USC Trojans | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Assistant coach | ||||||||||||||
League | Big Ten Conference | ||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||
Born | Fresno, California, U.S. | March 10, 1988||||||||||||||
Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | ||||||||||||||
Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||||
High school | San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, California) | ||||||||||||||
College | Washington (2006–2010) | ||||||||||||||
NBA draft | 2010: 1st round, 26th overall pick | ||||||||||||||
Selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder | |||||||||||||||
Playing career | 2010–2019 | ||||||||||||||
Position | Small forward / shooting guard | ||||||||||||||
Number | 20, 8, 3 | ||||||||||||||
Coaching career | 2021–present | ||||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||||
As player: | |||||||||||||||
2010–2011 | New Orleans Hornets | ||||||||||||||
2011–2015 | Memphis Grizzlies | ||||||||||||||
2015–2017 | New Orleans Pelicans | ||||||||||||||
2017–2018 | Chicago Bulls | ||||||||||||||
2018–2019 | San Antonio Spurs | ||||||||||||||
As coach: | |||||||||||||||
2021–2024 | Washington (assistant) | ||||||||||||||
2024–present | USC (assistant) | ||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Stats at NBA.com | |||||||||||||||
Stats at Basketball Reference | |||||||||||||||
Medals
|
Quincy Coe Pondexter (born March 10, 1988) is an American basketball coach and former professional player who is an assistant coach for the USC Trojans men's team. He played high school basketball in Fresno, California, at San Joaquin Memorial High School. Pondexter played four years of college basketball for the Washington Huskies. At the end of his senior season, he earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors and an All-American honorable mention by the Associated Press. [1]
Pondexter was born on March 10, 1988, in Fresno, California. As a high school senior, Pondexter was a highly sought after recruit, rated five stars and the 16th best prospect in the 2006 class by Scout.com. [2] Pondexter eventually signed a letter-of-intent with the University of Washington, over scholarship offers from Arizona, Connecticut, and Memphis. [3] Washington's 2006 recruiting class of Pondexter, Spencer Hawes, Adrian Oliver, and Phil Nelson was rated amongst the top in the country. They were ranked sixth overall by Scout.com, [4] and eighth overall by Rivals.com. [5] As a Senior, He would average 21.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals.
As a freshman, Pondexter was selected as a starter in his first collegiate game at Washington, scoring 21 points and grabbing 7 rebounds in a 99–91 win against Pepperdine. [6] After a hot start, Pondexter endured struggles and fell in the Huskies rotation. However, Pondexter once again began seeing increased playing time near the end of the season, in which the Huskies won 3 of their final 4 games, including wins over #24 USC [7] and #2 UCLA. [8] Pondexter finished his freshman season as an honorable mention on the Pac-10 All-Freshman team. His 10.7 ppg was the fourth highest scoring average for a Washington freshman in school history.
At the beginning of his sophomore season, Pondexter regained his spot in the starting lineup. However, seven games into the season he lost his starting position and once again began to slide in the Huskies rotation. Mid-season, fellow sophomore Oliver announced his intention to transfer to San Jose State. The departure of Oliver, paired with the loss of Hawes to the 2007 NBA draft and off-season transfer of Nelson to Portland State left Pondexter as the last remaining member of the previously heralded 2006 recruiting class. Reflecting on his difficult sophomore season and the departure of his classmates, Pondexter said in 2009, "It was really tough my sophomore year. People bond with people in their recruiting class: you come in together, you’re friends. And I was kind of alone sometimes. It was a heart-breaking year for me to see everyone go." [9]
Pondexter's sophomore struggles extended throughout most of the season, and his scoring average dropped from the previous season to 9.9 ppg. Near the end of the season Pondexter was able to show glimpses of the promise he showed early in his freshman season, averaging 15.2 points and 6.4 rebounds in the final five games of his sophomore season. [10] Following the season, Pondexter won the school's "Industrial Award" as the hardest worker on the team.
Prior to his junior season, Pondexter was selected as a captain along with senior teammates Jon Brockman and Justin Dentmon. The 2008–2009 season got off to a disappointing start, as Washington was upset by Portland in the season opener 80–74. [11] In the loss, Pondexter failed to register a point. The source of some initial frustration from Washington fans, Pondexter steadily improved throughout the season as the Huskies climbed to the top of the Pac-10 conference standings. Pondexter lead Washington to a 60-51 road victory over USC, leading the Huskies with 22 points and 5 rebounds. In a key game against co-leader Arizona State, Pondexter delivered a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds in the Huskies 73–70 overtime victory. [12] The victory put Washington in position to claim their first outright Pac-10 conference title since 1953. [13] One week after the victory against Arizona State, Washington defeated rival Washington State 67–60 to win the conference title. In the clinching game, Pondexter led the Huskies in scoring with 16 points. Washington finished the season ranked 10th, and earned a 4 seed in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. In Washington's first-round game against Mississippi State, Pondexter lead the team to a 71–58 victory by scoring 23 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. [14] Washington was eliminated in the second round by fifth-seeded Purdue, losing 76–74. In the loss Pondexter delivered a double-double, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. [15]
Prior to his senior season, Pondexter participated in the World University Games, helping the USA claim a bronze medal. Pondexter was once again elected captain of the Huskies. Pondexter was expected to replace the production of Jon Brockman, who had graduated following the 2009 season and was selected by the Sacramento Kings in the 2009 NBA draft. Pondexter started the season hot, scoring 25 points and grabbing 11 rebounds for the Huskies in a 96–78 victory over Belmont. [16] In the fourth game of the season, the Huskies defeated San Jose State, who were led by former Husky player Adrian Oliver. Following the 80–70 victory in which Pondexter scored 30 points and totaled 15 rebounds, Pondexter said of Oliver, "Adrian, he got what he wanted. He got a school where he can score as many points as he wants. But we’re winning games. He scored 32, I got the win." [17]
Pondexter would have a successful senior season, averaging 19.3 points and 7.4 rebounds. Pondexter won the Pac-10 Conference Player of the Week five times throughout the 2009–2010 season. At the conclusion of the season Pondexter finished second to Cal's Jerome Randle for Pac-10 Player of the Year, becoming the first Pac-10 player not to win the award despite winning the Player of the Week award five times. However, Pondexter led Washington over Randle's Golden Bears in the 2010 Pac-10 Tournament Championship in a 79–75 victory. Pondexter led the Huskies with 18 points, and clinched an automatic berth for Washington in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
Washington was awarded an #11 seed, and a first round matchup against #6 seed Marquette. In a back-and-forth game, Pondexter banked in the game winning shot with 1.7 seconds remaining to lead the Huskies to an 80–78 upset victory over the Golden Eagles. [18] The shot capped an 18-point, 11 rebound game for Pondexter, and advanced Washington to a second round matchup against the #3 seeded New Mexico Lobos. Washington upset New Mexico 82–64, with Pondexter scoring 18 points to lead the Huskies to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005–2006. [19]
Pondexter concluded his Washington career as the all-time leader in career games played and career home wins. [20] Pondexter finished as the 3rd highest scoring player in school history with 1,786 points. [21]
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006–07 | Washington | 32 | 22 | 23.9 | .498 | .375 | .760 | 4.0 | 1.5 | .7 | .2 | 10.7 |
2007–08 | Washington | 33 | 9 | 24.4 | .452 | .288 | .685 | 4.8 | 1.9 | .5 | .2 | 9.9 |
2008–09 | Washington | 35 | 35 | 28.1 | .511 | .214 | .742 | 5.9 | 1.6 | .7 | .4 | 12.1 |
2009–10 | Washington | 36 | 36 | 32.3 | .528 | .353 | .827 | 7.4 | 1.8 | 1.3 | .6 | 19.3 |
Career | 136 | 102 | 27.3 | .503 | .327 | .768 | 5.6 | 1.7 | .8 | .3 | 13.1 |
On June 24, 2010, Pondexter was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the 26th overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft. On July 8, 2010, the New Orleans Hornets acquired the rights to Pondexter and Craig Brackins in exchange for the rights to Cole Aldrich and Morris Peterson. [22] [23]
On December 24, 2011, one day before the start of the 2011–12 NBA season, the Hornets traded Pondexter to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Greivis Vásquez. [24] [25]
On October 31, 2013, Pondexter signed a four-year, $14 million contract extension with the Grizzlies. [26]
After appearing in a 189 games over his first three seasons in the NBA, injury struck him down during the 2013–14 season. On December 9, 2013, Pondexter was ruled out indefinitely after he was diagnosed with a tarsal navicular stress fracture in his right foot. [27] He subsequently missed the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on December 20. [28]
Pondexter returned for the 2014–15 season and played out the first two months of the season with Memphis. On January 12, 2015, he was traded back to New Orleans, now known as the Pelicans, in a three-team deal that involved the Grizzlies and the Boston Celtics. [29] He enjoyed a career-best tenure with the Pelicans during the second half of the 2014–15 season, averaging 9.0 points per game and registering a career-high 25 points in a 102–96 win over the Brooklyn Nets on February 25, 2015. [30] However, injury struck him down again following the Pelicans' 2015 playoff run.
On May 6, 2015, Pondexter underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. [31] Pondexter was slated to return in November 2015, [32] but after undergoing another round of left knee surgery on January 20, 2016, he was ruled out for the entire 2015–16 season. [33] He was expected to make a full recovery for the 2016–17 season, [34] but he failed to appear in a game for the Pelicans for the second straight season after undergoing arthroscopic left knee surgery for a third time on January 4, 2017. [35] Following surgery number three, Pondexter battled the life-threatening skin infection Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. [36]
On September 1, 2017, Pondexter was traded, along with a 2018 second-round pick and cash considerations, to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for the draft rights to Ater Majok. [37] Despite missing all of preseason with a strained left hamstring, [36] Pondexter played for the first time since April 2015 in the Bulls' 2017–18 season opener on October 19, 2017, against the Toronto Raptors. [38] On February 1, 2018, he was waived by the Bulls. [39]
On August 29, 2018, Pondexter signed a one-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs. [40] He played under head coach Gregg Popovich who he considered to be "the greatest coach of all time." [41]
On May 3, 2021, Pondexter returned to the Washington Huskies as an assistant under head coach Mike Hopkins. [42]
On May 16, 2024, Pondexter was announced as an assistant coach for the USC Trojans under incoming head coach Eric Musselman. [43]
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010–11 | New Orleans | 66 | 6 | 11.1 | .406 | .360 | .706 | 1.3 | .4 | .3 | .2 | 2.8 |
2011–12 | Memphis | 64 | 8 | 15.7 | .452 | .301 | .623 | 2.0 | .4 | .4 | .1 | 4.2 |
2012–13 | Memphis | 59 | 1 | 21.1 | .428 | .395 | .787 | 2.2 | 1.0 | .6 | .1 | 6.4 |
2013–14 | Memphis | 15 | 2 | 18.0 | .392 | .324 | .808 | 1.7 | 1.3 | .3 | .1 | 6.3 |
2014–15 | Memphis | 30 | 2 | 18.0 | .356 | .233 | .700 | 1.9 | .9 | .2 | .2 | 4.5 |
2014–15 | New Orleans | 45 | 28 | 27.8 | .449 | .433 | .758 | 3.1 | 1.5 | .3 | .4 | 9.0 |
2017–18 | Chicago | 23 | 1 | 8.5 | .286 | .136 | .824 | 1.2 | .4 | .3 | .1 | 2.0 |
2018–19 | San Antonio | 53 | 0 | 5.5 | .500 | .333 | .810 | .9 | .5 | .2 | .0 | 1.8 |
Career | 355 | 48 | 15.6 | .423 | .356 | .746 | 1.8 | .7 | .3 | .1 | 4.5 |
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | New Orleans | 3 | 0 | 3.0 | .167 | .000 | – | .3 | .3 | .0 | .0 | .7 |
2012 | Memphis | 7 | 0 | 16.3 | .667 | .500 | .778 | 2.3 | .3 | .6 | .0 | 4.7 |
2013 | Memphis | 15 | 0 | 23.8 | .489 | .453 | .607 | 2.5 | .7 | .7 | .1 | 8.9 |
2015 | New Orleans | 4 | 4 | 31.0 | .357 | .300 | .857 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 1.8 | .0 | 7.3 |
2019 | San Antonio | 5 | 0 | 2.4 | .000 | .000 | – | .2 | .4 | .2 | .0 | .0 |
Career | 34 | 4 | 18.1 | .466 | .408 | .682 | 2.2 | .8 | .7 | .1 | 5.8 |
Pondexter's father, Roscoe, was a third-round pick of the Boston Celtics in the 1974 NBA draft and played professional basketball overseas. [44] He is the nephew of former Chicago Bulls player Cliff Pondexter. Pondexter's cousin, Deshon Taylor, has played basketball professionally overseas. [45] Another cousin, Wesley Yates III, played for the Washington Huskies when Pondexter was an assistant and followed him to USC. [46]
Pondexter holds an annual basketball camp in the San Joaquin valley, for boys and girls in kindergarten through 12th grade. [47]
Brian David Scalabrine, jokingly nicknamed the "White Mamba", is an American former professional basketball player who is currently a television analyst for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is also the co-host of "The Starting Lineup", which airs weekdays from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET on SiriusXM NBA Radio.
Nathaniel Cornelius Robinson is an American former professional basketball player. Born in Seattle, Robinson played college basketball for the University of Washington in Seattle and was the 21st pick in the 2005 NBA draft. The 5-foot-9-inch (1.75 m) point guard played in the NBA for the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, and New Orleans Pelicans. Robinson became the NBA's first three-time slam dunk champion in 2010.
Brook Robert Lopez is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Splash Mountain", he was named an NBA All-Star as a member of the Brooklyn Nets, and has been voted twice to the NBA All-Defensive Team while with the Bucks. He won an NBA championship with Milwaukee in 2021.
Ryan James Anderson is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the California Golden Bears.
Russell Westbrook III is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A point guard, Westbrook made his NBA debut in 2008 and became a star as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He has played for six NBA teams.
Tyreke Jamir Evans is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Broncos de Caracas of the Superliga Profesional de Baloncesto (SPB). After playing college basketball for the Memphis Tigers, he was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings. Evans went on to win the 2010 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2013 before being traded back to the Kings in 2017. After successive stints with the Memphis Grizzlies and Indiana Pacers, Evans, who would have become a free agent at the end of the 2019 season, was dismissed and disqualified from the NBA in May for violating the terms of the league's anti-drug program, but was reinstated in February 2022.
DeMar Darnell DeRozan is an American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the USC Trojans and was selected ninth overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 2009 NBA draft. Nicknamed “Deebo”, DeRozan is a six-time NBA All-Star and a three-time All-NBA Team member. DeRozan is currently sixth among all active NBA players on the all-time scoring list.
Jrue Randall Holiday is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for one season with the UCLA Bruins before being selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2009 NBA draft with the 17th overall pick.
Isaiah Jamar Thomas is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He most notably played with the Boston Celtics from 2015 through 2017, when he was a two-time NBA All-Star and named second-team All-NBA.
Kemba Hudley Walker is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is a player enhancement coach for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was picked ninth overall by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2011 NBA draft and also played for the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and the Dallas Mavericks, before finishing his career with AS Monaco. He played college basketball for the Connecticut Huskies. In their 2010–11 season, Walker was the nation's second-leading scorer and was named consensus first-team All-American; he also led the Huskies to a 2011 NCAA championship victory and claimed the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award. Walker is a four-time NBA All-Star, a one-time All-NBA Team member, two-time winner of the NBA Sportsmanship Award, as well as a LNB Élite champion.
Nikola Vučević is a Montenegrin professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the USC Trojans before being drafted 16th overall in the 2011 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Steven Funaki Paea He Ofa Ki Loa Adams is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After playing one season with the Wellington Saints, in 2011, Adams moved to the United States in 2012 to play college basketball for Pittsburgh.
Terrence James Elijah Ross is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Washington Huskies, where he was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection before being drafted eighth overall in the 2012 NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors.
Justin Alaric Holiday is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Washington Huskies. He won an NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2015. He is NBA player Jrue Holiday and NBA player Aaron Holiday's brother.
Solomon Jamar Hill is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats.
Zachary Thomas LaVine is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected in the first round of the 2014 NBA draft with the 13th overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves. A two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion, he was named an NBA All-Star in 2021 and 2022. He also won a gold medal on the 2020 U.S. Olympic team in Tokyo.
Dwight Harlan Powell is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Stanford Cardinal and is a member of the Canadian national team.
Lonzo Anderson Ball is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A point guard, he played college basketball for one season with the UCLA Bruins, earning consensus first-team All-American honors before the Los Angeles Lakers selected him with the second overall pick of the 2017 NBA draft. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2018.
Dejounte Dashaun Murray is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played one season of college basketball for the Washington Huskies, where he earned second-team all-conference honors in the Pac-12 as a freshman in 2015–16. He was selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2016 NBA draft with the 29th overall pick. In 2022, Murray was named to his first NBA All-Star Game and led the league in steals. He is the Spurs' franchise leader in career triple-doubles. He has also played for the Atlanta Hawks.
Jaren Walter Jackson Jr., nicknamed "the Block Panther", also known by his initials JJJ, is an American professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected by Memphis with the fourth overall pick of the 2018 NBA draft. In 2023, he was named to his first NBA All-Star team, later winning Defensive Player of the Year that same season. Jackson is renowned for his defensive dominance, particularly his exceptional rim protection; he has led the league in blocks per game for two consecutive seasons.