Juan Dixon

Juan Dixon (born October 9, 1978) is an American professional basketball player. Dixon led the University of Maryland Terrapins to their first NCAA championship in 2002 and earned Most Outstanding Player honors at the 2002 Final Four.

Early life

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Dixon played high school basketball at Calvert Hall College High School in Baltimore and scored 1,590 career points under the tutelage of head coach Mark Amatucci. Both his mother, Juanita, and father, Phil, were heroin addicts, and died of AIDS-related illnesses before Dixon was 17 years old.^[1] He was then raised by his grandparents Roberta and Warnick Graves in Baltimore, Maryland.

College career

He attended the University of Maryland, College Park and became Maryland's all-time scoring leader when he scored 29 points against Wisconsin to help Maryland advance to the Sweet Sixteen, passing Len Bias (2,149 points). He also became the only player in NCAA history to accumulate 2,000 points, 300 steals and 200 three-point field goals. He led the Maryland Terrapins to their first NCAA Men's Basketball Championship in his senior year in 2002. Playing under coach Gary Williams, the 6' 3", 164 lb Dixon was able to overcome adversity and his small frame and became recognized as one of the nation's best college players and was honored as the 2002 ACC Men's Basketball Player of the Year and ACC Athlete of the Year. Coach Williams stated that "Juan just has the heart of a tiger, which separates him from the rest of the players in the country". After his senior season, Dixon was featured on the cover of a video game, NCAA Final Four. In addition to leaving Maryland as the school's all-time scoring leader, Dixon also left as the Terrapins' all-time leader in three-pointers made (239) and attempted (615). He is second on Maryland's all-time steals list with 333 and third in free-throw percentage (.850). Dixon also stands as Maryland's all-time NCAA Tournament scoring leader with 294. Upon completion of his career, Dixon's #3 jersey was honored and now hangs in the Comcast Center. In 2002, Juan Dixon was honored as a part of the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team, one of only 8 Terrapins selected to the 50-man team.

NBA

Dixon was drafted 17th overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2002 NBA Draft. He spent the first three years of his NBA career with the Wizards. In his final season in Washington (2004–2005), he averaged eight points per game, including a career-high 35 points in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Chicago Bulls. Dixon signed as a free agent with the Portland Trail Blazers during the summer of 2005. Soon after, his Wizards and Terrapins teammate and friend Steve Blake signed with Portland as well. In his first game back in D.C., Dixon was given a standing ovation from the Verizon Center crowd upon coming off the bench towards the end of the first quarter.^[3] In Dixon's first year with the Blazers, he started 42 times and played in 76 games. In his last year with the Wizards, he only started four games and played in 63. He also increased his scoring, assists, and shooting percentage considerably in Portland. However, he was later traded at the 2007 NBA trade deadline to Toronto for Fred Jones and future considerations.^[4]

On the 2008 NBA trade deadline, February 21, 2008, Dixon was traded from the Toronto Raptors to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for center Primož Brezec and cash considerations.^[5]

On September 24, 2008, the Washington Wizards signed Dixon to a partially guaranteed one-year deal for $1.03 million, the veterans' minimum for a player with Dixon's experience.^[6]

Europe

On November 1, 2009, Dixon signed with Aris Thessaloniki of the Greek A1 League.^[7] The next season, he joined Unicaja Málaga of Spain. In February 2010, he was suspended indefinitely by FIBA after testing positive for steroids.^[8] In March 2011 he signed with Bandırma Banvit in Turkey.^[9]

Family

Dixon's aunt is Sheila Dixon, who was the mayor of Baltimore, Maryland.^[10] Dixon's half brother is Jermaine Dixon, who played shooting guard for the University of Pittsburgh Panthers basketball team.^[11] His second cousin Brandon Driver plays cornerback for the San Jose State Spartans football team.^[12]

Career statistics

College

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

See also

• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career steals leaders

References

External links

• Juan Dixon at NBA.com
• Eurocup Profile
• Terrapinstats.com - Juan Dixon College Profile