ADRIAN Dantley has been determined to give back to his community since leaving the NBA in 1992.

The six-time All-Star swapped the relentless life of a pro basketball star to become a school crossing guard – earning less than $15,000 per year.

4

Adrian Dantley has swapped the NBA for a $14,000-a-year jobCredit: Getty

The former Utah Jazz star worked as a coach when he left the leagueCredit: Getty

4

Now he is a school crossing guard – and couldn’t be happierCredit: Twitter/UtahJazz
Dantley spent 15 years in the NBA, earning an estimated $3.5million over spells with seven different teams.

An undervalued talent, Dantley won the Mr. Basketball USA award and the Oscar Robertson Trophy during his rise to the big leagues.

He was an All-American with Notre Dame before being drafted as the No. 6 overall pick by the Buffalo Braves in 1976.

Dantley’s shooting prowess – especially from the free-throw line – saw him bag the Rookie of the Year award that same year.

And he would lead the NBA in points scored during the 1981 and 1984 seasons while playing for the Utah Jazz.

Dantley enjoyed short spells with the Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks, and Italy’s Breeze Arese before he retired in 1991.

He would start his coaching journey soon after in schools around Maryland, before returning to the NBA in 2003.

Dantley worked as an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets, spending eight years in Colorado.

But since leaving Denver, the Washington, DC native has been determined not to sit comfortably in retirement.

He took up a role in Silver Spring, Maryland, coaching young players and helping out with different roles across Northwood High School.

This involved being a crossing guard for two hours a day, helping the kids to safely cross the busy roads near the facility.

Per Sportscasting.com, Montgomery County civil service records show Dantley was paid $14,685 per year for his selfless work.

Speaking to ABC News in 2013, Dantley explained: “[People ask me] why you want to be a crossing guard?

“It’s not beneath me! I’m a regular guy. I just played basketball. I’m a Hall of Famer, but I’m a regular guy. I like working.

“I do it to be beside the kids. I’ve definitely saved two kids’ lives [on the crossing].”

The Jazz’s social media team returned to the school in 2022 to catch up with Dantley, who continued to work on the crossing and in the gym with local kids.

As one of the children crossed the road, he asked Dantley: “I didn’t know you were famous?”

The Hall of Famer shot back: “I’m not famous. I’m just a crossing guard.”

Dantley’s story hit a chord with Jazz fans, who flocked to the comment section to share memories of him.

One wrote: “Thanks for this! I loved watching him play. He was a scoring genius.”

Another said: “Had posters of Adrian Dantley on our walls growing up.”

While a third added: “6x All-Star. Hall of Famer. All-time Jazz legend. Respect! You rock, AD.”

4

The NBA Hall of Famer also acts as an official during school gamesCredit: Twitter/UtahJazz