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Al Harrington, emotional basketball rebel

NBA has produced a lot of players with interesting personalities over the past couple of decades. Fans are thrilled and enthusiastic about the points and wins of the team they cheer for. On the other side, spectators always want to find out more about their private lives.  It’s kind of a normal thing because supporters start to identify with their favorite stars in American basketball. 

One of the most interesting person in the basketball circles is, without a doubt, Al Harrington. His life story is amazing and catches attention in a second. You will be informed in detail about Al’s biography in upcoming paragraphs.

How did Harrington start his basketball road?

Al Harrington was born in 1980. Al was only 18 years old when he signed his first professional contract with Indiana Pacers. Harrington was chosen with the 25th pick during Draft Pool in 1998. His collaboration with the Pacers lasted for six years. This player came from the bench usually during his tenure in Indianapolis.

Al’s breakthrough year in Indiana was in season 2001/2002 when he had 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds on account per game. Unfortunately, this season finished with his knee injury he got in a fixture against Boston Celtics. Harrington had to miss the remaining 38 games in that season.

What happened after the season 2001/2002 with Al?

Harrington made a successful recovery and prepared himself for the next season. It was a superb comeback for him in the 2002/2003 season and he played all 82 games in the regular part of the season for Indiana. Al scored 12.2 points and made 6 rebounds per game.  Al Harrington was included in starting lineup in 37 fixtures. 

The audience saw his improvement in the 2003/2004 season when Harrington averaged 13.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Al ended in second place in voting for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. This player played a huge role in reaching the first Eastern Conference final since the year 2000.

Where did this player continue his NBA career?

Al Harrington was involved in an exchange between Indiana and Atlanta in the summer of 2004. Al went to Georgia, while Stephen Jackson ended in the opposite direction. This player finally found a place where he can play regularly, but Atlanta as a team was not so successful during collaboration with him.

His former team Atlanta became a more lucrative environment when we are talking about results in that period. However, the hero of our paragraphs was sent to Indiana once again.  Al and John Edwards joined Indiana on August 2006.

What occurred with our hero after Indiana’s second stint?

Harrington was part of a transfer that included two teams – Indiana and Golden State. That exchange happened at the beginning of 2007. Al, Stephen Jackson, Sarunas Jasikevicius, and Josh Powell were sent to Golden State. Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy, Ike Diogu, and Keith McLeod went in the opposite direction. Al’s performances for the Warriors were not worth mentioning.

Harrington was sold to New York Knicks in exchange for Jamal Crawford in November, 2008.  This player showed his best form while playing in Big Apple, but New York didn’t succeed to get to the playoff in both seasons. Al had 19.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1 steal on his account per game.

What was the next station for Harrington’s chase to NBA glory?

Harrington agreed to terms with Denver Nuggets in the summer of 2010. The contract was a multi-year deal. Al scored 10.5 points, made 4.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. Al Harrington spent 22.8 minutes per game.  Denver had 50 wins and 32 victories at the end of the regular part of the season.

The Nuggets took fifth place in the Western Conference and they were second in the North West Division. Oklahoma beat Nuggets 4-1 in the first round of the elimination stage.

Which was Al’s next destination?

Harrington was sent to Orlando in a trade that included four teams in August, 2012. Dwight Howard finished in Los Angeles Lakers. Al represented the team from Florida in season 2012/2013 in only 10 fixtures. Al Harrington scored 5.1 points, had 2.7 rebounds, and made 1 assist per game. His average time on the court was 11.7 minutes during that season.

Orlando ended the regular part of the season with 20 victories and 62 losses. It was disappointing result for them. Magic waived the hero of our paragraphs in the summer of 2013.

Where did this player go after Orlando?

Al put his signature on the contract with Washington Wizards in August 2013.  Harrington didn’t get the opportunity to play in the first line-up in Wizards during his 37 games in the capital of the USA.  This player had 6.6 points and 2.4 rebounds on his account per game. However, the hero of our story helped Washington to qualify for the first playoff since 2008.

Harrington took part in 7 of 11 postseason games the Wizards played. Unfortunately, the collaboration between him and the team didn’t continue. Al had to look for a new club.

Does Al have experience playing Big3 basketball?

Harrington joined Fireball in 2017 in its first season. Al was appointed as co-captain of team Trilogy. His teammates were Kenyon Martin as captain, Rashad McCants, James White, and Dion Glover. The Trilogy was unmistakable in the regular part of the season with a score of 8-0.  They qualified for the playoff where the best four teams are participating.

Harrington’s team defeated Ghost Ballers with 50-39 in the semifinal. In the thrilling final, Trilogy pulled out a 51-46 victory over Three Headed Monsters. Al Harrington got an award for Too Hard to Guard player.

How was Harrington’s result in the second season of Fireball?

Al remained a member of the winning team from the first season Trilogy and was co-captain. His team got reinforcements and the squad involved Kenyon Martin as captain, Rashad McCants as co-captain, Dahntay Jones, Dion Glover, and James White. They took sixth place in the regular season. Trilogy ended the league with three wins and five losses.

They didn’t qualify for the playoff after a successful previous season. It was a devastating experience for Al Harrington.  Harrington got again Award for Too Hard to Guard player. It was sort of consolation for the team after a disappointing result in the 2018 season. Everyone on the team tried to believe that they can get back to winning ways.

Here are some of the best moments in Al’s second season in Big3:

How did things go in Al’s third season in Big3?

Harrington changed the team in 2019 and signed for Killer 3’s. It was a fresh start for this player. His teammates there were Stephen Jackson as captain, Metta World Peace as co-captain, Josh Powel, Donte Green, and C.J. Watson. Killer 3’s had huge ambition for the third season in Fireball. They ended the regular season with a 5-3 score and took second place in the Big 3 standings.

Al’s team qualified for the big playoff. This club won against Power in the semifinal of best 4 with 50-42. Unfortunately, the Triplets defeated Jackson’s team in the final with 50-39.

Al was a player who made difference on the court wherever he played. Harrington’s appearance was strong in the locker room and coaches and teammates appreciated him. After retirement, this player started advocating for the legalization of cannabis use. Al Harrington is dedicated in that area as he was active in playing days. 

The hero of our paragraphs always fought hard for his goals and dreams and that clash persists even now. Harrington is among the best players that have ever participated in the Big3 league, for sure. Al deserves to be included in our stories about Fireball’s stars, without a doubt.

About the author

Marjan Nikolic

Passionate sports guy, coming from the eastern Europe where best basketball is played (yeah, I know you will not agree!). Dynamic 3x3 basket has special place in my heart.

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