Rafer Alston

Who is Rafer Alston?

Rafer Alston is a former basketball player who competed in the NBA. Rafer Alston began his NBA career with the Idaho Stampede, which is now known as the Salt Lake City Stars. Aside from that, he was selected 39th overall in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks.

Alston has since played for a variety of teams, including the Toronto Raptors, Miami Heats, Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, and New Jersey Nets, among others.

Family And Early Years

Rafer Alston was born on July 24, 1976, in Queens, New York, in the United States of America.

Richard and Geraldine Alston are his parents. The basketballer had a difficult start in life.

His father was a heroin addict who prioritized his addiction over his responsibilities as a father.

As a result, Richard was absent from his son’s life.

Despite this, they were able to spend time together and bond through their shared passion for the Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball team and head coach John Thompson.

In addition, the athlete’s parents were separated. They did, however, get back together after the divorce.

Despite the fact that their children were dissatisfied with the decision, they never questioned or discussed it. Regardless, things didn’t take long to fall apart.

The point guard had quit going to school as a sophomore and would sleep until noon.

His older brother, Ramar, was imprisoned at a young age on weapons charges, while Racine, his twin sister, became pregnant as a teenager.

To top it off, the NBA player’s father had relapsed and was in desperate need of funds to support his drug addiction.

Richard used drug money to sell Rafer’s Michael Jordan rookie card and other belongings.

The former Raptors player was enraged by his life, his parents, and his family.

He was reportedly enraged that his mother was unable to leave his father.

He stopped going to school and acquired a gambling problem as a form of defiance or a cry for help.

He used to play C-lo, a dice game, and he was an expert at it.

Geraldine was training to be a nurse at the time, so she didn’t have much time to investigate her children’s private life. She also had to relocate due to her schooling.

Education

Rafer largely lived with Catholic Youth Organization basketball coach Mike Bell before his father went back home.

Alston’s ability was seen by the coach when he was only nine years old.

Bell used to display streetballer Isiah Thomas films and highlights.

Mike was also a powerful father figure in the lives of young Rafer.

Aside from that, the basketballer was being watched by two other people: head coach Ron Naclerio and assistant coach Billy Medley.

They were coaches at Benjamin Cardozo High School, Alston’s high school.

College

Alston during his time as a collegiate basketball player for Fresno State

In high school, the NBA player couldn’t play many games since he had missed so many classes that he was no longer eligible to play.

He made it through his senior year, but he didn’t have the necessary SAT or GED scores to attend college.

Despite this, he enrolled in Ventura College for junior college and began to take his education and basketball career seriously. The athlete was never late for practice or class.

Height, Weight, and Age

In 2022, Rafer Alston will be 45 years old, having been born in 1976.

Rafer is in terrific shape as a former athlete because he follows a healthy diet and fitness routine.

In addition, the basketballer stands 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 190 pounds, or 86 kilograms.

Facts of Rafer Alston

Net Worth, Salary, and Career Earnings

Rafer Alston’s net worth is estimated to be $24 million.

However, his career earnings from his entire time in the NBA amount to $28,129,531.

Furthermore, his salary with Nets and Heats in 2009 was over $4 million. Besides that, he makes a decent amount serving as an NBA scout for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Similarly, well-known brands and companies sponsored and endorsed him. Currently, he also runs a basketball program called RA Elite Basketball 2027.

Basketball Career

NBA’s Early Years

Alston entered the NBA Draft after his collegiate career in 1998. He was the 39th overall pick in the second round by the Milwaukee Bucks.

His adjustment from streetball to NBA games was challenging at first, but he gradually gained control of the game.

He spent much of his time with the Bucks on the bench.

He was then traded to the Toronto Raptors, who later traded him to the Miami Heat after his contract expired.

The point guard started for the Heats in 2004 and wowed everyone with his abilities.

Rafer joined the Miami Heat and played alongside Dwayne Wade. The two guided the Miami Heat to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals that season.

In 2004, he signed a multi-year contract with the Toronto Raptors. He did, however, only play for the Canadian squad for one season.

The Rockets of Houston and the Magic of Orlando

The Raptors traded the athlete to the Rockets after the 2004-05 NBA season.

Many players and officials complained about Rafer’s attitude while he was a member of the Raptors.

Jeff Van Gundy, the head coach of the Houston Rockets at the time, was known for his toughness and ability to break down players’ negative attitudes and maximize their potential.

Jeff also discussed Alston with his brother, Stan Van Gundy, who coached Rafer while he was a member of the Miami Heat.

The point guard fared admirably under Gundy’s guidance. He was suspended for two games in 2008 after a brawl with Matt Barnes and Steve Nash.

After three seasons with the Rockets, the streetballer was dealt to the Orlando Magic.

He reached the NBA finals with the Orlando Magic in 2009.

They did, however, lose the NBA championship against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Miami Heat and the New Jersey Nets

Rafer was traded to the New Jersey Nets by the Orlando Magic during the 2009 season. He didn’t stay there for long, though.

The former Rockets player was released by the Nets at the start of the 2010 season. He signed a contract with the Heats again shortly after that.

The athlete started 25 games for the Miami Heat in the 2010 NBA season.

Heat officials, on the other hand, quickly suspended him for missing practice and a game.

The Miami Heat confirmed a few days later that he will be suspended for the remainder of the 2010 season.

He joined the Chinese Basketball Association in 2011 to play for Zhejiang Guangsha.

Alston, on the other hand, had returned to America in February to attend the funeral of a friend.

The player was also injured at the time and refused to see a medical. As a result, his team released him and told him not to come back.

Following that, he joined the D-League, where he spent the 2012 season with the Los Angeles D-Fenders.

Rafer’s final season as a professional basketball player has come to an end.

Wife & Kids

Ashely Walker is Rafer Alston’s wife. Before tying marriage in 2012, the two dated for a while.

Walker previously worked as a teacher in the Fort Bend Independent School District.

She also works as a substitute teacher for her school district.

Ashely works there as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and supports a holistic approach to education and training.

The teacher is also a motivational speaker and a personal trainer in addition to being a health coach.

In addition, the NBA player’s wife runs a Christian health ministry called Joy. Peace. Be You! She is also the founder of Ashley Walker’s Mission of Love, a non-profit organization.

Aside from that, when she was engaged to Alston, Walker starred in Basketball Wives Miami. She is very involved in her community and enjoys doing volunteer work for charities.

In addition, the motivational speaker is very active on Instagram, where she sends out messages of hope, positivity, empowerment, and love to her followers.

She also enjoys using her social media platform to share glimpses of her life, children, and cooking abilities.

Ashley and Rafer together have three kids; two sons and a daughter. Their names are Jourdan Alston, Reese Alston, and Stella Rose Alston.

The athlete lives in a beautiful house in Queens, New York City with his kids and wife. Besides that, he also has a house in Missouri, Texas.

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Social Media Presence

The athlete is not active on various social media platforms.

However, he has an Instagram account with 36.5 thousand followers.

The former NBA player mostly shares basketball-related news, events, and highlights on his social media handle.

He can be seen with many basketball teams talking and guiding them.

Moreover, he runs a basketball program called Alston’s Elite Basketball program. The program is best known as RA Elite.

The basketballer often promotes the program on his Instagram account.

Besides that, the hands-on dad can be seen beaming with pride while posing alongside his children.

Likewise, he has beautiful photos of his parents and siblings.

Furthermore, Alston has posted a few workout videos and training sessions with his players.

Aside from that, the former Heats player does not have a Facebook or Twitter account.