Kristian Ferrell
Will Ford could refer to several basketball players, including:
- Phil Ford, an American former professional basketball player in the NBA, who played for the Kansas City Kings and was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.
- T.J. Ford, an American former professional basketball player who played for the Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, and Indiana Pacers in the NBA.
- Alphonso Ford, an American professional basketball player who played in the NBA and Europe, and was known for his scoring ability in the EuroLeague.
- C.J. Ford, a basketball player for Northern Arizona University.
- Don Ford, a former NBA player drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1975.
Please clarify which Will Ford you are interested in discussing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Phil Jackson Ford Jr. |
| Nickname | T. J. |
| Date of Birth | February 9, 1956; March 24, 1983 |
| Place of Birth | N/A; Houston, Texas |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 3 3⁄4 in); 6-0 (183 cm) |
| Weight | 98 kg (216 lbs.); 165 lb (74 kg) |
| Position | Shooting Guard; Point Guard |
| Teams | Kansas City Kings; Milwaukee Bucks; Nets; Bucks; Indiana Pacers; KK Zagreb; North Carolina Tar Heels; U.S. Olympic Team; Texas Longhorns; Toronto Raptors; Detroit Pistons |
| Awards | NBA Rookie of the Year (1979); Naismith College Player of the Year; John Wooden Award; North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame (1991); ACC 50th Anniversary Men's Basketball Team (2002); National Player of the Year; USBWA; NABC; NCAA Division I Freshman Scoring Leader (1989-90); All-EuroLeague First Team (2000-01); EuroLeague Top Scorer (2001, 2002); All-CBA First Team; CBA Rookie of the Year; NCAA Champion (1976) |
| Career Highlights | Recorded 22 assists and scored 26 points in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks (1979); Scored a career-high 38 points against the Houston Rockets (1981); Averaged 16.4 points and 5.2 assists per game in his freshman season; Averaged 18.7 points and 6.6 assists per game in his junior season; Averaged 20.8 points and 5.7 assists per game in his senior season; Scored a career-high 34 points in his final home game; Led the NCAA in assists in his freshman season (8.27 per game); Led the Texas Longhorns in scoring, assists, and steals; Averaged 26 points in the 1975 ACC Tournament and was named MVP; Helped the Raptors win the Atlantic Division crown and reach the 2007 NBA Playoffs; Helped the Tar Heels win the national title in 1993 |
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What You'll Learn
Phil Ford's NBA career
Phil Jackson Ford Jr. is an American former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He graduated from Rocky Mount Senior High School in 1974 and went on to have an impressive college basketball career with the North Carolina Tar Heels.
During his freshman year, Ford averaged 16.4 points and 5.2 assists per game, both of which were UNC freshman records at the time. He also led UNC to a championship win over NC State in the 1975 ACC tournament, breaking their two-year winning streak. Ford averaged 26 points in the tournament and was named tournament MVP, becoming the first freshman in ACC history to receive this honour. In his junior season, Ford continued to excel, averaging 18.7 points and 6.6 assists per game, and once again leading the Tar Heels to a first-place ACC regular-season finish.
Ford was the second overall pick in the first round of the 1979 NBA draft. He was coached by Cotton Fitzsimmons and formed a dynamic backcourt duo with Otis Birdsong. In his rookie season with the Kansas City Kings, Ford was named NBA Rookie of the Year. On February 21, 1979, he recorded a career-best 22 assists, while also scoring 26 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and recording 5 steals in a single game. During the 1980-81 NBA season, Ford scored a career-high 38 points in a win over the Houston Rockets. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending eye injury soon after, and although the Kings made it to the Western Conference Finals, Ford struggled to return to his previous level of play.
Ford was then traded to the Nets and later to the Bucks before playing out his career on the Rockets. In total, he played 482 NBA games, scoring 5,594 points (an 11.6 average) and recording 3,083 assists (an average of 6.4 per game). He retired from the NBA in 1985. Ford is widely considered one of the greatest college point guards of all time, known for his excellent ball-handling, accurate jump shot, and prowess in making free throws.
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T.J. Ford's college career
T.J. Ford, born on March 24, 1983, in Houston, Texas, attended Willowridge High School in his hometown before committing to the University of Texas. In his freshman year, Ford recorded 15 double-digit assist games and was named the consensus Big 12 Freshman of the Year. The following year, as a sophomore, Ford was third in the nation in assists (7.7 per game) and led the Texas Longhorns in scoring, assists, and steals. That season, he also led Texas to its first Final Four since 1947 and was named the South Regional MVP. At the end of the season, Ford won several prestigious awards, including the Naismith College Player of the Year and John Wooden awards, and was named Player of the Year by Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, ESPN.com, and CBS SportsLine. In recognition of his outstanding college career, Ford's #11 jersey was retired by the University of Texas, making him the first basketball player in the university's history to receive this honor.
After his sophomore year, Ford decided to turn professional and entered the 2003 NBA Draft, where he was selected eighth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks. He was praised by NBA.com for his court vision and playmaking abilities, drawing comparisons to NBA legends Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Ford's professional career spanned eight years, during which he played for four NBA teams: the Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs, and Indiana Pacers.
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Alphonso Ford's time in Europe
Alphonso Gene Ford was an American professional basketball player who had a successful stint in Europe. He played in the NBA for the Seattle SuperSonics, the Tri-City Chinook, and the Philadelphia 76ers before moving to Europe. In the 1995–96 season, Ford signed with the Spanish first-division club Peñas Huesca and averaged an impressive 25.1 points per game. Despite his impressive performance, he couldn't prevent the team's relegation.
The following season, Ford played in Europe's most competitive national domestic league at the time, the Greek Basket League. He signed with Papagou and led the team to a ninth-place finish while being the Greek competition's leading scorer with 23.9 points per contest. However, Ford's glory at the European-wide level remained elusive. Before the 1997–98 season, he was diagnosed with leukemia, forcing him to break his contract with Papagou.
Ford didn't let his health issues hold him back, and he returned to the court with determination. He signed with Peristeri and had a breakout season in 2000–01, leading the team to a third-place finish in the Greek Basket League and being named the league's MVP. That same season, he also made his debut in the EuroLeague, shining on the biggest stage in European basketball. Ford's impact in Europe was undeniable, and he established himself as one of the greatest scorers the game has ever seen. He was the EuroLeague Top Scorer twice (2001, 2002) and earned an All-EuroLeague selection three times.
Despite his advanced-stage leukemia, Ford played the Italian League 2003–04 season with Scavolini Pesaro, averaging 22.2 points per game and helping them finish fourth in the league. Shortly after announcing his retirement from the EuroLeague, Ford passed away from leukemia at the young age of 32. In his honour, the EuroLeague named its trophy for the leading scorer of the year the Alphonso Ford EuroLeague Top Scorer Trophy.
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Don Ford's post-NBA career
Don Ford, born on December 31, 1952, is an American former professional basketball player. He was a power forward and small forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ford was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 6th round (92nd overall) of the 1975 NBA Draft. He spent four and a half seasons with the team and was known for his defensive skills. During his time with the Lakers, he averaged 6.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. In the 1979-80 championship season, his playing time was reduced, and he was often on the bench behind players like Jamaal Wilkes, Jim Chones, and Spencer Haywood.
On February 15, 1980, Ford was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, along with a 1980 1st-round draft pick, in exchange for Butch Lee and a 1982 1st-round draft pick. However, his time with the Cavaliers was short-lived. On January 19, 1982, he was waived after being surpassed on the depth chart by Keith Herron. In total, Ford played in 474 games across his NBA career, maintaining his averages of 6.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists.
Following his NBA career, Ford signed with Auxilium Torino in Italy's Lega Basket Serie A in 1982. He also played for this team during the 1981 NBA lockout. In 1989, he returned to the United States and was named assistant coach and director of community relations for the Santa Barbara Islanders of the Continental Basketball Association.
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Phil Ford's coaching career
Phil Ford is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After retiring from the NBA in 1985, Ford went on to become an assistant coach for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels in 1988. During his 11-year stint as an assistant coach, Ford helped the team reach five Final Four appearances, five NCAA Regional titles, and five ACC Tournament titles.
Ford was a tireless instructor, motivator, and recruiter, known for his enthusiastic attitude. He coached 10 first-round draft picks, including 1998 National Player of the Year Antawn Jamison. Ford, Jamison, and Michael Jordan are the only Tar Heel players to win the John Wooden Award as the nation's top player.
In 1997, Ford became the top assistant coach to Bill Guthridge after Smith retired. Ford left the school following the 1999-2000 season, along with the rest of Guthridge's staff, when Matt Doherty took over as head coach. Ford also served as an assistant coach to Larry Brown for the Detroit Pistons during the 2004-2005 season.
Ford currently works for the Educational Foundation, the fund-raising arm of the University of North Carolina athletic department. He has been an invaluable member of the Carolina basketball family for over 25 years.
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