Rodrigue “Roddy” Beaubois had the potential to become a good player in the NBA, constant injuries brought an early end to his NBA career. He still plays professionally overseas and has shown that his basketball skills haven’t disappeared.

Early Life

Beaubois was born in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, an island in the Caribbean that is part of France. He was discovered by another former French NBA player, Mickaël Piétrus, during a basketball camp on their home island of Guadeloupe.

Playing Overseas

In 2006, Beaubois joined Cholet Basket, a French professional basketball team in the Ligue Nationale de Basket (LNB). He played on Cholet Basket’s junior squad, Cholet Espoirs. In his first season on the team, Beaubois averaged 13.2 points per game (PPG), 4.0 rebounds per game (RPG), and 3.4 assists per game (APG). He took part in four French Pro A League games. He also played in the French Pro A League playoffs where his team lost in the quarterfinals to Chorale Roanne Basket.

During the 2007-08 season, Beaubois played in the French Pro A League all year. Throughout the season he averaged 5.5 PPG, 1.8 RPG, and 1.4 APG. Beaubois and his team lost again in the quarterfinals, this time to Le Mans Sarthe Basket.

Cholet took part in the 2007-08 EuroChallenge and were eliminated in the group stage after amassing a losing record of 2-4. Beaubois averaged 4.7 PPG, 1.0 RPG, and 1.0 APG in three games played.

Beaubois improved during the 2008-09 season as he put up 10.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 2.3 APG, and 1.1 steals per game (SPG). Cholet did not qualify for the playoffs this time around. After missing out on the playoffs, Cholet decided to take part in the second tier of the European professional club basketball pyramid instead. The team didn’t have any better luck there as they were eliminated in the EuroCup preliminarily rounds after losing to ASK Riga.

Cholet participated in the 2008-09 EuroChallenge where they had better luck than the previous year. Cholet advanced to the Final Four of the EuroChallenege before getting eliminated by Virtus Bologna.

Making it into the NBA

Beaubois at first was an unknown prospect that few scouts and coaches paid attention to, but following his impressive showing at the draft combine, he shot up draft boards. His athleticism and potential upside attracted teams.

Beaubois was drafted 25th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2009 NBA Draft. That same night he was traded from OKC to the Dallas Mavericks.

Beaubois started his NBA career as a regular bench player who made an impact when needed. In his first season with the Mavericks, he averaged 7.1 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 1.3 APG, and 0.5 SPG while getting the start in 16 of his 56 games played. Beaubois’ stat sheet didn’t tell the whole story when it came to his historic first season with the Mavs. On March 27, 2010, he put up 40 points against rookie Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Beaubois became just the third rookie in Mavericks history to score 40 points or more in a game. To add to his impressive rookie season, Beaubois also became the first rookie in NBA history to shoot at least 50% from the floor, 40% from three, and 80% from the free-throw line.

The Mavericks finished their season second in the Western Conference with a 55-27 record. In the first round of the playoffs, Dallas lost in six games to their rival, the San Antonio Spurs. Beaubois averaged 5.3 PPG, 1.5 RPG, and 1.0 APG in his four playoff appearances.

Championship Season

During the 2010 offseason Beaubois fractured his foot while training with the French national basketball team. In late November he was sent down to the Texas Legend, the Mavericks D-League team, but didn’t play in a single game with the team. Beaubois made his season debut against the Sacramento Kings on February 16, 2011. He was quickly pushed into the starting lineup in the following and kept that spot for the rest of the regular season. Beaubois averaged 8.4 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, and 0.7 SPG in his 28 appearances during the 2010-11 season. He got the start in all but two of his 28 games played throughout the season. Near the end of the regular season, Beaubois sprained his ankle and did not appear in any of the Mavericks’ playoff games. Dallas finished the season as the third seed in the West with a 57-25 record. 

In the first round of the playoffs, the Mavs took down the Portland Trail Blazers in six games. They then swept the Kobe-led Los Angeles Lakers in the following round. The Mavericks continued their playoff dominance by defeating a young Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and the Thunder in five games. In the NBA Finals, the Mavericks came face-to-face with an old NBA Finals rival, the Miami Heat. The Mavericks defeated Miami’s Big 3, consisting of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh in six games and won the franchise’s first-ever NBA championship. Not only was it Dallas’ first-ever title win, but it was also Beaubois’ first.

Final Years in the NBA

The 2011 offseason saw Beaubois undergo foot surgery to address symptoms related to his broken foot from the summer prior. By the time the 2011-12 lockout-shortened season began, he was ready to play. He had his best season in the NBA, putting up 8.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.9 APG, and 1.1 SPG in 53 appearances with the team. He was moved back to more of a bench role as he started in only 12 games throughout the season. Dallas finished the season 36-30, enough to clinch the seventh seed. The Mavs playoff appearance was short-lived as they were swept in the first round by OKC. Beaubois appeared in two of the playoff games where he received limited playing time. He grabbed one rebound and two assists in his two playoff appearances.

The 2012-13 season would be Beaubois’ final one as a Maverick and in the NBA. He played in 45 games throughout the season, all coming off the bench. Beaubois’ numbers took a hit as he averaged 4.0 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 1.9 APG, and 0.4 SPG but so did his minutes, going from 21.7 minutes per game (MPG) to 12.2 MPG. He underwent surgery on his left hand near the end of the 2012-13 season and that was how his time with the Mavs ended. After finishing the season with a 41-41 record, Dallas missed out on the playoffs for the first time in 13 years as the 10th seed in the West.

His time with the Mavericks was filled with injuries that hampered his growth and Mavs fans never got to see Beaubois’ full potential on the court. He put up 7.1 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, and 0.7 SPG while getting the start in 54 of his 188 games played with the team.

Return Overseas

Beaubois returned overseas during the 2013-14 season and signed with Spirou Charleroi of the Belgian League. In 12 games played with the team, he averaged 8.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG, and 2.3 APG. Charleroi made it to the playoffs but were defeated in the quarterfinals by the Port of Antwerp Giants.

In the summer of 2014, Beaubois signed with Le Mans Sarthe Basket of the French League. He averaged 14.4 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, and 1.3 SPG in 34 games. The team finished the season as the Match des Champions winner and Beaubois was named the Match des Champions MVP.

The following season Beaubois signed with SIG Strasbourg, a French League team. In 44 games played, he put up 16.1 PPG, 2.0 RPG, and 1.8 APG.

In the summer of 2016, he signed a two-year deal with Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz of the Spanish Liga ACB. In his first year with the team, he played in 33 games where he averaged 10.9 PPG, 1.8 RPG, and 1.9 APG.

The following season Beaubois put up 11.4 PPG, 2.7 RPG, and 2.1 APG in 41 games played with Vitoria Gasteiz.

In 2018, Beaubois signed with Anadolu Efes of the Turkish Basketball Süper League (BSL) and the EuroLeague, where he’s spent the last four seasons playing.

In his first season on the team, he averaged 13.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG, and 2.4 APG in 23 BSL appearances. In the Turkish Super Cup Finals, Efes defeated Fenerbahçe Beko to win the Turkish Presidential Cup. Efes made it to the BSL Finals where they defeated Beko in seven games to become Turkish BSL champions.

In the team’s EuroLeague games, Beaubois put up 9.5 PPG, 1.3 RPG, and 2.3 APG in 35 appearances. Efes made it to the EuroLeague Finals for the first time in club history. Unfortunately for Efes, they came out on the losing end in the match-up against CSKA Moscow. 

In the following BSL season, Beaubois averaged 13.7 PPG, 2.6 RPG, and 2.4 APG in 14 games.

In EuroLeague competition, he racked up 9.5 PPG, 1.6 RPG, and 1.7 APG in 26 games.

The 2020-21 season would turn out to be a good one for Efes. In 22 games played during the BSL season, Beaubois averaged 11.5 PPG, 2.0 RPG, and 2.5 APG. Efes won another Turkish BSL championship after sweeping Beko in the Finals. Beaubois was named BSL Finals MVP.

He made 38 EuroLeague appearances with the team where he averaged 10.6 PPG, 1.8 RPG, and 1.8 APG throughout the season. Beaubois became part of EuroLeague’s 50-40-90 club when he finished the season shooting above 50% from the field, 40% from three, and 90% from the free throw line. Not only was the 2020-21 season a good one for Beaubois, but it was also a great one for Efes. The team made it back to the EuroLeague Final where they defeated FC Barcelona Bàsquet to win their first EuroLeague championship.

During the 2021-22 BSL season, Beaubois averaged 14.2 PPG, 1.8 RPG, and 1.2 APG in 23 appearances. Efes advanced to the finals of the Turkish national cup tournament and defeated Beko to win the Turkish Cup. Efes then made it to the Turkish Super Cup Finals where they defeated Beko again to win their second Turkish Presidential Cup since Beaubois joined the team.

He made 35 appearances throughout the EuroLeague season where he averaged 9.2 PPG, 2.0 RPG, and 1.9 APG. Efes made it to their second consecutive EuroLeague Final where they defeated Real Madrid Baloncesto to win their second EuroLeague championship in franchise history.

National Team Career

Beaubois played for the French junior national team and later joined the French senior national team.

Legacy

Even though Beaubois wasn’t able to reach his peak potential in the NBA, he has continued to grow his legacy overseas. In his first year in the NBA, he achieved several rookie records and even earned himself an NBA championship ring with the 2011 Mavericks. Not many NBA fans may remember Beaubois, but Mavs fans from that era still do.