Al Harrington forged a long career in the NBA. Playing against the likes of Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, he’s got a tale to tell.
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Harrington was drafted by the Indiana Pacers in 1998 and played for NBA teams through the 2013-14 season. His career started with a lockout-shortened year after Jordan’s final Bulls season.
They called Al by a pretty common basketball nickname – ‘Buckets’. Harrington was a tweener with 3-point range. Given his long range for a position that typically banged down low in the post, it can be safely said that he came before the time players like him were appreciated.
There is no direct comparison for Harrington’s overall style of play today. But peak Danilo Gallinari is a reasonable player comparison for the 6’9″ power forward, who finished his career averaging 35.2% from behind the arc.
Harrington’s best NBA season came in 2008-09 with the New York Knicks. He started 51 games, averaging 20.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. His skillset allowed him to still earn a total of $94 million through the course of his career.
He’s since entered the medical cannabis business and now runs a firm called Viola Brands. It is one of the most successful black-owned cannabis business in the countries, and he hopes to make its medical uses more conducive to the public.
“You fouled me, hoe”: Michael Jordan and Al Harrington trash talked each other
Harrington recently appeared in a podcast interview with Drink Champs host where he talked about his post-retirement life. He also talked about the time he pissed Michael Jordan off with some nice old-school physical play.
“I fouled him and I looked at the ref like, ‘I didn’t even touch him,’ And [Jordan] said, ‘You fouled me, hoe!’ And I was like, ‘Who you callin’ a hoe?’ So we go at it.”
Harrington also got a souvenir after the game for standing up to Jordan and giving him the business. Michael Jordan has always enjoyed competitors who didn’t shy away from talking back or responding with their games:
“So, they win the game and I’m in the back. And the ball boy comes in walking with his sneakers. And it was like, ‘Best wishes, keep working hard.’ I didn’t even ask him for his shoes!”
