John Strickland (basketball)

{{short description|American basketball and streetball player}}

John “The Franchise” Strickland aka “Strick” (May 20, 1970 — October 6, 2010) was a former professional basketball and a legendary streetball player.{{cite news|url=https://nypost.com/2010/10/08/stricklands-passing-a-sad-day-for-nyc-basketball/|title=Strickland's passing a sad day for NYC basketball|first=Joseph|last=Staszewski|work=New York Post|date=October 8, 2010|access-date=September 6, 2022}} He was born in the Bronx but grew up in Washington Heights NYC where he began to establish a name for himself for his showmanship and low-post skills.{{Cite web |last=Hofstetter |first=Sam Blake |date=2005-07-12 |title=BALLER OF THE WEEK: " THE FRANCHISE" |url=https://nypost.com/2005/07/12/baller-of-the-week-the-franchise/ |access-date=2024-06-13 |language=en-US}}

He left the east coast to play basketball at Hawaii Pacific University where he averaged a double-double each season until 1995. He went on to play at the USBL from 1995 to 2000 for 6 seasons where he averaged 22 points per game. He went on to play for the Brooklyn Wanderers and then moved mid-season to Albany Patroons of the CBA.{{cite web|url=http://blog.timesunion.com/chuckmiller/rest-in-peace-john-strickland/3975/|title=Rest in peace, John Strickland.|date=7 October 2010|publisher=|access-date=6 September 2016|archive-date=15 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915011252/http://blog.timesunion.com/chuckmiller/rest-in-peace-john-strickland/3975/|url-status=dead}} In 2008, he was a CBA All Star.{{cite web|url=http://hoopshype.com/tag/john-strickland/|title=John Strickland Rumors - HoopsHype|publisher=}} During this time he was also playing overseas. He played predominately in Dominican Republic, but also, South Korea, Italy, and other countries.{{Cite web |title=Latin American basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings |url=https://www.latinbasket.com/South-American-Club-Championships/news/205388/John-Strickland,-we-are-here-today-and-gone-tomorrow |access-date=2024-06-13 |website=www.latinbasket.com}} While he was always on the move, he always returned to NYC for summer leagues where he continued to build his legacy as a streetball legend.

During the 2008–09 and 2009–2010 seasons Strickland played for the Halifax Rainmen who were part of the PBL at the time.{{Cite web |last=CBC News |date=7 October 2010 |title=Former Halifax Rainmen forward found dead |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/former-halifax-rainmen-forward-found-dead-1.943775 |access-date=12 June 2024 |website=CBC News}} He retired with the Rainmen and was promoted to Director of Basketball Development. It was around this time when he was found dead on October 6 at the age of 38.

He was mourned openly online by many, including celebrities LeBron James and rapper Jay-Z who knew Strick from his NYC streetball days.{{Cite web |last=Staszewski |first=Joseph |date=2010-10-08 |title=Strickland's passing a sad day for NYC basketball |url=https://nypost.com/2010/10/08/stricklands-passing-a-sad-day-for-nyc-basketball/ |access-date=2024-06-13 |website=New York Post}} Jay-Z, quotes Strickland in a verse from his 2003 hit Public Service Announcement: “No one can do it better. I check cheddar like a food inspector. My homey Strick told me, ‘Dude, finish your breakfast.’”{{Cite web |date=2010-10-08 |title=Basketball Greats Mourn Passing of Streetball Legend John Strickland |url=https://www.slamonline.com/archives/basketball-greats-mourn-passing-of-streetball-legend-john-strickland/ |access-date=2024-06-13 |website=SLAM |language=en}}