Jamaal Franklin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jamaal Franklin

Franklin with the San Diego State Aztecs in 2012
Free agent
Shooting guard
Personal information
Born	(1991-07-21) July 21, 1991 (age 33) Moreno Valley, California, U.S.
High school	Serrano (Phelan, California) Westwind Prep (Phoenix, Arizona)
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	196 lb (89 kg)
Career information
College	San Diego State (2010–2013)
NBA Draft	2013 / Round: 2 / Pick: 41st overall
Selected by the Memphis Grizzlies
Pro career	2013–present
Career history
2013–2014	Memphis Grizzlies
2014	→Fort Wayne Mad Ants
2014–2015	Zhejiang Lions
2015	Los Angeles D-Fenders
2015	Denver Nuggets
2015	Los Angeles D-Fenders
2015–2017	Shanxi Brave Dragons
2016	Brujos de Guayama
2017–2019	Sichuan Blue Whales
2019–2021	Shanxi Loongs
2021–2022	Shanghai Sharks
2023	Converge FiberXers
Career highlights and awards
2× AP honorable mention All-American (2012, 2013) MWC Player of the Year (2012) 2× First-team All-MWC (2012, 2013)

Jamaal Eric Franklin (born July 21, 1991) is an American professional basketball player. He is known for his skills as a shooting guard. Franklin played college basketball for San Diego State. During his junior year, he was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year and an All-American.

In 2013, the Memphis Grizzlies picked him in the 2013 NBA draft. He played two seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Grizzlies and the Denver Nuggets. Franklin also spent eight seasons playing in the Chinese Basketball Association from 2014 to 2022. He has also played in other leagues, including the NBA Development League, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.

Early Life and School Years

Jamaal Franklin was born on July 21, 1991. He grew up with his mother, Felicia Price. When he was eight years old, they moved from Los Angeles to a smaller town called Phelan, California.

High School Basketball

Franklin played basketball for four years at Serrano High School in Phelan. After that, he spent a year at Westwind Prep in Phoenix, Arizona. In his senior year at Serrano, he was the top scorer in California, averaging 31.7 points per game. He was also chosen twice for the All-California Interscholastic Federation team.

At Westwind Prep, he averaged 18.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Experts at ESPN.com rated him as the 24th best shooting guard in his class. He received offers to play basketball at Long Beach State University and San Diego State University.

Franklin was a talented athlete who played three sports at Serrano High School. Besides basketball, he played football as a wide receiver and free safety. He also competed in track and field, where he was a state high jumper.

College Career at San Diego State

Franklin tries to get past Garlon Green of TCU in 2011

Franklin chose to play for coach Steve Fisher at San Diego State. In his first year, the team had one of their best seasons ever. With teammates like Kawhi Leonard, the Aztecs won 34 games and earned a high seed in the 2011 NCAA Tournament. Franklin played about 8 minutes per game, averaging 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds.

In his second year, Franklin became a starter. He stepped up his game, averaging 17.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. He helped the Aztecs win a share of the regular-season title and get a good seed in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. For his excellent play, Franklin was named Mountain West Player of the Year. He was also recognized as an All-American by the Associated Press.

Franklin decided to stay at San Diego State for his junior year in 2012–13. He continued to perform well, averaging 16.9 points and 9.5 rebounds in 32 games. On April 12, 2013, Franklin announced he would leave college early to enter the NBA draft.

Professional Basketball Journey

Starting in the NBA

On June 27, 2013, the Memphis Grizzlies picked Jamaal Franklin as the 41st player in the 2013 NBA draft. He signed with the Grizzlies on July 26, 2013. During his first season, he also played for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in the NBA Development League.

In July 2014, Franklin played for the Grizzlies in the 2014 NBA Summer League. However, he was later released by the team on August 31, 2014.

Playing in China

On October 7, 2014, Franklin signed a contract with the Zhejiang Lions in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He played very well, even scoring 53 points in one game on November 26, 2014. He left the team in January 2015 after playing 26 games, where he averaged 28.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.

Brief Return to the NBA

On April 12, 2015, Franklin signed with the Denver Nuggets. He played his first game for them that same day. On July 13, 2015, he was released by the Nuggets.

Back to the D-League and China

On January 21, 2015, Franklin joined the Los Angeles D-Fenders in the NBA Development League. He had a great game on February 21, scoring 27 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.

Later, on December 18, he signed with the Shanxi Brave Dragons in China. On January 10, 2016, Franklin had an amazing game, recording 44 points, 10 rebounds, and 20 assists. He was a dominant player in the CBA, averaging a triple-double with 33.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 10.3 assists, plus 3.3 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.

In May 2016, Franklin re-signed with the Shanxi Brave Dragons. On November 14, 2016, he made history by scoring 61 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. This was the first time a player achieved a 60-point triple-double in the history of the CBA.

More Teams in China and Beyond

In July 2017, Franklin signed with the Sichuan Blue Whales and played for them until 2019. On July 29, 2019, he returned to the Shanxi team, which was now called the Shanxi Loongs. On December 10, 2019, Franklin achieved a rare quadruple-double with 42 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists, and 10 steals. He averaged 30.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, 10.1 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. He re-signed with the team in September 2020.

In October 2021, Franklin joined the Shanghai Sharks in the CBA, playing 40 games. He briefly rejoined them for the 2022–23 season. On January 25, 2023, Franklin signed with the Converge FiberXers in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He also briefly signed with the Adelaide 36ers in Australia in July 2023 but was released before the season started.

Career Statistics

NBA Regular Season

NBA Playoffs

Personal Life

Jamaal Franklin is related to the famous music producer, Hit-Boy. Hit-Boy has produced many popular songs for well-known artists.

See also

In Spanish: Jamaal Franklin para niños