
of the NBA.
He signed with the Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
in September 2009.
On 15 September 2010, Graham signed with the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Houston
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
| 6 || 0 || 6.3 || .375 || .200 || 1.000 || 1.2 || .5 || .3 || .0 || 2.8
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Chicago
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...
| 3 || 0 || 6.7 || .200 || .250 || 1.000 || 1.0 || .3 || .0 || .0 || 1.7
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Cleveland
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
| 13 || 0 || 9.0 || .424 || .000 || .889 || 1.3 || .2 || .2 || .2 || 2.8
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Portland
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
| 14 || 1 || 11.8 || .425 || .273 || .889 || 1.5 || .4 || .3 || .1 || 3.2
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Indiana
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| 22 || 0 || 5.8 || .586 || .500 || .750 || 1.0 || .4 || .2 || .1 || 4.0
|-
| align="left" | 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...
| align="left" | Indiana
| 52 || 6 || 13.2 || .414 || .303 || .806 || 1.8 || .6 || .2 || .1 || 5.4
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
2009–10 NBA season
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....
| align="left" | Charlotte
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
| 70 || 8 || 11.5 || .496 || .320 || .646 || 1.9 || .3 || .3 || .1 || 4.2
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
2010–11 NBA season
The 2010–11 NBA season was the 65th season of the National Basketball Association . The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 20, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games, 4 games to 2, to win their first NBA title, and...
| align="left" | Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 59 || 28 || 16.3 || .405 || .238 || .816 || 2.1 || .7 || .2 || .0 || 3.4
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 239 || 43 || 12.2 || .446 || .308 || .766 || 1.8 || .5 || .2 || .1 || 4.0
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 2009–10
2010 NBA Playoffs
The 2010 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2009–10 season. The playoffs started on April 17, 2010 with ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
| align="left" | Charlotte
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
| 2 || 0 || 2.5 || .000 || .000 || .000 || .0 || .5 || .5 || .0 || .0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 2 || 0 || 2.5 || .000 || .000 || .000 || .0 || .5 || .5 || .0 || .0
External links
- NBA.com Profile - Stephen Graham
- Luke Winn on the Graham brothers' career at Oklahoma State
- An article concerning the influence of Graham's family on him