Courtney Fortson (born May 23, 1988) is an American professional basketball player for Changsha Wantian Yongsheng of the National Basketball League. He played college basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Courtney Fortson
Fortson with Avtodor Saratov in 2013
No. 4 – Changsha Wantian Yongsheng
PositionPoint guard
LeagueNational Basketball League
Personal information
Born (1988-05-23) May 23, 1988 (age 36)
Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Listed weight188 lb (85 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeArkansas (2008–2010)
NBA draft2010: undrafted
Playing career2010–present
Career history
2010–2011Steaua Turabo Bucuresti
2011Reno Bighorns
2011–2012Los Angeles D-Fenders
2012Los Angeles Clippers
2012Houston Rockets
2012Rio Grande Valley Vipers
2012–2013Los Angeles D-Fenders
2013Trotamundos
2013Caneros de La Romana
2013–2014Avtodor Saratov
2014Trotamundos
2014–2015Avtodor Saratov
2015–2016Banvit
2016–2019Zhejiang Lions
2019–2020Sichuan Blue Whales
2021Bnei Herzliya
2022Spójnia Stargard
2023Shahrdari Gorgan
2023Kauhajoki Karhu
2024Denain Voltaire
2024–presentChangsha Wantian Yongsheng
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

High school

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Fortson attended Jefferson Davis High School in Montgomery, Alabama, where he was named Mr. Basketball by the Alabama Sports Writers Association in 2007.[1]

College career

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He played his college basketball at the University of Arkansas as a guard,[2][3] and recorded the school's second-ever triple double (20 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds) in a December 2008 win over North Carolina Central University.[4]

Professional career

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After going undrafted in the 2010 NBA draft, Fortson signed with Steaua Turabo Bucuresti of Romania but later left in January 2011. In March 2011, he joined the Reno Bighorns of the NBA D-League.

In November 2011, Fortson was acquired by the Los Angeles D-Fenders. But on December 8, 2011, he was signed by the Los Angeles Clippers. However, he was later waived before the start of the 2011–12 season and re-joined the D-Fenders. Not long after being waived by the Clippers, he was called up on January 16, 2012 on a ten-day contract.[5] However, he was waived by the team on January 27, 2012, after playing four games.[6][7] Fortson signed a ten-day contract with the Houston Rockets later that season, and was eventually signed by the Rockets for the remainder of the season.[8][9][10] In September 2012, he was waived by the Rockets.[11] Fortson, again, signed with the Los Angeles Clippers for training camp on September 29, 2012, but on October 7, 2012, he and Chris Johnson were waived by the Clippers.[12] Later that month, he joined the Los Angeles D-Fenders. On February 4, 2013, Fortson was named to the Futures All-Star roster for the 2013 NBA D-League All-Star Game.[13]

In September 2013, he signed with Avtodor Saratov of Russia for the 2013–14 season.[14] On June 3, 2014, he signed with Trotamundos de Carabobo for the rest of the 2014 LPB season.[15] On July 5, 2014, he returned to Avtodor Saratov, signing for one more season.[16] On February 18, 2015, Fortson scored a triple double in a EuroChallenge-game against Güssing Knights; he recorded 30 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists and was named Weekly MVP.[17]

On July 11, 2015, Fortson signed with the Turkish club Banvit.[18] On March 9, 2016, he parted ways with Banvit after averaging 16.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game in BSL.[19]

In July 2016, Forston signed with Chinese club Zhejiang Lions for the 2016–17 CBA season.[20]

On January 4, 2017, Fortson recorded a triple-double after posting 22 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high 20 assists in a 117–130 loss to the Shandong Golden Stars.[21]

Fortson was named the CBA MVP for the 2017–18 season, after he averaged 31.1 points, 12 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game while leading Zhejiang to the first seed in the CBA.[22]

On July 26, 2021, Fortson signed with Bnei Herzliya of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.[23]

On October 26, 2022, he signed with Spójnia Stargard of the Polish Basketball League (PLK).[24]

On October 5, 2023, he signed with Kauhajoki Karhu of the Korisliiga.[25] On December 26, 2023, he left Kauhajoki Karhu.[26]

On February 21, 2024, he joined Denain Voltaire Basket of the LNB Pro B.[27] On May 23, 2024, he joined Changsha Wantian Yongsheng of the National Basketball League.[28]

Career Statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played  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     Led the league
Year Team League GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2010–11 CSA Steaua Bucuresti Liga Nationala 5 23.0 .378 .333 .875 3.6 3.2 .6 .0 9.2
2011–12 LA Clippers/Houston Rockets NBA 10 9.5 .344 .231 .667 1.5 1.0 .3 .0 3.5
2011–12 LA D-Fenders/Rio Grande NBA D-League 31 34.6 .471 .396 .796 4.5 6.2 2.1 .1 17.2
2012–13 Los Angeles D-Fenders NBA D-League 46 38.4 .398 .355 .766 5.0 7.1 2.0 .1 17.8
2014–15 BC Avtodor Saratov FIBA Europe Cup 13 38.2 .444 .460 .735 6.0 9.8 1.9 .2 17.2
2015–16 Bandırma B.İ.K. Turkish League 20 34.6 .394 .384 .852 4.4 6.5 1.2 .1 16.3
2016–17 Zhejiang Lions CBA 42 40.1 .421 .335 .844 7.4 8.5 2.6 .1 29.0
2017–18 Zhejiang Lions CBA 50 40.2 .458 .331 .817 7.6 11.0 2.6 .2 30.7
2018–19 Zhejiang Lions CBA 48 40.2 .411 .286 .711 7.5 11.0 2.4 .2 23.9
2019–20 Sichuan Blue Whales CBA 30 35.8 .454 .330 .770 6.3 7.3 1.5 .0 27.4
Career All Leagues 295 37.1 .430 .336 .786 6.1 8.3 2.1 .1 22.7

References

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  1. ^ Wesley Lyle (March 23, 2007). "Vols' star captures top award - Fortson becomes JD's third "Mr. Basketball"". Montgomery Advertiser. pp. 1C, 5C. Retrieved April 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Tim Gayle (February 13, 2010). "Rivalry holds court". The Montgomery Advertiser. pp. 1C, 3C. Retrieved April 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Ron Higgins (February 9, 2010). "Hogs rebound with Fortson". The Commercial Appeal. p. D2. Retrieved April 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ "Fortson nets triple-double as Arkansas races past N.C. Central". USA Today. December 11, 2008. Retrieved on January 24, 2012.
  5. ^ "Former Bighorn Fortson signs with Clippers". Reno Gazette Journal. January 16, 2012. Retrieved on January 24, 2012.
  6. ^ "Clippers waive guard Courtney Fortson". Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  7. ^ "Clippers waive Courtney Fortson". ESPN. January 27, 2012. Retrieved on January 28, 2012.
  8. ^ "Rockets sign Courtney Fortson to 10-day contract". Archived from the original on April 3, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  9. ^ Cortez Strickland (April 25, 2012). "Montgomery native Fortson fought hard for shot in NBA". Montgomery Advertiser. p. 1D. Retrieved April 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  10. ^ Rockets summary: Forston signed for rest of season
  11. ^ Rockets Add Fogg and McCamey
  12. ^ "Clippers waive Courtney Fortson and Chris Johnson". Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  13. ^ 2013 NBA Development League All-Star Game Rosters Announced Archived October 22, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "Avtodor Saratov sign Courtney Fortson and Gleb Plotnikov". Sportando.com. September 4, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  15. ^ "Trotamundos de Carabobo announce Courtney Fortson". Sportando.com. June 3, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  16. ^ "Courtney Fortson and Anton Glazunov sign with Avtodor". Sportando.com. July 5, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  17. ^ Fortson Is Last 16 Week 5 Top Performer
  18. ^ "Courtney Fortson officially signs with Banvit". Sportando.com. July 11, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  19. ^ "Courtney Fortson, Banvit part ways". Sportando.com. March 9, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  20. ^ "CBA Team Zhejiang Guangsha Lions Signs Former NBA Player Courtney Fortson". chinatopix.com. July 24, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  21. ^ "Shandong Golden Stars 130 – Guangsha Lions 117". EuroBasket. January 4, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  22. ^ "Courtney Fortson named CBA MVP of the season". Sportando.basketball. February 28, 2018.[permanent dead link]
  23. ^ Skerletic, Dario (July 26, 2021). "Courtney Fortson joins Bnei Herzliya". Sportando. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  24. ^ "Rozgrywający Courtney Fortson dołączył do składu stargardzkiego klubu". spojniastargard.com (in Polish). October 26, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  25. ^ "Karhubasket on tehnyt sopimuksen takamies Courtney Fortsonin kanssa". Karhu Basket. October 5, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  26. ^ "Karhubasket ja Courtney Fortson ovat purkaneet pelaajasopimuksen". Karhu Basket. December 26, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  27. ^ "DENAIN VOLTAIRE TIENT SON MENEUR". Denain Voltaire Basketball. February 23, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  28. ^ 赵紫名 (May 23, 2024). "勇胜"小外援"驾到,前CBA助攻王福特森加盟". 长沙晚报掌上长沙. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
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