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United States Fred Jones transitioned from a distinguished NBA career to a business owner and active community member, offering insights on sports, business, and life after professional athletics.
Fred Jones operates ZagWest, a clothing line, demonstrating his transition into business after his NBA career.
After obtaining his degree, Jones opened The Luxury Sneaker Exchange, a sneaker shop in downtown Indianapolis, indicating his involvement in the retail sector.
Jones is the Founder and CEO of Player Population, a virtual community designed for professional basketball players, highlighting his entrepreneurial vision for supporting athletes.
As a former NBA player and Jordan Brand member, Jones received PE's from Jordan Brand, which were later showcased by other players.
Frederick Terrell Jones (born March 11, 1979) is a former professional basketball player. He was born in Malvern, Arkansas, and later moved to Portland, Oregon, during his middle school years. Jones excelled in high school basketball at Sam Barlow High School in Gresham, Oregon, where he was named Oregon High School Player of the Year in both his junior and senior years. He then attended the University of Oregon, playing four seasons for the Oregon Ducks. During his senior year, Jones emerged as a key player, leading the Ducks to the Elite Eight and becoming a candidate for Pac-10 Player of the Year, averaging 18.6 points per game. His college performance significantly elevated his national profile, leading to his selection in the NBA Draft.
Jones was drafted by the Indiana Pacers as the 14th overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft. His rookie season saw limited play, averaging 1.2 points in 19 games. However, his performance improved in his second year, averaging nearly 5 points across 81 games. His career took a notable turn in the 2004–05 season, when he significantly increased his scoring to 10.6 points per game, partly due to a teammate’s suspension. During this season, he recorded a career-high 31 points against the Orlando Magic and achieved his first double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds against the Boston Celtics on November 23, 2004. A significant achievement in his career was winning the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2004, where he notably defeated two-time champion Jason Richardson.
After his tenure with the Pacers, Jones played for several other NBA teams, including the Toronto Raptors (2006–2007), Portland Trail Blazers (2007), New York Knicks (2007–2008), and Los Angeles Clippers (2008–2009). He also played internationally for Pallacanestro Biella in Italy (2009) and the Guangdong Southern Tigers in China (2010–2011) before concluding his professional playing career. Following his retirement from playing, Jones returned to the University of Oregon to complete his degree and served as an undergraduate assistant coach for the Ducks in 2015–16. He has since transitioned into entrepreneurship, founding “Player Population,” a virtual community for professional basketball players, and opening a sneaker shop called “The Luxury Sneaker Exchange” in downtown Indianapolis.
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