A Biblical player, The Chosen One, The Second Coming, The Reserection, The Salvation. Jesus Shuttlesworth from the Coney Island Section of Brooklyn New York. The number 1 basketball player in the nation in the 1998 high school class.
Featured in the 1998 film He Got Game, Jesus Shuttlesworth was once the most coveted high school basketball prospect in the nation, a player whose combination of skill, athleticism, and poise on the court made him both revered and feared by opponents.
Raised in the Coney Island section of New York, Shuttlesworth’s early basketball journey mirrored the path of previous NYC legends like Stephon Marbury. Countless hours were spent honing his craft on a court just outside his apartment building known as The Garden, where Jesus, alongside his friends and future teammates, worked tirelessly to perfect his game.
In the summer of 1997, the legend of Shuttlesworth grew even larger. Leading his AAU team, the New York Gauchos, to a perfect undefeated summer, he made waves in the basketball community. That summer culminated in his performance at the prestigious ABCD Camp, where he set camp records for points, assists, and three-pointers made. He solidified himself as the best player in his class, raising the question: Could he skip college and go straight to the NBA?
Shuttlesworth played for one of the greatest high school basketball teams ever at Lincoln High School in Brooklyn. The team was stacked with future NBA talent, including point guard Travis Best, center John Wallace, and power forward Walter McCarty—all of whom would go on to play in the NBA. This team, led by Shuttlesworth, became a powerhouse, dominating the New York City high school basketball scene and making their mark in the national spotlight.
He was the #1 overall recruit in the 1998 high school class, and throughout his senior year, he continued to showcase his dominance. His statistics were jaw-dropping:
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30.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 2.9 blocks per game.
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First-Team All-City, All-Metro, and All-State honors.
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Gatorade National Player of the Year.
Shuttlesworth’s rising fame was reflected in his appearances on the covers of both Slam Magazine and Sports Illustrated, making him a household name even before stepping onto a college court.
Big State University
Every college in the country wanted him, but Jesus Shuttlesworth ultimately chose to attend Big State, where he quickly became the centerpiece of their program. Before arriving at Big State, he led the Lincoln Railsplitters to a New York School League title, putting his name on the map as one of the top high school talents in the country.
He stayed for three years at Big State, excelling as both a shooter and an all-around scorer. His impact was immediate, leading the Huskies to multiple Big East regular season titles and consistently securing spots in the NCAA Tournament.
Shuttlesworth’s college career was marked by his incredible three-point shooting, strong scoring performances, and his ability to contribute across the board. His dynamic playstyle and leadership made him a fan favorite, and by the end of his time at Big State, his jersey was retired in honor of his contributions to the program.
College Stats:
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Freshman: 12.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.4 APG, 40% 3PT
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Sophomore: 21.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 45% 3PT
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Junior: 23.4 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.3 APG, 46% 3PT
Shuttlesworth’s success on the court set the stage for an incredible professional career, but it was at Big State where he truly established himself as one of the best to ever come from the college ranks.
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft was held in New York City, and Jesus Shuttlesworth was selected 2nd overall, ahead of future Hall-of-Famers like Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash. Coming off a dominant college season at Big State, there was no question he was NBA-ready.
The 1996 draft class would go down as one of the greatest in league history. Nine players from that night would eventually be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, including Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and Steve Nash.
Milwuakee Bucks 1997-2004
Jesus Shuttlesworth got his NBA start with the Milwaukee Bucks, playing seven seasons from 1997 to 2004. He came into the league ready to contribute, averaging over 13 points per game as a rookie. By his second year, he was putting up just under 20 points a night.
He was known for his work ethic early—spending offseasons refining his jumper and footwork. That dedication paid off. In the 1999–2000 season, Shuttlesworth averaged 22.1 points per game while shooting 43.3% from three. He became one of the league’s most reliable shooters and efficient scorers.
He was selected as an NBA All-Star three times during his Bucks tenure. At the 2001 NBA All-Star Weekend, Shuttlesworth won the Three-Point Contest, putting up a contest-high 20 points in the first round and sealing the win with 19 points in the final.
Statistically, he left a major mark on the Bucks franchise:
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19.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.4 APG over 494 games
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Shot 40.6% from three
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Still holds the Bucks’ all-time record for three-pointers made (1,051)
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Ranks 3rd in three-point percentage, 9th in total points, and 10th in games played
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Played in a Bucks franchise-record 400 consecutive games from 1996 to 2001
But his legacy wasn’t just in stats. As a Coney Island product, Shuttlesworth helped pave the way for future Lincoln High legends. After his legendary 1998 season, Lincoln produced a pipeline of NYC stars—Sebastian Telfair (Class of 2003), Lance Stephenson (Class of 2009), and Isaiah Whitehead (Class of 2015)—all inspired by the standard he set.
In Milwaukee, Jesus Shuttlesworth became a star. In Coney Island, he became a myth.
Team USA 2000 Olympics
Jesus Shuttlesworth also suited up for Team USA at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Playing alongside names like Kevin Garnett, Vince Carter, and Jason Kidd, he embraced his role as a floor-spacer and shooter on a stacked roster.
He averaged 9.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, shooting a blistering 52% from the international three-point line. His efficiency and poise helped Team USA go undefeated, winning the gold medal without ever being seriously threatened.
The 2000 squad is often considered the last truly dominant USA men’s team before international basketball caught up.
Seattle Super Sonics 2004-2008
Jesus Shuttlesworth played four seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics, where he reached the peak of his offensive game. In his final year with the team, he averaged 26.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. He shot 90.3% from the free throw line and hit 37.6% of his threes, often as the only reliable scorer on the floor.
In 2005, he led the Sonics to a 52–30 record and their first playoff series win since 1998. That year, he averaged 25.1 points in the postseason, including 32 points in a must-win Game 4 against the Spurs. He finished third in the league in total points that season and was named to the All-NBA Second Team.
Shuttlesworth also broke the single-season record for three-pointers made in 2005, hitting 269 threes before Steph Curry made it fashionable.
His time in Seattle is also remembered for his battles with Kobe Bryant. Over 28 matchups, the numbers were close:
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Shuttlesworth: 20.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.5 steals, 43.4% FG, 91.4% FT
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Kobe: 23.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.3 steals, 42.8% FG, 82.3% FT
Their duels didn’t always come with national headlines, but those who watched knew they were watching two of the best compete.
Shuttlesworth’s scoring, consistency, and leadership in Seattle helped preserve the franchise’s respectability before his trade to Boston in 2007.
Boston Celtics 2008-2011
In the summer of 2007, Jesus Shuttlesworth was traded to the Boston Celtics, a franchise desperate to return to glory. Days later, Kevin Garnett joined the squad, forming a new power trio with longtime Celtic Paul Pierce. The Big Three was born—and Shuttlesworth was its sharpest edge.
In his very first season, the Celtics stormed to a league-best 66–16 record. Shuttlesworth was lethal from deep, spacing the floor and punishing defenses that collapsed on Garnett and Pierce. In the 2008 NBA Finals, Boston faced off against their old rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers. Jesus came alive in the series, dropping 26 points in the Game 6 clincher, hitting 7 threes, and helping deliver the Celtics their first title since 1986.
He had his ring. But the work wasn't done.
Boston made another Finals run in 2010, again squaring off with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. Shuttlesworth averaged 14.3 points per game in the series, including a historic 8-for-11 from three performance in Game 2. Though the Celtics fell in Game 7, Shuttlesworth’s head-to-head duel with Bryant cemented his place among the elite.
But the end came with tension. As Boston aged, so did its chemistry. Shuttlesworth, now navigating a reduced role and icy locker room politics, made the decision to leave in 2012. His move to rival Miami stunned the city and fractured friendships.
Miami Heat 2012-2016
In the twilight of his storied career, Jesus Shuttlesworth took his talents to South Beach, joining a loaded Miami Heat squad chasing history. Many thought his best days were behind him. They were wrong.
Even as the oldest player on the roster, Shuttlesworth stayed in pristine shape—his jumper still pure, his footwork still surgical. Over four seasons with Miami, he averaged 10.3 points per game off the bench, shooting 39.8% from deep, often spacing the floor for the team's superstar trio.
But his numbers were never the story.
2013 NBA Finals - Game 6
Down 3-2 in the series. Seconds left. The Spurs were already roping off the court. Then came the shot. Chris Bosh snatched the rebound, kicked it out to the right corner, and there he was—Shuttlesworth, backpedaling into history. He rose up and buried a three to tie the game, sending it to overtime and saving the Heat’s season. Miami would go on to win Game 7, and Jesus would earn his second championship ring.
The shot was cold-blooded, off-balance, from the corner, was more than clutch. It was eternal.
When it was all said and done, Jesus Shuttlesworth retired a 10-time NBA All-Star, 2-time NBA Champion, and the NBA's all-time leader in three-pointers made with 2,973.
A player whose discipline, professionalism, and late-game heroics turned him into a legend. And for New York City, he was the chosen one.
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