Brandon Roy: From Husky Star to NBA All-Star

Brandon Dawayne Roy Sr., born on July 23, 1984, is an American basketball coach and former professional player. He most recently served as the head coach of the boys' basketball team at Garfield High School in Seattle. Roy's journey in basketball is marked by his outstanding college career with the Washington Huskies, his rapid rise to stardom in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers, and his resilience in the face of career-threatening injuries.

Early Life and College Preparation

Before his successful college and professional career, Roy faced academic challenges. Neither of his parents nor his older brother had attended college, and he had a learning disability that made it difficult for him to perform well on the SAT. Roy's reading comprehension was slow, which increased the time he needed for tests. He took the test four times, working with tutors, before finally meeting the NCAA requirements.

College Career at the University of Washington

In 2002, Roy began his college basketball career at the University of Washington (UW), where he played for four years under head coach Lorenzo Romar. He majored in American Ethnic Studies. During his time as a Washington Husky, Roy developed into a standout player, showcasing his skills as a versatile guard who could score, pass, and defend.

Consideration for the NBA Draft

After his junior year, Roy considered entering the NBA draft. However, he changed his mind when he learned that teammate Nate Robinson and high school senior and UW signee Martell Webster also intended to enter the draft.

Senior Year Success

During his senior year, Roy averaged 20.2 points per game, leading the Huskies to a 26-7 season and a second straight Sweet Sixteen appearance. His outstanding performance earned him several accolades. Roy was named Pac-10 player of the year and received All-American honors at the end of the season. He was also a finalist for the Wooden, Naismith, Oscar Robertson, and Adolph Rupp awards.

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College Statistics and Achievements

Roy's college career at Washington was marked by consistent improvement and leadership. He became a dominant force in the Pac-10 Conference, earning recognition as one of the top players in the nation. His achievements set the stage for his transition to the NBA.

NBA Career

Roy's journey to the NBA began when the Minnesota Timberwolves selected him as the sixth overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft. However, he was immediately traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, where he would make his mark as a rising star.

Rookie of the Year Season

Roy's NBA debut was in his hometown against the Seattle SuperSonics. He scored 20 points in that game and 19 in the following game. An impingement in his left heel kept him out of 20 games early in the season, but he scored his first career double-double shortly after his return, on December 22, 2006, against the Toronto Raptors. At the end of January 2007, Roy led all NBA rookies with 14.5 points per game. He became the fourth Trail Blazer to be selected for the rookie squad of the NBA All-Star Weekend Rookie Challenge since its inception in 1994. He was the Western Conference's Rookie of the Month in January, February, and March 2007.

After averaging 16.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game during the 2006-07 NBA season, Roy was named NBA Rookie of the Year. He received 127 out of 128 first-place votes. Due to injury, he played in only 57 games in that season, the second-fewest games for a Rookie of the Year. His impact on the Trail Blazers was immediate, and he quickly became a fan favorite. That season, Zach Randolph, then the team captain, was traded to the New York Knicks at the end of Roy's first season in 2006-07 season, which cleared the way for Roy to take on a leadership role on the team.

All-Star Selections and Peak Performance

Roy continued to excel in the following seasons, earning multiple All-Star selections and establishing himself as one of the league's premier shooting guards. Roy started in the first 48 games of the 2007-08 season, averaging 19.1 points, 5.8 assists and 4.6 rebounds. He also led the Blazers to a 13-game winning streak in the month of December. Roy was selected as a reserve for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game. He scored 18 points in that game, and also had 9 rebounds. He injured his right ankle in the final game before the All-Star Weekend. Although he earned accolades for his play over the weekend, the injury impacted his play in the following weeks. He played in the Rookie Challenge for the second time, this time as a "sophomore"; teammate LaMarcus Aldridge was also on the sophomore squad. Roy played about 29 minutes in the All-Star game, the most of any Western Conference player.

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In the 2008 preseason, Roy underwent a 20-minute medical procedure in Vancouver, Washington, during which team physician Don Roberts removed a piece of cartilage that was causing irritation in Roy's left knee. On December 18, Roy scored a career-high 52 points against the Phoenix Suns. He made 14 of 27 shots from the field, 19 of 21 from the free-throw line, and 5 of 7 from the three-point line. He also added six assists, five rebounds and a blocked shot, all without a turnover. On January 24, Roy tied a Blazers franchise record with 10 steals against the Washington Wizards. On February 8 with the Blazers trailing by 1 against the Knicks, Roy made a layup at the buzzer to win it 109-108. As of February 16, 2009, Roy has had 24 shots which tied or won the games with 35 seconds or less.

Roy was again selected as a reserve in the 2009 NBA All-Star Game, where he scored 14 points in 7-for-8 shooting, grabbed 5 boards, and dished out 5 assists in a game-high 31 minutes of action. On April 13, Roy was named Western Conference Player of the Week for his fourth time. Roy was selected to compete in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game, marking his third selection as an NBA All-Star.

Injury Struggles and Retirement

Unfortunately, Roy's career was plagued by persistent knee injuries, which eventually led to his premature retirement from the NBA. On April 11, 2010, Roy injured his right knee. Magnetic resonance imaging that night confirmed a right knee bone contusion (bone bruise) and on April 12, further examination of the MRI showed a slight meniscus tear. Roy started the first month of the season scoring at his normal rate, but by December it started showing that his knees, which have bothered him since college and were injured in April, were ailing due to lack of cartilage.

The Blazers then faced the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs. Roy shot 1-for-8 the first 2 games, including a Game 2 where he saw only 8 minutes of playing time and went scoreless. The Blazers lost both games and trailed 2-0 in the series. Both the Blazers and Mavericks started Game 4 with a quiet first half, with Dallas leading slightly. The Blazers then missed their first 15 shots after halftime as the Mavs' lead grew as big as 67-44. Roy then made a three-pointer near the end of the third to cut the lead to 67-49.

In June 2012, Roy announced that he was planning to make a comeback to the NBA. He said he had recovered enough to play after having the platelet-rich plasma procedure that Kobe Bryant also had to keep his knees healthy. He could not play for Portland under the current NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement because of Portland's amnesty of him in 2011. Roy entered the free agent market on July 1, 2012. On July 31, 2012, Roy signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The deal put Roy with All-Star forward Kevin Love and point guard Ricky Rubio. He decided to wear No. 3, the number he wore during his college years at Washington. He felt well during training camp but suffered an injury after a collision during a preseason game on October 26, 2012. He played in five regular season games before needing season-ending surgery on his right knee. He averaged 5.8 points per game, 2.8 rebounds per game, and 4.6 assists per game in 24.4 minutes during the 2012-13 season. Roy was waived by Minnesota on May 10, 2013. Afterwards, he said, "Any time you walk away from the game, you have 'what-ifs'.

NBA Statistics and Achievements

Despite his relatively short career, Roy left a lasting impact on the NBA. He showcased his scoring ability, playmaking skills, and leadership qualities, earning the respect of fans and peers alike. His career averages reflect his all-around game and his potential to become a perennial All-Star.

Coaching Career

After retiring from professional basketball, Roy transitioned to coaching, seeking to share his knowledge and passion for the game with young players. With the departure of Michael Porter Jr., Jontay Porter, and P. J.

High School Coaching

Roy began his coaching career at the high school level, taking on the head coaching position at Nathan Hale High School in Seattle. He quickly turned the program around, leading the team to a state championship and earning national recognition for his coaching abilities.

Return to Garfield High School

After a successful stint at Nathan Hale, Roy returned to Garfield High School, his alma mater, to serve as the head boys' basketball coach. His return was met with excitement and anticipation from the community, as he brought a wealth of experience and a commitment to developing young talent.

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