Josh Childress

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox basketball biography Joshua Malik Childress (born June 20, 1983) is an American former professional basketball player. An All-EuroLeague Second Team member in 2010, he played with the Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets, and New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and Olympiacos Piraeus of the Greek Basket League and EuroLeague.

Early life

Childress grew up in Compton, California where he and his brother, Chris, played basketball and did their best to stay out of trouble. The neighborhood they lived in was very tight and supportive, but they lived under constant threat of gangsters in the area.<ref>Josh Childress’s incredible journey from Compton to the Sydney Kings</ref> Childress attended Mayfair High School in nearby Lakewood, overlapping with MLB All-Star Justin Turner. Besides playing basketball in high school and being named a McDonald's High School All-American, he also played volleyball during his senior year. He led his high school volleyball team, the Monsoons, to an undefeated record and he was voted to the All-League volleyball team. Josh has his #22 jersey retired at Mayfair.

College career

Childress played three seasons of college basketball with Stanford, where he was named an AP first team All-American, an All-American Consensus second team honoree, the Pac-10 Conference Player of the Year and the Pac-10 Conference tournament MVP as a junior in 2004. He then declared for the 2004 NBA draft where he was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the sixth overall pick, becoming the highest Stanford player to be drafted in the NBA.

Professional career

Atlanta Hawks (2004–2008)

Childress was selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks. During his rookie season in 2004–05, Childress emerged as one of two promising rookie talents for the Hawks, along with Josh Smith; as the season went on, the two showed improved play, minutes and production. Childress ranked third among rookies in double-doubles in the 2004–05 season, behind only Emeka Okafor and Dwight Howard. He was also voted to the NBA All-Rookie second team.

Over the next three seasons, Childress played a sixth man role for the Hawks, and in four total seasons for the franchise, he averaged 11.1 points and 5.6 rebounds in 285 games with 67 starts.<ref>Josh Childress NBA Stats</ref>

Olympiacos (2008–2010)

File:Josh Childress 2009 (cropped).jpg

Childress in November 2009

In July 2008, Childress signed a three-year, $20 million contract with the Greek team Olympiacos Piraeus. Because of tax breaks from playing overseas, however, his $20 million contract was equivalent to $32.5 million with an NBA team. Childress also had the option to opt out of the contract after each year.<ref>Ex-Hawk Childress signs with Greek club team</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Childress also received a Greek Nike shoe contract after signing with Olympiacos, a Nike sponsorship club. He had been offered a five-year, $33 million deal by the Atlanta Hawks, but he turned it down because it was significantly less money than what Olympiacos offered him.<ref>Agent: Boykins to stay in Italy</ref>

During the 2008–09 EuroLeague season, he averaged 8.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. During the 2009–10 EuroLeague season, he averaged 15.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game.<ref>CHILDRESS, JOSH – Euroleague.net</ref>

In June 2010, Childress parted ways with Olympiacos.<ref>Josh Childress on his way to leave Olympiacos</ref>

Phoenix Suns (2010–2012)

On July 13, 2010, Childress' rights were acquired by the Phoenix Suns in a trade that also sent a 2012 second-round draft pick to the Atlanta Hawks. Childress then signed a five-year, $34 million deal with the Suns.<ref>Suns Acquire Josh Childress</ref>

On July 15, 2012, after the Suns acquired the amnestied rights of Luis Scola, Childress was released by the Suns via the amnesty clause.<ref>Suns Awarded Scola, Use Amnesty on Childress</ref>

Brooklyn Nets (2012)

On September 13, 2012, Childress signed with the Brooklyn Nets.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Josh Childress signs with Nets</ref> On December 29, 2012, he was waived by the Nets.<ref>Brooklyn Nets Release Josh Childress</ref>

New Orleans Pelicans (2013)

On September 27, 2013, Childress signed with the Washington Wizards.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, he was later waived by the Wizards on October 24, 2013.<ref>Wizards waive Josh Childress, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Xavier Silas</ref> On November 12, 2013, he signed with the New Orleans Pelicans.<ref>PELICANS SIGN AMUNDSON AND CHILDRESS</ref>

Childress' final NBA game was played on December 6, 2013, in a 109-95 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Childress only played for a little over 2 minutes (being subbed in at the end of the 4th quarter for Eric Gordon) and recorded only 1 rebound and 1 assist. On December 13, 2013, he was waived by the Pelicans.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Sydney Kings (2014–2016)

2014–15 season

On August 12, 2014, Childress signed with the Sydney Kings for the 2014–15 NBL season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On October 28, he was handed a one-game suspension and a $7,500 fine for unduly rough play and bringing the game into disrepute. The charges were laid over his strike to Perth Wildcats' forward Jesse Wagstaff on October 24; Childress was ejected from the game following the incident.<ref>Josh Childress Tribunal Verdict</ref> He went on to earn Player of the Week honors for Round 5 after scoring 18 points against the Wollongong Hawks on November 7, and 36 points against the Adelaide 36ers on November 9.<ref>R5 Player of the Week: Josh Childress</ref> On December 5, he was named the NBL Player of the Month for November.<ref>NBL Awards: November</ref> On January 28, 2015, Childress was ruled out for the rest of the season after scans revealed he required surgery for a torn pectoral muscle.<ref>Sydney Kings lose star import Josh Childress to season-ending injury</ref> In 18 games for the Kings in 2014–15, he averaged 21.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.1 blocks per game.<ref>Player statistics for Josh Childress</ref>

2015–16 season

On July 2, 2015, Childress re-signed with the Kings for the 2015–16 NBL season.<ref>Childress remains a King</ref> After missing the first four games of the season with a foot injury, Childress returned to the court on October 23 against the Adelaide 36ers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, in his return game, he sustained another injury, this time breaking his right hand. He played through the Kings' 91–80 loss to the 36ers with the break and still managed to score 23 points,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> but following the game, he was ruled out for a further four to six games with a boxer's fracture.<ref>Josh Childress shattered by latest injury as Sydney Kings' NBL struggles deepen</ref> He was subsequently replaced in the line-up by fellow former NBA player Al Harrington.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On November 10, he was suspended for two games for demonstrating unsportsmanlike behaviour on the sidelines during the Kings' loss to the Adelaide 36ers three days prior. Not playing in the game due to his hand injury, Childress verbally abused the referees in the tunnel of Titanium Security Arena following the conclusion of the match, further tarnishing his reputation in the NBL.<ref>CHILDRESS FOUND GUILTY BY TRIBUNAL</ref> A third injury to Childress, this time a fractured left hand, was sustained on December 4 against the Cairns Taipans, just two games back after recovering from his previous injury. He was subsequently ruled out for another two to four weeks.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Sydney Kings searching for short-term replacement for Josh Childress</ref> He was reactivated once again on December 29<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and played out the rest of the season. In 13 games for the last-placed Kings in 2015–16, Childress averaged 21.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.7 blocks per game.

Texas Legends (2016)

On March 8, 2016, Childress was acquired by the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Three days later, he made his debut for the Legends in a 115–113 loss to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, recording 17 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in 29 minutes off the bench.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In eight games for the Legends, he averaged 12.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steals per game.

San-en NeoPhoenix (2016–2017)

In November 2016, Childress signed with San-en NeoPhoenix of the Japanese B.League.<ref>Josh Childress is a newcomer at Sanen</ref> In 40 games, he averaged 18.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 blocks per game.

Adelaide 36ers (2017–2018)

After spending preseason with the Denver Nuggets, Childress signed with the Adelaide 36ers for the rest of the 2017–18 NBL season on October 21, 2017, returning to the NBL for a second stint.<ref>36ers secure NBA veteran Josh Childress</ref><ref>Adelaide 36ers sign former NBA veteran Josh Childress</ref> He helped the 36ers reach the 2018 NBL Grand Final series, where in Game 2, he suffered a shoulder injury that ruled him out for the rest of the series.<ref>Adelaide 36ers star Josh Childress to miss rest of the NBL grand final series with a broken shoulder</ref> The 36ers went on to lose the grand final series 3–2. In 27 games, he averaged 12.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

Return to the NeoPhoenix (2018–2019)

On December 13, 2018, Childress was reported to have signed with San-en NeoPhoenix of the Japanese B.League.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Career statistics

College

Template:NBA player statistics start |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2001–02 | style="text-align:left;"| Stanford | 30 || 6 || 21.5 || .402 || .275 || .694 || 4.8 || .8 || .6 || .4 || 7.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2002–03 | style="text-align:left;"| Stanford | 33 || 33 || 34.2 || .427 || .333 || .719 || 8.1 || 2.1 || 1.2 || 1.4 || 14.1 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2003–04 | style="text-align:left;"| Stanford | 23 || 18 || 29.8 || .488 || .395 || .821 || 7.5 || 2.7 || .9 || 1.6 || 15.7 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 86 || 57 || 28.6 || .438 || .335 || .755 || 6.8 || 1.8 || .9 || 1.1 || 12.3 Template:S-end

NBA

Regular season

Template:NBA player statistics start |- | align="left" | Template:Nbay | align="left" | Atlanta | 80 || 44 || 29.7 || .470 || .232 || .823 || 6.0 || 1.9 || .9 || .4 || 10.1 |- | align="left" | Template:Nbay | align="left" | Atlanta | 74 || 10 || 30.4 || .552 || .492 || .766 || 5.2 || 1.8 || 1.2 || .5 || 10.0 |- | align="left" | Template:Nbay | align="left" | Atlanta | 55 || 13 || 36.8 || .504 || .338 || .795 || 6.2 || 2.3 || 1.0 || .7 || 13.0 |- | align="left" | Template:Nbay | align="left" | Atlanta | 76 || 0 || 29.9 || .571 || .367 || .807 || 4.9 || 1.5 || .9 || .6 || 11.8 |- | align="left" | Template:Nbay | align="left" | Phoenix | 54 || 3 || 16.6 || .565 || .063 || .492 || 2.9 || .8 || .6 || .4 || 5.0 |- | align="left" | Template:Nbay | align="left" | Phoenix | 34 || 0 || 14.4 || .485 || .167 || .000 || 2.8 || 1.0 || .4 || .2 || 2.9 |- | align="left" | Template:Nbay | align="left" | Brooklyn | 14 || 0 || 7.1 || .286 || .333 || .500 || 1.1 || .4 || .1 || .1 || 1.0 |- | align="left" | Template:Nbay | align="left" | New Orleans | 4 || 0 || 6.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || .8 || .5 || .3|| .0 || .0 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 391 || 70 || 26.7 || .522 || .329 || .779 || 4.7 || 1.6 || .9 || .5 || 9.1 Template:S-end

Playoffs

Template:NBA player statistics start |- | align="left" | 2008 | align="left" | Atlanta | 7 || 0 || 29.3 || .524 || .000 || .500 || 5.7 || 1.6 || .1 || .7 || 7.1 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 7 || 0 || 29.3 || .524 || .000 || .500 || 5.7 || 1.6 || .1 || .7 || 7.1 Template:S-end

EuroLeague

Template:Euroleague player statistics start |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2008–09 | style="text-align:left;"| Olympiacos | 16 || 15 || 24.3 || .470 || .158 || .636 || 4.6 || 1.1 || 1.1 || .5 || 8.8 || 10.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2009–10 | style="text-align:left;"| Olympiacos | 20 || 20 || 32.3 || .523 || .328 || .647 || 4.8 || 1.9 || 1.1 || .6 || 15.2 || 15.3 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 36 || 35 || 28.7 || .504 || .286 || .643 || 4.7 || 1.5 || 1.1 || .6 || 12.4 || 13.1 Template:S-end

International career

In 2000, Childress earned a silver medal as a member of the 2000 USA Basketball Men's Youth Development Festival West Team. He also played at the 2003 Pan American Games.

Personal

Childress is featured on the box cover of ESPN College Hoops 2K5 for the PlayStation 2, published by Sega. Childress had a high school GPA of 3.5 and scored 1110 on the SAT.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After being waived by the Nets, Childress enrolled back in Stanford and graduated with a degree in sociology in August 2013.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

External links

• Josh Childress Template:Webarchive at nba.com
• Sydney Kings profile
• Josh Childress at nbl.com.au
• Josh Childress at esake.gr Template:In lang
• Josh Childress at euroleague.net
• Josh Childress at gostanford.com
• Template:Twitter