Terrell Brandon facts for kids

Thomas Terrell Brandon, born on May 20, 1970, is a former American professional basketball player. He played for three different teams during his 11 years in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Terrell was chosen as an All-Star twice. He was a very important player for three NBA teams. Sadly, a series of injuries made him stop playing at 31 years old.

Early Life and School Years

Terrell Brandon was born in Portland, Oregon. He went to Grant High School. There, he helped his team win the 1988 Class AAA Oregon high-school basketball championship. He was also named Oregon high school player of the year.

As a child, he had a problem with his feet that caused pain.

College Basketball Career

Brandon went to the University of Oregon. In his second year (1989–90), he led his team to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT). He set several school records during his time there.

He held records for career and single-season scoring average. He also had the most assists in one game (13). Terrell set records for steals in a single season (twice) and in one game (eight). He was named the team's Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1990 and 1991. After college, he was the first Oregon player to leave school early to join the NBA.

Terrell Brandon's NBA Journey

Playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers (1991–1997)

The Cleveland Cavaliers picked Brandon as the 11th player in the 1991 NBA draft. He had a great first year and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. For his first three and a half seasons, he was the backup point guard to All-Star Mark Price.

On December 21, 1993, Brandon scored 18 points and had 14 assists. This was a big help in a win against the Utah Jazz. When Price was injured in the 1994–95 season, Brandon stepped up. He led Cleveland to an 11-game winning streak. After that season, Cleveland traded Price.

On February 15, 1995, Brandon scored 31 points. He also had 8 assists and 4 rebounds. This helped the Cavaliers win 100–99 against the Orlando Magic.

As Cleveland's main point guard, Brandon was chosen for the All-Star Game twice. He played in the 1996 and 1997 games. Cleveland hosted the second one. On December 22, 1996, he scored 33 points. He also had nine assists, six rebounds, and four steals. This was in a 100–94 win over the Utah Jazz. He was guarded by the famous player John Stockton in that game.

Sports Illustrated magazine called him "The Best Point Guard in the NBA" in 1997. That year, he led the Cavaliers in points, assists, and steals. He also won the NBA Sportsmanship Award in 1997. This award recognized his work with young people who needed help.

Time with the Milwaukee Bucks (1997–1999)

In September 1997, Cleveland traded Brandon to the Milwaukee Bucks. This was part of a big trade involving three teams and many players. Cleveland wanted to get a superstar player named Shawn Kemp.

On December 7, 1997, Brandon scored 20 points. He also had 13 assists and seven rebounds. This helped the Bucks win against the SuperSonics. On January 5, 1998, he helped the Bucks win again. He scored 16 points and had 15 assists against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Even though he played well, injuries kept him from playing many games. He only played 50 games in his first season with the Bucks. Milwaukee struggled when he wasn't playing. Brandon was among the best in the league for steals. He also led the team in assists during his two years with the Bucks.

Playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves (1999–2003)

On March 12, 1999, Brandon was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. This happened after he played only 15 games in his second season with Milwaukee. This was another big trade involving three teams.

With Kevin Garnett, Brandon helped Minnesota have their first 50-win season in 1999–2000. He averaged 17 points, 9 assists, and 2 steals per game. However, he often had injuries. On February 13, 2002, the Timberwolves put him on the injury list. He never played again after that. During his time with the Timberwolves, Brandon played with and helped guide Chauncey Billups.

On July 23, 2003, Brandon was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. This was mainly for salary cap reasons. The Hawks let him go on February 19, 2004. This was two years after his last game. After that, he announced he was retiring from basketball.

Brandon ended his career with great numbers. He averaged 13.8 points, 3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. He almost reached 10,000 career points. His highest number of assists in one game was 16, which he did five times. In 2006, he was honored and added to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.

Terrell Brandon's Life After Basketball

Terrell Brandon now owns a barber shop in Portland, Oregon. Many NBA players visit his shop. He also works in real estate. He is the CEO of his own companies, Tee Bee Enterprises and Tee Bee Enterprise Music.

Brandon has two sons, Trevor and Terrell Jr. His father, Charles, worked at a supply store and was also an assistant pastor. Brandon's mother, Charlotte, helped start an organization for mothers of NBA players. Even though Brandon earned a lot of money, he told his mom to retire right after he signed his first contract.

Career Statistics

Regular Season Games

Playoff Games

More Information

In Spanish: Terrell Brandon para niños

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