The name Richard Jefferson shouldn’t sound new to those who are avid followers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). But for those who are not familiar with the name, a brief introduction to the professional player with an NBA Championship award, currently playing for the Denver Nuggets will be necessary.
Richard Jefferson is one of the most celebrated American professional basketball players with an NBA championship following his track record of excellence in the basketball field that has spanned about two decades.
Being an exceptionally skilled player, Jefferson was drafted in the first round of the NBA draft in 2001 and was even named the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in his first season with the New Jersey Nets, now renamed Brooklyn Nets.
Richard Jefferson: Bio
Born on June 21, 1980, in the city of Los Angeles, Richard Allen Jefferson spent much of his early beginnings in Phoenix, Arizona where his parents worked as Christian missionaries. His early education was at Moon Valley High School in West Phoenix, where he became largely involved in the High school basketball team that later won the 4A State Championship in 1998.
When he moved to the University of Arizona, Richard was easily spotted out by the legendary coach Lute Olsen, following his skills in the field and while in his senior session, he led the Wildcats to the 2001 NCAA National Championship game where he averaged 11.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, making the college team win three times The NCAA Tournament.
Richard’s professional career as a Basketball player began with the New Jersey Nets where he played with them for seven seasons with almost 489 games and the highest average of 22.6 points between 2007 and 2008. He then played 82 games with the Milwaukee Bucks for a period of one year (2008-2009) before moving to San Antonio where he scored 104 times. Between 2011 and 2012, Richard performed in 41 games for the Spurs, averaging 9.2 points and on March 10, 2012, during the 2012 Pac-12 Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament, he was inducted into the Pac-12 Basketball Hall of Honor, and there began his journey as one of the brightest players in the world of basketball. The same year, he played for the Golden State Warriors, then the Utah Jazz in 2013, and the Dallas Mavericks before settling with the Cleveland Cavaliers on August 5, 2015.
There, he started with Game 3 of the NBA Finals in place of the injured Kevin Love. Jefferson gave his team an impressive boost after scoring nine points with eight rebounds in 33 minutes and after many battles, the Cavaliers won the series and became the first team in NBA history to win the championship after being down 3–1.
Salary And Net Worth
As of October 19, 2017, Richard Jefferson signed a one-year contract worth $2.3 million with the Denver Nuggets. His net worth is estimated at $40 Million with an annual salary of about $2.445 million. Jefferson is listed among the top 10 paid players of his club along with Jamal Murray, the Canadian professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets.
Richard Jefferson Wife, Kids, Is He Gay?
Following his relationships with several women, Jefferson won’t be described as gay. The famous basketballer has had a series of girlfriend issues. First is with Kesha Nicholas a dancer who he dated and had planned to get married to but unfortunately, the planned marriage ceremony was called off just two hours before.
Before his failed marriage with Kesha, Jefferson had dated Jennie Finch, a former softball pitcher and first baseman from Arizona University. The two met during their college days but their relationship didn’t last long as it was called off as soon as Jefferson entered NBA.
Meanwhile, Jefferson is currently settled with Teresa Lourenco the beautiful model that was born in Trinidad in 1981 and raised in Germany. The two reportedly got married even before he, Jefferson, called off his wedding with Kesha. Lourenco has two kids one of which is a daughter – Zaria Lourenco Noel who was born in 2010. The children, however, do not belong to the skilled basketball player, Jefferson. It is also not clear why the couple went their separate ways. Currently, Richard Jefferson is a single man.
Height and Body Measurements
The professional basketball player has an Athletic body with a height of 6 ft 7 in or 201 cm and a bodyweight measuring 222lbs or 101 kg. His shirt number is 24 while his Chest, waist, and biceps measure 47, 37, 17 inches, respectively. Jefferson has brown eyes and his hair is bald.
Quick Facts About Richard Jefferson
| Full Name | Richard Allen Jefferson |
| Date of Birth | June 21, 1980 |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California |
| Height | 6′ 7″ (201 cm) |
| Weight | 222lbs (101 kg) |
| Build | Average |
| Eye C | Brown – Dark |
| Hair C | Black |
| Zodiac S | Gemini |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Ethnicity | Black |
| Nationality | American |
| School | Moon Valley School, Moon Valley in Phoenix, Arizona |
| University | University of Arizona |
| Profession | Basketball |
| Basketball Position | Forward |
| Claim to Fame: | NBA |
| Salary | $2.445 million (2017/2018) |
| Net worth | $40 Million |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Spouse/Girlfriend | Teresa Lourenco (Divorced) |
