Last Updated on July 23, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Craig Hodges was one of the purest long-range shooters of his time, possessing a quick release and the confidence to make big shots when opportunities arose. His success from beyond the arc made him a valuable role player and helped him leave a lasting mark on an era when three-point specialists were far less common than they are today.

Here is detailed information about basketballer Craig Hodges:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Craig Anthony Hodges
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of Birth: June 27, 1960
  • Hometown: Park Forest, Illinois, USA
  • Height: 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
  • Weight: 190 lbs (86 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 ft 4 in
  • Shoe Size: Size 12 (US)
  • Number: Wore #14, #15, and #25 during his career
  • Position: Shooting Guard / Point Guard
  • High School: Rich East High School (Park Forest, Illinois)
  • College: California State University, Long Beach (Long Beach State)
  • NBA Draft: 1982, 3rd round, 48th overall pick by the San Diego Clippers
  • Teams Played For:
    • San Diego Clippers (1982–1984)
    • Milwaukee Bucks (1984–1986)
    • Phoenix Suns (1986–1988)
    • Chicago Bulls (1988–1992)
  • Championship Rings: 2 (with the Chicago Bulls in 1991 and 1992)
  • Kids: Has three children, including a son, Jamaal, who also played college basketball.
  • Siblings: Not much public information is available about siblings.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Craig Hodges was an undersized combo guard whose game centered on elite spot-up shooting, quick release, and floor spacing rather than shot creation in traffic. At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, he played with the profile of a specialist: light on his feet, technically sharp, and built to punish help defenses from deep. Offensively, his main value came as a movement and catch-and-shoot threat who fit cleanly beside stars, especially in structured half-court sets where his range stretched the floor and opened driving lanes for others. Defensively, he was more of a complementary team defender than a matchup stopper, using anticipation and effort to stay involved while leaving the heavier on-ball work to bigger guards and wings. In summary, Hodges was the kind of role player every good team needs: a poised perimeter marksman who knew how to play within a system, rarely wasted possessions, and could swing games when his jumper got hot. (Basketball Reference)

Scouting Report

Craig Hodges was much more than a standstill shooter, even if that’s what most people remember first. The interesting thing is how relentlessly he worked before the catch, slipping off pin-downs, relocating after making the extra pass and reading his defender’s body position well enough to create a clean shooting window without needing much separation. His release was so compact that even a half-step of daylight was enough, which meant defenders were constantly forced to chase him through screening actions instead of loading up elsewhere. That’s where his offensive value really began. Once opponents started top-locking him or flying at hard closeouts, he made simple but timely reads, putting the ball on the floor for one or two dribbles before delivering a pass to the roller or swinging it to the weak side to keep the advantage alive. He wasn’t looking to orchestrate the offense possession after possession, nor was he built to consistently create difficult shots off the dribble against set defenders. That was the trade-off. His impact depended on movement, spacing and teammates who recognized how much gravity his shooting created away from the ball. Defensively, he competed within the scheme, stayed attached around screens and understood where to provide nail help before recovering back to shooters, although stronger guards could dislodge him or attack him inside if he was isolated too often. To me, Hodges fit best alongside primary creators who welcomed constant off-ball movement because every relocation he made forced defenders into uncomfortable choices that opened driving lanes for others as much as they created shots for himself. It’s easy to overlook how many possessions he improved simply by occupying the correct space at the correct time. His game resembles Steve Kerr in the precision of his off-ball shooting and connective passing, while there are flashes of Seth Curry in the way defenders had to account for him the moment he crossed half court, even when he wasn’t touching the basketball.

Basketball-Reference — Craig Hodges Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
NBA.com — Craig Hodges | Guard | Milwaukee Bucks
ESPN — Trying to define Craig Hodges
Yahoo Sports — Craig Hodges on why his shooting ability was perfect for the Bulls triangle offense: “90 percent of the shots I shot with the Bulls were …”