Devean George
{{Short description|American basketball player (born 1977)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Devean George
| image = Devean George Feb 24 2008 crop.jpg
| caption = George with the Mavericks in February 2008
| position =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 8
| weight_lb = 235
| team =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|8|29}}
| birth_place = Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
| high_school = Benilde-St. Margaret's
(St. Louis Park, Minnesota)
| college = Augsburg (1995–1999)
| draft_year = 1999
| draft_round = 1
| draft_pick = 23
| draft_team = Los Angeles Lakers
| career_start = 1999
| career_end = 2010
| career_position = Small forward
| career_number = 3, 40, 19
| years1 = {{nbay|1999|start}}–{{nbay|2005|end}}
| team1 = Los Angeles Lakers
| years2 = {{nbay|2006|start}}–{{nbay|2008|end}}
| team2 = Dallas Mavericks
| years3 = {{nbay|2009|full=yes}}
| team3 = Golden State Warriors
| highlights =
- 3× NBA champion ({{nbafy|2000}}–{{nbafy|2002}})
- Second-team Division III All-American – NABC (1999)
- 2× MIAC Player of the Year (1998, 1999)
- 3× All-MIAC (1997–1999)
| stats_league = NBA
| stat1label = Points
| stat1value = 3,536 (5.6 ppg)
| stat2label = Rebounds
| stat2value = 1,975 (3.1 rpg)
| stat3label = Assists
| stat3value = 543 (0.9 apg)
| bbr = georgde01
}}
Devean Jamar George (born August 29, 1977) is an American former professional basketball player who played 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), mostly as a backup small forward. He won three NBA championships during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers. Since completing his basketball career George has become a real estate developer in his home state of Minnesota.
Early life
Devean Jamar George was born on August 29, 1977, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He attended high school at Benilde-St. Margaret's School in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, where he played basketball.
College career
George attended Augsburg College.{{cite web | title=Augsburg's Devean George '99 in the NBA | website=Augsburg University Athletics | date=2017-10-30 | url=https://athletics.augsburg.edu/sports/2009/7/9/mbb-devean.aspx | access-date=2024-11-27}} He was named Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player two consecutive years (1997–98 and 1998–99), and set school records as a senior by scoring 770 points and averaging 27.5 ppg in leading Augsburg to 24–4 record and the NCAA Division III tournament for the second year in a row.
George grew up in Near North, Minneapolis.{{cite news |last1=St. Anthony |first1=Neal |title=Developer Devean George plans $19M modular-home factory for North Loop |url=https://www.startribune.com/19m-modular-home-factory-planned-for-north-loop/600226655/ |access-date=December 3, 2022 |work=Star Tribune |date=November 16, 2022}}
Professional career
= Los Angeles Lakers (1999–2006) =
George was taken by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 23rd overall pick of the 1999 NBA draft, and showed considerable promise, especially by his third season where his hustle, outside shooting, and defense made him a key substitute and he appeared in every single game.{{Cite web |title=1999 NBA Draft |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1999.html |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}} George was a contributor to the Los Angeles Lakers three straight championship seasons, playing a solid role as a reserve behind Rick Fox. The Lakers gave him a contract extension in 2002 as a result and over the years, his effort, defensive activity, three-point shooting, and willingness to do what the Lakers required of him endeared him to many Laker fans.
= Dallas Mavericks (2006–2009) =
George signed a two-year $4.2 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks as a free agent in August 2006{{Cite web |date=August 1, 2006 |title=Mavs agree to 2-year, $4.2M deal with ex-Laker George |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2536586 |access-date=December 7, 2023 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}} and as the season continued he gained coach Avery Johnson's trust and became more integral to the Mavericks' gameplan.
After the end of the 2006–07 NBA season, George became an unrestricted free agent. The Mavericks gave him and his agent a chance to opt in or opt out of a possible second season with the Mavericks at $2.16 m. On June 30, George decided to opt out of a second season with the Mavericks but eventually, with no other choices, re-signed on July 9 to a $2.5 million deal.[http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/063007dnspomavsbriefs.2782161a.html Mavericks' George to become free agent | Sports News | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas]
In February 2008, George received a lot of publicity when he refused to be included as part of a larger trade which would have sent Jason Kidd to the Mavericks and George, alongside six other players, to the New Jersey Nets.{{Cite web |last=Crouse |first=Karen |date=February 15, 2008 |title=Devean George Enters Maelstrom as He Rejects Trade |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/15/sports/basketball/15george-web.html?fta=y/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007052729/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/15/sports/basketball/15george-web.html?fta=y/ |archive-date=October 7, 2022 |access-date=December 8, 2023 |website=The New York Times}}{{Cite web |last=Stein |first=Marc |date=February 14, 2008 |title=George blocks deal sending Kidd to Mavericks |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3244818 |access-date=December 8, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} The trade was ultimately completed without George being part of it, with George being replaced by Trenton Hassell.{{Cite web |last=Stein |first=Marc |date=February 19, 2008 |title=Finally, finalization! Kidd-to-Mavs trade official |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3253107 |access-date=December 8, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
On March 11, 2009, George injured his right knee in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers.{{cite news | last = Sefko | first = Eddie | title = Devean George seems headed toward surgery | work = Sports | publisher = The Dallas Morning News | date = March 13, 2009 | url = http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/03/george-seems-headed-toward-surgery.html | access-date = April 19, 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090416202333/http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/03/george-seems-headed-toward-surgery.html | archive-date = April 16, 2009 }} On March 27, George had arthroscopic surgery to remove loose fragments of cartilage from the injured knee.{{cite news | title = Mavericks Forward George Has Surgery On Knee | publisher = CBS TV 11 | date = March 27, 2009 | url = http://cbs11tv.com/local/Devean.George.Injured.2.969335.html | access-date = April 19, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} George had the option to become a free agent at the end of the season,{{cite news | last = Sefko | first = Eddie | title = Devean George in the house | work = Sports | publisher = The Dallas Morning News | date = April 5, 2009 | url = http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/04/devean-george-in-the-house.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110124002228/http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/04/devean-george-in-the-house.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 24, 2011 | access-date = April 19, 2009 }} but chose to exercise his player option to remain with the team.[http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/06/d-george-staying-with-mavs.html Devean George staying with Mavs] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703042727/http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/06/d-george-staying-with-mavs.html |date=July 3, 2009 }}
= Golden State Warriors (2009–2010) =
On July 8, 2009, George was a part of a three-team trade that sent him and Antoine Wright to the Toronto Raptors, Shawn Marion and Kris Humphries to the Mavericks and Jerry Stackhouse to the Memphis Grizzlies. George was later traded to the Golden State Warriors along with cash considerations on July 30, 2009, for Marco Belinelli.{{cite web| url=http://www.nba.com/warriors/news/warriors_acquire_devean_george.html | title=Warriors Acquire Devean George From Toronto | work=NBA.com | date=July 30, 2009 | access-date=July 30, 2009}}
George tried out for his hometown Minnesota Timberwolves in December 2011 after the NBA lockout of that year ended.{{cite news|last=Zgoda|first=Jerry|title=Devean George wants to teach these young Wolves|url=http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/135060993.html|access-date=March 14, 2012|newspaper=Minneapolis Star-Tribune|date=December 5, 2011}} He did not make their final roster.
After basketball
In 2012, George announced a proposal for an affordable apartment project in Minneapolis.{{Cite web |last=Gilyard |first=Burl |date=November 27, 2012 |title=Ex-NBA player plans north Minneapolis rentals |url=https://finance-commerce.com/2012/11/ex-nba-player-plans-north-minneapolis-rentals/ |access-date=December 8, 2023 |website=Finance & Commerce |language=en-US}} George has developed two affordable housing projects in North Minneapolis, where he grew up. In 2022 he proposed a modular housing manufacturing facility in the North Loop of Minneapolis.{{cite news |last1=Halter |first1=Nick |title=Three-time NBA champ Devean George wants to build apartments inside of a Minneapolis warehouse |url=http://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2022/11/08/devean-george-modular-construction-minneapolis |access-date=December 3, 2022 |work=Axios |date=November 8, 2022 |language=en}}
On September 7, 2014, Devean and three former Augsburg teammates captured the Gus Macker 3-on-3 "Next Step Down" bracket, championship in St. Paul, Minnesota.
NBA career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend|champion=y}}
= Regular season =
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| {{nbay|1999|trunc=y}}†
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 49 || 1 || 7.0 || .389 || .340 || .659 || 1.5 || .2 || .2 || .1 || 3.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| {{nbay|2000}}†
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 59 || 1 || 10.1 || .309 || .221 || .709 || 1.9 || .3 || .2 || .2 || 3.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| {{nbay|2001}}†
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 82 || 1 || 21.5 || .411 || .371 || .675 || 3.7 || 1.4 || .9 || .5 || 7.1
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2002}}
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 71 || 7 || 22.7 || .390 || .371 || .790 || 4.0 || 1.3 || .8 || .5 || 6.9
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2003}}
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 82 || 48 || 23.8 || .408 || .349 || .760 || 4.0 || 1.4 || 1.0 || .5 || 7.4
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2004}}
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 15 || 3 || 20.4 || .356 || .362 || .750 || 3.5 || .9 || .5 || .1 || 7.3
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2005}}
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 71 || 5 || 21.7 || .400 || .313 || .674 || 3.9 || 1.0 || .9 || .5 || 6.3
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2006}}
| align="left" | Dallas
| 60 || 17 || 21.4 || .395 || .353 || .750 || 3.6 || .6 || .8 || .4 || 6.4
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2007}}
| align="left" | Dallas
| 53 || 4 || 15.5 || .357 || .324 || .706 || 2.6 || .7 || .4 || .2 || 3.7
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2008}}
| align="left" | Dallas
| 43 || 17 || 16.5 || .380 || .289 || .773 || 1.8 || .3 || .5 || .3 || 3.4
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2009}}
| align="left" | Golden State
| 45 || 4 || 16.9 || .432 || .390 || .696 || 2.5 || .7 || .9 || .2 || 5.4
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 630 || 108 || 18.5 || .392 || .343 || .721 || 3.1 || .9 || .7 || .4 || 5.6
{{s-end}}
= Playoffs =
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2000†
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 9 || 0 || 5.0 || .368 || .200 || .545 || 1.1 || .2 || .1 || .0 || 2.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2001†
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 7 || 0 || 3.9 || .500 || .500 || .500 || .7 || .1 || .0 || .0 || 2.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2002†
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 19 || 0 || 17.2 || .365 || .229 || .733 || 3.6 || .6 || .6 || .5 || 5.0
|-
| align="left" | 2003
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 11 || 7 || 28.9 || .449 || .333 || .889 || 4.5 || 2.2 || 1.0 || .4 || 8.0
|-
| align="left" | 2004
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 22 || 19 || 21.4 || .430 || .373 || .650 || 2.3 || .5 || .9 || .4 || 5.5
|-
| align="left" | 2006
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 7 || 0 || 17.3 || .382 || .429 || .400 || 2.3 || .6 || .6 || .1 || 5.3
|-
| align="left" | 2007
| align="left" | Dallas
| 6 || 1 || 18.2 || .200 || .250 || .800 || 3.0 || .7 || 1.0 || .3 || 3.5
|-
| align="left" | 2008
| align="left" | Dallas
| 5 || 0 || 12.4 || .393 || .333 || .600 || 3.0 || .0 || .4 || .4 || 5.8
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 86 || 27 || 17.2 || .395 || .326 || .675 || 2.7 || .7 || .6 || .3 || 5.0
{{s-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{basketballstats |bbr=g/georgde01}}
{{Navboxes|list1=
{{1999 NBA draft}}
{{Los Angeles Lakers 1999–2000 NBA champions}}
{{Los Angeles Lakers 2000–01 NBA champions}}
{{Los Angeles Lakers 2001–02 NBA champions}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:George, Devean}}
Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen
Category:20th-century American sportsmen
Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Augsburg Auggies men's basketball players
Category:Basketball players from Minneapolis
Category:Dallas Mavericks players
Category:Golden State Warriors players
Category:Los Angeles Lakers draft picks