Trajan Langdon
Encyclopedia
Trajan Shaka Langdon is a retired American
professional basketball player. A 6 foot 210 lb. (95 kg) shooting guard
, he gained fame in the U.S.
while playing college basketball
at Duke University
with the Duke Blue Devils
.
, a professor of anthropology at the University of Alaska Anchorage
. Trajan has traveled with his father on many anthropological trips within southeastern Alaska. His father studied the Tlingit of Alaska.
and played for East Anchorage High School
. He set the Alaska 4A Record of 2,200 career points and was a 3-Time Alaskan Player of the Year.
He led East Anchorage to the 1994 Alaskan State Championship and he played in the prestigious McDonald's All American Game, where he won the 3-point shooting contest. He was also the recipient of the Dial Award
, given to the nation's top male and female student-athlete. Langdon's win marked the second consecutive year a basketball player was so honored, as Jacque Vaughn
had won the previous year.
After high school, Langdon moved on to play for the highly regarded Duke University basketball team
, where he set the school record for most career 3-point field goals made (which was later broken by J.J Redick in 2006) earning him the nickname "The Alaskan Assassin".
After his Freshman year at Duke he twice appeared on the popular Anchorage, AK TV sports talk show, Sports Talk Alaska
. Langdon was the only guest to ever appear on the show twice.
in the 6th round of the 1994 Major League Baseball
draft, and was also drafted by the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers
in the 1999 NBA Draft
. Langdon made his professional debut with the Cavaliers on November 2, 1999, when he became the first Alaskan to play in the NBA. Following a three-year career with the Cavaliers, Langdon moved to Europe
to play for the Italian League club Benetton Treviso
for the 2002-03 season.
The following season, he moved to the Turkish League
powerhouse Efes Pilsen. For the 2004-05 season, he moved on to the Russian League
club Dynamo Moscow
, before moving across town to CSKA Moscow
for the 2005-06 season. Langdon was named to the All-Euroleague Second Team for the Euroleague 2005-06
season. CSKA Moscow
won the Euroleague Championship that same season.
The following season, he helped CSKA Moscow
return to the Euroleague championship game, where they lost to Greek power Panathinaikos on the Greek team's home court. In the process, he was named to the All-Euroleague First Team for the Euroleague 2006-07
season, a feat that he repeated in the Euroleague 2007-08
season. On May 4, 2008, he was named the Euroleague Final Four MVP, after again winning the Euroleague title with CSKA Moscow
.
On October 7, 2006, Langdon led his CSKA Moscow team to a 94-75 win over the Los Angeles Clippers
in an exhibition game
. Coincidentally, he played against his former Duke University
teammate Elton Brand
, who was playing for the Clippers at that time. He led all scorers in the game with 17 points.
In June 2011 he announced his retirement from basketball. He made his announcement two days after helping CSKA to its ninth consecutive Russian League crown.
with degrees in mathematics and history, Langdon played for the USA national basketball team in the 1998 FIBA World Championship
, winning the bronze medal.
| align="left" | 1999–00
| align="left" | Cleveland
| 10 || 0 || 14.5 || .375 || .421 || 1.000 || 1.5 || 1.1 || .5 || .0 || 4.9
|-
| align="left" | 2000–01
| align="left" | Cleveland
| 65 || 5 || 17.2 || .431 || .411 || .895 || 1.4 || 1.2 || .6 || .1 || 6.0
|-
| align="left" | 2001–02
| align="left" | Cleveland
| 44 || 0 || 10.8 || .398 || .365 || .913 || 1.3 || 1.4 || .3 || .1 || 4.8
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 119 || 5 || 14.6 || .416 || .396 || .910 || 1.3 || 1.3 || .5 || .1 || 5.4
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball player. A 6 foot 210 lb. (95 kg) shooting guard
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
, he gained fame in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
while playing 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....
at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
with the Duke Blue Devils
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
.
Biography
Trajan is the son of Dr. Steve LangdonSteve J. Langdon
Steve J. Langdon is an American anthropologist noted for his work with the Tlingit people of southeastern Alaska.He received his Ph.D. in anthropology from Stanford University in 1977....
, a professor of anthropology at the University of Alaska Anchorage
University of Alaska Anchorage
The University of Alaska Anchorage is the largest school of the University of Alaska System, with about 16,500 students, about 14,000 of whom attend classes at Goose Lake, its main campus in Anchorage....
. Trajan has traveled with his father on many anthropological trips within southeastern Alaska. His father studied the Tlingit of Alaska.
Amateur career
Born in Palo Alto, California, Langdon moved to Anchorage, Alaska soon after. During his high school career, Langdon attended Steller Secondary SchoolSteller Secondary School
Steller Secondary School is an alternative school located in Anchorage, Alaska. It is based on the philosophy that students have the right to control their own education. The Anchorage School District established the school in 1974 as a response to a proposal by the Committee of Alternative...
and played for East Anchorage High School
East Anchorage High School
East Anchorage High School is a public high school in Anchorage in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is attended by approximately 2300 students...
. He set the Alaska 4A Record of 2,200 career points and was a 3-Time Alaskan Player of the Year.
He led East Anchorage to the 1994 Alaskan State Championship and he played in the prestigious McDonald's All American Game, where he won the 3-point shooting contest. He was also the recipient of the Dial Award
Dial Award
For the literary award presented by The Dial magazine in the 1920s, see The Dial.The Dial Award was presented annually by the Dial Corporation to the male and female American high-school athlete/scholar of the year.-Awardees:...
, given to the nation's top male and female student-athlete. Langdon's win marked the second consecutive year a basketball player was so honored, as Jacque Vaughn
Jacque Vaughn
Jacque Vaughn is an American former professional basketball player. He last played for the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA and is currently serving as an assistant coach for the team.-High school career:...
had won the previous year.
After high school, Langdon moved on to play for the highly regarded Duke University basketball team
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
, where he set the school record for most career 3-point field goals made (which was later broken by J.J Redick in 2006) earning him the nickname "The Alaskan Assassin".
After his Freshman year at Duke he twice appeared on the popular Anchorage, AK TV sports talk show, Sports Talk Alaska
Sports Talk Alaska
Sports Talk Alaska was a short run cable TV show in Anchorage, AK that aired during the years of 1995-96. The show was hosted by then Service High School Sophomore Kirk Caudle. The 30-minute show included mostly high school athletes from around the state...
. Langdon was the only guest to ever appear on the show twice.
Professional career
Langdon was selected by the San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in the 6th round of the 1994 Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
draft, and was also drafted by the NBA's 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...
in the 1999 NBA Draft
1999 NBA Draft
The 1999 NBA Draft was held on June 30, 1999 at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. It was the first draft in which four players from the same college were picked in the first round, with Elton Brand , Trajan Langdon , Corey Maggette and William Avery being selected out of Duke University...
. Langdon made his professional debut with the Cavaliers on November 2, 1999, when he became the first Alaskan to play in the NBA. Following a three-year career with the Cavaliers, Langdon moved to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to play for the Italian League club Benetton Treviso
Pallacanestro Treviso
Pallacanestro Treviso, more often known by its sponsorship name of Benetton Basket, or Benetton Treviso, is an Italian Serie A League professional basketball club from Treviso, the headquarters city of its longtime owner Benetton Group...
for the 2002-03 season.
The following season, he moved to the Turkish League
Turkish Basketball League
The Turkish Basketball League is the top men’s professional basketball league in Turkey, which is also called Turkish Premier Basketball League . There is also a Turkish Second Basketball League consisting of 2 divisions .-History:The first basketball game played in Turkey was at the Robert...
powerhouse Efes Pilsen. For the 2004-05 season, he moved on to the Russian League
Russian Basketball Super League
The Russian Basketball SuperLeague is a men's professional basketball league that was the pre-eminent league of Russian professional basketball until 2010...
club Dynamo Moscow
MBC Dynamo Moscow
MBC Dynamo Moscow is a Russian professional basketball team from Moscow, Russia.-Early Years:Created in 1923 when Russia was part of the Soviet Union, Dynamo is among the oldest sports clubs in the country. Its name was chosen because Dynamo means 'power in motion'. The club was backed by the...
, before moving across town to CSKA Moscow
PBC CSKA Moscow
PBC CSKA Moscow is a Russian professional basketball team that is based in Moscow, Russia. The club is a member of the VTB United League. It is often referred to in the West as "Red Army" for its past affiliation with the Soviet Army. CSKA has won two titles between 2006 and 2009 in Europe's...
for the 2005-06 season. Langdon was named to the All-Euroleague Second Team for the Euroleague 2005-06
Euroleague 2005-06
The Euroleague is an international basketball club competition for elite clubs throughout Europe. The 2005–2006 season featured 24 competing teams from 13 different countries...
season. CSKA Moscow
PBC CSKA Moscow
PBC CSKA Moscow is a Russian professional basketball team that is based in Moscow, Russia. The club is a member of the VTB United League. It is often referred to in the West as "Red Army" for its past affiliation with the Soviet Army. CSKA has won two titles between 2006 and 2009 in Europe's...
won the Euroleague Championship that same season.
The following season, he helped CSKA Moscow
PBC CSKA Moscow
PBC CSKA Moscow is a Russian professional basketball team that is based in Moscow, Russia. The club is a member of the VTB United League. It is often referred to in the West as "Red Army" for its past affiliation with the Soviet Army. CSKA has won two titles between 2006 and 2009 in Europe's...
return to the Euroleague championship game, where they lost to Greek power Panathinaikos on the Greek team's home court. In the process, he was named to the All-Euroleague First Team for the Euroleague 2006-07
Euroleague 2006-07
The Euroleague is an international basketball club competition for elite clubs throughout Europe. The 2006-2007 season featured 24 competing teams from 13 different countries. The draw for the groups was held on September 14, 2006 in Athens. The competition began on October 24, 2006 at the Olympic...
season, a feat that he repeated in the Euroleague 2007-08
Euroleague 2007-08
The Euroleague is an international basketball club competition for elite clubs throughout Europe. The 2007–2008 season featured 24 competing teams. The Euroleague Regular Season drew was held on 30 June 2007 in the Jesolo, Italy, during the inaugural Euroleague summer league...
season. On May 4, 2008, he was named the Euroleague Final Four MVP, after again winning the Euroleague title with CSKA Moscow
PBC CSKA Moscow
PBC CSKA Moscow is a Russian professional basketball team that is based in Moscow, Russia. The club is a member of the VTB United League. It is often referred to in the West as "Red Army" for its past affiliation with the Soviet Army. CSKA has won two titles between 2006 and 2009 in Europe's...
.
On October 7, 2006, Langdon led his CSKA Moscow team to a 94-75 win over 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...
in an exhibition game
NBA Europe Live Tour
NBA Europe Live Tour is an event organised yearly since 2006. Its purpose is to bring teams from the National Basketball Association to play games against mainly Euroleague but also Eurocup teams....
. Coincidentally, he played against his former Duke University
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
teammate Elton Brand
Elton Brand
Elton Tyron Brand is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association...
, who was playing for the Clippers at that time. He led all scorers in the game with 17 points.
In June 2011 he announced his retirement from basketball. He made his announcement two days after helping CSKA to its ninth consecutive Russian League crown.
United States national team
After graduating from DukeDuke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
with degrees in mathematics and history, Langdon played for the USA national basketball team in the 1998 FIBA World Championship
1998 FIBA World Championship
The 1998 FIBA World Championship was the 13th FIBA World Championship, an international basketball tournament held by the International Basketball Federation and hosted in Athens, Greece from July 29 to August 9, 1998...
, winning the bronze medal.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 1999–00
| 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...
| 10 || 0 || 14.5 || .375 || .421 || 1.000 || 1.5 || 1.1 || .5 || .0 || 4.9
|-
| align="left" | 2000–01
| align="left" | Cleveland
| 65 || 5 || 17.2 || .431 || .411 || .895 || 1.4 || 1.2 || .6 || .1 || 6.0
|-
| align="left" | 2001–02
| align="left" | Cleveland
| 44 || 0 || 10.8 || .398 || .365 || .913 || 1.3 || 1.4 || .3 || .1 || 4.8
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 119 || 5 || 14.6 || .416 || .396 || .910 || 1.3 || 1.3 || .5 || .1 || 5.4