Rafer Jamel Alston (born July 24, 1976), nicknamed "Skip 2 My Lou" after the American folk song and partner-stealing dance with the same name, is an American retired 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. Alston first gained basketball fame as a streetball player before joining 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 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 ...

. While in the NBA from 1999 to 2010, he played for six teams, including the 2008–09 Orlando Magic team that made the NBA Finals.

Streetball legend

Alston grew up in the

Jamaica Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...

neighborhood of

Queens Queens is the largest by area of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Located near the western end of Long Island, it is bordered by the ...

, New York City, and was a standout streetball basketball player, known for his untraditional ballhandling moves that made him adept at outmaneuvering defenders. He was the inspiration in many ways for the AND1 Mixtape Tour—a low-quality, jerky 1999 videotape of Alston's extreme playground moves, featuring helter-skelter crossover and other fast dribble moves faking out defenders, attracted a great deal of attention among players and basketball fans. His trademark skipping dribble when bringing the ball down the court earned him the nickname, Skip to My Lou. He also played under well-known high school coach Ron Naclerio at Benjamin Cardozo High School in Queens, New York. Naclerio is credited with circulating the Alston tape and getting it in the hands of AND1 staff.

College career

Alston played college basketball for three seasons: one each at Ventura College (1994–95), Fresno City College (1996–97), and then for Jerry Tarkanian at Fresno State (1997–98). Alston was red-shirted at Fresno City College for the 1995–96 season.

Professional career

Milwaukee Bucks (1999–2002)

Alston struggled early in his NBA career, but successfully transitioned from streetball to the professional game. He played off the bench for most of the time he was with the Bucks. On November 17, 2001, when filling in for

Sam Cassell Samuel James Cassell Sr. (born November 18, 1969) is an American professional basketball coach and former point guard who serves as an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Drafted 24th overall in th ...

, Alston led the Bucks to a 104–93 win over the

Utah Jazz The Utah Jazz are an American professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City. The Jazz compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference. Since the 1991–92 season, the ...

with 14 points and 10 assists.

Toronto Raptors (2003)

Alston signed with the

Golden State Warriors The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in San Francisco. The Warriors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Founded in 1946 i ...

in 2002, but was waived in October before the season began. On January 17, 2003, he signed with the

Toronto Raptors The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), E ...

. He played in 47 games, averaged about 21 minutes per game, and averaged 7.8 points per game.

Miami Heat (2003–2004)

Following his tenure with the Raptors, Alston emerged as a starter for 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 2004. He did not disappoint, averaging 12 points and 4 assists on a young Miami team, led by rookie guard

Dwyane Wade Dwyane Tyrone Wade Jr. ( or , born January 17, 1982) is an American former professional basketball player who is currently the co-owner of the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association. He is also currently the host of the American a ...

, that made it to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals of the 2004 NBA Playoffs. During that season, in a March 26 game against the Dallas Mavericks, he hit a game-winning shot in overtime with 0.5 seconds left over the outstretched arms of Shawn Bradley to catapult Miami to a 119–118 victory.

Return to Toronto (2004–2005)

Alston would sign a multi-year deal with the Toronto Raptors in the summer of 2004. In the 2004–2005 season, he played nearly all games that season (80), averaged about 34 minutes per game, and had his best point per game average (14.2) in his career.

Houston Rockets (2005–2008)

Alston was traded to the

Houston Rockets The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston. The Rockets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA) ...

for guard Mike James on October 4, 2005. Although Alston frequently was criticized for his attitude while in Toronto, it is believed that Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy conferred with his brother,

coach Stan Van Gundy, who coached Alston during the 2003–04 NBA season, about Alston's work ethic and attitude. Jeff Van Gundy's reputation for toughness and his ability to get the most out of players previously considered "trouble-makers" or "temperamental" (e.g., Latrell Sprewell) led to optimism on the part of the Rockets' staff. In the 2006–07 season, as the Rockets starting point guard, Alston averaged 13.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He finished the season ninth in steals among all NBA players, fourth in three-pointers made, and 23rd in assists. On November 12, 2008, Alston was suspended for two games without pay for his role in a fight after a non-call foul with Matt Barnes and Steve Nash.

Orlando Magic (2009)

Alston was traded to 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 three-way deal on February 19, 2009, and replaced the injured

Jameer Nelson Jameer Lamar Nelson Sr. (born February 9, 1982) is an American former professional basketball player who serves as general manager for the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Saint Joseph's Hawks men's ba ...

in the team's starting lineup. On April 30, 2009, Alston helped the Orlando Magic defeat 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 ...

4–2 in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Orlando then defeated the

Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), ...

and

Cleveland Cavaliers The Cleveland Cavaliers, often referred to as the Cavs, are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Divis ...

to advance to the

NBA Finals The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern and Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league ...

, where they lost to the

Los Angeles Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division (NBA), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NBA ...

in five games, after Alston was replaced in the starting lineup by returning star Jameer Nelson. The move was a somewhat controversial decision by Stan Van Gundy, because Alston had led the team to the playoffs. Alston averaged 10.6 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.2 rebounds in the Finals. In the 2009 playoffs, Alston started every game he played in.

New Jersey Nets (2009–2010)

On June 25, 2009, he was traded 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 ...

along with Tony Battie and Courtney Lee in exchange for

Vince Carter Vincent Lamar Carter Jr. (born January 26, 1977) is an American former professional basketball player who played for 22 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He primarily played the shooting guard and small forward positions, b ...

and Ryan Anderson. He had his first triple-double as a member of the New Jersey Nets in 2009–2010. On January 5, 2010, he was released by the Nets in hopes of letting him play for a contender.

Return to Miami (2010)

On January 7, 2010, he cleared waivers and signed with the

for the second time. After starting 25 games for Heat, Miami replaced Alston with Carlos Arroyo as starting point guard. In a press release, Miami stated that Alston "made contact with the team via text message...has made himself otherwise unavailable to the team" and he was immediately suspended on March 6, 2010, for missing practice and a game. On March 13, 2010, Miami upgraded his suspension for the remainder of the season. Thus, Alston's final NBA game was played on March 2, 2010, in a 110106 win over the Golden State Warriors. In Alston's final game, although he was the Heat's starting point guard, he only played for 7 minutes and the only stat he recorded was 1 rebound.

Zhejiang Lions (2011)

On January 26, 2011, Alston signed with the

Zhejiang Lions The Zhejiang Guangsha Lions () are a Chinese professional basketball team based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, which plays in the North Division of the Chinese Basketball Association. Guangsha is the name of the club's corporate sponsor, but to prevent con ...

in the CBA for the remainder of the season. In late February, it was reported that he had left the team to attend a friend's funeral, and the team, believing he was unlikely to return because he had been injured and refused to see a doctor, told him to not return. Alston played 8 games for the Lions and averaged 19.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists.

Los Angeles D-Fenders (2012)

In 2012, Alston signed with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA D-League. This would be his last run as a professional basketball player.

Legal troubles

During 1998, he was convicted of assaulting two neighbors in Fresno. On Sunday morning, August 5, 2007, Alston was arrested in downtown Houston on misdemeanor charges of assault and public intoxication. The charges brought against Alston for the incident were dropped on February 29, 2008. He was also arrested on August 7, 2008, and charged with DWI. He was arrested yet again early Tuesday morning, August 28, 2007, in New York for allegedly slashing a man on the neck during a nightclub altercation. Neither the club owner, police, nor security tapes have provided any evidence of the incident occurring.

Career statistics

College

, - , style="text-align:left;", 1997–98 , style="text-align:left;", Fresno State , 33 , , – , , 31.2 , , .401 , , .337 , , .758 , , 2.2 , , 7.3 , , 2.1 , , .4 , , 11.0

NBA

Regular season

, - , align="left" , , align="left" ,

Milwaukee Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...

, 27 , , 0 , , 13.4 , , .284 , , .214 , , .750 , , .9 , , 2.6 , , .4 , , .0 , , 2.3 , - , align="left" , , align="left" ,

, 37 , , 2 , , 7.8 , , .357 , , .267 , , .692 , , .8 , , 1.8 , , .4 , , .0 , , 2.1 , - , align="left" , , align="left" ,

, 50 , , 7 , , 12.0 , , .346 , , .380 , , .621 , , 1.4 , , 2.9 , , .6 , , .0 , , 3.5 , - , align="left" , , align="left" ,

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

, 47 , , 4 , , 20.9 , , .415 , , .392 , , .685 , , 2.3 , , 4.1 , , .8 , , .3 , , 7.8 , - , align="left" , , align="left" ,

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 ...

, 82 , , 28 , , 31.5 , , .376 , , .371 , , .769 , , 2.8 , , 4.5 , , 1.4 , , .2 , , 10.2 , - , align="left" , , align="left" ,

, 80 , , 78 , , 34.0 , , .414 , , .357 , , .740 , , 3.5 , , 6.4 , , 1.5 , , .1 , , 14.2 , - , align="left" , , align="left" ,

Houston Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...

, 63 , , 63 , , 38.6 , , .379 , , .327 , , .692 , , 4.0 , , 6.7 , , 1.6 , , .2 , , 12.1 , - , align="left" , , align="left" ,

, style="background:#cfecec;", 82* , , style="background:#cfecec;", 82* , , 37.1 , , .375 , , .363 , , .734 , , 3.4 , , 5.4 , , 1.6 , , .1 , , 13.3 , - , align="left" , , align="left" ,

, 74 , , 74 , , 34.1 , , .394 , , .351 , , .715 , , 3.5 , , 5.3 , , 1.3 , , .2 , , 13.1 , - , align="left" , , align="left" ,

, 48 , , 48 , , 33.1 , , .370 , , .348 , , .789 , , 3.0 , , 5.4 , , 1.2 , , .1 , , 11.5 , - , align="left" , , align="left" , Orlando , 28 , , 28 , , 29.5 , , .413 , , .317 , , .707 , , 2.9 , , 5.1 , , 1.8 , , .1 , , 12.0 , - , align="left" , , align="left" ,

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

, 27 , , 13 , , 28.4 , , .343 , , .322 , , .815 , , 2.8 , , 3.9 , , 1.0 , , .2 , , 9.7 , - , align="left" , , align="left" ,

, 25 , , 25 , , 26.2 , , .355 , , .370 , , .556 , , 2.2 , , 2.9 , , .9 , , .2 , , 6.6 , -class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 671 , , 452 , , 28.9 , , .383 , , .354 , , .729 , , 2.8 , , 4.8 , , 1.2 , , .2 , , 10.1

Playoffs

, - , 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 ...

, align="left" ,

, 4 , , 0 , , 4.0 , , .000 , , .000 , , .000 , , .0 , , .3 , , .0 , , .0 , , .0 , - , 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 ...

, align="left" ,

, 5 , , 0 , , 1.6 , , .000 , , .000 , , .000 , , .0 , , .2 , , .0 , , .0 , , .0 , - , align="left" ,

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

, align="left" ,

, 13 , , 0 , , 22.7 , , .319 , , .231 , , .840 , , 2.2 , , 1.7 , , .4 , , .1 , , 7.0 , - , align="left" ,

2007 2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year. Events January * January 1 **Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...

, align="left" ,

, 7 , , 7 , , 44.1 , , .338 , , .320 , , .769 , , 6.9 , , 5.0 , , 1.9 , , .4 , , 10.9 , - , align="left" ,

2008 2008 was designated as: *International Year of Languages *International Year of Planet Earth *International Year of the Potato *International Year of Sanitation The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...

, align="left" ,

, 4 , , 4 , , 31.5 , , .438 , , .440 , , .800 , , 1.5 , , 4.5 , , 1.0 , , .0 , , 14.3 , - , align="left" ,

2009 2009 was designated as the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first known astronomical studies with a telescope and the publication of Astronomia Nova by Joha ...

, align="left" , Orlando , 23 , , 23 , , 32.2 , , .380 , , .319 , , .750 , , 2.4 , , 4.1 , , 1.4 , , .2 , , 12.2 , - , -class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 56 , , 34 , , 26.7 , , .365 , , .311 , , .764 , , 2.5 , , 3.1 , , 1.0 , , .1 , , 9.0

Notes

References

External links

*
Streetball Player Page

ClutchFans.net Rafer Alston Profile
– Houston Rocket Fan Site {{DEFAULTSORT:Alston, Rafer 1976 births Living people American expatriate basketball people in Canada American expatriate basketball people in China American men's basketball players AND1 Benjamin N. Cardozo High School alumni Fresno City Rams men's basketball players Fresno State Bulldogs men's basketball players Houston Rockets players Idaho Stampede (CBA) players Los Angeles D-Fenders players Miami Heat players Milwaukee Bucks draft picks Milwaukee Bucks players Mobile Revelers players New Jersey Nets players Point guards Basketball players from Queens, New York Street basketball players Junior college men's basketball players in the United States Toronto Raptors players Ventura Pirates men's basketball players Zhejiang Lions players

Streetball legend

College career

Professional career

Milwaukee Bucks (1999–2002)

Toronto Raptors (2003)

Miami Heat (2003–2004)

Return to Toronto (2004–2005)

Houston Rockets (2005–2008)

Orlando Magic (2009)

New Jersey Nets (2009–2010)

Return to Miami (2010)

Zhejiang Lions (2011)

Los Angeles D-Fenders (2012)

Legal troubles

Career statistics

College

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

See also

Notes

References

External links