Gerald Henderson Jr. Signing

Lore & Background

Henderson attended Episcopal Academy in Merion, Pennsylvania, where he teamed up with future UNC player Wayne Ellington. He was ranked the 18th-best high school senior by The Recruiting Services Consensus Index. In college, he led Duke in scoring as a junior with 16.5 points per game, earning First-Team All-ACC and an ACC tournament championship. He was drafted 12th overall by the Charlotte Bobcats in 2009 and played for the Bobcats/Hornets until 2015, then for the Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers. He retired in 2019 after hip surgeries and an Achilles injury.

In Their Own Story

The arena lights hummed over the hardwood as Gerald Henderson Jr. dribbled up the court, the familiar roar of the Charlotte crowd swelling around him. It was late in the fourth quarter, the score tight, and the weight of the season rested on his shoulders. He crossed over, defended by a towering forward, but the local favorite didn't hesitate. With a sharp drive to the rim, he absorbed contact and finished through the traffic, sending the home crowd into a frenzy that echoed the spirit of the city itself.

Reader's Guide

Henderson played eight NBA seasons. His best statistical year was 2011–12 with the Bobcats, averaging career highs in minutes (33.3), field goal percentage (45.9%), rebounds (4.1), assists (2.3), and points (15.1). He scored a career-high 35 points twice in 2013. He was traded to the Trail Blazers in 2015 and signed with the 76ers in 2016. He missed the 2017–18 season due to hip surgery and retired in 2019.

Did You Know?

• Henderson was drafted 12th overall in 2009, not 17th.
• He played for the Charlotte Bobcats, not the Hornets, from 2009 to 2015.
• He is from Duke University, not the University of North Carolina.
• He never led the Bobcats/Hornets in scoring in any season.