Hall-of-Famer And Millionaire Adrian Dantley Now Works As Middle School Crossing Guard In Maryland

Jul 19, 2020

3 Min Read

No one expects you to work a single day of your life after having a 17-year career in the NBA, especially if you’re a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest scorers to have ever live. But hey, Adrian Dantley has never been an ordinary man.

Dantley was one of the most prolific scorers in the league from the late ’70s until his retirement in 1991. He averaged 24.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per game on 54% from the floor.

He led the league in scoring twice, won the Rookie of the Year award, was a part of the All-Rookie team, made it to 2 All-NBA teams, and was a 6-time All-Star. Moreover, he amassed around $4,065,000 throughout his career, so he was pretty much set for the rest of his life.

Also, Dantley spent a lot of time as a part of the Denver Nuggets’ coaching staff, so he clearly made even more money from his NBA career from that. So, why on earth is he now working as a high school crossing guard in his hometown Maryland?

Well, Dantley was infamously cheap throughout his NBA career. He saved most of his money and wasn’t like those good-old big spenders who enjoyed living a great life when they were still at their peak. But, more than that, more than the money, he does it because he’s a simple man.

Dantley can often be seen refereeing high school games. He claims that’s one of his ways of giving back. Also, he says that high school crossing guard job gives him medical insurance and benefits, something he – inexplicably – doesn’t have from the NBA.

The former Jazz great makes roughly over $14,000 a year with his new job but it allows him to stay active while also getting the medical healthcare the NBA or NBPA should provide its former players, let alone the great ones. Yes, NBA players are millionaires and can pay for top-notch insurance policies but that’s just not the point.

Even so, it’s just great to see a simple man who didn’t let fame and wealth get the best of him. He’s just another member of the community trying to give back.