Jamal Mashburn Sr. (born November 29, 1972) is an American entrepreneur and former professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

player. Nicknamed "the Monster Mash", Mashburn was a prolific scorer as a

small forward The small forward (SF), also known as the three, is one of the five Basketball position, positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically shorter, quicker, and leaner than Power forward (basketball), power forwards and Cent ...

in his 12 seasons in the

National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...

(NBA), with a career scoring average of 19.1 points per game.

Early life and college career

Mashburn was born to Bobby, a former heavyweight boxer and New York City police officer, and Helen Mashburn. His father retired in 1974 and then lived separately from Helen and his son Jamal, divorcing after about 10 years. Mashburn learned the game at Rucker Park, just a block away from where he grew up. Jamal-Mashburn-jersey

After attending Cardinal Hayes High School in

The Bronx The Bronx ( ) is the northernmost of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It shares a land border with Westchester County, New York, West ...

, Mashburn had a very successful basketball career in college, playing for the

University of Kentucky The University of Kentucky (UK, UKY, or U of K) is a Public University, public Land-grant University, land-grant research university in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. Founded in 1865 by John Bryan Bowman as the Agricultural and Mechanical ...

. He was the fourth-leading career scorer for the Wildcats and a consensus First Team

All-America The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...

n by his junior year, in which the Wildcats made it to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. Following the tournament he declared for the

1993 NBA draft The 1993–94 NBA season, 1993 NBA draft took place on June 30, 1993, at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The draft had some talented players at the top, but injuries and personal problems hurt many of them. Chris Webber, Pen ...

, with Mashburn being selected by the

Dallas Mavericks The Dallas Mavericks (often referred to as the Mavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Dallas. The Mavericks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Divisi ...

with the fourth pick.

Professional career

Dallas Mavericks (1993–1997)

The Mavericks were a lottery team led by veteran point guard Derek Harper and second year guard Jim Jackson, and Mashburn quickly shared the reins of the offense, averaging 19.2 points a game in 73 starts and earning a selection to the first

NBA All-Rookie Team The NBA All-Rookie Team is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) honor given since the 1962–63 NBA season to the top rookies during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches who are not allowed to vote for play ...

. Despite this the Mavericks could only manage 13 wins for the 1993–94 season. In the off-season, the team drafted star point guard

Jason Kidd Jason Frederick Kidd (born March 23, 1973) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the List of current NBA head coaches, head coach for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Widely regar ...

, teaming up with Jackson and Mashburn to become known collectively as "The Three J's." The Mavericks would improve to 36 wins in the 1994–95 season, as Mashburn averaged 24.1 points a game (sixth in the league), while placing fifth in the league in free throw makes (447), seventh in made field goals (683), and fifth in total points (1,926). The season also featured a 50-point performance by Mashburn on November 12 against the

Chicago Bulls The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. The team was founded on January 16 ...

in Chicago. This made him the fourth-youngest player to score 50 points in an NBA game ( Brandon Jennings is the youngest). He also broke many franchise records and blossomed into one of the best scoring forwards in the league. Despite the team's improvement they were unable to make the playoffs, and injuries would force Mashburn to only play 18 games in the 1995–96 season. Mashburn started in just 21 games of the Mavericks' first 37 games of the 1996–97 season, and on February 14, 1997, he was traded to the

Miami Heat The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern C ...

in exchange for Kurt Thomas,

Predrag Danilović Predrag "Saša" Danilović ( sr-Cyrl, Предраг "Саша" Даниловић, ; born February 26, 1970), usually referred to in English as Sasha Danilović, is a Serbian professional basketball executive and former player, considered one o ...

and Martin Müürsepp.

Miami Heat (1997–2000)

Miami was a loaded team led by all-stars

Alonzo Mourning Alonzo Harding Mourning Jr. (born February 8, 1970) is an American former professional basketball player who has served as vice president of player programs and development for the Miami Heat since June 2009. Mourning played most of his 15-year ...

and

Tim Hardaway Timothy Duane Hardaway Sr. (born September 1, 1966) is an American former professional basketball player. Hardaway played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets a ...

and coached by

Pat Riley Patrick James Riley (born March 20, 1945) is an American professional basketball executive, former coach, and former player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has been the team president of the Miami Heat since 1995, and he also se ...

. The addition of Mashburn boosted the team's offense, and the team finished the season with a franchise best 61 wins with Mashburn averaging 13.4 points in 30 starts. In the playoffs the Heat defeated the

Orlando Magic The Orlando Magic are an American professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. The Magic compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NB ...

in a difficult 5 games in the first round, followed by a grueling seven-game series win against the

New York Knicks The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the Na ...

. Miami made its first ever Conference Finals against the defending champion Bulls, and would lose the first three games of the series before managing a win in Miami in game four, with Mashburn scoring 17 points. The Bulls proved too much for the Heat and won the series in the fifth game in Chicago. Mashburn averaged 10.5 points in his first postseason. Injuries limited Mashburn to 48 games in the 1997–98 season, but he started in each game he played and averaged 15.1 points a game as Miami won 55 games before losing in a five-game first round series to the Knicks. Mashburn started in 3 of the games and saw his production slip. The following season would be shortened to 50 games due to a league lockout, and injuries again limited Mashburn to just 23 starts with averages of 14.8 points a game with 6.1 rebounds a game. Miami captured the best record in the Eastern Conference, but once again lost in the first round to New York, as Mashburn averaged 10 points in the five-game series. The 1999–2000 season featured an improvement statistically for Mashburn, as he shouldered more of the offensive load and averaged 17.5 points a game including a career high 112 three point field goals. The Heat won 52 games before sweeping the

Detroit Pistons The Detroit Pistons are an American professional basketball team based in Detroit. The Pistons compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), East ...

in the first round of the playoffs in three games. This set up another rematch with New York, as the Heat and Knicks battled in another grueling seven-game series. Despite scoring in bunches in the Heat's victories, including a 21-point performance in game 5, Mashburn's scoring dropped off in the final two games of the series, and the Knicks once again eliminated Miami at home. Following another disappointing playoff run for the team, Mashburn and teammate P. J. Brown were traded to the

Charlotte Hornets The Charlotte Hornets are an American professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Hornets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. The team ...

for Eddie Jones and Anthony Mason.

Charlotte Hornets (2000–2002)

In his first season in Charlotte, Mashburn averaged 20.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 76 games. Led by his play and the play of Baron Davis, the Hornets won 46 games and faced Miami in the first round of the playoffs. While his former team was favored to win the series, Mashburn averaged 23.7 points, as the younger Hornets shocked the Heat and swept them in three games. Next up were the

Milwaukee Bucks The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball team based in Milwaukee. The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), East ...

, who took a two-game lead before the Hornets won game three in Charlotte led by Mashburn's 36 points and game four, in which Mashburn scored 31. Despite managing to win three straight games, the Bucks responded to win the last two games and the series. Mashburn averaged a career high 24.9 points in the 2001 playoffs. The 2001–02 season once again featured injury problems for Mashburn, and he only played in 40 games averaging 21.5 points per game. The Hornets made the playoffs and defeated Orlando before losing to the

New Jersey Nets New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 ** "New" (Paul McCartney song), 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, 1995 * "New" (Daya song), 2017 * "New" (No Doubt song), 1 ...

, but Mashburn's injury woes kept him out of the postseason. The Hornets would go on to relocate to

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

after the season ended.

New Orleans Hornets (2002–2005)

Mashburn's best overall NBA season took place in the 2002–03 season, and he played in all 82 games averaging 21.6 points per game. He played in his first and only All-Star game (which was Michael Jordan's last) scoring 10 points in the 2003 NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta, won the Eastern Conference Player of the Month award in March and made the All-NBA Third Team. The season also featured some high scoring games for Mashburn, including a 50-point performance against Memphis on February 21 and a 40-point game against Orlando on March 26. The Hornets won 47 games and faced the

Philadelphia 76ers The Philadelphia 76ers, also known colloquially as the Sixers, are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlan ...

in the first round of the playoffs, but Mashburn played in only four games of the series due to a finger injury. In the deciding Game 6 loss on May 2, 2003, Mashburn led the Hornets in scoring with 36 points while adding five assists. Mashburn continued his stellar play in the 2003–04 season, but injuries plagued him for most of the year and he managed to play in only 19 games. He was later unable to participate in the 2004 playoffs. Bothered by problems with his right knee (

patella The patella (: patellae or patellas), also known as the kneecap, is a flat, rounded triangular bone which articulates with the femur (thigh bone) and covers and protects the anterior articular surface of the knee joint. The patella is found in m ...

femoral irritation), he decided to sit out the 2004–05 season in hopes that his knee would recover. He had microfracture surgery performed on his knee, a risky surgery that not all players have been able to recover from.

Retirement

Despite his decision to sit out the year due to his knee, the Hornets still traded Mashburn, along with Rodney Rogers, to the

in exchange for forward Glenn Robinson on February 24, 2005. Mashburn was never able to recover from his chronic knee problems and never saw court time for Philadelphia. He was on the injured list for all of the 2004–05 season and the inactive list for 2005–06. On March 24, 2006, the 76ers waived Mashburn, who subsequently announced his retirement from the NBA. He had career averages of 19.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. Mashburn, who averaged 20.8 points per game in 2003–04, is one of only six players since 1970 to have averaged at least 20 points per game in his final NBA season. The other five are

Jerry West Jerry Alan West (May 28, 1938 – June 12, 2024) was an American basketball player and executive. He played professionally for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and is widely regarded as one of the greatest ...

(20.3 in 1973–74),

Larry Bird Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend" Bird is widely regarded a ...

(20.2 in 1991–92),

Dražen Petrović Dražen Petrović (; 22 October 1964 – 7 June 1993) was a Yugoslav and Croatian professional basketball player. A shooting guard, he initially achieved success playing professional basketball in Europe in the 1980s with Cibona and Real Madri ...

(22.3 in 1992–93), Reggie Lewis (20.8 in 1992–93), and

Michael Jordan Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials MJ, is an American businessman and former professional basketball player, who is currently a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Ass ...

(20.0 in 2002–03).

Post-basketball career

Since retiring from basketball, Mashburn has worked for

ESPN ESPN (an initialism of their original name, which was the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by the Walt Disney Company (80% and operational control) and Hearst Commu ...

as an analyst and launched a number of successful business ventures. As of 2018, he owned over 90 businesses, including 34

Outback Steakhouse Outback Steakhouse is an American chain of Australian-themed casual dining restaurants, serving American cuisine, based in Tampa, Florida. The chain has over 1,000 locations in 23 countries throughout North America, South America, Asia, and Aus ...

franchises, 37 Papa John's franchises, and a number of car dealerships across the state of Kentucky. Mashburn is a partner in Ol Memorial Stable, along with former Kentucky coach

Rick Pitino Richard Andrew Pitino (; born September 18, 1952) is an American basketball coach who is the head men's basketball coach at St. John's University (New York City), St. John's University. He was also the head coach of Greece national basketball t ...

and Outback Steakhouse co-founder Chris T. Sullivan, which owns Kentucky Derby prospect Buffalo Man.

Personal life

Mashburn has lived in

Miami Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...

since his retirement. In 2017, he and his wife divorced after a 17-year marriage. Their son, Jamal Jr., attended the Gulliver Prep before transferring to Brewster Academy. A 4-star recruit out of high school, Jamal Jr. played college basketball for Minnesota for a year, followed by 3 years at New Mexico. Jamal Jr. was coached by Richard Pitino at both Minnesota and New Mexico. Jamal Jr. was a graduate transfer to Temple University for his last year of eligibility in 2024–2025.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

, - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

, 79 , , 73 , , 36.7 , , .406 , , .284 , , .699 , , 4.5 , , 3.4 , , 1.1 , , .2 , , 19.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 80 , , 80 , , 37.3 , , .436 , , .328 , , .739 , , 4.1 , , 3.7 , , 1.0 , , .1 , , 24.1 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 18 , , 18 , , 37.2 , , .379 , , .343 , , .729 , , 5.4 , , 2.8 , , .8 , , .2 , , 23.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 37 , , 21 , , 26.4 , , .372 , , .321 , , .649 , , 3.1 , , 2.5 , , .9 , , .1 , , 10.6 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 32 , , 30 , , 37.2 , , .398 , , .329 , , .752 , , 5.6 , , 3.5 , , 1.3 , , .2 , , 13.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 48 , , 48 , , 36.0 , , .435 , , .303 , , .797 , , 4.9 , , 2.8 , , .9 , , .3 , , 15.1 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 24 , , 23 , , 35.6 , , .451 , , .433 , , .721 , , 6.1 , , 3.1 , , .8 , , .1 , , 14.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 76 , , 76 , , 37.2 , , .445 , , .403 , , .778 , , 5.0 , , 3.9 , , 1.0 , , .2 , , 17.5 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 76 , , 76 , , 39.3 , , .413 , , .356 , , .766 , , 7.6 , , 5.4 , , 1.1 , , .2 , , 20.1 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 40 , , 40 , , 40.0 , , .407 , , .366 , , .876 , , 6.1 , , 4.3 , , 1.1 , , .2 , , 21.5 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 82 , , 81 , , 40.5 , , .422 , , .389 , , .848 , , 6.1 , , 5.6 , , 1.0 , , .2 , , 21.6 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 19 , , 18 , , 38.4 , , .392 , , .284 , , .813 , , 6.2 , , 2.5 , , .7 , , .3 , , 20.8 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 611 , , 584 , , 37.3 , , .418 , , .345 , , .766 , , 5.4 , , 4.0 , , 1.0 , , .2 , , 19.1 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", All-Star , 1 , , 0 , , 14.0 , , .571 , , 1.000 , , .000 , , 4.0 , , 2.0 , , 2.0 , , .0 , , 10.0

Playoffs

, - , style="text-align:left;",

1997 Events January * January 1 – The Emergency Alert System is introduced in the United States. * January 11 – Turkey threatens Cyprus on account of a deal to buy Russian S-300 missiles, prompting the Cypriot Missile Crisis. * January 1 ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 17 , , 17 , , 32.6 , , .387 , , .355 , , .650 , , 4.9 , , 2.1 , , 1.0 , , .1 , , 10.5 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 5 , , 3 , , 25.8 , , .267 , , .364 , , .750 , , 4.4 , , 1.8 , , .6 , , .2 , , 6.2 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1999 1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons. Events January * January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers. * January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 5 , , 5 , , 30.4 , , .388 , , .429 , , .667 , , 2.6 , , 2.0 , , .4 , , .0 , , 10.0 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2000 2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year. Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 10 , , 10 , , 42.3 , , .401 , , .394 , , .857 , , 4.6 , , 3.2 , , 1.1 , , .2 , , 17.5 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2001 The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...

, style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 10 , , 10 , , 41.9 , , .404 , , .333 , , .841 , , 6.2 , , 5.7 , , 1.2 , , .3 , , 24.9 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2002 The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...

, style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 1 , , 1 , , 10.0 , , .000 , , .000 , , .000 , , 1.0 , , 1.0 , , .0 , , .0 , , .0 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 4 , , 4 , , 40.5 , , .430 , , .400 , , .714 , , 3.5 , , 5.3 , , 1.0 , , .3 , , 24.8 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 52 , , 50 , , 35.6 , , .389 , , .369 , , .780 , , 4.7 , , 3.2 , , .9 , , .2 , , 15.0

References

External links

ESPN Bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mashburn, Jamal 1972 births Living people 21st-century American businesspeople All-American college men's basketball players American men's basketball players Cardinal Hayes High School alumni Charlotte Hornets players Dallas Mavericks draft picks Dallas Mavericks players Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball players Miami Heat players NBA All-Stars NBA broadcasters New Orleans Hornets players Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball) Small forwards Basketball players from the Bronx 21st-century African-American sportsmen 20th-century African-American sportsmen Southeastern Conference Athlete of the Year winners