Gerald Henderson
A Duke standout and Charlotte native who became the Bobcats' primary offensive weapon before retiring after an Achilles tear.
Jerome McKinley "Gerald" Henderson Jr., born December 9, 1987, is an American former professional basketball player who competed in eight NBA seasons. A native of Pennsylvania, he attended Episcopal Academy before starring for the Duke Blue Devils. Drafted 12th overall by the Charlotte Bobcats in 2009, he became a core piece of the franchise as it transitioned from the Bobcats era to the Hornets rebranding. Known for his versatility and scoring ability, Henderson played until a hip injury derailed his final comeback attempt. He officially retired on April 30, 2019, after working out unsuccessfully in September 2018.
- Draft Pick
- 12th overall
- Draft Year
- 2009
- College
- Duke Blue Devils
- Career High Points
- 35
- Teams Played For
- Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, Philadelphia 76ers
- Retirement Date
- April 30, 2019
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Henderson's professional journey began when he forgo his senior year at Duke to enter the 2009 NBA draft. Selected by the Charlotte Bobcats, he signed a multi-year deal on July 8, 2009. His breakout came during the 2011–12 season; despite the team finishing with the worst record in NBA history, Henderson emerged as an effective scorer and the main offensive weapon. He set career highs that year in minutes per game (33.3), field goal percentage (45.9%), rebounds (4.1), assists (2.3), and points (15.1). His scoring prowess peaked on March 12, 2013, when he dropped a career-high 35 points against the Boston Celtics, only to match that total seventeen days later against the New York Knicks. On June 28, 2013, Charlotte extended a qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent, and re-signed him on July 30. After exercising his player option for the 2015–16 season, he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers on June 24, 2015.
In Their Own Story
The narrative of Henderson's career shifted significantly in December 2015 while playing for the Portland Trail Blazers. After arriving in a trade that sent Nicolas Batum to Charlotte, Henderson contributed to a 105–101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on December 15. He scored 19 points in that contest, hitting a career-high-tying four three-point shots. However, his time in Portland was brief. On July 9, 2016, he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers before being waived exactly one year later on June 30, 2017. His final attempt to return to the game ended in tragedy during the 2018 off-season. After undergoing a third surgical procedure on his hip to recover from earlier issues, Henderson worked out for teams in September 2018 but tore his Achilles tendon during a pickup game in Golden State. Unable to continue, he joined the Charlotte Hornets' broadcast team at Fox Sports Southeast for the second half of the 2018–19 season before retiring.
Reader's Guide
Gerald Henderson's path from high school to retirement was marked by specific athletic achievements and medical setbacks. In high school at Episcopal Academy in Merion, Pennsylvania, he teamed up with future UNC player Wayne Ellington. Beyond basketball, he lettered as a scratch golfer, earning all-conference honors as a freshman, and won the league championship twice each in the high jump and triple jump in track and field. College success followed at Duke, where he moved into the starting lineup as a sophomore (12.7 ppg) and led the team in scoring as a junior with 16.5 points per game. That junior year earned him a First-Team All-ACC award and an ACC tournament championship. Professionally, his trajectory was defined by the 2013 trade saga where he re-signed with Charlotte after being made a restricted free agent. His career concluded not on the court, but due to injury; after missing the entire 2017–18 season for hip surgery, the Achilles tear in September 2018 forced his official retirement in April 2019.
Did You Know?
- Henderson was a two-time league champion in both the high jump and triple jump during his high school track career.
- He scored 35 points against the Boston Celtics on March 12, 2013, and matched that exact total seventeen days later against the New York Knicks.
- During the 2018 off-season, he tore his Achilles tendon while working out for teams during a pickup game in Golden State.
- After retiring from playing, he joined the Charlotte Hornets' broadcast team at Fox Sports Southeast for the second half of the 2018–19 season.
- He lettered as a scratch golfer and earned all-conference honors in golf during his freshman year at Episcopal Academy.