Jeffery Douglas Foster, commonly known as Jeff Foster, is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Indiana Pacers in the National Basketball Association for 13 years.
Jeff, as a Texas-born, attended James Madison High School and was a member of the varsity basketball team.
After a successful collegiate career with the Southwest Texas State Bobcats, he debuted with the Indiana Pacers in the NBA. However, he was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Draft.
Though he did not gain fame and recognition on par with his other contemporary players, his skills and stunts greatly benefited his teams.
Peers and fans of the Pacers agree that Jeff embodies hustle, grit, and a strong work ethic.
Since his retirement in 2013, the former NBA player has been spending a quiet life in Texas with his family.
In this read, we will go through the life story of this former NBA player. Before getting into the details, please enjoy these interesting quick facts:
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Jeffery Douglas Foster |
| Common Name | Jeff Foster |
| Nickname | Jeff |
| Birthdate | January 16, 1977 |
| Age | 47 Years Old |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Mother’s Name | N/A |
| Father’s Name | N/A |
| Siblings | One sister |
| Birthplace | San Antonio, Texas, United States |
| Home Town | San Antonio, Texas, United States |
| Citizenship | United States of America |
| Residence | Austin, Texas |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Ethnicity | White |
| School | James Madison (San Antonio, Texas) |
| College | Southwest Texas State (1995–1999) |
| Education | Diploma in Finance |
| Height | 6’11″/2.11 m/211 cm |
| Weight | 113 kg/250 lb. |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Shoe Size | 16 US Size basketball shoes |
| Martial Status | Married |
| Partner | Jamie Foster (married in 2011) |
| Children | 2 Twin kids (Carter and Elle) |
| Profession | Former Professional Basketball Player |
| Drafted in | 1999, Round 1, 21st pick |
| Team | Indian Pacers (1999-2013) |
| Position | Forward Center (Shoots: Right) |
| Jersey | 10 |
| Idol Player | David Robinson |
| Status | Retired |
| Current Profession | Businessman |
| Affiliated with | Indiana Pacers |
| Favorite Book | The Perfect Storm |
| Favorite Sports | Basketball, Golf |
| Hobbies | Golf, Movie, Video Games |
| Social Media | Not Active |
| Net Worth | $22 million |
| Total Earnings | $50,070,075 |
| Merch | Trading Cards |
| Last-Update | April 2024 |
Childhood, Parents & Family
Jeffery Douglas Foster was born in San Antonio, Texas, on January 16, 1977.
His parents were kind, supportive, and loving and wanted their child to focus on his studies but also encouraged him to pursue his interests in sports.
Growing up, Jeff realized two things about himself; he was pretty good with numbers and loved sports, especially basketball. He tried his hands on every sport he could find.
Besides basketball, he took up swimming, soccer, baseball, and even football. But for one reason or another, he had to give up all other sports. For instance, he broke his arm after two weeks of playing football.
Jeff, As A Fanboy
A reason for his growing passion for basketball was the NBA players in his hometown, San Antonio. Whenever he got a chance to go to the games, he always tried to get the players’ autographs and sneak into the locker room.
His parents would drop him off at the games at about 5’o clock so he could get autographs before the games. That’s how much of a fanboy he was. He claims he attended at least one-fourth of the San Antonio Spurs home game.
Once, he got a chance to meet David Robinson, who was playing for the Spurs at the time. Jeff even got a chance to speak with him for a while. To the little boy, it was like a dream come true.
Once-in-a-lifetime moments like these and the kind of upbringing he got made him even more passionate about basketball. Because of his fanboying days, Jeff also learned what it means for fans to meet their idols.
“Being able to have contact with those guys made a huge difference to me, that’s why I always stop and sign autographs. I once was that kid. I understand the importance of it,” Foster said.
School And College
Fans of the Indiana Pacers must have heard the stories of Jeff being a late bloomer. He was 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 meters) as a freshman in high school, which was a below-average height for an upcoming basketball player.
Notably, he grew up to be a massive guy with a tall stature of 6 feet 11 inches (2.1 meters) and a weight of 113 kg (250 pounds).
He joined the varsity basketball team only in his senior year at James Madison High School and graduated in 1995.
It was a no-brainer for a number lover guy like Jeff to opt for a degree in finance. He attended the prestigious Southwest Texas State University and joined their basketball team, Bobcats.
In junior seasons, Jeff averaged 12.8 points and 10.2 rebounds and was part of the All-Southland Conference Second Team in 1998.
His playing skills got refined during his college years. Jeff’s playing style was influenced by some of his teammates. Bobcats were known for playing hard-nosed defense.
Fans could also see the refined version of the same techniques during his later career.
Being just nine credits short from graduating with a degree, he declared for the NBA draft in 199.
Professional Career
Jeff was a good player but nothing near the best. So, he never expected to get into NBA. However, to everyone’s surprise, the Golden State Warriors drafted him as the 21st overall pick during the first round of the 1999 NBA draft.
The Warriors immediately traded his draft rights to the Pacers, and he never got to play for the team that drafted him.
In his 13-year-long tenure with the pacers, he earned 3,747 points, 5,248 rebounds, and 703 assists.
Along with that, he played more than 50 post-season games, averaging 4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game with a 55.6 field goal shooting percentage.
Jeff was never considered quite good enough to be a dangerous player. However, he competed at the highest level with hustle, effort, and more willpower than his teammates.
Today, Jeff is one of the most respected and loved Pacers of all time.
Retirement
His 13-year-old career was cut short due to chronic back pains. Foster is second in franchise history in the number of seasons played, only behind Reggie Miller, who played 18 seasons in total.
The then-president of basketball operations, Larry Bird, honored him during retirement by writing, “He played hard every night, he always gave his all. He is a great role model for our younger players and we can’t thank him enough for his contributions on and off the court.”
Coming from the basketball legend himself, this was a huge honor for Jeff Foster.
Personal Life
After his retirement, Jeff lives a peaceful life with his wife and twin kids. Many of his teammates have found roles in broadcasting and coaching. However, Jeff is staying out of the spotlight in Austin, Texas.
His twins, Carter and Elle, are also interested in sports. Interestingly, his son also seems to be a late bloomer like him. In a 2020 interview, he commented that his son was about five inches shorter than his daughter.
His son plays taekwondo, cross-country racing, and soccer. Elle, his daughter, has tried volleyball, soccer, and basketball. Unfortunately, she did not enjoy basketball despite her dad thinking she would be great at it if she played.
Being a responsible dad, Jeff does not want to overly push them into the sport if they personally do not want it. “I will support them in whatever they decide,” he says.
During his time at NBA, he enjoyed educating his peers about the benefits and techniques of investing.
Following his retirement, he has finally found the time to work on his other passion, finance.
He is involved in business and works in a wellness and therapy company. He says that he enjoys going to the office and working with his team.
Net Worth And Lifestyle
According to reports, Foster has an estimated net worth of $22 million as of 2024. Most of his fortune came from his professional career in the NBA and investment ventures.
He took home around $50 million in salary from the Pacers during his NBA tenure. Unlike his peers who like to spend money on cars and luxury, he led a frugal life and saved one-third of what he earned.
He invested heavily in stock and other assets. Businessweek even did a story on him titled “Jeff Foster the Buffett of Basketball.”
Even though he never expected to be in the NBA, it was a good opportunity for him. It helped him get into a good position financially and also helped him build an excellent network of people.
Foster enjoys watching movies and playing video games in his spare time. He is a dynamic individual with many positive attributes.
Even after back-to-back surgeries and declining health conditions, he tried to take up golf. However, his back did not allow him to play regularly.
The former NBA player and his wife, Jamie, regularly participated in charitable causes organized by the NBA. Besides, he likes dogs and is reported to have a pet dog.
Social Media Presence
It is common for fans to want to know the whereabouts of their favorite players through social media. However, some players like Jeff are not big fans of sharing their private lives via social media.
He has not joined social media and likes to keep a low profile. If he ever gets into any social platform, we will be the first to update, so stay tuned!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
Is Jeff Foster married?
Yes, he and his wife Jamie married in the summer of 2001. But there is no public information about Jamie and her life.
Who drafted Jeff Foster?
The Golden State Warriors drafted Jeff Foster in the 1999 NBA draft, but his draft rights were immediately traded to the Indiana Pacers.
