Al Jefferson is a former professional basketball player from the United States. He was a high school All-American at Prentiss High School in Mississippi.
After that, he went to college to enter the 2004 NBA draft, where he was selected 15th overall by the Boston Celtics.
Jefferson played 14 seasons in the NBA for the Celtics, Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves, Charlotte Hornets, and Indiana Pacers, earning third-team All-NBA honors with the Hornets in 2014.
Want to know more about the NBA player Jefferson? If you, you have come to the right place!
In this article, we have gathered all the information about Al Jefferson, so make sure to read the article to the end. But, before that, have a look at some quick facts about the NBA player.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Al Ricardo Jefferson |
| Known As | Big Al |
| Nickname | Big Al |
| Date of Birth | January 4, 1985 |
| Zodiac | Capricorn |
| Birthplace | Monticello, Mississippi, US |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Black |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Father’s Name | Alvin Randolph |
| Mother’s Name | Laura Jefferson |
| Age | 37 years old |
| Listed Height | 6’10” (2.08 m) |
| Wingspan | 7’3″ |
| Listed Weight | 289 lb (131 kg) |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Build | Athletic |
| Tattoos | Yes |
| Shoe size | Not known |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Points | 14,343 (15.7 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 7,690 (8.4 rpg) |
| Blocks | 1,093 (1.2 bpg) |
| High School | Prentiss High School |
| Active Since | 2004 |
| NBA Draft | Round: 1, Pick: 15th overall, 2004 (Selected by the Boston Celtics) |
| Retired in | 2018 |
| Experience | 2004 – 2018 |
| Jersey Number | 8, 7, 25 |
| Position | Center, Power forward |
| Profession | Former basketball player |
| Achievements |
|
| Networth | $20 Million |
| League | NBA |
| Merch | Trading Cards |
| Social Media | Facebook, Official Website |
| Last Update | July 2022 |
Al Jefferson’s Childhood and Family
Al Jefferson was born on January 4, 1985, in Monticello, Mississippi, United States. Alvin Randolph is his father’s name. His mother’s name is also Laura Jefferson.
Al grew up in Prentiss, a small town with a population of only 1,500 people. The Jeffersons were a fixture in Prentiss’ Progress neighborhood, which was close-knit and predominantly black.
Furthermore, the town seemed to be overrun with his own relatives, as his father had 12 siblings and his mother had 11 siblings.
Being a Child Without a Father
Al’s father died in a workplace accident. Al was very young at the time. As a result, the player had to grow up without the guidance and discipline provided by a father figure.
Gladys Jefferson, Al’s grandmother, shared a home with Jefferson and his mother. His other family members, likewise, lived in the nearby town of Progress.
So Jefferson had family backing. Al’s lack of a father in his life, on the other hand, allowed him to get into mischief as a child.
The mischievous player reveled in the spotlight. He would go to any length to attract attention. He liked being the center of attention, which occasionally got him in trouble.
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Al Jefferson’s High School Experience
Prentiss High School in nearby Prentiss was the player’s high school from 2000 to 2004. He quickly rose to become one of the country’s elite players as a junior after making his varsity debut as a freshman at Prentiss. As a result, the player piqued the interest of college coaches across the country as well as NBA scouts.
Similarly, he averaged 42.6 points, 18 rebounds, and seven blocks per game for the Bulldogs in his senior year.
The Bulldogs were defeated 88-73 by Byhalia High School in the Mississippi state class 3A semi-finals, with Jefferson scoring 56 points.
Al was also ranked as the country’s No. 1 center and No. 4 player in 2004. He had previously committed to Arkansas, but opted to enter the NBA straight out of high school.
Professional Basketball Career of Al Jefferson
Al Jefferson spent 14 years in the NBA after being drafted by the Boston Celtics. Later, he was the returning centerpiece of the Kevin Garnett trade before being dealt to Utah in exchange for Kosta Koufos and two first-round draft picks.
For the Jazz, Jefferson appeared in 221 games, the most of any of his five NBA teams. He averaged 18.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game during his time with the Jazz.
During the Jazz’s stretch run in 2012, he scored 28 points and grabbed 26 rebounds in 54 minutes of a triple-overtime win over Dallas. The victory pushed the Jazz into the playoffs.
Jefferson, according to Derrick Favors, was one of the nicest people he had ever met. Al welcomed Favors with open arms and took me under his wing when he arrived in Utah. Favors went on to say that Jefferson was a great teacher and a funny guy.
Significant Injuries and Setbacks
Jefferson’s season in 2005-06 was widely regarded as a failure, owing primarily to a series of ankle injuries and a torn meniscus in his right knee, which limited him to 59 games.
After a Las Vegas Summer League participant complained of lingering pain, a CAT scan revealed bone spurs. On August 2, 2006, the player underwent ankle surgery to remove bone spurs. On November 8, 2006, he underwent appendectomy surgery at New England Baptist Hospital.
This occurred prior to the season’s fourth game, and the player missed seven games before returning to the lineup on November 22, 2006.
Jefferson was having a career year in 2009, averaging 23.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game through the first 50 games before suffering a serious right knee injury.
This occurred following an awkward landing on one leg during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Jefferson claimed he felt a pop in his knee, and the injury resulted in a complete tear of the ACL, necessitating reconstructive surgery and putting an end to his season.
Furthermore, on April 20, 2014, the player suffered a plantar fasciitis injury in the first game of the Bobcats’ first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat and missed Game 4.
Furthermore, a tear in Al’s right knee’s lateral meniscus was discovered on December 30, 2015. As a result of the injury, he was sidelined for six weeks.
Awards
- 2014 All-NBA Third Team
- 2005 NBA All-Rookie Second Team
- 2004 First-team Parade All-American
- 2004 McDonald’s All-American
- 2004 Mississippi Mr. Basketball
Al Jefferson: Age, Body Measurements, and More
The basketball player, Al Jefferson, was born in the year 1985. Hence, he is 37 years old.
Similarly, his zodiac sign is Aquarius, and he was born in the Ox year according to the Chinese calendar.
Jefferson stands 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) tall, weighs 289 lb (131 kg), and plays right-handed. The basketball player’s other body measurements are unfortunately unknown.
Further, Jefferson has a tattoo carved on his right forearm.
Al Jefferson: Interesting Facts
- Jefferson hired a personal chef in the off-season leading up to the 2006–07 season and lost about 30 pounds.
- Al was suspended without pay for five games on December 9, 2015, for violating the terms and conditions of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program.
- The player announced his retirement from the NBA on March 23, 2019. He had signed with the BIG3 earlier that month.
Net Worth of Al Jefferson
Though Al Jefferson was never a true superstar, he did well for himself financially.
Despite never being named to an NBA All-Star team, the double-double machine made more than $133 million in his 14-year NBA career.
The player currently has a net worth of $20 million. Jefferson had to put in a lot of effort to earn such large sums of money. He earned less than $1.7 million in each of his three seasons with the Celtics.
In fact, he didn’t truly break the bank until his fifth season. After being traded, Jefferson agreed to a five-year, $65 million contract extension with the Timberwolves.
Though he put money on the table to prove himself, this turned out to be a bad decision in retrospect.
In his second season with the Timberwolves, the rising star tore his ACL. The injury was especially painful because Jefferson was having his most productive season yet.
He eventually returned and went on to do well for himself in the following years. Jefferson’s highest single-season salary was $15 million, which he received in 2012-13 from the Jazz.
Despite earning only $4 million in his final NBA season, the former high school prodigy earned more than enough money to live comfortably. Al Jefferson, it turned out, was desperate for a good night’s sleep.
A Restful Night’s Sleep
Some athletes choose to be more frugal with their money than others. Former New York Knicks player Eddie Curry spent nearly $1,100 per month on cable.
Andre Rison, a former NFL star, spent $1 million on jewelry alone. Al Jefferson, on the other hand, bought something far more useful: a bed.
Only the cost would be prohibitively high for the vast majority of people. While playing for the Jazz in 2012, Jefferson paid $23,287 for a 10-foot by 12-foot bed set.
Former teammate Mo Williams posted a photo of the bed on social media. Following that, the 6-foot-1, 198-pound point guard photographed himself on Jefferson’s $23,000 bed to demonstrate the mattress’s size.
While the price and size of the bed appear absurd, keep the purchase in perspective!
Spending $23,000 on a good night’s sleep seems like a steal when you’re 6-foot-10, 289 pounds and have made more money than you can imagine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Al Jefferson’s nickname?
Jefferson is often referred to as the ‘Big’ Al. However, when the player lost weight, he was also referred to as ‘Slim Al.’
What was the last team that Al Jefferson played for?
Jefferson signed with the Chinese Basketball Association’s Xinjiang Flying Tigers in July 2018. Al averaged 15.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game in 10 games.
The player left the team in 2018. It was the last team that he played for.
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