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Arizona basketball: 30 Greatest Wildcats of all time

By Shereen Rayan

TUCSON, AZ - SEPTEMBER 22: Former Arizona Wildcats basketball coach Lute Olson waves to fans as he walks with wife Kelly Pugnea during the first half of the college football game against the Utah Utes at Arizona Stadium on September 22, 2017 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TUCSON, AZ - SEPTEMBER 22: Former Arizona Wildcats basketball coach Lute Olson waves to fans as he walks with wife Kelly Pugnea during the first half of the college football game against the Utah Utes at Arizona Stadium on September 22, 2017 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Donald Miralle /Allsport
Mandatory Credit: Donald Miralle /Allsport /

Arizona Basketball Greatest Player No. 9 – Richard Jefferson

Position: Small Forward

Years at Arizona: 1998-2001

College Stats: 11.0 pts, 5.0 reb, 2.8 Ast, .6 stl, 0.8 blk

High School and College Awards: 

2001 NCAA All-Tournament
2001 NCAA Tournament All-Region
1998 McDonald’s All-American

NBA Draft: 2001 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13th overall Selected by the Houston Rockets
Years in the NBA: 17

NBA Awards:

2016 NBA Champion
2002 NBA All-Rookie 2nd Team

FIBA Gold Medalist: 2003
Olympic Bronze Medalist: 2004 

Richard Jefferson, now a Pac-12 and ESPN sports broadcaster, has given back to the University of Arizona in many ways. The very generous Wildcat donated $1 Million for the Richard Jefferson Gym where the Arizona Basketball team practices and trains. His 17 year NBA career is impressive including a Championship ring.

Jefferson played for 17 seasons in the NBA. He is an NBA Champion, a FIBA Champion and a medalist in the 2004 Olympics. A career Jefferson can look back on with pride playing in 1181
NBA games and staring in 809 of them.

Rich was born in Los Angeles, California, but like his bestie Frye, he was raised in Phoenix. While playing for Lute Olson, Jefferson became a great defensive player. The athletic forward held Illinois guards from scoring in the 2001 Elite 8 and Michigan State as well in the Final Four getting the team to the finals.

Jefferson is always happy it seems, in any circumstance he can lift the spirits of those around him. This attitude off the court and his grittiness on the court helped his teams to achieve greatness. He was instrumental in bringing the Championship Cavs team together and the chemistry created as a veteran helped the team bring Cleveland the trophy they so coveted.

The biggest donor to Arizona Basketball, the practice gym for the Wildcats is named the Richard Jefferson Gymnasium. The Gym is used for basketball and volleyball and was named after Jefferson donated $3.5 million on Dec. 8, 2008.

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