Jeff Foster (basketball)

Last updated
Jeff Foster
Jeff Foster 2010.jpg
Foster in 2010
Personal information
Born (1977-01-16) January 16, 1977 (age 47)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school James Madison (San Antonio, Texas)
College Southwest Texas State (1995–1999)
NBA draft 1999: 1st round, 21st overall pick
Selected by the Golden State Warriors
Playing career1999–2012
Position Center / power forward
Number10
Career history
19992012 Indiana Pacers
Career statistics
Points 3,747 (4.9 ppg)
Rebounds 5,248 (6.9 rpg)
Assists 703 (0.9 apg)
Stats   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Jeffrey Douglas Foster (born January 16, 1977) is an American former professional basketball player who spent the entirety of his 13-year career with the Indiana Pacers of the NBA.

Contents

Early life and college

Foster was born in San Antonio, Texas and graduated from James Madison High School in San Antonio in 1995. In senior year, he joined the varsity basketball team in high school. He attended Southwest Texas State University and finished college nine credits short of a degree in finance. [1] With the Southwest Texas State Bobcats, Foster averaged 12.8 points and 10.2 rebounds in his junior season and was part of the All-Southland Conference Second-Team in 1998. [2]

NBA career

He was selected 21st overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 1999 NBA draft out of Southwest Texas State University, but his draft rights were immediately traded to the Pacers in exchange for Vonteego Cummings and a future first-round draft pick. [3]

Foster was part of the Pacers' 1999–2000 Eastern Conference championship team, though he played only 19 games that year as he was fourth on the Pacers' depth chart at center behind Rik Smits, Sam Perkins and Zan Tabak. In his second season, he played in 71 games, gaining a spot in the rotation as the Pacers rebuilt for the future. He averaged 3.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while averaging only 16.2 minutes per contest.

Foster began the 2001–02 season as the starter, and started 48 games that year before Brad Miller was acquired in a trade with the Chicago Bulls. Nevertheless, Foster played in all 82 games for the first time in his career, averaging 5.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

Miller remained the Pacers' starting center throughout the 2002–03 season, and as such Foster was relegated back to the bench, and he produced his lowest point total yet of his career (2.1 ppg) and grabbed only 3.6 rebounds per game.

Before the 2003–04 season, Brad Miller was traded to the Sacramento Kings, and newly acquired Scot Pollard began as the starting center. But Foster distinguished himself in the Pacers' season opener against the Detroit Pistons and his play, combined with Pollard's poor play, meant a return to the starting line-up for Foster. [4] The energetic, hard-working center became an important rebounding presence for the Pacers, and his offensive rebounds, in particular, combined with well-timed tip-ins, finally endeared himself to Indiana fans.

Foster with the Pacers in 2008. Jeff Foster 2008.jpg
Foster with the Pacers in 2008.

Foster sustained a back injury in December 2009 and underwent surgery on February 16, 2010. [5]

Foster announced his retirement on March 21, 2012. He cited chronic back issues as the reason for his departure from the game. [6] At the time of his retirement, Foster ranked 8th all-time in total rebound rate and 4th all-time in offensive rebound rate. [7]

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GPGames 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

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
1999–00 Indiana 1904.5.565.000.6801.7.3.3.12.3
2000–01 Indiana 71916.2.469.286.5165.5.5.5.43.5
2001–02 Indiana 824821.8.449.133.6106.8.9.9.55.7
2002–03 Indiana 77210.4.360.000.5403.6.7.4.32.1
2003–04 Indiana 827923.9.544.000.6697.4.8.9.36.1
2004–05 Indiana 614326.1.519.000.6349.0.7.8.27.0
2005–06 Indiana 633725.1.552.000.6049.1.8.7.45.9
2006–07 Indiana 754323.2.469.000.6398.1.8.8.54.3
2007–08 Indiana 775224.5.550.000.5938.71.7.7.46.4
2008–09 Indiana 742624.7.501.286.6586.91.8.7.76.1
2009–10 Indiana 16315.9.478.000.5565.11.3.2.33.1
2010–11 Indiana 56316.8.479.000.5636.3.8.4.63.3
2011–12 Indiana 11012.8.5001.000.6673.8.4.7.12.3
Career76434520.6.497.130.6156.9.9.7.44.9

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2001 Indiana 4213.0.444.0001.0003.0.5.0.82.5
2002 Indiana 5015.6.538.500.4444.81.4.6.24.0
2003 Indiana 606.3.545.0001.0001.3.3.0.52.3
2004 Indiana 161319.2.581.000.8006.6.8.8.33.6
2005 Indiana 13018.8.596.000.7147.4.4.5.95.9
2006 Indiana 4420.0.364.000.7506.0.81.0.32.8
2011 Indiana 5018.6.583.000.3754.8.8.4.83.4
Career531916.8.556.400.6615.5.7.5.53.9

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jermaine O'Neal</span> American basketball player

Jermaine Lee O'Neal Sr. is an American former professional basketball player. A center/power forward, he had a successful high school career and declared his eligibility for the 1996 NBA draft straight out of high school. O'Neal, at just 17 years of age, was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 17th overall pick, and played his first professional game at 18. At the time, he was the youngest player to ever play an NBA game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Miller (basketball)</span> American basketball player

Bradley Alan Miller is an American former professional basketball player. The two-time NBA All-Star played for six National Basketball Association (NBA) teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Jackson</span> American basketball player (born 1978)

Stephen Jesse Jackson is an American former professional basketball player who played 17 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the New Jersey Nets, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Bobcats, San Antonio Spurs, and Los Angeles Clippers. Jackson won an NBA championship with the Spurs in 2003. Jackson has emerged as a visible activist and spokesman for civil rights during the Black Lives Matter movement.

David Joshua Harrison is an American former professional basketball player. A former National Basketball Association (NBA) player for the Indiana Pacers, he was a member of the Beijing Ducks for the 2008–09 season and played with the Guangdong Southern Tigers for the next two years. He also played for the Tianjin Ronggang. At Brentwood Academy, Harrison received TSSAA Division 2 Mr. Basketball in 2000 and 2001. He was drafted by the Indiana Pacers out of the University of Colorado at Boulder with the 29th pick of the 2004 NBA draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Richardson</span> American basketball player

Jason Anthoney Richardson is an American former professional basketball player who played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Richardson was taken by the Golden State Warriors as the fifth overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft after playing college basketball for Michigan State University. He won the NBA Dunk Contest in both 2002 and 2003, becoming the second player, after Michael Jordan, to win the competition back-to-back. Richardson has also played for the Charlotte Bobcats, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, and the Philadelphia 76ers. Richardson is often remembered for his proficiency in dunking and shooting. Since 2021, Richardson has been an active player for Tri-State of the BIG3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erick Dampier</span> American basketball player (born 1975)

Erick Travez Dampier is an American former professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Indiana Pacers, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks. He is a 6 ft 11 in / 265 lb. center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Jefferson</span> American basketball player (born 1985)

Al Ricardo Jefferson is an American former professional basketball player. He was a high school All-American for Prentiss High School in Mississippi before skipping college to enter the 2004 NBA draft, where he was drafted 15th overall by the Boston Celtics. He played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets and Indiana Pacers, earning third-team All-NBA honors in 2014 with the Hornets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clark Kellogg</span> American basketball player (born 1961)

Clark Clifton Kellogg Jr. is an American former professional basketball player who is the lead college basketball analyst for CBS Sports. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Indiana Pacers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rasho Nesterović</span> Slovenian basketball player (born 1976)

Radoslav "Rasho" Nesterović is a Slovenian former professional basketball player. He holds citizenship in both Slovenia and Greece. During his career in the NBA, Nesterović played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, and Toronto Raptors. He retired in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theo Ratliff</span> American basketball player (born 1973)

Theophalus Curtis Ratliff is an American former professional basketball player who played 16 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scot Pollard</span> American basketball player

Scot L. Pollard is an American former professional basketball player. In an 11-year NBA career, he played for five teams, spending the bulk of his career with the Sacramento Kings and the Indiana Pacers.

Jonathan Rene Bender is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). A highly-touted 6’11 prospect who mostly played shooting guard in high school, Bender’s unusual height and potential garnered much attention leading up to the 1999 NBA draft. After playing 78 games for the Pacers in 2001, knee injuries limited him to a combined 76 games over the next four seasons. He played 25 games for the Knicks in 2009 before his retirement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anderson Varejão</span> Brazilian basketball player (born 1982)

Anderson França Varejão is a Brazilian former professional basketball player who played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), 13 of those with the Cleveland Cavaliers. With a career that spanned four professional leagues, he also played for Franca and the Flamengo of the Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB), Barcelona of the EuroLeague and Liga ACB, and has been a regular member of the Brazilian national team, winning a gold medal in 2003 at the Pan American Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Edwards (basketball)</span> American basketball player, center

James Franklin Edwards is a former American basketball center in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, and Chicago Bulls during a career that spanned 19 seasons. Though he never appeared in an All-Star Game, he was a reliable low-post scorer, averaging 12.7 points per game over his career. He played college basketball at the University of Washington.

Clifford Trent Robinson is an American former professional basketball player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LaSalle Thompson</span> American basketball player

LaSalle Thompson III is an American former professional basketball player, who spent most of his 15-year career with the Kansas City/Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers. The 6 ft 10 in, 245-pound Thompson spent time at both the center and power forward positions during his playing career. He later served as an assistant coach for the Charlotte Bobcats, during head coach Larry Brown's tenure and for the New York Knicks during head coach Mike Woodson's tenure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D. J. White</span> American professional basketball player

Dewayne "D. J." White, Jr. is a video analyst for the Oklahoma City Thunder and a former American professional basketball player, who was selected in the first round of the 2008 NBA draft. Standing at 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m), he played the power forward position. He spent the majority of his career playing overseas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Teague</span> American basketball player (born 1988)

Jeffrey Demarco Teague is an American former professional basketball player who is the head coach for Pike High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for five teams between 2009 and 2021, including seven seasons with the Atlanta Hawks. Since retiring in 2021, he has worked as regional scout for the Hawks. Teague played college basketball for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons before being selected 19th overall in the 2009 NBA draft by the Hawks. He made an appearance as an NBA All-Star in 2015 and won an NBA championship in 2021 with the Milwaukee Bucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cody Zeller</span> American basketball player (born 1992)

Cody Allen Zeller is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers. Zeller was selected with the fourth pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the then-Charlotte Bobcats. He is the brother of former NBA players Tyler and Luke, and the nephew of former NBA player Al Eberhard.

Matthew Lamar Rogers is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Southwest Baptist University before playing professionally in the NBA Development League, Lebanon, Spain, the Philippines, Qatar and New Zealand.

References

  1. "Off the court: Jeff Foster". Indiana Pacers. 2008. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  2. "Jeff Foster". Southwest Texas State Bobcats. Archived from the original on November 13, 1999.
  3. Steele, David (July 1, 1999). "Warriors Switch It Up". San Francisco Chronicle. p. E1.
  4. "2003-04 in Review: Jeff Foster". Indiana Pacers. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  5. "Pacers' Foster has successful surgery". ESPN.com. Associated Press. February 16, 2010. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  6. "Pacers Jeff Foster Announces Retirement". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. March 21, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
  7. "Jeff Foster, a True Indiana Pacer Great, Retires Archived 2012-03-26 at the Wayback Machine . Eight Points, Nine Seconds. TrueHoop Network, March 21, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2012.