Quick Facts
PiscesBiography
Trenton Lavar Hassell (born March 4, 1979) is an American former professional basketball forward. He earned a reputation for being one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders. A 6'5", 210 lbs guard-forward, Hassell was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the first pick in the second round (29th overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft.
Early life and college career
Hassell graduated from Clarksville High School in Clarksville, Tennessee in 1997 and from Austin Peay State University in 2001 with a degree in health and human performance. Among his high school teammates was future NBA player Shawn Marion. He played three seasons of college basketball with the Austin Peay Governors after redshirting his first year. In January 2002, Austin Peay retired his college jersey number 44.
Professional playing career
During his rookie season with Bulls in 2001–02, he appeared in 78 games, making 47 starts and averaging 8.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 2.2 apg. In Hassell's sophomore season in Chicago, he appeared in all 82 games, making 53 starts and averaging 4.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 1.8 apg in 24.4 mpg.
Hassell was waived by the Bulls on October 23, 2003 and signed by the Minnesota Timberwolves six days later. He was a regular starter with the Wolves and often took the role of defensive specialist of the team. He was traded to the Mavericks for Greg Buckner (who was from Hopkinsville, Kentucky just nearby where Trenton is from Clarksville, Tennessee) September 28, 2007.
On February 19, 2008, he was traded to the New Jersey Nets along with signed and traded Keith Van Horn, Devin Harris, DeSagana Diop, Maurice Ager, $3 million cash and 2008 and 2010 first round draft picks in exchange for Jason Kidd, Malik Allen and Antoine Wright.
Hassell joined the Clarksville Cavaliers of the ABA in 2011. The team folded after playing one game.
NBA career statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | Chicago | 78 | 47 | 28.7 | .425 | .364 | .763 | 3.3 | 2.2 | .7 | .6 | 8.7 |
| 2002–03 | Chicago | 82 | 53 | 24.4 | .367 | .325 | .745 | 3.1 | 1.8 | .6 | .7 | 4.2 |
| 2003–04 | Minnesota | 81 | 74 | 28.0 | .465 | .308 | .787 | 3.2 | 1.6 | .4 | .7 | 5.0 |
| 2004–05 | Minnesota | 82 | 51 | 25.2 | .474 | .091 | .789 | 2.7 | 1.6 | .4 | .4 | 6.6 |
| 2005–06 | Minnesota | 77 | 67 | 32.6 | .464 | .304 | .744 | 2.8 | 2.6 | .6 | .4 | 9.2 |
| 2006–07 | Minnesota | 76 | 68 | 29.3 | .490 | .240 | .783 | 3.2 | 2.7 | .3 | .3 | 6.7 |
| 2007–08 | Dallas | 37 | 6 | 12.5 | .463 | .250 | .500 | 1.2 | .7 | .2 | .0 | 2.1 |
| 2007–08 | New Jersey | 26 | 0 | 11.9 | .364 | .200 | .750 | 1.5 | .6 | .2 | .1 | 1.8 |
| 2008–09 | New Jersey | 53 | 31 | 20.6 | .450 | .250 | .800 | 2.8 | 1.0 | .4 | .3 | 3.7 |
| 2009–10 | New Jersey | 52 | 31 | 21.3 | .411 | .000 | .754 | 2.9 | 1.0 | .3 | .2 | 4.5 |
| Career | 644 | 428 | 25.3 | .445 | .318 | .765 | 2.8 | 1.8 | .4 | .4 | 5.8 |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Minnesota | 18 | 18 | 26.2 | .521 | .500 | .813 | 2.4 | 1.5 | .6 | .4 | 7.7 |
| Career | 18 | 18 | 26.2 | .521 | .500 | .813 | 2.4 | 1.5 | .6 | .4 | 7.7 |
Personal life
Hassell lives in Clarksville, Tennessee with his wife Tiffany and their children. The two met while in school at Austin Peay State University. He also coaches Clarksville SOL, an AAU team out of Clarksville,TN.