Larry Hughes Career Overview
Larry Hughes was a professional basketball guard who played in the NBA from 1998 to 2012. He is best known for his defensive versatility, athleticism, and ability to score in transition. His career totals include 9,740 points, 3,303 rebounds, and 1,783 assists over 874 regular-season games. Hughes was selected 8th overall in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, and he later became a key rotation piece on several playoff-caliber teams. His per-game averages over his career were 11.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, with a career field goal percentage of 41.5% and a three-point percentage of 34.2%. He also recorded 1,082 steals and 1,127 turnovers in his NBA tenure. Hughes played for the 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Bobcats, and Sacramento Kings. His most prominent role came during the mid-2000s with the Wizards and Cavaliers, where he was often tasked with guarding opposing scorers and providing bench scoring. He was also a member of the 2005 United States national team that won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship, a qualifier for the 2006 FIBA World Championship. For more on his career timeline, see the NBA's official player page on Larry Hughes NBA Player Profile.
Hughes' career earnings in the NBA totaled roughly $75 million in guaranteed salary across his contracts. His largest annual salary came during the 2005-06 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, when he earned around $7.6 million. He signed a five-year, $33.5 million contract with the Wizards in 2005, which was one of the richest deals for a bench guard at the time. His contract history shows a steady progression from a rookie-scale deal to a multi-year maximum-level contract, reflecting his value as a defensive specialist and secondary scorer. After his NBA career, Hughes explored business ventures and remained involved in basketball through mentoring and local leagues. His financial trajectory is often cited in discussions about the career earnings of NBA role players from the 2000s era. Details on his contract figures are available on the official NBA salary database NBA Salaries.
Larry Hughes Career Statistics by Team
With the Philadelphia 76ers from 1998 to 2000, Hughes averaged 9.1 points per game over 138 games. He played 76 games in his rookie season, starting 14, and improved to 81 games the following year. His field goal percentage rose from 40.6% as a rookie to 43.1% in his second season. During this period he developed a reputation as a high-energy defender and a capable finisher in transition. His early development was guided by coaches Larry Brown and later by Chris Ford, and he was part of a young 76ers core that included Allen Iverson and Dikembe Mutombo. More on the 76ers' roster during that era can be found on the team's official history page Philadelphia 76ers History.
Hughes' best statistical seasons came with the Washington Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers between 2002 and 2006. With the Wizards in 2004-05, he averaged 14.9 points per game, 4.1