Have game, will travel

FAYETTEVILLE -- No NBA team has offered Jannero Pargo a contract for next season, but the former Arkansas guard isn't stressing out.

"I've been a free agent almost every year," Pargo said. "It's familiar territory."

Pargo, who recently returned to Northwest Arkansas to play in Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson's charity golf tournament, began his NBA career as an undrafted free agent when the Los Angeles Lakers signed him as a rookie for the 2002-2003 season.

Thirteen years later, Pargo has played 499 regular-season games for seven different franchises and never with the same team longer than two years in a row while earning more than $10 million. He has scored 3,175 points and played 7,449 minutes.

"I think it's a fascinating story," said Anderson, an Arkansas assistant coach when Pargo played for the Razorbacks. "He went from a guy who wasn't drafted to being in the league now for more than 10 years.

"He's played for quite a few teams, which tells me he's the ultimate professional. He's not one of the key starters, but is one of those guys great to have in the locker room."

Since playing two seasons for the Lakers, Pargo has played for the Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Hornets (now the Pelicans), been back with the Bulls, then played for the Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets (formerly the Bobcats).

While Pargo was with the New Orleans Hornets, the team also called Oklahoma City home for a time because of Hurricane Katrina. He became the first player to be a member of the Hornets in both New Orleans and Charlotte, which eventually got a new team when the first Hornets moved to New Orleans.

Pargo spent the 2008-2009 season playing in Russia and Greece before returning to the NBA.

"There are different personalities you've got to mesh with," he said. "You have to try to fit in. That's the most difficult part, but after 12 or 13 years that's something I've mastered that has kept me around for awhile."

A strong work ethic, Pargo said, also has helped him carve out a long NBA career.

"Nothing is going to be given to you in this world, so whatever you want, you're going to have to work really hard and take it," he said. "That's something I think I've done, and I'm going to continue to do."

Pargo, 35, played for Charlotte last season until being waived Feb. 4. He hasn't been with an NBA team since then but he said he isn't retired.

"I'm still in good shape and I can still shoot, so I'm looking forward to playing another year," Pargo said. "The process is just waiting and letting my agent do the work. That's what he gets paid for.

"Once he gives me a call and says it's a go, then I'll be ready."

Pargo, 6-1, 175 pounds, has career NBA averages of 6.4 points, 2.0 assists, 1.4 rebounds and 14.9 minutes while playing 11 seasons. He sat out the 2010-11 season recovering from a knee injury.

In 41 playoff games, Pargo has averaged 5.7 points in 13.3 minutes.

"A lot of ups and downs, but mostly ups," he said. "I've been blessed to have the playing career that I've had."

Pargo said the NBA team he enjoyed playing for the most was New Orleans, where he averaged 9.2 points in 82 games during the 2006-07 season and 8.1 points in 80 games in 2007-08.

"New Orleans is where I played the most," Pargo said. "It was a great group of guys, too."

Pargo helped New Orleans reach the 2008 Western Conference semifinals before being eliminated by San Antonio. In 12 playoff games, he averaged 10.2 points and scored 30 points in a game against Dallas.

Lakers assistant coach Paul Pressey was a Hornets assistant when Pargo played for New Orleans.

"Jannero did a lot of good things for us, and for a guy his size he's done wonders in the NBA," Pressey said. "The key for him playing as long as he has is that he's been a really good backup.

"You can play a long time in the NBA that way. He gets it. He's a true pro in that he doesn't have an ego. He knows what his role is, and he's played that role well."

Pargo has hit 400 of 1,124 three-point attempts (35.6 percent) in regular-season games and 40 of 109 (36.7 percent) in the playoffs.

"He can make shots, and everybody needs a guy like that, especially coming off the bench," Pressey said. "I think he can still play because shooting is always at a premium in the NBA."

Pargo, a Chicago native, played two seasons for Arkansas after transferring from Neosho (Mo.) Junior College. He averaged 12.3 points for the Razorbacks as a junior and 16.6 as a senior.

In 60 games at Arkansas, Pargo shot 42.5 percent (168 of 395) on three-point attempts, which ranks second on the Razorbacks' career list behind Scotty Thuman's 43.2 percent for players with a minimum of 300 attempts.

"Looking back on it now like a coach, I took some crazy shots," Pargo said with a laugh. "But luckily I was able to make a lot of them."

When Arkansas beat No. 5 Florida 94-92 on Jan. 26, 2002 in Walton Arena, Pargo hit 7 of 8 three-pointers and scored 35 points. He also scored 35 points as a senior against Mississippi State and 33 against Alabama.

"Back then all I saw was the rim and shooting the ball," Pargo said. "Now I'm more of a play-maker.

"I'm less quick than I used to be, but I can honestly say I'm a better player now than I was when I had my best years in New Orleans just because I think the game a lot more."

Sports on 06/20/2015