T. J. Ford
Encyclopedia
Terrance Jerod "T. J." Ford (born March 24, 1983) is an American
professional basketball
player who currently plays for KK Zagreb
. Having been awarded numerous top basketball accolades in high school
and college
, Ford entered the 2003 NBA Draft
and was selected eighth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks
. Ford's recurring back injuries resulted in him missing many games in his three seasons with the Bucks, but in 2005, it was announced that he was fit to play basketball again. Ford was traded to the Raptors prior to the 2006–07 NBA season, and established himself as the starting point guard, helping the team win the Atlantic Division
crown and reach the 2007 NBA Playoffs
. Following an injury sustained in the 2007–08 NBA season, however, Ford had difficulties reclaiming the starting spot and was traded to the Indiana Pacers
. He signed with KK Zagreb
of Croatia during the 2011 NBA lockout
.
Off the court, Ford set up the T. J. Ford Foundation
in 2004 to help participants achieve their academic, personal and civil goals.
win back-to-back championships in the 1990s. Ford first played competitive basketball at Willowridge High School
, and helped Willowridge to a 75–1 win–loss record (including a 62-game winning streak) in his final two seasons, earning a pair of Texas Class 5A state titles in the process. Subsequently, Ford was diagnosed with spinal stenosis
, but he went on to play basketball for the Texas Longhorns
for the 2001–02 and 2002–03 seasons.
In his first season at Texas, Ford not only led the team in steals
and minutes per game, he became the first freshman
player in NCAA history to lead the nation in assists
(8.27 per game). Ford's play ensured that Texas made it to the Sweet Sixteen, while he recorded 15 double-digit assist games, and was named a consensus Big 12 Freshman of the Year. In 2003, the sophomore was third in the nation in assists (7.7 per game), and led the Longhorns in scoring, assists and steals. Ford was also the South Regional MVP
while leading Texas to its first Final Four
since 1947. At the end of the season, the consensus First Team All-America
selection won the prestigious 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. To honor Ford, his #11 jersey was retired by his university, making him the fourth University of Texas athlete in any sport (and the first basketball player) to have such an honor, joining Earl Campbell
, Ricky Williams
, Roger Clemens
, Vince Young
, and now Kevin Durant
.
, and was heralded by NBA.com as having "the prescient ability to see the play before it happens, like Magic Johnson
and Larry Bird
". Ford was picked eighth in the first round by the Milwaukee Bucks
in a very strong draft class, which featured future NBA All-Stars LeBron James
, Dwyane Wade
, Chris Bosh
and Carmelo Anthony
. In his first season, he led the Bucks in assists with 6.5 per game (apg), while tallying 7.1 for points
per game (ppg). Ford was also selected to the NBA All-Rookie 2nd Team. However, he played in only 55 games that season before an injury forced him to miss the final 26 games of the regular season and the 2004 NBA Playoffs
. The injury occurred on February 24, 2004, during a home game versus the Minnesota Timberwolves
where he fell on his tail bone after being fouled by center
Mark Madsen
. He suffered a contusion of the spinal cord
, a career-threatening injury.
; together they worked on Ford's shooting, stamina, and strength. Ford rejoined the Bucks when training camp opened, and in his first game back on the court on 1 November 2005 he was one rebound
shy of a triple double (with 16 points, 14 assists and 9 rebounds in 34 minutes of play) in a 117–108 Milwaukee road win over the Philadelphia 76ers
. As the season progressed Ford showed almost no effects from his injury, playing with the same intensity and hustle as he did in his rookie season. He ended the regular season with 12.2 ppg and 6.6 apg, but found that the Bucks had abandoned a fast-paced style of offense. New coach Terry Stotts
was beginning to rely more on the jump shooting of Michael Redd
, the post play of Andrew Bogut
and Jamaal Magloire
, and the playmaking of developing point guard Mo Williams
, so that Ford became a less important component of the team.
general manager
Bryan Colangelo
overhauled Toronto's roster in preparation for the 2006–07 season. He was looking for a true point guard, and acquired Ford in exchange for promising Raptors forward Charlie Villanueva
. This trade was initially criticised by basketball observers as "lopsided" due to Ford's injury history, but Ford was installed as the starting point guard for the Raptors, and together with Chris Bosh
, the duo formed the centerpiece of the Raptors' offense. Ford also forged a solid partnership with sophomore and fellow point guard José Calderón
, the latter backing him up when Ford was injured for several games in the middle of the season. Apart from his quick speed (Ford was voted the fastest player in the NBA in a 2007 Sports Illustrated
survey of 271 NBA players), Ford's clutch play
was instrumental for the Raptors throughout his inaugural season. On 20 December 2006 he scored the winning basket against the Los Angeles Clippers
and two days later, converted almost every shot in overtime
and provided the vital assist in the win against the Portland Trail Blazers
. Ford's clutch play was again evident in a 120–119 overtime win against the Seattle SuperSonics
on 11 March 2007 when he scored almost all of the team's overtime points. His form continued when he equaled his career-high of 18 assists in a game against the New York Knicks
on 14 March 2007 — one short of the Raptors franchise record set by Damon Stoudamire
. Ford ended the 2006–07 regular season with 14.0 ppg and 7.9 apg, both career highs, and was also credited with bringing the Raptors to their first playoff berth in five years, as well as helping them clinch their first ever Division
title. In the 2007 NBA Playoffs
, he averaged 16.0 ppg and 4.0 apg, but Toronto lost four games to two to the New Jersey Nets
in the first round.
Prior to the 2007–08 season, Ford focused on improving his turnover-to-assist ratio. When the season began, coach Sam Mitchell continued to rotate between Ford and Calderón to good effect. On 11 December 2007, following a flagrant foul committed by Al Horford
, Ford suffered what appeared to be a serious injury in a game against the Atlanta Hawks
. He was conscious but did not appear to move before he was strapped to a stretcher and wheeled off the court. In his absence, Calderón earned rave reviews for his performances and surpassed Ford as the starting point guard for the Raptors. However, after spending several weeks with his old trainer John Lucas in Houston, Ford made his return on 4 February 2008 to the bench. By the end of the season, there was much speculation that the Raptors would try to trade Ford, originally a central piece of the Raptors' long-term plans, and rebuild their team around the more efficient Calderón. In the 2008 NBA Playoffs
, Toronto was pitted against the Orlando Magic
in the first round and the perception was that Toronto's depth at the point guard position could prove to be key. While Ford played poorly in the first two games which the Raptors lost, he was pivotal in the third, bringing the series score to 2–1. The Raptors however were eliminated in five games, and the coaches' decision not to deploy Ford to close out games during the playoffs—coupled with Ford's subsequent alleged refusal to play backup on the team—led to further speculation about his future.
, it was reported that the Raptors had traded Ford to the Indiana Pacers
in exchange for Jermaine O'Neal
and the 41st pick in the draft (Nathan Jawai
). The Raptors sent Indiana Rasho Nesterovič, Maceo Baston
and the 17th pick in the draft (Roy Hibbert
), and because Ford's contract made him a "base-year compensation" player, the trade was only finalized on July 9, 2008. Ford got off to a good start with his new team, with the Pacers alternating between him and Jarrett Jack
for the starting point guard position. While the occasional injury prevented Ford from performing at the optimal level all the time, he was able to keep up his game of attacking the basket. On February 1, 2009, he scored a career-high 36 points in a game against the New York Knicks, a week after tying his previous career-high of 34 points. However, the Pacers were eventually edged out of playoffs
qualification by Detroit
. The bright spot in Ford's first campaign with the Pacers was his recording of a career-best in points per game.
| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | Milwaukee
| 55 || 55 || 26.8 || .384 || .238 || .816 || 3.2 || 6.5 || 1.1 || .1 || 7.1
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Milwaukee
| 72 || 70 || 35.5 || .416 || .337 || .754 || 4.3 || 6.6 || 1.4 || .1 || 12.2
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Toronto
| 75 || 71 || 29.9 || .436 || .304 || .819 || 3.1 || 7.9 || 1.4 || .1 || 14.0
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Toronto
| 51 || 26 || 23.5 || .469 || .294 || . 880 || 2.0 || 6.1 || 1.1 || .0 || 12.1
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Indiana
| 74 || 49 || 30.5 || .452 || .337 || .872 || 3.5 || 5.3 || 1.2 || .2 || 14.9
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | Indiana
| 47 || 32 || 25.3 || .445 || .160 || .770 || 3.2 || 3.8 || .9 || .2 || 10.3
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | Indiana
| 41 || 3 || 18.9 || .386 || .188 || .729 || 2.0 || 3.4 || .8 || .2 || 5.4
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 415 || 306 || 28.2 || .433 || .290 || .815 || 3.2 || 5.9 || 1.2 || .1 || 11.4
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Milwaukee
| 5 || 5 || 32.4 || .490 || .400 || .917 || 4.0 || 6.4 || .6 || .0 || 12.6
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Toronto
| 6 || 5 || 22.7 || .487 || .500 || .810 || 1.7 || 4.0 || 1.2 || .3 || 16.0
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Toronto
| 5 || 5 || 24.8 || .362 || .125 || .938 || 4.4 || 6.6 || 1.0 || .0 || 11.6
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | Indiana
| 2 || 0 || 7.0 || 1.000 || 1.000 || .000 || .5 || 1.0 || .0 || .0 || 3.5
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 18 || 15 || 24.2 || .457 || .375 || .878 || 2.9 || 5.1 || .8 || .1 || 12.4
in September 2004, an organization that seeks to enhance individuals through programs designed to develop their educational, recreational, physical and social well-being in collaboration with family and community. The Foundation has a presence in Texas
and Wisconsin
.
Elsewhere, Ford is mentioned by rapper Paul Wall
in the song "Get Aphilliated" in which Wall raps: "I'm like that T. J. Ford, I'm deadly on them threes."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who currently plays for KK Zagreb
KK Zagreb
Košarkaški klub Zagreb is a professional basketball club based in Zagreb, Croatia. It competes in the Croatian League, the Adriatic League and in the 2011/12 season for the first time in ULEB Euroleague...
. Having been awarded numerous top basketball accolades in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
and college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
, Ford entered the 2003 NBA Draft
2003 NBA Draft
The 2003 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2003 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and...
and was selected eighth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
. Ford's recurring back injuries resulted in him missing many games in his three seasons with the Bucks, but in 2005, it was announced that he was fit to play basketball again. Ford was traded to the Raptors prior to the 2006–07 NBA season, and established himself as the starting point guard, helping the team win the Atlantic Division
Atlantic Division (NBA)
The Atlantic Division is one of the three divisions in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . The division consists of five teams, the Boston Celtics, the New Jersey Nets, the New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors...
crown and reach the 2007 NBA Playoffs
2007 NBA Playoffs
The 2007 NBA Playoffs was the postseason to the National Basketball Association's 2006–2007 season.There were four rounds of postseason action, all of them in a best-of-seven format, with teams seeded on a bracket. The team with the better record wasn't necessarily the basis of seeding teams in...
. Following an injury sustained in the 2007–08 NBA season, however, Ford had difficulties reclaiming the starting spot and was traded to the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. He signed with KK Zagreb
KK Zagreb
Košarkaški klub Zagreb is a professional basketball club based in Zagreb, Croatia. It competes in the Croatian League, the Adriatic League and in the 2011/12 season for the first time in ULEB Euroleague...
of Croatia during the 2011 NBA lockout
2011 NBA lockout
The 2011 NBA lockout is the fourth lockout in the history of the National Basketball Association . The owners began the work stoppage at 12:01 am EDT on July 1, 2011. The main issues dividing the owners and the players are revenue sharing and the structure of the salary cap...
.
Off the court, Ford set up the T. J. Ford Foundation
Foundation (charity)
A foundation is a legal categorization of nonprofit organizations that will typically either donate funds and support to other organizations, or provide the source of funding for its own charitable purposes....
in 2004 to help participants achieve their academic, personal and civil goals.
Early life
Born in Houston, Texas to Leo and Mary Ford, Terrance Jerod Ford was nicknamed "T. J." at birth by his mother. From a young age, Ford dreamed of being a basketball player, having also witnessed his home team Houston RocketsHouston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
win back-to-back championships in the 1990s. Ford first played competitive basketball at Willowridge High School
Willowridge High School (Houston)
Willowridge High School is a secondary school in Houston, Texas, United States and part of the Fort Bend Independent School District. Willowridge serves grades 9 through 12....
, and helped Willowridge to a 75–1 win–loss record (including a 62-game winning streak) in his final two seasons, earning a pair of Texas Class 5A state titles in the process. Subsequently, Ford was diagnosed with spinal stenosis
Spinal stenosis
Lumbar spinal stenosis is a medical condition in which the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord and nerves at the level of the lumbar vertebra. This is usually due to the common occurrence of spinal degeneration that occurs with aging. It can also sometimes be caused by spinal disc...
, but he went on to play basketball for the Texas Longhorns
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
for the 2001–02 and 2002–03 seasons.
In his first season at Texas, Ford not only led the team in steals
Steal (basketball)
In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player...
and minutes per game, he became the first freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
player in NCAA history to lead the nation in assists
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
(8.27 per game). Ford's play ensured that Texas made it to the Sweet Sixteen, while he recorded 15 double-digit assist games, and was named a consensus Big 12 Freshman of the Year. In 2003, the sophomore was third in the nation in assists (7.7 per game), and led the Longhorns in scoring, assists and steals. Ford was also the South Regional MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
while leading Texas to its first Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
since 1947. At the end of the season, the consensus First Team All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
selection won the prestigious Naismith College Player of the Year
Naismith College Player of the Year
The Naismith College Player of the Year is an annual basketball award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to the top men's and women's collegiate basketball players. It is named in honor of the inventor of basketball , Dr. James Naismith....
and John Wooden
John R. Wooden Award
The John R. Wooden Award is an award given annually to the most outstanding men's and women's college basketball players. The program consists of the men's and women's Player of the Year awards, the Legends of Coaching award and recognizes the All–America Teams.The awards, given by the Los...
awards, and was named Player of the Year by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
, ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.com and CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
SportsLine. To honor Ford, his #11 jersey was retired by his university, making him the fourth University of Texas athlete in any sport (and the first basketball player) to have such an honor, joining Earl Campbell
Earl Campbell
Earl Christian Campbell , nicknamed The Tyler Rose, is a former professional American Football running back. He, Paul Hornung and O.J Simpson are the only people to have won the Heisman Trophy , were first overall National Football League draft picks and are in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame...
, Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams
Errick Lynne "Ricky" Williams, Jr. is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints fifth overall in the 1999 NFL Draft...
, Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
, Vince Young
Vince Young
Vincent Paul Young, Jr. , nicknamed "VY", is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He spent the first five seasons of his career with the Tennessee Titans. Young was the third overall draft pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college...
, and now Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant
Kevin Wayne Durant is an American professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association . A 6'9" small forward/shooting guard who is also capable of playing power forward, Durant was the consensus 2007 National College Player of the Year and the...
.
Rookie season
Having felt he had nothing more to prove at college level, Ford decided to turn professional after his second year of college to enter the 2003 NBA Draft2003 NBA Draft
The 2003 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2003 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and...
, and was heralded by NBA.com as having "the prescient ability to see the play before it happens, like Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers...
and Larry Bird
Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
". Ford was picked eighth in the first round by the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
in a very strong draft class, which featured future NBA All-Stars LeBron James
LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
, Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Tyrone Wade, Jr. nicknamed Flash or D-Wade, is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat. Awarded 2006 Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated, Wade has established himself as one of the most well-known and popular players in the league...
, Chris Bosh
Chris Bosh
Christopher Wesson Bosh is an American professional basketball player who plays power forward for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association ....
and Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Kiyan Anthony , nicknamed "Melo", is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association...
. In his first season, he led the Bucks in assists with 6.5 per game (apg), while tallying 7.1 for points
Point (basketball)
Points in basketball are used to keep track of the score in a game. Points can be accumulated by making field goals or free throws ....
per game (ppg). Ford was also selected to the NBA All-Rookie 2nd Team. However, he played in only 55 games that season before an injury forced him to miss the final 26 games of the regular season and the 2004 NBA Playoffs
2004 NBA Playoffs
The 2004 NBA Playoffs were the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2003–04 season. Consisting of 16 teams in two conferences, the playoffs involved about two months of play. The playoffs were conducted in seven-game series, with the team with the better record holding home court...
. The injury occurred on February 24, 2004, during a home game versus the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
where he fell on his tail bone after being fouled by center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
Mark Madsen
Mark Madsen
Mark Ellsworth "Mad Dog" Madsen is an American assistant coach and former professional basketball player.Madsen played NCAA basketball at Stanford, where he finished his career ranked in the school's career top 10 in blocks and rebounds. In addition, Madsen helped the Cardinal to four NCAA...
. He suffered a contusion of the spinal cord
Spinal cord
The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain . The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system...
, a career-threatening injury.
Injury woes
Ford sat out the entire 2004–05 season due to his spinal cord injury. In June 2005, a statement was released by Dr. Robert Watkins of the Los Angeles Spine Surgery Institute that said Ford had made a complete recovery. The point guard had trained intensively for months in his hometown of Houston under the supervision of former NBA player John LucasJohn Lucas II
John Harding Lucas II is a retired American professional basketball player and a current assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers.-Basketball playing career and substance abuse:...
; together they worked on Ford's shooting, stamina, and strength. Ford rejoined the Bucks when training camp opened, and in his first game back on the court on 1 November 2005 he was one rebound
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
shy of a triple double (with 16 points, 14 assists and 9 rebounds in 34 minutes of play) in a 117–108 Milwaukee road win over the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
. As the season progressed Ford showed almost no effects from his injury, playing with the same intensity and hustle as he did in his rookie season. He ended the regular season with 12.2 ppg and 6.6 apg, but found that the Bucks had abandoned a fast-paced style of offense. New coach Terry Stotts
Terry Stotts
Terry Stotts is an American basketball assistant coach for the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA. His most recent head coaching job was with the Milwaukee Bucks. Stotts was fired by the Milwaukee Bucks on March 14, 2007...
was beginning to rely more on the jump shooting of Michael Redd
Michael Redd
Michael Wesley Redd is an American professional basketball player who currently is a free agent. He has most recently played for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, where he attended West High School. He also was a member of the U.S...
, the post play of Andrew Bogut
Andrew Bogut
Andrew Michael Bogut is an Australian professional basketball player. He plays for the Milwaukee Bucks of the United States' National Basketball Association....
and Jamaal Magloire
Jamaal Magloire
Jamaal Dane Magloire is a Canadian professional basketball player who last played for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . The , center was selected out of the University of Kentucky by the Charlotte Hornets with the 19th overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft, after withdrawing...
, and the playmaking of developing point guard Mo Williams
Mo Williams
Maurice "Mo" Williams is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association...
, so that Ford became a less important component of the team.
Fresh start with the Raptors
Following the 2005–06 season, newly appointed Toronto RaptorsToronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
Bryan Colangelo
Bryan Colangelo
Bryan Colangelo is the President and General Manager of the Toronto Raptors of the NBA. He is the son of Phoenix sports mogul, Jerry Colangelo. He attended Cornell University. He was the 2005 and 2007 recipient of the NBA Executive of the Year Award.-Phoenix:Bryan began his NBA front-office career...
overhauled Toronto's roster in preparation for the 2006–07 season. He was looking for a true point guard, and acquired Ford in exchange for promising Raptors forward Charlie Villanueva
Charlie Villanueva
Charlie Alexander Villanueva is an American basketball player who currently plays for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association....
. This trade was initially criticised by basketball observers as "lopsided" due to Ford's injury history, but Ford was installed as the starting point guard for the Raptors, and together with Chris Bosh
Chris Bosh
Christopher Wesson Bosh is an American professional basketball player who plays power forward for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association ....
, the duo formed the centerpiece of the Raptors' offense. Ford also forged a solid partnership with sophomore and fellow point guard José Calderón
José Calderón (basketball)
José Manuel Calderón Borrallo is a Spanish professional basketball player who plays for the National Basketball Association's Toronto Raptors and the Spanish national team.-European career:...
, the latter backing him up when Ford was injured for several games in the middle of the season. Apart from his quick speed (Ford was voted the fastest player in the NBA in a 2007 Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
survey of 271 NBA players), Ford's clutch play
Clutch (sports)
In American sports terminology, "clutch" means performing well under extreme pressure. It often refers to high levels of production in a critical game, such as Game 7 of a best-of-seven series, the last hole of a Major Championship golf tournament, or the final minute in a close match...
was instrumental for the Raptors throughout his inaugural season. On 20 December 2006 he scored the winning basket against the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
and two days later, converted almost every shot in overtime
Overtime (sports)
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
and provided the vital assist in the win against the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
. Ford's clutch play was again evident in a 120–119 overtime win against the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
on 11 March 2007 when he scored almost all of the team's overtime points. His form continued when he equaled his career-high of 18 assists in a game against the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
on 14 March 2007 — one short of the Raptors franchise record set by Damon Stoudamire
Damon Stoudamire
Damon Lamon Stoudamire is a retired American professional basketball player who is currently an assistant coach for the Memphis Tigers men's basketball team. The , point guard was selected with the 7th overall pick by the Toronto Raptors in the 1995 NBA Draft and won the 1995–96 NBA Rookie of the...
. Ford ended the 2006–07 regular season with 14.0 ppg and 7.9 apg, both career highs, and was also credited with bringing the Raptors to their first playoff berth in five years, as well as helping them clinch their first ever Division
Atlantic Division (NBA)
The Atlantic Division is one of the three divisions in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . The division consists of five teams, the Boston Celtics, the New Jersey Nets, the New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors...
title. In the 2007 NBA Playoffs
2007 NBA Playoffs
The 2007 NBA Playoffs was the postseason to the National Basketball Association's 2006–2007 season.There were four rounds of postseason action, all of them in a best-of-seven format, with teams seeded on a bracket. The team with the better record wasn't necessarily the basis of seeding teams in...
, he averaged 16.0 ppg and 4.0 apg, but Toronto lost four games to two to the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the first round.
Prior to the 2007–08 season, Ford focused on improving his turnover-to-assist ratio. When the season began, coach Sam Mitchell continued to rotate between Ford and Calderón to good effect. On 11 December 2007, following a flagrant foul committed by Al Horford
Al Horford
Alfred Joel Horford Reynoso is a Dominican professional basketball player who is a center and power forward for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association...
, Ford suffered what appeared to be a serious injury in a game against the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
. He was conscious but did not appear to move before he was strapped to a stretcher and wheeled off the court. In his absence, Calderón earned rave reviews for his performances and surpassed Ford as the starting point guard for the Raptors. However, after spending several weeks with his old trainer John Lucas in Houston, Ford made his return on 4 February 2008 to the bench. By the end of the season, there was much speculation that the Raptors would try to trade Ford, originally a central piece of the Raptors' long-term plans, and rebuild their team around the more efficient Calderón. In the 2008 NBA Playoffs
2008 NBA Playoffs
The 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....
, Toronto was pitted against the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
in the first round and the perception was that Toronto's depth at the point guard position could prove to be key. While Ford played poorly in the first two games which the Raptors lost, he was pivotal in the third, bringing the series score to 2–1. The Raptors however were eliminated in five games, and the coaches' decision not to deploy Ford to close out games during the playoffs—coupled with Ford's subsequent alleged refusal to play backup on the team—led to further speculation about his future.
Moving to Indiana
On the eve of the 2008 NBA Draft2008 NBA Draft
The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including...
, it was reported that the Raptors had traded Ford to the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in exchange for Jermaine O'Neal
Jermaine O'Neal
Jermaine Lee O'Neal is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics. The 6 ft 11 in , 255 lb forward-center had a successful high school career and declared his eligibility for the 1996 NBA Draft straight out of high school...
and the 41st pick in the draft (Nathan Jawai
Nathan Jawai
Nathan Jawai is an Indigenous Australian professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Russian team UNICS Kazan.-Pro career:...
). The Raptors sent Indiana Rasho Nesterovič, Maceo Baston
Maceo Baston
Maceo Demond Baston is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent.-College career:After graduating from Dallas' H. Grady Spruce High School, Baston played college basketball at the University of Michigan. At Michigan, he was part of an all-star recruiting class that...
and the 17th pick in the draft (Roy Hibbert
Roy Hibbert
Roy Denzil Hibbert is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the NBA. He plays at the center position, and graduated from Georgetown University in 2008. He was drafted 17th overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors and was immediately traded to the Pacers...
), and because Ford's contract made him a "base-year compensation" player, the trade was only finalized on July 9, 2008. Ford got off to a good start with his new team, with the Pacers alternating between him and Jarrett Jack
Jarrett Jack
Jarrett Matthew Jack is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Hornets of the NBA. At 6' 3" tall and weighing 197 lbs , he primarily plays at the guard position...
for the starting point guard position. While the occasional injury prevented Ford from performing at the optimal level all the time, he was able to keep up his game of attacking the basket. On February 1, 2009, he scored a career-high 36 points in a game against the New York Knicks, a week after tying his previous career-high of 34 points. However, the Pacers were eventually edged out of playoffs
2009 NBA Playoffs
The 2009 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2008–09 season. The playoffs started on April 18, 2009 with ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
qualification by Detroit
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
. The bright spot in Ford's first campaign with the Pacers was his recording of a career-best in points per game.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | Milwaukee
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
| 55 || 55 || 26.8 || .384 || .238 || .816 || 3.2 || 6.5 || 1.1 || .1 || 7.1
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Milwaukee
| 72 || 70 || 35.5 || .416 || .337 || .754 || 4.3 || 6.6 || 1.4 || .1 || 12.2
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Toronto
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
| 75 || 71 || 29.9 || .436 || .304 || .819 || 3.1 || 7.9 || 1.4 || .1 || 14.0
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Toronto
| 51 || 26 || 23.5 || .469 || .294 || . 880 || 2.0 || 6.1 || 1.1 || .0 || 12.1
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
| align="left" | Indiana
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| 74 || 49 || 30.5 || .452 || .337 || .872 || 3.5 || 5.3 || 1.2 || .2 || 14.9
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
2009–10 NBA season
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....
| align="left" | Indiana
| 47 || 32 || 25.3 || .445 || .160 || .770 || 3.2 || 3.8 || .9 || .2 || 10.3
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | Indiana
| 41 || 3 || 18.9 || .386 || .188 || .729 || 2.0 || 3.4 || .8 || .2 || 5.4
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 415 || 306 || 28.2 || .433 || .290 || .815 || 3.2 || 5.9 || 1.2 || .1 || 11.4
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 2005–06
2006 NBA Playoffs
The 2006 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2005–06 season. The Miami Heat won the first championship in the history of the franchise by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in the 2006 NBA Finals...
| align="left" | Milwaukee
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
| 5 || 5 || 32.4 || .490 || .400 || .917 || 4.0 || 6.4 || .6 || .0 || 12.6
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
2007 NBA Playoffs
The 2007 NBA Playoffs was the postseason to the National Basketball Association's 2006–2007 season.There were four rounds of postseason action, all of them in a best-of-seven format, with teams seeded on a bracket. The team with the better record wasn't necessarily the basis of seeding teams in...
| align="left" | Toronto
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
| 6 || 5 || 22.7 || .487 || .500 || .810 || 1.7 || 4.0 || 1.2 || .3 || 16.0
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
2008 NBA Playoffs
The 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....
| align="left" | Toronto
| 5 || 5 || 24.8 || .362 || .125 || .938 || 4.4 || 6.6 || 1.0 || .0 || 11.6
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
2011 NBA Playoffs
The 2011 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2010–11 season. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualified for the playoffs, all seeded 1 to 8 in a tournament bracket, with all rounds in a best-of-seven format. The 2011 NBA Playoffs began on...
| align="left" | Indiana
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| 2 || 0 || 7.0 || 1.000 || 1.000 || .000 || .5 || 1.0 || .0 || .0 || 3.5
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 18 || 15 || 24.2 || .457 || .375 || .878 || 2.9 || 5.1 || .8 || .1 || 12.4
Off the court
Ford started the T. J. Ford FoundationFoundation (charity)
A foundation is a legal categorization of nonprofit organizations that will typically either donate funds and support to other organizations, or provide the source of funding for its own charitable purposes....
in September 2004, an organization that seeks to enhance individuals through programs designed to develop their educational, recreational, physical and social well-being in collaboration with family and community. The Foundation has a presence in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.
Elsewhere, Ford is mentioned by rapper Paul Wall
Paul Wall
Paul Michael Slayton , better known by his stage name Paul Wall, is an American rapper. He is currently affiliated with Swishahouse Records, having released several albums under the label as well as...
in the song "Get Aphilliated" in which Wall raps: "I'm like that T. J. Ford, I'm deadly on them threes."