The Utah Jazz hired Dooling as a player development coach in 2020, but placed him on administrative leave in 2022. In February 2023, Dooling was sentenced to prison for his role in a plot to defraud the NBA's health and welfare benefit plan.
Early life and prep career
Dooling was born to Leroy and Brenda Dooling[1] on May 8, 1980, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.[2]
Dooling averaged 22 points, six assists, six rebounds, and five steals per game during his senior year at Ft. Lauderdale's Dillard High School. He was also named a third-team Parade All-American. In the summer of 1997, Dooling was selected to the USA Basketball Men's Junior World Championship Qualifying Team. He started in all six games he played in the Dominican Republic. Dooling helped his team to the gold medal, averaging 7.8 points per game and adding 14 assists and eight steals.[3]
Collegiate career
Dooling played college basketball for the University of Missouri. He was selected as the Big 12 Conference Preseason Freshman of the Year.[3] In 59 games over two seasons in Columbia, MO, Dooling averaged 12.1 points and 2.4 assists per game.[4] The Tigers advanced to the NCAA tournament following both of Dooling's seasons with the team.[5]
Dooling signed with the Miami Heat for the 2004–05 season.[8] During the 2005 offseason, he returned to the Magic.[9] In a January 11, 2006, game against the Seattle SuperSonics, Dooling and eventual teammate Ray Allen were involved in a scuffle that resulted in Dooling being suspended for five games and Allen for three.[10]
In July 2008, Dooling was re-signed by the Magic and traded to the New Jersey Nets.[11]
On July 19, 2010, Dooling signed with the Milwaukee Bucks.[12]
On December 9, 2011, Dooling and a 2012 second-round pick were traded to Boston Celtics in exchange for the draft rights to Albert Miralles.[13]
On July 31, 2012, Dooling re-signed with the Celtics.[14]
On September 20, 2012, Dooling was waived by the Celtics.[15][16] He then became a player development coordinator for the Celtics.[17] On April 3, 2013, Dooling came out of retirement and signed with the Memphis Grizzlies.[18] The Grizzlies assigned him to the Reno Bighorns of the NBA D-League.[19] He was recalled the next day.[20]
As a member of the Grizzlies, Dooling played his final NBA game on May 27, 2013, in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.[21]
Dooling served as first vice president of the National Basketball Players Association.[22]
Dooling played in 728 regular-season games in his NBA career, averaging 7.0 points and 2.2 assists per game.[23]
Coaching career
Utah Jazz (2020–present)
On September 25, 2020, the Utah Jazz announced that they had hired Dooling as player development coach.[24] The Jazz placed Dooling on administrative leave in April 2022 after he was arrested and charged with fraud.[22]
Criminal proceedings
On April 27, 2022, Dooling was arrested on fraud charges stemming from his role in a scheme to defraud the NBA's health and welfare benefit plan.[22] On February 18, 2023, Dooling was sentenced to 30 months in prison.[25]
Personal life
Dooling and his wife, Natosha Dooling, have four children.[26]
In 2012, Dooling suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and was institutionalized for a period of time. Later that year, Dooling publicly disclosed that he is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.[27] On May 1, 2018, Dooling published an essay about his experiences with childhood abuse and with mental health difficulties; the essay, entitled "Running from a Ghost", was published at ThePlayersTribune.com.[28][29]
