 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1985-02-25)February 25, 1985 (age 40) Colón, Panama |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Benjamin Banneker Academy (Brooklyn, New York) |
| College | |
| NBA draft | 2008:undrafted |
| Playing career | 2008–2020 |
| Position | Small forward |
| Career history | |
| 2008 | Sioux Falls Skyforce |
| 2008–2009 | Tulsa 66ers |
| 2009 | Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters |
| 2009 | Trotamundos de Carabobo |
| 2009–2010 | Vanoli Cremona |
| 2010 | Ironi Ramat Gan |
| 2010–2011 | Denver Nuggets |
| 2011–2012 | Toronto Raptors |
| 2012–2013 | Zhejiang Lions |
| 2013–2014 | Springfield Armor |
| 2015–2016 | Atenienses de Manatí |
| 2016 | Grand Rapids Drive |
| 2016–2017 | Long Island Nets |
| 2017 | Boca Juniors |
| 2017 | Cocodrilos de Caracas |
| 2017 | Faros Larissas |
| 2017–2018 | Universitarios |
| 2018 | Al-Ittihad Jeddah |
| 2020 | Saigon Heat |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Gary Orlando Forbes (born February 25, 1985) is a Panamanian former professionalbasketball player. He playedcollege basketball initially at theUniversity of Virginia, then transferred to theUniversity of Massachusetts, following his sophomore season.
Forbes and his mother moved toBrooklyn, New York when he was a child.[1] He went on to attend and play basketball atBenjamin Banneker Academy in Brooklyn. He scored 1,512 points and grabbed 766 rebounds during his high school career, and established career records for points, rebounds, and blocked shots. In local awards, he was selected theNewsday Player of the Year in Brooklyn as a senior, nominated for City Player of the Year, and earned first-team All-City and All-Tri-State honors. He was also aMcDonald's All-American finalist.[2]
As a junior, Forbes averaged 27 points, 11 rebounds and six assists a game. As a senior, he averaged 31 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, and three blocked shots a game. That year, he scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Benjamin Banneker's 75–69 loss to Lincoln High School in thePublic School Athletic League "A" Championship game atMadison Square Garden.[2]
Forbes was ranked as the #4 shooting guard, and the #20 overall prospect on ESPN's Top 100 for the incoming class of 2003.[3][4] He committed to play at theUniversity of Virginia, after also receiving scholarship offers fromGeorgia Tech andMississippi State.[5] CoachPete Gillen's group of newcomers was ranked #17 on the list of top recruiting classes onRivals.com.[6]
As a freshman in 2003–04, Forbes played in all of Virginia's 31 games, starting in 17. He averaged 7.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. He finished second on the team in blocked shots (28) and steals (30).[2] Tallied 22 points (season-high) and 9 rebounds againstMinnesota in theACC – Big Ten Challenge.[7] As a sophomore in 2004–05, Forbes played in 29 games, started 4, and averaged 9.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Scored 23 (season-high), on 8–11 shooting, in a loss at #4North Carolina.[8] After starting the game atDuke, Forbes tallied a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.[9]
Gillen resigned from Virginia after the end of the 2004–05 season, and Forbes decided to transfer out of the school. He transferred to theUniversity of Massachusetts, and due toNCAA transfer rules, he was forced to sit out the 2005–06 season.
In the 2006–07 season, his first with theMinutemen, Forbes started in 23 of the team's 33 games. Playing behind established seniorsRashaun Freeman andStéphane Lasme, Forbes still averaged 13.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. He scored a career-high 31 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a game atTemple.[10] Forbes scored 20 or more points on three other occasions and snared 16 rebounds in a game versusRichmond.[11] Helped the Minutemen win their firstAtlantic 10 title since the 1995–96 season. UMass also advanced to the second round of theNIT, their first post-season play since the 1999–2000 season.
Coming into his senior year in 2007–08, Forbes was named to the Preseason Atlantic 10 Third Team.[12] By the end of the regular season, he was averaging 20.3 points per game, tied for the league lead in scoring with Temple'sDionte Christmas.[13] Forbes scored 25 or more points on six occasions, including a 29-point high atNorthern Iowa. The A-10 honored him as the league'sPlayer of the Year and also placed him on the all-conference First Team.[13] Forbes helped UMass make a deep run in theNIT, advancing pastSyracuse, two-time defending NCAA championFlorida, and on to the final before falling toOhio State. He was named to the NIT's All-Tournament team.[2]
Forbes scored a total of 1,639 points over his college career (698 at Virginia, 1,128 at UMass).
After UMass, Forbes participated in theNBA Pre-Draft Camp inOrlando in the summer of 2008.[14] However, he was not selected in the2008 NBA draft. TheWashington Wizards invited him to participate in their summer mini-camp, and he played in all 5 games, but he only averaged 3.8 points and 0.6 rebounds per game.[15]
In August 2008, Forbes had signed with Italian clubBasket Napoli, but the team soon dissolved.[16]
Forbes was selected as the #4 overall pick in theNBA Development League's 2008 draft, by theSioux Falls Skyforce.[17] In the D-League's 2008–09 season, he played 22 games for Sioux Falls before being traded to theTulsa 66ers, where he played in 30 games.[18] Overall that season, Forbes averaged 17.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.[19] He also participated in the league's All-Star weekend, finishing third in the Three-Point Shootout.[20]
Forbes then played several short stints with international clubs.
In July 2010, Forbes returned to the US for another shot at the NBA. He was invited to play with theHouston Rockets on their summer league team inLas Vegas.[29] Forbes played in 4 of the team's 5 games, averaging 3.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.[30]
On September 18, 2010, theDenver Nuggets invited Forbes to a training camp.[31] Playing in 8 games, Forbes averaged 19.0 minutes, 10.1 points, and 2.9 rebounds per game. He survived pre-season cuts and made the season roster.[32][33]
On December 10, 2011, Forbes signed an offer sheet with theToronto Raptors.[34] On December 13, 2011, Forbes was officially signed by the Raptors.[35]
On July 11, 2012, Forbes was traded to theHouston Rockets along with a future first round pick forKyle Lowry.[36] He was waived by Houston on October 29, 2012.[37]
In December 2012, Forbes joined theZhejiang Lions club in theChinese Basketball Association. He replacedAl Thornton on the team.[38]
In September 2013, Forbes signed with theBrooklyn Nets.[39] However, he was waived on October 17.[40]
On November 1, 2013, Forbes was acquired by theSpringfield Armor.[41] On January 3, 2014, he was waived by the Armor due to a season-ending injury.
On December 21, 2015, Forbes signed withAtenienses de Manatí of the Puerto RicanBaloncesto Superior Nacional.[42] On March 28, 2016, he left Atenienses and was acquired by theGrand Rapids Drive.[43] That night he made his debut for the Drive in a 136–105 loss toRaptors 905, recording four points, two rebounds and one assist in one minute.[44]
On November 1, 2016, Forbes was acquired by theLong Island Nets of theNBA Development League.[45] On January 17, he was waived by the Nets after appearing in 20 games.[46]
On February 19, 2017, Forbes signed withBoca Juniors of theLiga Nacional de Básquet.[47]
On September 21, 2017, Forbes signed withFaros Larissas for the2017–18 Greek Basket League season.[48] On February 24, 2018, he joinedAl-Ittihad Jeddah of theSaudi Premier League.[49]
In the summer of 2007, Forbes played with thePanama men's national basketball team at the2007 FIBA Americas Championship, inLas Vegas. In four games with the team, he averaged 17.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. He scored a game high 29 points againstArgentina. He was also played with Panama at the2011 FIBA Americas Championship, and the2017 FIBA AmeriCup.[50]
In the summer of 2017, Forbes competed inThe Basketball Tournament onESPN for the Talladega Knights. Competing for the $2 million grand prize, Forbes scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the Knights' 78–74 first round loss to Paul's Champion's; a team led by formerNBA point guardEarl Boykins. Forbes also played for Talladega during the summer of 2016. In two games, he averaged 16.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists as the Knights fell to the City of Gods in the second round.
In TBT 2018, Forbes suited up for Gael Nation. In 2 games, he averaged 6.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1 assist per game. Gael Nation reached the second round before falling to Armored Athlete.[51]
Forbes hastype 1 diabetes, which has a history in his family. He was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 19, initially keeping the diagnosis secret out of fear that it would affect his career prospects.[52][53] He has five older siblings.[2]
| 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 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 | Denver | 63 | 11 | 12.6 | .454 | .328 | .678 | 1.8 | .8 | .4 | .1 | 5.2 |
| 2011–12 | Toronto | 48 | 2 | 14.9 | .413 | .349 | .725 | 2.1 | 1.1 | .5 | .1 | 6.6 |
| Career | 111 | 13 | 13.5 | .434 | .340 | .702 | 2.0 | .9 | .4 | .1 | 5.8 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Denver | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | .000 | – | – | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |