Jamal Mashburn

Jamal Mashburn is an entrepreneur and former professional basketball player celebrated for his prolific scoring and smooth offensive game. Nicknamed “The Monster Mash,” Mashburn rose to prominence at the University of Kentucky, where he became a consensus First-Team All-American and led the Wildcats to the 1993 Final Four, earning SEC Player of the Year honors. Selected fourth overall in the 1993 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft by the Dallas Mavericks, he quickly made an impact, averaging 19.2 points per game in his rookie season and securing NBA All-Rookie First Team honors. Over a 12-year NBA career, Mashburn played for the Mavericks, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, and New Orleans Hornets, earning a 2003 NBA All-Star selection and All-NBA Third Team honors that same year, finishing his career with averages of 19.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.

Beyond the basketball court, Mashburn has distinguished himself as a highly successful businessman, building a vast and diverse portfolio that includes ownership of dozens of Outback Steakhouse and Papa John’s franchises, Dunkin’ Donuts locations, car dealerships, real estate ventures, and stakes in hospitality, printing, and advertising businesses. He has also worked as an NBA analyst for ESPN and serves on several corporate and nonprofit boards, contributing his expertise in business and community development.

Deeply committed to philanthropy, Mashburn established the Mashburn Scholarship Fund at the University of Kentucky and co-founded charitable initiatives such as The MAP Foundation and the Mashburn Family Foundation, focusing on mentoring programs, support for children of alcoholics, and assistance to single-parent families.